Marathon State #34 Grand Island, Nebraska

Nebraska State Fair Marathon

August 26, 2017

Wow...where does time go!  It seems like it was just January, the dawn of a new year, and I look up and it is the end of August already!  After taking a run respite for most of the summer...the build up for a late summer marathon is dismal at best. My longest run is 13 miles with lots of walking.  How will the run feel after so much down time.  Grueling travel, a disappointing build up to our spring marathons and the slowest Boston finish results in the need to rest. We impose a  moratorium on running allowing ourselves time to regroup and regain momentum to finish the states strong. The summer is filled with mini travel junkets of the non-marathon variety! Trips to the sunny beach, breezy coast, cool mountains and an Ed Sheeran concert provide time to recharge from the monotony of training on the same roads over and over again...

While exploring the Central Coast I discover my new spirit animal, "The Elephant Seal." My old spirit animal the "Sloth" is just a bit too cute. These large mammals fit my personality and proclivity for spending enormous amounts of time lying on the beach and filling my gullet. Gorging and lounging are my specialties. At least my spirit animal seems  happy living in my favorite place, the ocean and participating in my favorite activity, eating! What can be better!



Oh, how sweet it is...not having a set run schedule. It is nice to be lazy. Sadly, all good things must come to an end.
Break time is over...but who am I kidding laziness is a flaw I've yet to overcome! With 17 marathons left to run through the GOOD OLD USA,  motivation is required to get back on the road.  I am not getting any younger and time waits for no one.  Off we must go to the hot flat lands of Nebraska... Hopefully the weather will grant some mercy on my heat hating under-trained husband.  

Our journey to Nebraska is off to a good start, the bed gets made before we leave. My daughter tells me it makes coming home so much nicer. The drive is an easy one without any traffic issues. In and Out even lets us in to order our lunch at 10:03 am, normally they open at 1030 At least we can say we are #1 at something.  Our super affordable Spirit flight is surprisingly pleasant arriving

25 minutes early! The 39 dollar car rental for four days almost makes the drive to Grand Island worthwhile. The only negative of the day is not finding something good for dinner.  We end up with a chicken sandwich with very little chicken. All the places in St. Joseph seem to close early. After finding an open sandwich shop the cook serves up cold mashed potatoes and toasted ciabatta bread with a hint of chicken.  At least the pool and spa at the motel stays open until 11 pm and we have to ourselves...

Friday morning comes way too soon as the sun peaks through the slightly open blinds. Before leaving St. Joseph, Missouri~the birth place of the Pony express and the place where Jesse James' life ends~knowledge we gain at the Patee House Museum. It served as a luxurious hotel and the headquarters for the Pony Express among other things. The Pony Express lasted a mere 18 months in the early 1860's and cost five dollars per ounce to send a letter. 

St. Joseph, Missouri was the last railway stop to the west. In order to continue further to the wild west, people had to rough it on a stage coach. Travelers were only allowed forty pounds of luggage and had to abandon travel trunks.  

The St. Joseph Railroad was the first in the nation to extend west.  The Pony Express delivered mail to Sacramento via horse and rider before it became obsolete.

 

A rider was paid fifty dollars per month to deliver the mail on horseback. One of the rider's (Charlie) lived to be 103 years old.

Next door to the museum is Jesse James last home.  He bought the house and lived under the assumed name (Tom Howard) with his wife, two children and mother.  He was killed by Bob Ford, a member of his own gang, for 10,000 dollars. Ford shot Jesse as he straightened this picture. 

bullet hole 

Pony Express Route

After our informative tour it is back to the road.  My husband's DETOUR adds to our already long drive to Grand Island. He says, "It is only an extra thirty minutes!"  That's what he says anyway.  How can we pass up the opportunity to see one of the 8th geographically wonders of Kansas!

After an extra hour and thirty minutes...on lonely country roads with miles of corn and a crop we can't identify,  Soybeans, we finally make it to the Four State lookout! Apparently Iowa, Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska are all visible from the vista point! I bet it has been years since anyone set foot on the platform especially considering the drive to get there. We drive through a dilapidated town which my husband expertly informs me is the former home of the man who invented the "piggy bank," how have I lived fifty years without knowing that fun fact.  WOW, feeling lucky as we maneuver the poor little rental car up an isolated gravel road. It is definitely not your typical tourist trap! 

Location where Lewis and Clark crossed the Missouri River

It appears we are the only tourists to possibly attempt or even desire to reach the lookout in years! Not to worry though there is still another attraction to see...hold your breath...an Initial Meridian Point Monument!  

I let my husband relish the site all to himself! It is something only an engineer can truly appreciate. I wait in the car as he trudges across a bridge and climbs a steep trail with switch backs to see the magical marker!  As he runs back to the car drenched in sweat, I take his word for it

 a worthwhile stop!  Now, if we can only find our way back to the main highway...Oh crap the road is closed due to a bridge being out...do we have to go all the way back around?  "No no, my husband says there is a way around...we don't have to go back!"  After the fourth turn here...onto a road that no longer exists or has been abandoned...we finally find a way around the closed road, but not before a local stops us. He is sure we must need help!  Why in the heck else would anyone be out in the middle of nowhere. We thank him, but tell him we are not lost!  After following him for miles to the next stop sign, the Kansas man gets out of his car and asks again if we need directions!  He still can't believe we are intentionally out there.  "No sir, we really came out here just for the fun of it!"  After driving in and out of four different states I get a little salty with my husband, but at least he gets to see the geographical "wonder." I am definitely ready to get to Nebraska, please let me out of the car.  Although I am still working on being a better me...my best self  takes a little detour today too. My patience and frustration threshold is still in need of more work!  Sometimes finding the hidden gem is best left hidden and the road less traveled is less traveled for good reason...

In spite of it all I'm very grateful for the chance to travel though our vast country. We always learn new things and gain a greater appreciation for our many blessings and are ever so thankful to still have the ability to keep running...

Sometimes I do wonder why we keep pursuing the fifty states especially when sleep is in short supply...the smoke detector chirps all night. My husband takes it down from the ceiling as it continues to chirp. He puts it in the refrigerator and we still hear chirps.  Finally, after wrapping it in a towel and putting it back in the refrigerator it's silenced enough for us to sleep. When race morning ushers it way into the new day, all the challenges and irritations become irrelevant and the excitement of another run is all that matters.  The beauty of running is the escape it provides even if the escape is through miles and miles of corn fields.

Today's marathon begins at 6:30 am inside the State Fair as the runners help celebrate Nebraska's 150th year of statehood. It is definitely something different, but a good kind of different. The porta potties and bag drop are close with no lines and a short walk to the car to change makes coming back into the fairgrounds after the run easy. Admission is included with our race entry.
But first there is 26.2 miles to run. After a very moving prayer about strength and perseverance the national anthem is sung and we are off and
running. The first miles usually reveal how the race is likely to go.  Today, I am feeling quite well.  My body does not feel tired or rundown and my first mile is rather fast for me anyway.  I need to manage my speed considering the lack of miles under my belt, I do not want to crash and burn in the second half.  As the miles evaporate I still feel good. It is scary to say, but it feels easy! How can running be easy? Running strong with no struggling. Now to find out if it will last. Initially, we run through town until we reach a bike trail and lots and lots of corn crops. The water and aid stations do a great job of assisting runners. They even have lids and straws on the cups. Not sure about the straw at first, but hey it works...

As the miles tick by it is corn, crickets and me. Occasionally, I  pass a runner and some pass me. There are brief conversations, but it is a race with lots of reflection.  At mile seven a runaway horse gallops after runners. He may have jumped the fence and wants to run too, but now he is on the wrong side of the fence. As I run past he stands by his other horse friends.  The poor horse doesn't know what to do. That is the extent of excitement on the run. It reminds me of running back home in the Central Valley except we have more cattle ranches and our corn is grown for silage. Around mile ten we get a break from the corn and run through a park.  There are lots of high school age kids along the course clapping and encouraging runners. It is nice to see the community come out to support the event. Even though it seems like I am running alone there are lots of students scattered throughout the course and I never feel entirely alone or isolated. The half marathoners weave in and out of the marathon course too increasing the amount of people. It seem like I pass the same half marathon people over and over because I do. I enjoy "Ben, The One Man Band" as he sings about how the road is long, but the time is short.  After the park we run through a memorial park, one big loop before meandering through a college, back into a town section and running the perimeter of a cemetery at mile 15. The various students are still scattered about helping direct and block traffic along with police agencies. There is plenty to drink throughout the course and GU is available. The weather is forecast to be 87 degrees for a high and luckily there is a cloud cover, but it is quite humid.  As I reach mile 19 I begin the highway out and back section which feels endless. I much prefer the crickets and corn to the swoosh of cars.  It is a bit discouraging to see the runners coming back as I am still going out.  I just want to know at what mile the turnaround is so I can focus on reaching that point.  When the endless highway section finally veers to make a loop before circling back I am excited, but now I am running into the wind for four miles. It is hard to run into a headwind, but also good for the cooling factor.  It is really starting to get warm as I cross paths with my husband, he still has a long way to go and looks overheated.  As two guys catch up to me I try to stay with them. I pace behind them for a few miles until we  complete the highway section and turn to finish the final mile and a half. Sometimes the last mile takes forever. 

It helps to hear "almost there" and finally see the finish line.  Finishing under 3:54 makes me pretty happy with my limited training runs and I immediately need to sit as I grab a water bottle while plopping on the curb to recover.  A fellow runner strikes up a conversation with me about the race. He completed all 50 states under four hours~there is a club for that too~and now he is striving for 100 marathons. I also meet Kristy~super nice lady~we talk about running. We both actually place in our age groups and walk together to get our award before walking out to our cars to change.  She is actually from Grand Island, but lives in Iowa.  It is always nice to meet new people and share a running kinship. 

2nd Place

The sun shines bright for my husband's last three miserable miles. Heat is his nemesis, but he's happy to check off a new state too. The last minute trip ends up being a good little find...can't beat $110 dollar round trip airline tickets to Nebraska. Who passes that up!! After exploring the fair and tasting a few goodies we drive to Lincoln for the night. After soaking in the pool and hot tub, we find some good Mexican food before going to sleep early.  A good night sleep is never in the cards it seems when I finally give up.  The refrigerator and air conditioner noise combined with the thunder and lightening has me wide awake. It is difficult to sleep with achy joints anyway, but it doesn't keep my husband from sleeping until almost ten. I remember breakfast starts at 6 am, so I indulge in food instead of sleep.     

I try to let my husband sleep as long as possible before we need to get going. After looking online for Lincoln's must see spots, we walk through the Sunken Gardens and the Nebraska State campus. Football appears to be a big deal, something Nebraskans take very seriously. We walk  the grounds and see the statues and memorials of great teams of the past (Bulldogs).

A tour of the State Capitol is the last activity on our schedule for the day. The campus planetarium opens too late for a visit. We have time to squeeze in the guided tour of the capitol and a trip up the elevator to the viewing towers. It is a unique design modeled after a skyscraper. The designer was from New York. It is the only state to have only one legislative body. They do not have a house and senate just elected legislators; one body makes all the decisions streamlining the decision making process.  Also the legislators are not identified by party affiliation to minimize  

the power of the political parties.  On the ballot it just states the candidate's name not political affiliation of republican or democrat.  After our informative tour and a few sights around Lincoln, we eat lunch at Honest Abe's.  A popular place  filled with college students and families. The other surprising and refreshing sight on our Sunday morning tour is a large amount of college students pouring out of a church near the campus. It makes me feel hopeful and happy. Our little jaunt to the Midwest must end as we drive back to the airport for our evening flight back to Los Angeles... 

Tenny is unhappy with me as we roll into the driveway at 1:30 a.m. I am excited to see her and pick her up to give her a hug and a snack, but she snubs me.  She sees me at the back door turns and walks away....I check the front door after unloading the car and she's there but refuses to be coaxed into the house as she turns and walks away. Kitty is not happy about our travels and leaving for South Dakota next week won't go over well either.

Marathon State #8 Missoula, Montana

Missoula Marathon

July 14, 2013

Now this is FUN!

Currently, I am sitting here typing as a hot flash hits...wishing I were rafting down the river instead! Montana is a great place to visit and run a marathon...

So FUN...did I say that already!

Preparing to run a marathon in July however~is not fun~it is tough and hot and sweaty! Our summer time weather averages between 100 to 110 degrees. If you don't get up to run super early you must wait until 8 pm when it may still be 98 degrees as the run begins. I can't really complain, I will take the heat over the cold any day, the heat is easier for me to handle. I do not enjoy running in the blazing sun, but the air temperature doesn't bother me...except when a random hot flash hits.

Our travel to Montana begins with a drive to San Francisco the result of a reasonable airfare. LAX is the usual route for our travel excursions and SFO is a change in routine.  Unfortunately, a week before our trip a tragic plane crash kills two young girls when the plane crashes on the runway. Anytime there is tragedy, it leads to reflection. It reaffirms how fragile life is and how important it is to appreciate and cherish each and every day. Being in Boston, (April 2013) and crossing the finish line minutes before the bombs explode keeps the fragility of life ever present. There is always a wonder in mind every time I take my sit on a plane, about my destiny. Fear can't consume our thoughts, we must keep living, but it is normal to question whether we are on the right path? Will there still be time to make amends for misdirection's and questioning what I am here to do? What is my fate? We just don't know when our time is up...but I want to make the most of my time. The older I get the stronger my desire is to seek and find my way!  

Once we land safely on the ground, the vast openness of Montana is what we see. They don't call it "Big Sky Country" for nothing. It is a cute college town. One of our first activities is a hike up to the "M." The hike seems to be a mandatory activity and we do it before and after the marathon for good measure.

The trail looks down at Montana State College. The first time we do the trail there are no problems, the second time I end up with a parking ticket. Dang, upon further investigation of the back of the ticket, it states visitors can mail it in and be excused for a first offense! Lucked out again! We meet some really nice people who are visiting and vacationing from Georgia. They have the sweetest dialect and we take pictures for one another.  

Sneak into the Maniac photo!

After the little hike we get ready for the three mile beer run. Lots of runners show up for a warm-up run followed by beer. But first a summer thunderstorm pours rain delaying the run. Once the skies clear runners take off in a mass with Jeff Galloway leading the way. One guy obviously not paying attention slams into a metal pole. Wow, that looks painful luckily  he is able to continue. Get that man a beer. After the run we enjoy a few beers, listen to the music, and talk to a few other runners before eating at "The Iron Horse Brew Pub." 

Flying in a day early allows time for a white-water rafting trip on Saturday.  After packet pick-up we drive to the Clark Fork River for some rafting fun, thanks to the gouge created by Glacier Lake Missoula. Our guide is handsome, muscular, and strong an especially good thing because the raft is full of women with the exception of my husband. Needless to say, the men do most of the paddling. The ladies are too busy laughing and having fun!    

Riding the rapids through the Alberta Gouge is pure exhilaration. Rafting is one of the coolest things we have done on a marathon trip. It should be the reward after every marathon. When not maneuvering the rapids we get people wet in the other boats and even jump into the water. The poor guys battle to heave and pull all the ladies with no muscle or strengthen back into the boat. It is hysterical to witness the guys lift our weak dead body weight out of the water! It is the funniest thing and such a great experience...

On our way back into town dinner is the next order of business. Water activities make me extra hungry and what better food than pizza to fill our stomach before Sunday morning's race. We finish off the night in the hot tub before for bed. Missoula can get warm in the summer, but not on race day!  Catching the 4:30 am bus to the start, we freeze our butts off before the 6 am start. Once the fireworks go off the cold is forgotten and 26.2 miles of beautiful wide open spaces is the only obstacle between the runners and the finish line. I enjoy the landscape, the homes and the horses. We are greeted by two locals on horseback who wave to runners as we ascend the only major climb of the race. It is a killer climb forcing many to walk.  Homeowners are out offering encouragement along the way. 

My husband gets ahead of me as I try my best to catch him in the last few miles, but he beats me. The final few miles are in a heavily shaded cool tree lined residential area providing a cool break from the heat before powering through to the Missoula Marathon finish line. There is something good about every marathon. This race has so many great qualities especially the big quiet spaciousness and the sense of freedom. Who doesn't love a peaceful runs in wide open places. After the race we meet up with the 50 States group for lunch. We will not be official members until we reach ten states, but getting close.

 Our final stop is a local landmark for ice cream at the "Big Dipper!" The long lines are proof of its popularity. The delicious Huckle Berry ice cream makes Montana definitely  worth another trip...

  

Marathon State #7 Tacoma, Washington

Tacoma Marathon

May 5, 2013

The month of May offers up a quick trip to the Pacific Northwest to the city of Tacoma.  We participate in our first Marathon Maniacs reunion.  It is also when I realize~crazy as it may sound~ I don't really think I am a "true Maniac," but it is fun to experience the hoopla of a crazy running group. Some people are social by nature and others of us are better in small groups or in a one on one type of interaction. I am definitely more of an introvert. We attend the dinner along with everyone else, but it quickly becomes apparent that there is not enough food. Maniacs can eat especially the night before a marathon. They run out of food after serving few tables. We elect to leave and stroll the downtown area for a place to dine. We find a little pizza shop and enjoy a few slices. The "Maniac club" is  proactive and  hand out cash refunds as people leave the dining hall. I find this to be a class act. They also mail refunds to runners that did not get to eat at the dinner. I have met really nice people on my journey because of my association as a "Maniac." It is nice to see a Maniac shirt and know there is usually a like minded friendly person to chat with and share some miles.

The Marathon starts a the Tacoma Narrows Airport. The hangar is a nice place to wait and stay warm before we begin...click to watch video of the start.

Marathon Maniac State Tacoma   

As usual before a race, finding a potty is the top priority. The line for the potties is daunting.  A fellow runner and I see a porta potty in the distance near a runway that must be used for workers. We seriously debate walking out to it rather than wait in line. My keen observation skills come in handy, when I see some runners walking back to the hanger from behind the porta potties.   Hmmm...let's just take a look at where they are going. Eureka, I discover two hidden porta potties.  Essentially they are hidden in plain sight...it seems sneaky ~but it is a clever placement by the race organizers I am sure~ to provide quick access to a private potty. It is utilized by only those that know it is there and a few discreet runners who pay attention.

Why no smile...I did find the secret potties!!

It is an enjoyable race, despite the look on my face, with lots of different landscapes and variety. In the early miles a highlight for runners is crossing over the Tacoma-Narrows bridge.

 It is a clear day, an anomaly for the area. Apparently, sunshine is a rarity, but I will take it. The point to point course is a nice tour of the city before ending at the waterfront in downtown.  A memorable section is Point Defiance Park, a wooded park. Runners also get peeks of Puget Sound in various sections. One of the three main Maniacs is the race director for this event.  Needless to say, they do a good job of taking care of runners by knowing what runners like in a marathon. In the latter stages, I catch up to my husband.  I stop to chat and encourage him to run with me, but he elects to run on his own terms which I totally respect. Runners must fight their own battles and sometimes the battle is harder than we like it to be.  

The final stretch of the course is a nice downhill. The best way to finish is with a strong assist from gravity. Upon finishing, I immediately make my way to the refreshments. Pizza, beer and tons of Maniacs milling around recovering together. I am watching the finisher's shoot and listening for my husband's name, but get distracted by the conversations and beer.  Surely my husband will make his way into the beer area, but no, he goes straight back to the hotel.  After waiting a considerable amount of time, I return to the hotel. Tired stiff runners must climb one last mega hill to get back...ouch! Once I finally make it up the massively steep street and back into the hotel, my husband steps out of the elevator all clean and refreshed as I am waiting to get in...At least he avoids another trek down the steep San Francisco style street in search of finding me. 

How else will I get my name on a shirt!

State #7 is in the books and we are beginning to get the hang of quick trips. We stay one night and stop for a burger and another beer at Red Robin, before ending up at yet another airport for yet another flight home. Once we land, we start the three hour drive home. I think we are having fun? But when we end up stuck on the freeway due to road work for  an extended period of time, we are left wondering. As the night turns into the wee early morning hours, still sitting at a dead  standstill, the question must be asked...Why do we do this again?