Once in a Lifetime Run in ALASKA!

Well, I actually hope that someday I will go back again to visit Alaska and run this marathon!  This was my first time visiting Alaska, and it was AMAZING!  And the marathon was just as awesome, with some pretty incredible views.

This is one of the few marathon trips where I truly became a tourist and visited sights and went on a tour and it was just incredible.  I arrived in Anchorage on Friday evening, and was so excited that I never really even noticed the 4-hr time difference.  I landed, settled in at my hotel, and was soon headed out to explore.  On Saturday morning I ran the Anchorage Mile, which is the shortest distance I've ever run for an official time, but it was a great way to start off the weekend.  And the medals for this one-mile run were quite impressive!

The Anchorage Mile

I spent the rest of Saturday sightseeing, and made it to the famous Moose's Tooth Pub & Pizzeria for dinner, which was definitely worth the trip.  It was a great way to do a little carb loading for the marathon on Sunday.  I eventually made it back to my hotel, headed to bed, and soon it was race morning!

The Start Line!

This was a very special day for me to run, as it was my Grandfather's (Pop's) birthday, and my Pop is one of my stroke heroes that I run in memory of.  I spent many miles thinking of memories of my Gram and Pop, who have inspired me so much to complete this 50 States Challenge.  It was also a special day because Tedy's Team was running the Falmouth Road Race on the same day, and so even though we were many many many miles away, we were still all running together for our cause of fighting stroke.

Usually the National Anthem is played before a marathon start, but today not only did we stand for the singing of the National Anthem, but also the singing of the Alaska State Song, which I had never heard before.  After spending the previous days learning about the history of Alaska, it was a very moving start to the race.

Just before the singing of the National Anthem and Alaska State Song

Soon we were off!  We headed out of the streets and onto the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail.  It was a rainy day, and initially I was feeling a little bit sluggish.  But I started thinking about my Gram and Pop, and a joke that I remember my Pop telling when I was little popped into my head...  and soon I was lost in thought and gaining energy.  It didn't take long to see my most favorite view from the course, which we were able to see twice on one of the out-and-back portions of the course:

Another runner came up from behind me at one point and we started to chat after he read the back of my singlet and saw that I was running my 19th state.  We passed back and forth a few times, and each time he would refer to me as "19," which I thought was a fun nickname for the day.

I really wanted to see a moose along the way, and looked high and low through the trees with no luck.  While I didn't get to see a moose, I did see a few more great views from the trail:

The miles went by quickly and soon I was at 20 miles and then counting down to the finish.  I managed to keep a pretty consistent pace even in the higher miles when I sometimes start to slow down.  I think that sometimes the rain actually makes me go faster because I'm looking foward to getting out of it.  It was also a really nice cool break from the hot and humid weather in Atlanta, and the views were stunning.  I also knew that my Gram and Pop were giving me energy to make it to the finish line.  The miles continued to go by quickly and soon I had reached the end!

A mismark on the course led this to be a little bit less than a full marathon distance, but I figure if I add in the Anchorage Mile, I covered 26.2 miles in Alaska!

It really was an amazing day and I would love to return to run this marathon again some day.  I was so incredibly proud to be running Alaska as part of Tedy's Team on my Pop's birthday. 

I had another day and a half to continue exploring Anchorage, and tried to see all that I could.  I was sad to say goodbye when it was time to leave, but it was one of the most amazing trips I have taken as part of my 50 States journey.

And the journey continues in October for a double marathon weekend for State #'s 20 & 21 in DesMoines, Iowa and Kansas City Missouri!

Marathon Highlights:
The trail has amazing views and the potential to see wildlife
Great race support and energy!
Great medal and race shirt
Great race all around

#1 Song that got me through a tough spot:
Eye of the Tiger - Survivor

26.2 Downhill Miles are complete for State #18 in CO!

And what a beautiful and awesome marathon it was at REVEL Rockies!  It was a super quick two-day trip from Atlanta to Denver, with less than 24 hours to acclimate to the altitude, but with it being an almost all downhill marathon, I didn't even notice!  I was also distracted by the amazing views of the Rockies along the way.

I arrived in Denver on Saturday morning, and made my way to Golden, CO (close to the expo and marathon finish area), from the airport.  I went to the expo then had a nice big lunch, and then I think the early morning flight and altitude change caught up with me so I took a nice long nap in my hotel, and then felt ready for the marathon on Sunday.  Here is a photo from the expo:

Sunday morning, I got up super early (2:30am) so that I could catch a 3:45 bus to the start in Morrison, CO.  They bussed us up to the start, which was in interesting adventure on its own along the windy narrow mountain roads.  We made it to the start with about 30 minutes to spare before heading to the starting line.  Because of the higher elevation, it was pretty chilly waiting there, and so REVEL provided us with blankets and gloves (which were actually really pretty) to keep us warm while we waited.  I tried to snap a few pictures of the incredible view through the trees, and this one came out the best:

 Soon it was time to start!  I really had not known how to train for this marathon because in Atlanta, it's difficult to find only downhill places to run (although there are lots of hills here!).  But as we started it felt great to be running downhill, and I was excited for the views I would see along the way.  Here is another incredible view that was just a few miles into the marathon:

As I looked out at the amazing nature that surrounded me, I kept my stroke and heart heroes in mind.  I always think of memories of my Gram and Pop, and think about my Dad and my family that have experienced so much with heart disease and stroke.  And of course I always think of Tedy's Team and all of those supporting me, which gives me so much motivation.  

Being all downhill, this marathon went pretty quickly and I didn't hit much of a tough spot.  At around mile 12, I lost a bit of time for more picture taking.  A few deer wandered out in front of us and I was amazed at how comfortable they were with us humans.  I pulled out my phone/camera as I came closer, and by the time I reached them they had crossed and were hanging out in the field.  So I took the opportunity to take a few more photos.

 We came into a small town just after this, where we hit our first uphill climb, but it wasn't that bad, especially knowing that soon we would be running downhill again.  We reached the half marathon start, and then could see the mile markers for both the full and half marathon, which I actually really liked.  For some reason seeing the half mile markers made me feel like I was closer to the finish!  We passed out of the town and were back onto quiet roads for most of the rest of the race.  I met a fellow Marathon Maniac in the last few miles, and we had a nice conversation.  It's always so great to meet fellow runners as I travel.

I wasn't feeling too badly as I neared the finish, except for that my toes were getting  sore and blistered due to them constantly hitting the front of my shoes with all of the downhill running (something I hadn't thought of until I was feeling it).  But that didn't really slow me down and soon I was reaching my 18th finish line for my 50 States Challenge for Tedy's Team!

I came into the finish feeling great.  It had warmed up along the way and was about 80 degrees and sunny as I crossed, but that is nothing compared to what I had been training in in Atlanta.  I felt great and the support at the end was great.  I crossed and immediately was offered a hand to shake and a congratulations from the male winner, which I've never experienced before.  I was then handed my medal, which is one of the biggest marathon medals I've received!

I made it back to Atlanta on Sunday night, and have been recovering well since then.  I did unfortunately strain a muscle, which I actually didn't realize until the next day (I didn't even feel it during the marathon), and so I'm taking care of this as I prepare for State #19 in Alaska in August!!  

Race Highlights:
Almost all downhill
Amazing views
REVEL provides blankets and gloves at the start 
Great support from start to finish (and at the expo)
Great marathon shirt with different sleeve options (I got the tank top)
Huge medal
FREE race photos!

#1 Song that got me through a tough spot:
Girl on Fire - Alicia Keys

 

Finished 26.2 Beautiful Miles for State #17!

On Sunday, June 7th, I ran one of the most scenic marathons I've run from Sequim to Port Angeles, WA for State #17 - the North Olympic Discovery Marathon!  It was a hot day for a marathon, but an incredible 26.2 miles.

I've never been to Washington State, and so this was like a little vacation for me.  I landed in Seattle on Saturday morning, and then took a 4 hour bus ride from the airport (including a ferry ride) to get to Port Angeles.  The views from the airplane and bus were stunning, and I knew I was in for some beautiful views along the way.  Port Angeles is a small town on the north border of WA that borders Canada (across the water). 

On race morning, I made the mile-long walk from my hotel room to catch the buses to the start of the marathon.  The buses took us to Sequim so that we could finish in Port Angeles.  At 6:00 in the morning, I was able to see some great views just as the day was starting.

 

The buses brought us to Sequim, with about an hour to go before the start of the marathon.  It was already feeling warm and the sun was shining, so I knew we were in for a toasty marathon.  We could see the Olympic Mountains in the distance, which we were able to see throughout almost the entire marathon.  Soon we were off!

The view of the Olympic Mountains beyond the Starting line.

Due to the heat, I decided early on that I would take it fairly slow.  I met some fellow Marathon Maniacs at the start and began the run with the 5-hour pace group.  Initially I thought I would try for 4:45, and so soon went ahead of the pace group a bit.  I was feeling pretty good and just taking in the views through the first half of the marathon, which was almost entirely on the Olympic Discovery Trail.  Here are some photos - but they really don't do the beauty of the Olympic Mountains justice.

Just after half way, we came out onto some small roads, which is when things became a bit difficult for me.  There was no shade and the sun was beating down, and I just became incredibly slow and a little overheated.  We finally reached the trail again, where I was looking forward to some shade, only to find some pretty substantial hills over the next few miles.  I slowed down and took some walking breaks.  No need to worry about time, I just needed to cross that finish line for State #17, but needed some motivation to get there.

I really tried to focus on the views, and as I looked out into the beautiful blue sky, I thought about all of my Stroke and Heart Heros.  I went through a bit of an emotional period as I thought about the fact that it is because of Gram, who had a stroke in 2007 and inspired be to run for the Tedy's Team and American Stroke Association, that I have taken on this endeavor and am seeing the amazing places all over the country that I am seeing.  Even though we lost her a year after her stroke, running has kept me close to my Gram, Pop, and Papa, all of whom suffered from stroke and/or heart disease.  And I thought about my Dad (a heart attack survivor) and how my parents would just love Port Angeles.  Thinking about my Stroke and Heart Heros, Tedy's Team, and everyone who has supported me got me through those miles.

Around mile 19, I met a fellow runner and we struck up conversation.  We happened upon a photo opportunity right around that time, and decided to have a little fun and take advantage...

We talked for a bit, and soon came out of the trail for a bit, where my most favorite volunteer told me the most wonderful news ever... that it was all downhill and shade from here as we went back into the trails... the hardest part was over!  Suddenly I had a rush of energy which lasted through the remaining miles.  As we came into Port Angeles, we could see views of the water, which were equally as beautiful as the mountain views.

The last 4-5 miles were along the waterfront, and went along fairly quickly (or as quickly as the last 5 miles of a marathon can go).  I was so excited to come into the finish area.  Because of my slower time in the heat and hills (and all of the picture taking), I came in a little after the 5-hour mark.  I reunited with some of the runners I had met along the way, and just enjoyed sitting on the water in the finish area.  It was an amazing day and I was so happy to have been able to run the North Olympic Discovery Marathon - it's definitely one that I would run again!

So State #17 is complete and onto State #18 in July - Revel Rockies in CO!  An all downhill marathon that I am super excited for!

Marathon Highlights:
The views!
The views! (just to emphasize)
The trail is great and provide some shade
Fun little bridges along the trails
Great volunteers - each water station had a theme!
Personal escort from finish line to food - pretty great!
Awesome medal

#1 Song that got me through a tough spot:
Hold On - Wilson Philips
(this may have been due to the fact that I watched Bridesmaids the night before I left for WA) :)

ALSO - while not a song - the wonderful person that put a sprinkler out between mile 18-19 - this was much needed and appreciated, and there was no one there to say thank you to.

Finished 26.2 Amazing Miles in Vermont!

On Sunday, I ran my 25th marathon, and my 20th marathon with the American Stroke Association at the Vermont City Marathon!  It was especially amazing to get to celebrate this milestone with Tedy's Team!  While I run every marathon for Tedy's Team, I am always super excited when I get to run a marathon where the whole team is traveling.  It was an awesome weekend to be able to run with Tedy's Team while also getting to visit friends and family in Vermont.  

We started out the weekend with a Tedy's Team dinner, where everyone running told our stories of why we were running for the American Stroke Association, and there were some incredibly inspirational stories.  It was so good to see our Tedy's Team alumni and meet new teammates, and it was such an awesome evening.  And I received the most awesome gift I could have ever asked for from Tedy's Team - a  wooden map of the United States customized to show all of the marathons I have run on my quest for 50 states!  What an incredible surprise!

The next morning we all made our way to the starting line in Burlington.  This was my 6th time running this marathon, and it is one of my favorites.  I love that I know so many people along the course, and I just know the course so well that it always goes by faster than any other.  The out and back portions also are fun because the runners are able to see other runners on the course no matter if they are faster or slower - so I could cheer for everyone that I saw!  This year reminded me of my very first marathon in 2009, because I had our American Stroke Association coach and staff on the course as well.  I always love to run the marathons when I get to run with the team!

It was perfect weather for a marathon at the start - 50s with a little sun and breeze.  As it warmed up, there were clouds here and there, we even got a few sprinkles of rain, which felt really good.  The first half flew by and I hit the half point at just about my usual time.  We made our way to the bike path and I was able to snap a few photos to catch some of the great scenery.

We made it to the battery street hill at about mile 15, and I took another photo to try to capture the hill.  This photo doesn't do the hill justice, but it is a good long hill with awesome support!

One of my favorite things about this marathon is the Taiko Drummers that give the runners so much energy to get to the top of that hill.  You can hear the drums as you come around the corner and it's so awesome to hear them all the way to the top.  I saw Tedy's Team, my family, and friends all along that hill, and soon I was at the top!

I was feeling pretty good through about mile 17, where suddenly I became aware of a toenail issue, but decided that I would figure it out after I finished.  I tried to curl my toes to stop what I could feel was my toenail getting pulled off which led to toe and foot cramping, but eventually I figured out how to keep the pain minimal (who knew a toenail could cause such problems!).  I later learned that there was a tiny hole that formed at the tip of my toe in my sock that was slowly catching and pulling the nail off.  Yuck!  I was mostly just happy to find out that it wasn't from my new running shoes :).

I saw our awesome Tedy's Team running coach and a fellow Tedy's Team member at mile 19, who gave me encouragement and energy to make it to the end.  It was getting a little bit warm at that point with the sun beaming down, and so it was great to see some familiar Tedy's Team faces.  Miles 20-22 went a little bit slowly, and I had to dig deep and think about my cause and everyone I'm running for.  I knew once I made it back to the bike path I would be in the home stretch, and be able to get a little shade from the trees too.  Finally I made it to the turn for the bike path and I could feel the excitement of finishing my 25th marathon!  I jumped off the path to take another photo - I like this one because you can see the ferry docking in Burlington in the distance.

The last 4 miles went by smoothly, and soon we were emerging from the bike path out onto the waterfront for the final .2 miles!  This is always packed with supporters, and whether they know you or not, they are cheering!  I did see some friends along the way, and I was able to give my Mom and Dad a high five right before I crossed the finish line.  It meant a lot to have them there, as they don't get to see too many of my marathons since I'm traveling all over the place.  I crossed the finish line at 5:00:27 - the goal was to finish in under 5 hours, but I figure that's pretty close (and I lost at least 27 seconds taking pictures of the scenery along the way).  I met friends and family at the finish (and even a canine supporter!), and it was an awesome end to an awesome marathon!

We ended the day with a Tedy's Team celebration dinner - all of us made it to the end for our cause and our friends and loved ones affected by stroke.  It was so great to finish with the team for this marathon. 

Less than two weeks until my next marathon in Port Angeles, WA for State #17!

Marathon Highlights
Awesome support from beginning to end
Beautiful views of Lake Champlain
Taiko Drummers!
Finishing on the waterfront

#1 Song that Got me Through a Tough Spot:
Fight Song - Rachel Platten 

Finished a beautiful 26.2 miles in Kenosha WI for State #16!

Last Saturday, I made my way to Kenosha, Wisconsin to run the Wisconsin Marathon.  It was a beautiful day for a marathon... even a little warmer than ideal, but I was just very happy that it wasn't raining after a streak of rainy marathons this year.   I rode with a friend to the start, and we made it there just in time to hop into the start corral before the race started.

Here is a picture from the start - a beautiful day!

It didn't take long after the start to see some amazing views as we ran along Lake Michigan.  I love running along water, especially now that I don't have much water to train near.  It gives me a sense of peace, and as we ran along the water,  I looked out frequently thinking of memories of my Gram and Pop and everyone that I am running for.  I was getting off to a faster start than in the past few marathons (thanks to fewer hills!), and the first half of the marathon went along pretty smoothly.  We ran through numerous small parks, and I tried to snap some photos of the scenery as we ran.

Here are some views from the day...

The half marathoners split off from the full marathoners at mile 11, and so suddenly there was much less company around, and just after reaching about half way, I was feeling a little bit sluggish.  But along came a fellow runner that had already completed the 50 states, and we ran for about two miles together talking about the marathons we had run and the quest for 50 States, and it made those miles go by really quickly.  I gained some energy as we chatted, and after we said goodbye, a few other runners asked about my 50 States Challenge, or simply gave a thumbs up for the cause as we passed, giving me even more energy to make it to the end.  

I don't always have a time goal, but since I had gotten off to a pretty good start, I was hoping to break the 5 hour mark, since the last few marathons had been slow for me and I hadn't broken 5 hours in a little while.  It was getting a little bit toasty towards the end, but I was feeling pretty good, and the last few miles along the water helped me to reach this goal as I thought about my cause.  I made it across the finish line in 4:55, completing State #16 for the American Stroke Association!!  It was an awesome day!

  

The lighthouse we saw several times along the course...

Since the Wisconsin Marathon, I have made it over $12,500 for my fundraising, which means I'm over half way to my goal of raising $25,000 for the American Stroke Association for my 50 States Challenge!  I cannot thank everyone that has supported me enough for making this journey through the 50 States successful in raising funds and awareness for stroke!

My next marathon is the Vermont City Marathon on May 24th, which will not add a state for me, but will be a "mile"stone, as it will be my 20th marathon with the American Stroke Association.   It is especially meaningful for me to reach this 20 marathon milestone in Vermont, as that is where it all started in 2009, when I ran very first marathon after losing my grandmother a year after her stroke.  When I cross the finish line in VT this year, I will have run 524 marathon miles for the American Stroke Association since that day (not including training), and every single one has been amazing.   I never imagined in 2009 that I would start a journey to run 50 marathons in memory of my Gram, Pop, and Grampa, and in honor of my Dad who have all been affected by stroke and/or heart disease.  I also cannot thank the American Stroke Association and Tedy's Team enough for helping me to create something so positive out of the horrible experience of a loved one having a stroke or heart attack.  It keeps me close to those I have lost, and keeps me closer to those that are still here, and together we are all making a difference in the fight against stroke and heart disease!

Onto the Vermont City Marathon, which will be closely followed by State #17 in Port Angeles, WA!!

Highlights from the marathon:

Absolutely beautiful views

Flat

Nice option of having packet mailed ahead of time

Vegan options for post-race food!

Nice medal and t-shirt

Great support!

#1 Song that got me through a tough spot:

"Let it Go" Idina Menzel 

A HILLY State #15 is in the Books!

On this past Sunday, I made my way to the start line of the Publix Georgia Marathon for State #15, and what a day it was!  I was excited to be running my first marathon in my new home state of GA.  While the weather had started to warm up for us earlier in the week, it was a cool and rainy morning at 7:00am in Atlanta.  But I was ready to attack the hills that I had heard so much about for my cause, despite the rain!

This was an especially fun marathon, where I was able to tour more areas that surround where I live, which was great.  We started out in the Centennial Olympic Park (site of the 1996 Olympics), and made our way all around the city.  I started to warm up a little a few miles in, but then it actually seemed to get cooler in the second hour, and never really warmed up again after that.  Because of the rain, my State # stickers fell off pretty early in the race, which actually seemed to make for more conversation, as fellow runners wanted to know what state I was on and which states I had completed.  Many runners gave encouraging words in support of the cause, which really helps me on those tough days - and this was a particularly tough course!

Leading up to the event, whenever I had mentioned that I was running this marathon, the response always included mention of it being "hilly".  I have come to understand that Atlanta is hillier than I ever had anticipated since I moved here and started training, but didn't think much of it.  I had run "hilly" marathons before.  But yikes!  This course is composed of unrelenting hills - they seem to never end, and there comes a point where the down hills even feel difficult and you really just want a little bit of flatness... but it rarely happens.  But at the same time it really is a great marathon, and eventually I learned to just accept the hills as part of the challenge of the day, and I knew that my cause and everyone I was running for would get me to the end.

I would say the highlight of the marathon was when we reached Decatur, just a few miles from where I live.  This was around mile 12 or so, and I had gotten a bit discombobulated with my running belt of goodies, due to frozen hands that could not manipulate my energy snacks at the previous water stop.  I took a longer walking break than usual to get myself reorganized, which made it a struggle to get back into my running pace.  But then we entered Decatur and all of the sudden, dozens of series of rhyming signs popped up, which proved to be very entertaining.  In addition, the crowd was especially enthusiastic and there was some great music as we ran through downtown.  Either there were fewer hills in Decatur, or the signs and crowd did an excellent job of distracting me from thinking about them!  This got me back on track with my pace, and I must say I was disappointed to see the rhyme signs come to an end when we left Decatur.

We then continued on our way back towards Atlanta - and between the hills and the rain, I started to slow down.  I had pain in my neck that was much more intense than usual (I always have a little after a few spine surgeries) and no amount of stretching was helping, and it was actually worse than any pain in the legs or anywhere else.  But the miles passed, and eventually I made it to mile 17 - my favorite mile, and I have no idea why.  It is a mile that serves as some marker in my mind that makes me feel like I can get to the end.  From there I just accepted it would be a slower marathon for me, but I would make it to the end, and I was fine with that.  I tried to just enjoy the scenery and in fact I learned my way around the city a bit better, and even noted a few restaurants that I might like to try at some point (I was getting a little bit hungry :).

I slowed way down at miles 22-23, and then got a little burst of energy at mile 24, where I was able to pick up the pace through the end.  I thought about all of my stroke hero's and teammates, and they helped me cross the finish line of my 15th state.

And the socks!  Oh the socks... they were actually compression leg sleeves, but I had ordered them the week before the marathon and it was the first time I had used them (yes I know I broke a major marathon running rule here to never try anything new on race day) - they had stars on one leg and stripes on the other in all different colors.  I thought they were fun, but didn't realize how responsive the crowd would be!  I've never heard so many comments on what I've worn - but these definitely seemed to be popular!

Some might think that as you run more and more marathons, they get easier.  I wish that were the case.  In 23 marathons, I've learned that there are some marathons that seem to take less effort for one reason or another, but I've not run one marathon that I haven't had a point at which I've struggled at least a little bit.  With more marathons, the mental aspect has grown - I know that when I hit these spots, it will almost always get better in 5-10-15 minutes.   I use those times to think about my cause and let it take me through.  I use those times to take in the scenery of all the new places that I'm seeing (even here where I live - Atlanta is a big place to see!), and think about how lucky I am to be able to run.  Sure I set goals for time, and it's awesome when I can reach or surpass them, but in the end it doesn't really matter how long it takes to finish, because I'm running for Tedy's Team and the American Stroke Association, and it's raising awareness and fighting stroke that matters! 

So onto State #16 - the Wisconsin Marathon in Kenosha, WI on 5/2/15, which advertises itself as "The Cheesiest Marathon", so it is sure to be a good time!

Race Highlights:
Nice expo
Great course support throughout
Decatur!
A good challenging course (don't underestimate the hills!)

#1 Song that got me through a tough spot:
We're not Gonna Take it - Twisted Sister 
I seem to be living in the 80's with my songs lately... 
  

Finished State #14 at the Mercedes-Benz Marathon in Alabama!

This past Sunday I made the trip to Birmingham to complete the Mercedes-Benz Marathon in Alabama, and it was a great day!

The day started out a little bit rainy, but warmer than it had been in the south for the week prior to to marathon, which was awesome.  It was about 50 degrees with some rain on and off for the first hour or so, which was great weather for a marathon.  This marathon didn't really go by fast or slow for me, I just kind of plugged along.  I had made a huge change in my life this winter in moving to a new state, and so my training was not quite perfect, and so I just took it nice and easy.  Of course with the rain, I kept my trusty garbage bag with me to help stay dry through the 26.2 miles!

One of the things that I love (and I've mentioned in other posts), is how my cause leads me to meet people along the 26.2 miles and tell my story, and hear other stories.  On the back of my singlet, I always have my 50 States Challenge and my State #, and so even if it's just a quick thumbs up, or a longer discussion about the challenge, it's a great way to keep my cause with me in my running.

For this particular marathon, it was a double loop and so after the half marathoners split off to finish, the runners spread out and I spent a great deal of time thinking about those who I am running for - memories of my Gram and Pop (and what they would think of me running all these marathons, especially in the rain!), my Dad, my family,  my teammates on Tedy's Team, and everyone that has supported me.  Everyone has given me such inspiration, and with the rain and sore legs towards the end, I just thought about how lucky I am to be able to run for this cause.

I don't think there was a particularly difficult point during the race.  I started to pick out some familiar faces in the crowd even though I didn't know anyone cheering, because it loops back through the center of town a few times, and so I started to recognize people cheering!  One of my favorite parts of marathon running is interacting with the crowd, and even though the crowd wasn't huge, they were certainly fun!

When I finally reached the finish line, it felt great!  And who couldn't love a Mercedes-Benz medal?? And a nice added bonus was that we received a finisher's beach towel at the end too!  That is my first marathon beach towel, and I will be sure to use it, especially now that I'm living in the south!

So all and all it was an awesome day!  I was so excited after finishing, that I decided to add another marathon into my schedule, and so now I am getting ready for State #15 at the Run Hard Columbia Marathon in SC on 3/7/15, and then I will complete State #16 at the Publix Georgia Marathon on 3/22/15!

And what about the fundraising??  My goal is to reach a total of $4000 for this season before the VT City Marathon in May, so that I can surpass $15,000 for my full 50 States Challenge total!  If you would like to support the fight against stroke, you can visit my fundraising page by clicking on the images at the top right of my blog!

Onto South Carolina!

Race Highlights:
Nice rolling hills (some are a little long, but not bad)
The course loops in and out of town, so good for spectators!
Great support, fun crowd
Awesome medal and finisher beach towel!
 
#1 Song that got me through a tough patch:
Heaven is a Place on Earth - Belinda Carlisle