Tag Archives: 50 State Marathon

MSB Marathon Training T-Minus Four Weeks: You Gotta Be Bad, You Gotta Be Bold

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This time of year, I think it’s really common to get in a little bit of a fitness rut.  The start of the holiday season, some increased intensity at work, important social events, and the colder weather have all been challenges for me the past few weeks.  I’ve been working out, but I haven’t made it to Orangetheory, I skipped a few longer runs, and two weeks ago I even walked to work all week instead of running.  Although I’m doing well at the Tea Streak and the Vending Machine Challenge, and really haven’t had many sweet treats apart from birthday cake(s), I’ve been taking in more calories than I’m burning.  (Binge eating clementines probably doesn’t help.)  I can feel some of the pre-wedding weight creeping back, which I was hoping to avoid because I know that I run faster and easier, with less risk of injury, when I’m a little leaner.

This past week, I’ve been working on crawling out of the rut!

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MSB Marathon T-Minus 6 Weeks: Thanksgiving!

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Is the Mississippi Blues Marathon in only 6 weeks?! Time flies when you’re eating pumpkin cheesecake… or something like that.

Goals for This Past Week:

  • Run my Turkey Trot as close to 7 min/mile pace as possible
  • Do some kind of activity (even if just walking) while out of town for Thanksgiving
  • Stop myself from eating so much mashed potatoes/pumpkin cheesecake/carbs/yummy vegetarian sides that I feel sick
  • Squeeze in an easier 10 miler

How did I do?

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Things for Which I am Thankful, Plus Turkey Trot Results!

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Turkey trot results are at the bottom, but first, a list of things for which I am thankful on this Thanksgiving.

In no particular order:

  • Begin with the obvious–running, because it is been incredibly rewarding and therapeutic for me the past 10 years, through many ups and downs.  It has helped me clear my mind, battle my insecurities, improve my health, alleviate my anxiety, have fun, discover new places, meet amazing people, be a leader, learn humility, push my limits beyond what I could have imagined, feel like a part of something bigger… the list goes on…

Now that I’m all emotional…

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Philadelphia Marathon 2014 (Marathon Number 13, State Number 5–Pennsylvania)

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Last but not least in my historical recap of races past:  the Gore Tex Philadelphia Marathon!  This race was a special one because it was my husband’s first (and he says, last) marathon!   He never wanted to run a marathon until a few of his friends were talking about entering the New York City Marathon lottery.  None of us got in to NYC (that lottery is BRUTAL), but somehow we took that momentum and he signed up to run in Philly–his hometown.  (For the record, I’d still love to get into that NYC lottery with or without my husband!)

Website:  Gore Tex Philadelphia Marathon.

Time of Year:  Sunday at the end of November, the weekend before Thanksgiving.

Location: Philadelphia, PA.  Start and finish are conveniently located at the Philadelphia Art Museum.

Size: 30,000 runners across all events. Half-marathon offered on the same day as the marathon.

Weather:  QUITE chilly in the morning.  I rarely check a bag, but I did for this one because we had so many layers to store.  It sure was hard to part with those sweatpants 30 minutes before the race…  Once we got running, the weather was perfect.

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Ocean Drive Marathon 2014 (Marathon Number 12, State Number 8–New Jersey)

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Website:  Ocean Drive Marathon.

Location: New Jersey Shore.

Time of Year: Sunday at the end of March.

Size: Fewer than 400 marathon runners.  Similarly sized 10 miler and 5K run the same day. 

Weather: I had pretty unpleasant weather for this race.  It was chilly and damp and, toward the end of the race, rainy!  Expect wind.

Expo and Swag:  Expo is no-frills at the Wildwoods Convention Center.  Basically just packet pickup with a few small vendors.  Shirt is a nice long-sleeved tech tee.  You might want to size up.

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Rehoboth Beach Seashore Marathon 2013 (Race Number 11; State Number 7)

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We are in the homestretch of my historical race recaps!!!  I’ve already covered marathons I ran in my first seven states, plus my most recent state, West Virginia.  Just three more recaps to cover: Rehoboth Beach Seashore Marathon (Race 11, State 8), Ocean Drive Marathon (Race 12, State 9), and the Philadelphia Marathon (Race 13, Repeat of State 6).   First:  the Rehoboth Beach Seashore Marathon, which I ran in 2013…

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Website:  Rehoboth Beach Seashore Marathon. 

Size: 2,900 runners for all races.  There is a half the same day as the full.

Location:  Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

Time of Year:  Saturday in early December.  I ran this race the weekend of my 28th birthday.

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Rock N Roll New Orleans 2012 (Marathon Number 7, State Number 6–Louisiana)

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I’m still trying to catch up with race recaps for the races I’ve completed in the past.  Earlier posts covered the Atlanta Marathon, the Marine Corps Marathon, the Virginia Creeper Marathon, the Nashville Country Music Marathon, the Baltimore Marathon, and the Harrisburg Marathon.  Next up…  my recap and review for the Rock N Roll (Mardi Gras) New Orleans Marathon!

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Website: Rock ‘N Roll New Orleans Marathon.

Location:  New Orleans, Louisiana. 

Time of Year: Sunday in February.

Size: 12,000 runners across events, including a half marathon.

Weather and What I Wore:  It was great running weather–clear skies, not windy, comfortable temperature.  I wore too-short shorts (which came back to haunt me, and necessitated handfuls of Vaseline as a I neared the end of the race), a short sleeved tech tee, and a hat.  I started with a long sleeved tee on top but ended up with it tied around my waist for most of the run.

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Harrisburg Marathon 2011 and 2013 (Marathons Number 6 and 10, State Number 5–Pennsylvania)

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This is a nice little race.  So nice that I’ve done it twice and would probably do it again.   Here is my recap of the Harrisburg Marathon.

Website: Aspire Harrisburg Marathon.

Location: Harrisburg, PA.  Begins on City Island.

Size: About 700 full marathoners, joined by a small contingent of relayers.

Time of Year and Weather: November. Both times I ran, the weather was great for running, although a bit cold at the start.  Luckily there is no waiting around necessary before the start.  Towards the end of the race, running in the sun along the water, I wanted to shed all of my layers. But then once I finished, I wanted them all back.

En route to Harrisburg, PA.

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Baltimore Marathon 2011 (Marathon Number 5, State Number 4–Maryland)

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Here is my recap and review of the Baltimore Marathon.

Website:  Baltimore Marathon

Time of Year:  October, which is a very lovely time of year in the mid-Atlantic.  I recall having great weather.

Logistics:  Getting to Baltimore is very easy via air (flying into BWI) or Amtrak if you do not live within driving distance.  Packet pickup was in the city–very easy.  I stayed with a friend in the city the night before the race, but there are tons of hotel options.  The race starts and finishes as Camden Yards–again, super easy.  Walk to the start!  (Yesssss.) Also, Camden Yards is pretty and fun.

Swag: I cannot emphasize this enough.  REQUEST A MEN’S SHIRT.  The women’s cut did NOT work on me.  Maybe it has been improved?  Better to just stick with the guys.  But otherwise, YAYLONGSLEEVEDTECHTEEMYFAVORITE.

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Rock N Roll Nashville/Country Music Marathon (Marathon Number 4, State Number 3–Tennessee)

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Country Music Marathon, 2011

Website: (Now Called) St. Jude Rock N Roll Nashville Marathon.

Size: 30,000 runners across all events (full, half, 5K).

Time of Year/Weather/What I Wore: Saturday at the end of April.  My weekend was quite warm, so be prepared.  I was nervous about overheating but drank ample water and sports drinks, and I ate ice and put it down my sports bra.  It was fine.

Race Logistics: This race is easily accessible via air, being in big city Nashville.  Just fly in if needed and Uber about as necessary.  Start and finish are conveniently located downtown.  There are lots of hotels nearby and lots of restaurants and attractions within walking distance of the race and the hotels.  It is nice that the race was on a Saturday, so runners could go out on Saturday night and relax around town on Sunday before heading out.

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