Marathon State #12 Belfry, Kentucky

Hatfield-McCoy Marathon

June 14, 2014

I guess we will hit the road and keep running until we make it through all fifty states. I am still slow to learn...once I tell my husband about a marathon, he wants to do it no holds barred.  Never mind the fact it is in the middle of nowhere and there isn't another state to double it with to make it

a strategic and economical choice.  Now that he has read about the "Hatfield and McCoy Marathon," it is a must do for him. We  registered to run it in June of 2013, but it is the same weekend as our daughter's college graduation. Even though she graduated in March she does the graduation ceremony in June. I have to see my baby in her cap and gown as she receives her degree! Can't believe she finished college in two years and two quarters.  All her hard work pays off and lucky for us the Hatfield and McCoy Marathon allows deferrals...

The lone marathon bordering West Virginia and Kentucky becomes our summer 2014 destination trip. I come up with a foolhardy idea to spend eleven days travelling to knock out three marathons within nine days and they are not even close to one another, but it is supposed to give us more spinning Maniac stars!
Let's just say it is one of the worst logistically planned marathon trips ever...but it appears to be the way we do things. Once it is put out in the universe the plan gets steam rolled even if it should be given more careful consideration. If I don't get better at planning states closer and easier to get to our little hobby is going to be a costly endeavor in every way physically, mentally and financially. Who flies into  Milwaukee, Wisconsin to run a marathon in Kentucky, WE DO!

But there is a method to my madness, I think! Planning it (in my mind anyway) it is a big loop back to where we started...racking up three states in the process. It is easy to sign up for races and make reservations~even easier with my credit card number committed to memory!  Plotting out a route appears to be "no problem" sitting at my computer screen, but actually executing the plan is slightly more challenging. We spend the first night in Indiana and drive through Louisville with~of course a stop for some pizza~before taking a tour of Churchill Downs.

Unfortunately I back the rental car into a sign post! (well isn't that sweet)  Not off to a great start, we get caught in a severe downpour trying to make it to the tiny town of Belfry for the 50 States Club meeting! Hydroplaning is a real fear as water rapidly floods the highway! We arrive just after the

meeting, but in time to buy 50 stater hats. We wait in a long line with lots of other runners for packet pick up and enjoy some camaraderie with our fellow runners at the spaghetti dinner which is followed by a skit detailing the history behind the Hatfield and McCoy Feud. It is very informative and entertaining.  The marathon is a highlight for the community. The local firehouse even provides cots for runners willing to rough it and sleep in the firehouse for the night. With limited motels we elect to stay in Logan, a small town about 30 miles away.

Green trees are a focal point as we drive we see hill upon hill covered in trees.  After some restful sleep, we make our way back to "Food City" the start line is located in the parking lot of the grocery store.  Runners stay warm inside while utilizing the bathroom facilities. I am really glad we choose the race after all...we are lucky enough to run down the main street of Hardy, the tiny town, where my grandma lived as a small child. It is an opportunity to see my family origins on my mom's side of the family. My great 

grandmother was one tough lady who lived until she was 97.  She was determined to give her family a better life as the wife of a coal miner, she did not want that life for her six children. As the years passed she moved her family from Kentucky to Oklahoma and finally to Los Angeles, California. The first six miles are for my grandma as I run through her childhood hometown.

As we depart Hardy we hit "Blackberry Hill" a whopper of a climb followed by a steep descent. It is a charming place to run on a beautiful course with lots of local enthusiasm. There are "hillbillies" along the course. It's fun to see the community embrace the stereotype with offerings of moonshine to anyone brave enough to stop and try some. There are even adorable miniature horses along the route~some runners~stop to pet them. Homeowners yell out to the runners, "Where are you from?"  They cheer when runners yell back. When I yell California...I only hear an "oh!"  Apparently, Kentuckians have a negative feeling towards Californians. It is interesting how we all have our bias and perceptions. I don't like a lot of policies in California either. 

I reach the half-way point in two hours and two minutes. My face pained~it appears~by the first half, but it gets even tougher in the second half. All the rain makes for a muddy trail section that is wet

and rocky. Even though it is tough, it is a fun challenging course with differing terrain to keep it interesting. There are varying surfaces including a rickety suspension bridge near the golf course. A Maniac even falls and breaks her elbow on the trail section!

I happily finish the race without any falls or injuries and enjoy the festive finish line fun which includes music and food at the street fair. Sandwiches and drinks are a nice reward for all the runners.  

Happy to finish in 4:14

As my husband comes across the finish line he is elated to make it though another tough hot run as he is handed a cold towel to wash his face. After celebrating the joy of finishing a fun and challenging marathon, we take a closer look around the area and take pictures of "Hardy" for my grandmother...

We spend some time looking around the area before heading back to our hotel to recuperate. We have a week to explore the Appalachia region and I have lots of things on the itinerary to keep us busy during our week long visit as we meander our way to Michigan for the second marathon in our little running Odyssey.

  

The next day we visit a former coal mine in the town of Beckley and tour the Exhibition Coal  Mine. The mine is no longer operational, but serves as an educational museum. It is an informative tour depicting the life of a coal miner with actual living quarters. It gives me a taste of how hard life was for my great grandma and great grandpa and a greater appreciation for them.

Canyon Rim Visitor Center is the next stop. A short hike out to the vista outlook provides a spectacular beautiful view of the New River Gorge. 

The river looks inviting and we decide to spend some time in the water, but that will be after some zip lining at "Adventures on the Gorge".  We pay for our tickets for the following day and finish the evening with "a little hike" at the Kaymoor Coal Mine Trail and by little...I mean 821 steep steps. We are the only ones out there

as the sun starts sets and I ponder my crazy ideas! Not the best thing to do
after a marathon, but again if I suggest something my husband is always up for the challenge. Who cares that we have two more marathon in our immediate future!

As we follow the long winding trail just to reach the steps, I question my thought process and mental stability...is this really a good idea? It is rather creepy and isolated and I keep waiting for some creature to spring out of the bushes.When we finally reach the wooden stairs, we feel obligated to climb down them without  considering how hard it will be to climb back up...like most of my ideas...it sounds like an exciting adventuresome thing when I researched it online! Now that I have done it, I am glad I did, but never again! 

  Maybe not the best post marathon recovery who cares...  

           embracing "an only live once" motto.  It sounds good anyway!!

Our next fun vacation day involves zip lining the gorge. What a thrill, even if walking after all those stairs leaves us a bit stiff and sore.

The crazy fun in Kentucky and West Virginia comes to an but not before a bite to eat at "Pies and Pints!" 

Who doesn't love pizza and beer!

Now we are talking my language BEER and PIZZA! After indulging in my favorite post marathon activity we are ready to continue the long drive to Michigan in search of more adventures along the way...