State #47 Atlantic City, New Jersey

October 21,2018

Atlantic City Marathon

There is always more in the tank and most times we do not even know it. After three night's in a row with very little sleep and an extremely hilly marathon yesterday my competitive self just can't let someone beat me at the finish line if I can help it. I tell myself let's just finish as I run the last three miles down the boardwalk but when a full marathon "first timer" who I ran with for several miles catches up to me in the last fifty yards...the race is on. It could have gone either way with chip timing, but I manage to edge her out by two hundredths of a second making it the highlight of my east coast weekend! If only she had her bib and chip on the front, the victory would be hers. I learn we can push ourselves more than we think. The body can handle so much more, it is our mind that is the limiting part of ourselves.

My biggest take away from all of these crazy marathon trips is that I still have work to do on myself and the things that challenge me are opportunities to change and improve. Anytime we venture out of our normal routine and comfort zone it's time to analyze ourselves. How do we handle frustrating situations and how do we see the world around us? The quick trip is intended to knock out the two missed marathons in 2015, but there are always opportunities for life lessons even with little time for sightseeing and absolutely no time for  relaxation. It is go go go since the red-eye spits us out Friday morning until the plane departs early Monday morning.  Fatigue limits our attempt to maximize  time. After showering in Baltimore we hurry to packet pickup at Bally's Hotel which ends at 7 pm. It leaves little time to eat, but we stop at Burger King on the three hour drive for a less than appetizing burger just to fill our hungry bellies. I do enjoy a Coke Icee. It is our second time in New Jersey and we are prepared for the tolls. We get the transponder at the rental counter to avoid penalties. It costs an extra thirty-five dollars just to drive to Atlantic City on the expressway with all the toll stops. In Buffalo we paid a twenty dollar fee for not having a transponder for a one dollar toll. We do learn things the hard way during our travels, especially the importance of keeping the toll people happy! California just has higher priced gas and taxes, but I bet tolls are coming in the near future.

Once we get parked at the hotel we try to check-in before walking down to packet pick-up, but the line is long. My husband goes to get our bibs while I check-in. I specifically ask for a quiet room and late check-out and know just by asking I am guaranteeing neither. They do not provide a late check out without extra fees and they can't promise a quiet room ensuring sleep will be a challenge. My poor husband walks all the way down the boardwalk to Bally's~it is much farther than it looks~just wait until we are running it tomorrow! I drag all our luggage up to the room where  

I see lots of young people scurrying from room to room, but I don't give it a second thought. I just want to sit down for a minute. The goal now is to eat dinner and sleep. Once my husband returns he adds an additional two miles to his mileage total for the day before we walk to dinner. The "Showboat" is returning from bankruptcy and there are absolutely no gaming machines on the property. It is funny to see a casino without any machines. We eat at the "Ocean" the new fancy hotel next door. It is getting colder by the minute and we anticipate a cold run in the morning. The forecast predicts winds up to 29 miles per hour with gusts up to 50 mph. Goodie, "wind gusts" is lacking on my running resume. Once we are refueled all that's left is some much needed sleep...until the boom boom boom begins next door. The hotel is full of disappointed Kidd Rock fans. The concert is canceled at the last minute. The group that has three rooms surrounding us are partying it up right next door. The music is so loud that when security arrives they do not hear the pounding on the door. I am all for people having a good time, but isn't that what "the clubs" are for...why drink and socialize in the hotel room. My only question to the front desk, when they tell me I can pack up and move to the other tower, is why didn't they put the marathoners on one floor and the concert goers and bachelor party people on another? I elect to stay and count the number of times hotel doors can slam in one night instead of counting sheep. Eventually sleep wins, even when the drunk kids return loudly at 3 am. My husband hears them return as they sing happy birthday down the hall. Our wake up call occurs at 4:29 am when the front desk calls to inform us that our guest Jason is waiting down in the lobby and I say, "I think you have the wrong number!" Thirty minutes later we hear loud knocking at the other door next to us. After continual pounding an older gentlemen's voice yells a profanity as he opens the door...the knocker exclaims 'sorry' and runs off. I guess we are just not meant to sleep before marathons. 

The late 8 am start is wasted on us~Sleep is overrated~so we get up, get ready and check out. As we walk to the car the wind pierces us to the bone. It is a taste of what is to come, but the start area isn't as cold as anticipated and I regret keeping two jackets. Dang...another run with a jacket wrapped around me. 

The sun is out and people are excited to get started. After the National Anthem, we begin. I hesitate to start running, but that is not an option. I came here to get it done. The first few miles are slow, I plod along loosening up my stiff legs. I even walk up the only hill, an on ramp, before we run through a hot tunnel. I run into a Maniac that I recruited to pace at the Shiprock Marathon. Now he paces all the time and loves it. I also run into Patti from Washington who is almost done with her fifty states. Chatting with other runners makes the time pass so much faster. I talk with Karen who is doing her second marathon. She is trying to catch up to the 4:25 pacer, but she will be happy to beat her last year's time. I start talking to a guy who is running his first half with his friend who is doing the full. He is really working hard and struggling his "old college roommate" talked him into running the half. With five miles left (for the half marathoners) I tell him to think about his five mile training route. He tells me he does not do training runs...no wonder he is struggling!

The guys keep me entertained for miles and give me a boost. Unfortunately, the new runner trips on the boardwalk and falls. He gets up and keeps going, but he needs to slow down. I am struggling on the boardwalk too, the surface has no give and my

feet and ankles are aching. To get through the boardwalk section, I talk to anyone who will talk to me. One lady asks me if it is my first marathon and we start talking. It's her first one thanks to her husband who signed her up. My only tip is to smile when she feels tired it will trick her brain. The ocean is right there, but I am too focused on getting off the hard boards to enjoy it. Finally at mile 12.5 we move back to the roads. I struggle for a few miles until I see the 17 mile marker and I want to get to the turnaround so I can get back to 17. Along this stretch the gusts hit periodically. At times it is hard to move forward and a few times my foot hits my other foot and I almost knock myself over.

Thankfully, the gusts are not constant. It doesn't matter which direction we are going the gusts come out of nowhere making it difficult to step forward. I keep waiting for a tailwind, but I never feel one. At 17 we turn to another out and back section, I spot the

mile 21 sign and that is my next goal to get back to it before heading back to the boardwalk at mile 23. I feel pretty good for five miles. Once I get back to the hard wood and nails of the boardwalk, my sails are lowered. The final three miles are a slug fest. I can see the hotel area in the distance, but progress is slow going. My watch beeps at each mile, but the course is long and I must run another three tenths before reaching each mile marker. Finally, the finish line is within reach just as the lady whose husband signed her up passes me up. I pick up my pace and we are running neck and neck, she surges and then I surge just barely touching the mat before her. It is my most dramatic finish in awhile. We congratulate each other before getting our medals. I am relieved that my states are done for the year. I enjoy a beer and some warm clam chowder as my husband finishes up his miles. Every marathon is a good marathon once it is done! We take our medals and go home, but not before another night of noise. At least each night's noise is unique. The last night we are serenaded with loud Indian music until one in the morning. We get three solid hours before the 4:30 am Alaska text informs us our flight is on time, but once we get to the gate it's delayed an hour. After landing without a gate, we park at the back of the airport and wait for an open gate. What else is new EARLY...when we don't need to be... and LATE when we just want to get home. 

The highlight of the trip is a stop to visit sweet pea. As she finishes up at work, we spend an hour on my favorite beach. Who needs running shoes when there is sand between your toes. We cherish a few precious hours with our daughter before driving home. Time to close the marathon state book for 2018. The remaining states will have to wait for a new year. The journey this year has been long with P.R. highs and challenging health lows, but I am grateful for the opportunity to experience it all. I have two pacing marathons ~my favorite kind~in November, but I can sleep in my own bed ensuring I will enjoy every step!!