Boston Marathon

April 20, 2026

Representing my hometown race shirt

After a nine year hiatus, a return to Boston for the 130th year of the marathon becomes my realty. While the training block in 2025 is successful and results in a personal best qualifying time for the race, the training blocks leading up to the 2026 race is anything but successful. Sometimes life and the physical body are not on the same page. If only good intentions were enough for actual positive outcomes.  A minor dental surgery in June requires no running for five weeks to allow for proper healing. Five weeks is just enough time to be a roadblock to peak conditioning especially when the hot summer months leads to a loss in motivation to get out on the steaming hot asphalt roads in the Central Valley. A  crack in motivation undermines my streak of dedicated discipline. It happens, "fall down seven times get up eight."

had to document this crazy term "elite"

After running a tune up marathon in February in preparation for Mt Charleston's April BQ attempt, my faster than usual time grants me a free entry. Thanks to my senior age, the May's Fargo Marathon in North Dakota and the California Santa Rosa Marathon in late August are comped. My husband and I laugh out loud at this "elite" status as I shuffle through the both Marathons. Weeks of little to no running can derail any runner especially those on the backside of life. Once again I find myself back to "begin again" status. While I enjoy the race, my performance is less than stellar.

The last 10 miles of the Santa Rosa Marathon is most definitely a slug fest. As long as we can keep smiling through races, it is all good.

Still finding it funny

I bust out the motivational speeches with dramatic music that several other struggling runners laugh and appreciate. In the later miles I catch up to my husband and holler at him to keep running when he wants to walk. He does keep running and he leaves me in the dust beating me to the finish. The race closes the book on our marathon journey for 2025 with four full marathons completed. We enjoy a family vacation in September on the Island of Maui thanks to Mom. It is a gorgeous resort right on the water with the best sunsets.

A favorite family trip.

This view never gets old!

We spend so much time on the beach and soak in the warm waters. Hawaii is the best way to recover from lots of running. Such a nice reward. Still under the false pretense that a normal training cycle will begin in January with my sights set for faster 2026...  

The new year doesn't start as expected, however. Along with our return to marathons, our yard is getting updates in my spare time. My big toe unfortunately lost in a  run-in with a concrete birdbath. The swelling prevents shoe wearing for several weeks and more delays to the Boston training block. No need to worry there is still time to be ready or so I think. My daughter and have a 1/2 marathon on the schedule for the end of February and with limited miles logged I make it to the start line with her.

Running is so much fun when you share the road with family. Although she beats me by a lot, I am feeling more confide that I may be able to salvage my training block if I have some solid weeks in March and April. Monday, after the half, I catch a bug that lasts and lasts and lingers even further. There goes another three weeks of training. At one point I contemplate canceling my hotel and just losing out on my the entry fee, but the airplane tickets are are already purchased.  As March comes to a close I log one half and one painful 16 miler that will have to suffice for my training. The best laid plans sometimes go astray.

Once reconciled in my mind that we are going to Boston, the only thing that can be done is enjoy the experience and give it my best efforts. We make it easy on ourselves and leave from the close airport requiring a stopover in Dallas. It is hit and miss with thunderstorms common in April. Luckily, we have a smooth flight with no delays or issues. The opportunity to watch three movies on the plane quickly passes the time. We also splurge and stay at the Langham Hotel.

Saturday is mostly a travel day, but once we check into the hotel, we have some time to make our way to the finish line before it gets dark.

It is an unwritten rule...runners must go to the finish line and take a picture before race day. Especially to soak up all the excitement and nervous energy of all fellow runners.

Sunday is expo day. It is busy at the expo as usual. They have so many volunteers directing as it is a well oiled machine herding runners on where to go. A few things have changed since the last time. Runners must have a QR code to pick up bibs. I didn't have mine loaded to my phone so I could not get my bib until I got it. The helpful volunteer assisted me on getting what I needed. Very exuberant volunteers are especially exited to cheer and ring the cowbell for first time runners. The expo didn't seem as big as previous years, but there a board to write a message for the runners and a list of participant names.

The Yellow Go is mine

Find Your Name

My main take away is immense gratitude for my health and that I am still able to pursue my running passions even when not at full capacity. While at the expo, Dave, the race director, is doing a question and answer segment with legacy runners who run Boston  every year. 

Dave on the left 

Dave, himself has not missed a year not even the year he had open heart surgery. This Boston is his 54th time completing the marathon. Dave concludes his segment with a message to all runners regardless of what issue or hardship we may face, "If you make it to the start line take a moment to be grateful!" I heed the message.

The Newton Hills

After some lunch we head back to the hotel to relax. We wear the plush hotel robes and slippers when we take advantage of the pool and hot tub along with several other runners with the same idea. For the prerace meal we need our umbrellas to walk to dinner.

We definitely need our big coats for this year's trip. It is bitterly cold for fair weather Californians. As our chilly day comes to an end, it's time to prepare for race morning. Sleep is still my hardest task of each day, but a pretty good night of sleep is another thing to count as a sweet blessing along with the quiet room.

Running Boston is an all day event. With an 11am start time and staying at a hotel walking distance to the buses allows for a  leisurely start to the day. My husband graciously walks with me to the bus line. I luck out and approach from the closest access point to the bus lines. There were three ways to get to the line and many runners waited two hours to get to the only actual access point. I am on the bus within twenty minutes. In previous years bus loading is as easy as walking up show bib and get on the bus. This year runners approach one staging area from three points. Once near the announcer each runner is directed to stand in a yellow square before runners are assigned a bus line to walk to and board. I end up sitting next to a runner from New York with a red bib which means he should already be at the village staging area. The 45 minute bus ride always go by so quickly as runners share run stories. Jeremy is a new fast runner this being his first Boston. After running the New York  City Marathon twice both times under three hours he easily qualifies for Boston. I eat my two slices of cinnamon  raisin toast and banana while we chat. As soon as we arrive he says he has to bolt for the bathroom and then start line. I let him know to go straight to the start line that there will be bathrooms right before the corrals with no waiting in lines.

My slice of heavenly sunshine

Runners must wear disposable clothes to athletes village since bag drop in not allowed. I wear three layers of clothing and part with my Bakersfield Marathon sweatshirt and two zip up jackets from my closet. Many runners hit up Goodwill for items to stay warm. I bought a men's fleece lined jacket at Costco for five bucks in January with staying warm in Boston under the tent in mind. But it becomes my favorite stay warm work in the yard winter jacket. Nonetheless, it is interesting to see the outfits runners have on to stay warm. 

Always seeking the sunshine

I am not nervous, instead I am relishing the experience. I search out a place to sit along the thousands of bodies and I find my perfect corner spot just under the tent.  Like a cat who finds the rays of sunshine shining through the window blinds in a room, I pounce and seize the perfect place to wait for my wave time.  I am not cold as the perfect day unfolds, sunshine with a chill in the air and a tailwind to chase us all back to Boston. Soaking in my surroundings, appreciation for the grandness of the day is the pervasive feeling.

GU or Candy bar

I do not have unrealistic goals for the run, today. I definitely want to be well under five hours and as close to four hours as possible. The facts are the facts, run outcomes are determined by the training preparation. After enjoying a Milky Way with 240 calories of prerace energy, I get in line for the porta potties. It is the least fun part of the day. My wave is called and I make the almost mile walk to the start line walking through the streets of Hopkinton. I should have listened to the advice I gave my bus partner as I stopped for a second potty break right before entering the corral and of course no lines. 

This in not the pacer...just a fellow runner

I run into a fellow pacer from Eureka as we are getting into the same corral. She is the only person I know that is running this year. I am the only one running Boston from my city, usually there are several as we have an active run community. As a green wave runner I get into corral 2 and I am surrounded by blue bibs and yellow bibs. These are the runners that sadly waited in the hour to two hour bus lines and missed their respective start times. Now they will be weaving around slower runners. Bus loading I image will be the biggest compliant by runners in the survey they send to us after the race. Putting all the problems of the world aside, it is time to start running the iconic Boston Marathon.

I have been so chill and nonchalant that I forget to turn my watch on. I frantically turn it on and wait for it to connect to GPS...the gun is about to go off and it is still not ready. We all start walking to the start line and I am quietly saying to myself wait wait my watch isn't ready yet. Just as I reach the mat it clicks on and I am ready to run.

Of course the goal is not to go out too fast to prevent dying in the last half, but let's be real I am going to die in the the second half regardless. With only one long run under my belt since August of 2025 expectations are in check. The marathon never disappoints. It is a thrill for any runner to be celebrated and cheered nonstop for 26.2 miles. I have lots of Gu in my pocket and the goal is to take them often to keep my energy up. I drink water and electrolytes often in an attempt to ward of the dreaded wall. The first ten miles are wooded less populated area with a lake around mile nine and yet there are still plenty of people lining the road to cheer us all on. Patriot's Day has to be the most memoriable and special day of the year for residents and participants. The holiday is an excuse to celebrate random strangers.

The first half of my run is ticking along fairly well. It is fun to hear the girls of Wellesley a half mile before we actually see them screaming and cheering at mile 12. My goal is to get a sub 2 hour half split. I barely break 2 hours with a time of 159:44 and as soon as my feet hit the timing mat my body immediately slows down.

It's a relief to be halfway through the race and to ease up for the second half as the struggle against fatigue begins. I am so glad I chose to wear my slay the trail shirt. I must have heard slay, slay the trail over 200 times. The spectators are just as much a part of the race with their tremendous enthusiasm. The cheers, encouragement, signs and high fives pull even the weariest  among us through some of the roughest miles. Spectators single out runners to personalize their cheers and it is appreciated more than they realize. I want to thank every person who yelled at me to "slay" it helped so much. The Newton Hills were actually hilly. It has been years and I didn't remember how challenging the five miles of rolling hills actually are. When properly trained they are not nearly as tough.

This section of the race is as bad for me as the quality of this picture. Even my phone camera is tired and barely functioning. I staggered through miles 18 to 21 in a daze and tried the GU provided by the race which was so disgusting I couldn't stomach it. Once I descended Heartbreak hill at Mile 21 I surged a bit at least the pace picked up slightly for a few miles. I keep working to reach the infamous Citgo sign.

Only 1 mile to go...

The crowds are awesome as always. The streets are lined and packed beyond packed which makes runners want to try harder. The last push is climbing up the Commonwealth underpass. It takes runners away from the crowd before summitting that final hill and reaching the "right on Hereford" and "left onto Boylston."

The final stretch down Boylston is exciting and yet seems to take forever to step on that finish line with my regular shoes. They are not the springy shoes that everyone seems to be wearing, touting to cut 30 seconds off each mile. They are run of the mill running shoes that carry me through; in spite of tying my shoelace to tightly on the left foot. At one point I thought about sitting down in some empty lawn chairs I spot along the challenging Newton Hill section...actually the pain become quiet noise in my mind after 8 miles of throbbing.

The thrill of victory and the agony of the feet. It is an addicting feeling to be apart of the Boston Marathon. I understand why so many come back year after year.  Shhhh...don't tell my husband, but I would not mind being one of the legacy runners that only requries 9 more in a row. Hopefully we will return when my husband gets his qualifying time possibly 2028. Now it is time to celebrate. My husband has lugged around my clothes and jacket for 4:22:27 and he deserves a burger and a beer at Cheers. It will be his second trip there today as he ate there earlier while waiting for me after watching the professional runners come through hours before.

The bar is full of excited runners and Bostonians enjoying the energy of the day together. Locals are so friendly and warm and fun to converse with while enjoying a few brews. We know the drill by now eat and enjoy because once we walk back to the hotel there will be little incentive to go out again.  After a hot shower we make our way back to the hot tub to soak achy muscles. An extra day in Boston allows for shopping. I buy myself extra Boston apparel something I rarely do...afterall tomorrow is never promised and we never know when our final run will be. A Boston trip is not complete without some Regina's pizza before heading to the airport.

It has been three weeks since my Boston run and I can attest that the marathon blues is a real thing. My normal solution is to put something else on the calendar. I try to talk my daughter into running the San Diego Marathon at the end of the month, but thankfully I come to my senses. For now, I am enjoying the rest and my body needs some much needed healing in my (left hamstring). My mind and soul need some healing from the tragic loss of Charlie Kirk. His death has a profound affect on our world in ways that are yet to be seen. In the meantime I will continue working in my yard and continue appreciating life.

.
 

                 FARGO MARATHON...AGAIN

 North Dakota

May 31, 2025

On the drive home, coming off the high of running down Mt. Charleston, I plant the idea of running one more marathon in my husband's brain. He had high hopes of attaining his BQ on the downhill too, but a severe calf cramp at mile 18 ended his dream for that day. I don't want his rigorous training schedule to go to waste. If we jump back into maintenance he may be able to capitalize on the last training cycle.  We remember loving the Fargo Marathon back in 2017. It started and ended inside the Fargodome and the course was filled with  many cheering residents along tree lined streets and many loud cheering students throughout the campus of the two colleges we traversed. Once home I put that out of my mind and focus on recovery and getting back to regular gym workouts. It takes a few weeks to fully recover from the muscle tears and the stress the marathon puts on the body especially the "older body!"  

Lots of miles with tree canopies

Out of the blue my husband, a few weeks later, lets me know that I qualify for a free entry with my time from Mt. Charleston and he wants to give Fargo a try. Hot damn, we are back in business and switch back into marathon mode.  He does more intense runs as I struggle with a hamstring strain and tight IT band. Lots of things have changed since 2017 the flight and hotel are more expensive as well as the rental car, but we are committed to giving that elusive BQ attempt another shot. Five weeks is not a lot of time. I concentrate on my recovery and finishing a front yard project while my husband focuses on his running.

A few travel hiccups later we make it to Fargo ready to run through the city once again. It happens to be the 50 States Marathon reunion event. We strike up a conversation with the club founder at the expo and he tells us to come to the meeting. We were never formally presented our award for completing the 50 states challenge and they want to make it official six years later. We decide to go and it is fun to hear other runners talk about their 50 states journey and share about ours too.

The good old days

Without further ado race morning is upon us. No noisy hotel hallways to disrupt sleep, we awake ready to run. The second time around isn't quite as special, there were no guest speakers at the expo (Dave the Boston Marathon race director was amazing and inspirational in 2017) and the race starts outside the Fargodome there will be no jumbotrom photo finish to watch runners cross the finish line from inside the stadium. The delicious pizza and Nutbutter cookies as the finish line reward is replaced with a banana and a bag of pretzels, but that is later first we have to run the miles.

Since I have the free entry I have to start with the front pack, my time will be all gun time no chip timing for me, so I want to get as close to the front as possible without interfering with the serious runners. I know based on my hamstring strain I will not be going for a PR just a run around town. My husband elects to start with the 3:50 pacers but they are clearly way under pace and going out too fast, he eventually paces himself. The goal once he passes me at the start is to not see him again until the finish. If I catch up to him that's not a good sign. We don't have ideal weather conditions for running. It is unusually hot and the air is filled with smoke from the Canadian fires. Heat is not my husband's friend. 

The race lost its longtime race director in 2023, he was tragically killed while riding his bike and the race and community lost a hometown hero. The race was taken over by a running event company although Mark can never be replaced the event is still good it is just not the same. The special touches and atmosphere can't be replicated without someone who knows and loves the town and the event. The marathon date moved to the end of May which eliminates the enthusiasm of running through the colleges without any students. The tree lined streets are sparely splattered with people. Where are all the people having neighborhood block parties? Where are the fireball shots? The bands and music are more like one man operations and a few ladies blasting music on their car stereo, but those that do come out are greatly appreciated. That's is the thing about life nothing stays the same, we just roll with the punches and appreciate what any day gives us. Waking up is the blessing and that can never be taken for granted.

Talking makes you forget the struggle

My running is slow, the bounce I had in my step at the beginning of the last marathon is a mere memory. My pace is considerably slower and I am struggling along at mile five we run through a brand new neighborhood with beautiful homes and I catch up to the four hour pacer. I tuck in with them. Once we are back to the tree lined streets I ask a man if he is having fun yet. The best way to gain strength is through shared torment. We run together for approximately four to five miles. Conversation helps the time pass and it always has a way of increasing my pace. Those miles end up being my fastest miles of the day. As I approach the halfway mark, I see my husband heading back after the turnaround. His head is down so that is not a good indication of things to come.  I don't want to catch him...

Well, I catch him at the bell tower, he is having trouble with his groin. That's the thing about running you just never know when your body will refuse to cooperate with your plans. The body has plans of its own. Sadly, I have to let him go we decided long ago that we each have to run our own races. The journey is a battle between what the mind wants and what the body with tolerate. Sometimes the mind wins and we overcome and sometimes the body wins and we relent.

I am battling my own mind, currently I am under the belief that the first half was a struggle, but now I am feeling better and I think I can go for a negative split in the second half. Now would be the time to laugh out loud.  Lofty goals mid-run are truly funny. Something happens to our minds when we run and sometimes we believe the impossible is possible if only for a moment. That idea quickly dissipates in the waning miles. The final goal is to pick up my leg put it back down and pick up the other leg and put it down without letting my body persuade my mind into slowing down or even worse...walking. The few neighbors out in the final miles keep me going. A few homeowners have their hoses out to cool off runners and I did spot one Elvis singing his heart out. We are serenaded with the bagpipers at the Veteran's Memorial and the final run through the downtown section displaying the iconic Fargo sign. 

All in all it is a good marathon run. The celebration at the end is lackluster. Runners must walk all the way across the street to wait in a long line to get their free beer at the Buffalo Wild Wings...pass. We hobble back to the car to shower at the hotel before hitting up the Lucky 13 bar where the entire bar is participating in Bingo. We elect to eat and enjoy a beer minus the bingo. The pub crawl to earn another medal is no longer in existence and we aren't up for five beers anyway. After a visit to the Welcome Center to get a picture with the original woodchipper used in the movie Fargo, we hit up Culver's for a turtle sundae with extra fudge. The perfect nightcap to our little North Dakota adventure.

A week after our return my husband opens up the sliding glass door and yells out to me while I am watering the fruit trees..."They will give you a free entry to the Santa Rosa Marathon" and since it is national run day he gets a twenty percent discount off his entry. I guess he is ready to go for that BQ attempt one more time before the 2026 sign-ups begin in September. I love his fighting spirit, if at first you do not succeed Try Try Again.   And isn't that what life is all about learning, growing, striving and never giving up. Every day is another chance to dream a new dream, accomplish goals and relish new opportunities. Life is not a dress rehearsal get out there and make the most of it.

That's way too big a beer for an old lady

 Revel Marathon

Mt. Charleston, Nevada 

April 5th 2025

     Here we go! What a difference a year can make. One year and three days ago my husband and I were in a rut. He retired and we settled into slowing down and getting old. This however, did not feel quite right. I know deep down there is still more to accomplish and more life to live. The time has come to get after it and so we got after it. Our thirty days of healthy eating and exercise turns into a year of milestones. Shedding pounds leads to setting new goals and striving to accomplish those goals.

     The target race is Two Cities, but others are thrown in as tune ups and training runs and Revel Mt. Charleston is also added as a fast downhill potential BQ race. We ran it in 2019 and know it has 21 miles of downhill before it flattens for the last five miles. Initially, my husband is interested in the Big Bear race in November instead of Two Cities, good thing we ruled it out as it gets canceled on race day to due to snow. We register for Two Cities and Mt Charleston at the same time to have races on the calendar forcing us to stay committed to our objectives of fitness and good health. 

     After the jubilation of qualifying for Boston at Two Cities in November, life quiets and we enjoy the holidays. We taper our training to maintenance miles. We keep our running base and gym schedule, but also allow our bodies to rest and recover before ramping back up for Mt. Charleston. In January, the thought of a twenty mile long run around town does not sound too fun, hence the search for a marathon in February. The options are limited. I suggest Surf City, but my husband vetoes that idea.  My husband dislikes the monotonous long out and back on the highway at Surf City, yet five loops of the American River with mud and roots and unstable footing is not somehow monotonous. At least we add something different to our repertoire. 

     My race time at Jed Smith is disappointing, my legs just run out of gas. After taking time to recover from the race, it is time to dial in our training runs in preparation for Mt. Charleston. I haven't been this hyped to run in a long time. We incorporate speed work and weekly miles at Rocky Hill. Hill work is crucial for a successful downhill race. Clocking a 6:55 on one of my downhill miles gives me an extra boost of confidence. The last time I ran that fast I was in my thirties. Maintaining my forty pound weight loss is key to my training this time around. Instead of yoyoing my weight remains steady. The overall change to our diet is transformational.  That is not to say we have a perfect diet, we still indulge on holidays, birthdays and special occasions, but eliminating seed oils and focusing on protein, fruits and vegetables makes a profound difference.

     This year on my husband's birthday he is wearing 31 jeans instead of 36 that he squeezed into last year. For him giving up packaged cookies and cereal is the secret to his success. Focusing on whole foods and eliminating processed foods has made a tremendous impact on our overall health. Too bad it took us so long to figure it out. This year's birthday cupcakes are homemade, no store bought frosting full of junk ingredients. We snack on fruits and vegetables instead of chips and dips. Feeling fit is the best gift we can give ourselves.

    Surprisingly, as marathon day approaches I feel good. There are no aches and pains and my IT band is not full of inflammation for once. The Tuesday before race day I run my predictive five miler. The 40:22 indicts a sub 3:45 marathon, but there are never any guarantees. Taper time is always good and bad time. It is nice to cut out lots of miles, but not as fun to reduce calorie intake with less running.  A spin class on Wednesday, a walk on Thursday and we are ready to drive to Vegas on Friday. My mom joins us on the trip so she can visit my brother and his family. Once in Vegas she hops on a shuttle to Mesquite and we head to the expo. 

Revel is a great marathon organization. The expo is a fun experience. The highlight is listening to coach Paul's advice on how to tackle the downhill course. With seven years of experience running the race he has many helpful tips. Mainly, he says to use gravity as our friend. He recommends starting slow with the first .43 being uphill and high attitude and then to let off the brake and pound down the hill for 21 miles. Mile 5 being the only exception with a uphill portion. After getting our bib and shirt we head to our hotel in Summerlin near the bus loading area. Many people like to stay in Vegas which also has a bus to the start for an extra fee, but we prefer to stay off the strip.

     Diet rules go out the window the day before the marathon. We have a hamburger for protein at lunch and pizza for a carb loading at dinner. We find a surprisingly good pizza place called Lino's in a strip mall. We elect to go the hot tub to loosen our muscles, but the jets are more of a bubbler than a jet. We do talk with four young guys who are hoping to BQ, they need a sub 3:00 to qualify. I share the information from the run coach. They are hesitant to bank time, but it really isn't banking, it is running at race effort and less effort is required on 3-5%  grade. I should have asked their names to see how they all did.

     Now, the challenging part of the day, sleep. With a 3 a.m. alarm set I am hoping for at least two hours of sleep. Me and hotel noise always have a way of finding each other. I turn on a podcast and beckon sleep. My husband is out cold until the hall noise begins. Loud talking, laughing and running down the hall causes him to bolt up. I get to the door before him and nicely ask the fifteen girls who are living their best lives, if they can quiet down. Is the second floor hallway really the best place for Friday night fun.

     Thankfully, I do manage a few hours sleep and awake before the alarm. I haven't been this excited to be up before three in the morning in a long time. We pack up as if we are preparing for the North Pole.  Two pairs of gloves, ear warmers, beanie and a parka. Once at the bus parking area we elect to pass up on the school buses and wait for the charter buses at the back of the line.  A few other runners have the same idea. A few of us keep moving to the back of the line to avoid having to get on the regular school buses. Once the school buses depart we hop back into the line and get the front row seat of the second charter. We board the bus at 4:13 and enjoy the peaceful comfy ride to the top of the mountain. Once at the top the buses one by one move until they reach the drop off zone where we are supposed to get off. By 5:35 we are still on the bus. Our driver is waiting for the okay for us to be let off. Runners begin to get antsy and demand to be let off. Our driver gets upset and starts saying the F word ten times which is ten times funnier in a Chinese accent. Apparently the bus in front broke down. There is momentary chaos, but before anarchy sets in he finally lets us off the bus twenty minutes before the start. The need for our North Pole attire is totally unnecessary. As I am second in line for the potty the announcer states last call for bag drop. I don't want to donate my warm winter coat so I run to bag drop forgetting to take off my running beanie and ear warmers before running back to get in line again for the potties. I donate the items I forget to put in my drop bag.

    Amazingly, we make it to the start area before the official start, but wait for the pack to clear out before we begin, 2,678 people is a lot to navigate in a congested start area. The beginning is just as I remember, hard.  It is hard to breathe and hard to run, but I just need to remind myself it is less than half a mile before the gravitational pull shifts in my favor.

     I quickly regret the fanny pack that I haven't used in years. It isn't tight enough around my waist and is bouncing around like crazy. The first few miles although fast are a struggle with my fanny pack flopping below my fanny. I try to focus on getting into a rhythm and enjoy the scenery. At mile five the parking lot uphill loop is the perfect time to walk and make some adjustments. Taking off my jacket and putting the fanny pack over the jacket eliminates the bouncing and frees my mind to focusing on running. It is also the first aid station for water and electrolytes. The wind is so strong that the cups are flying out of the trash cans creating a symphony of dancing cups as we run. It is one of the craziest things I have heard on a marathon run. 

    Finally, at mile six, I settle in to my stride and start to feel good the miles effortlessly fly by. It feels amazing to be lost in the moment. Most runners around me seem to be in the same Zen space gliding down a mountain with ease. There is no labored breathing coming from me or those around me. A rare magical race is unfolding. Coach Paul said to lock it in at mile six and don't let up until mile 21 and that is what I do. These kind of days are few and far between and must be relished. The only annoying things is having to pee, but I refuse to waste a minute or two of my potential PR time on a potty stop. Shortly after the halfway mark the need to pee dissipates and I no longer have to look it see if there are lines at the potties. Even as the grade lessens I keep reminding myself it is downhill capitalize on it. At mile 17 I start to feel a blister forming on the bottom of both feet. I went round and round about wearing the new pair or the old reliable less cushioned pair. I chanced the new pair for more cushion and tell myself suck it up I don't care how bad it gets, I will run through it. When I hit mile 21, the tough part begins. The blister pain is no longer the focus and the count down begins. The time isn't passing nearly as quickly and the effortlessness is gone. The magic of  the mountain shifts to getting past the 3/4 mile uphill section called "Just Get Over It" mile 23. As I am running mile 23 I keep thinking the hill is coming at mile 24. So as I am powering through the get over it mile it is a pleasant reward to realize the uphill section is done. Mile 24 is actually flat and somewhat downhill. The last two miles are where I completely fell apart in 2019. It reached 87 degrees that day and I began the bargaining of if I run a tenth I can walk a tenth.  It feels so good today to run strong through this section and pass a few people doing the walk run shuffle. When I finally hit the 26 mile marker I know it is going to be a new PR and hang on for the final turn before the homestretch on an incline. I am unable to push that final .20 because I must have left it all on the road behind me and that is all you can ask of yourself. Crossing the finish line is glorious. A year of hard work pays off.

     The weather, the downhill, and the training coalesce into a new personal record. Eight being the theme of the day, my PR at age 58 is now eight minutes faster last broken eight years ago. Once across the finish line, my legs immediately tighten, I take a medal and a water as I seek a place to sit, ground, curb or chair in the medical tent. Let's go medical tent. As I comfortably recuperate I check my watch for my mile paces. My watch indicates four new records fastest 5k 23:26, fastest 10k 48:32, fastest 1/2 1:44:03 and fastest marathon 3:37:22. 

Revel puts on a great runners race. Photos are included in the entry along with a personalized video (still waiting for that). Their downhill courses rank as the top five BQ qualifying courses.  An artificial intelligence analysis of your race effort is also available on the results page.

After our fun run down Mt. Charleston we hobble to the buses to return to the parking lot. Downhill races are twice as painful afterwards. It's the price that must be paid for the effortless euphoric ride down the mountain. We marathon shuffle back to our hotel room and collapse. If not for hunger we may have crawled in bed for the night, but we make it to the hotel diner for a much needed burger and fries before  going straight back to bed. While many running celebrate at pool parties and fancy dinners our greatest reward is sleep and sleep we finally get. Awaking at nine a.m. is a shocking surprise thanks to no hall noise and blackout curtains. Now we are off to Mesquite to celebrate my brother's birthday, but not before a quick stop for a Krispy Kreme donut. My husband has severe calf cramps in the last few mile of his race and he is having a difficult time walking. When we arrive at my brother's house my husband gets so much sympathy and compassion as he struggles to walk and get up and down.

    We enjoy a delicious meal at my brother's favorite restaurant Gregory's. It is the best way to celebrate my brother and the food is amazing. My mom has to go every times she visits. Now that we are home and my husband is healed from his soreness and I recover from a week of the flu...we must contemplate our next big goal.  It is important to always be working for and striving toward something...

also some cat sitting my grand kitties