This was the race that caused me to set a goal to run all
fifty states! I decided to take a
trip to visit a good friend from high school in Alaska, a place I had always
dreamed of traveling (and maybe living someday). When we began to look at dates and schedule the trip, I
realized there was a half marathon in Anchorage around the time I would be
there. I considered preparing for
and running a full, but decided that traveling across the continent then
running 26 miles would make me a little nervous. I was also a little concerned that running 26 miles might
hinder my legs for the hiking, climbing, and adventuring I had planned for the
remainder of the trip.
The morning of the race was cool, a pleasant change from the
North Carolina heat I left behind.
The race ran through parts of the city of Anchorage before heading past
the airport and turning onto trails.
My favorite view was when we passed the airport. There was a UPS plane taking off next
to us as we ran down a gentle hill.
As I looked down the hill, I saw a sea of runners moving together below
a horizon of snow-capped mountains.
Shortly after this point, we turned onto a section of trail,
cut through the woods, and then ended up on the Coastal Trail, a paved path
that runs along the Cook Inlet.
The trail reminded me of the greenways I often run in Raleigh, although
instead of looking out over Shelley Lake, I looked across the water and saw the
peaks of the Kenai Mountains rising out of the water. It was strange to run a path that felt familiar to my feet
with views so different from what I have at home.
The final quarter mile of the race was around a high school
track. It was a perfect ending to
a great race, and the best beginning to 10 days filled with hiking, camping,
canoeing, microbrews, and wildlife.
