Introduction

A couple years after getting into long distance running, I decided to try to run a half-marathon or marathon in each state. After crossing off my fifth state, I recounted the race to my sister. As I described the hills, puddles, cows, lightning, thunder, and cornfields, she suggested that I begin a blog about my experiences and races. While it’s hard to imagine the many different races running together, I could see how it might happen. So, I looked back in my mind (and with the help of my t-shirt drawer) am going to document my runs through all 50 states. End of 2015 update: 16 states done!

3/16/2014

Tobacco Road Marathon (NC), March 16th, 2014


When I dropped to the half in Kiawah, I knew I needed to get another full on the calendar to bounce back to.  Tobacco Road was perfect, I’d run it before and knew the course.  There was also a discount good until December 31st so I jumped on it and signed up!

Early January I was finally able to get back into running, almost pain free.  I found running on the treadmill on a slight incline to be my new favorite (ie painless) workout.  Austin came and went and I was suddenly a month away from Tobacco Road.  As the race grew closer I realized I might have bitten off more than I could chew, not having known how long it would take to get my mileage back and not entirely comfortable with the long runs I got in.

Race morning I was not expecting anything big.  After traveling to many races, it was nice to sleep in my own bed and be familiar with the race start in the morning.  This was comforting knowing I wasn’t as comfortable in knowing what to expect from my legs in terms of the race.  After a prerace nap in the car I lined up at the start as relaxed as I have ever been before 26.2.  I decided to start out easy with my goal being to finish.  If I hit a wall and needed to walk, I would.  Twelve miles in I felt great, I was running a little faster than I expected, but I didn’t think it would last for long.  I continued waiting to hit a wall for the next 10 miles before I realized in might not happen.  Before I knew it I was turning off the trail to run the last few miles back to the finish, without hitting the long awaited wall or slowing down significantly.

Somehow I finished within a minute of my marathon PR.  As many of my races have been, this one was a lesson.  I learned the importance of being relaxed on race morning and how well things can turn out when I just sit back and listen to what my body tells me.

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