Honoring our Heroes half marathon-Rolla, MO-November 19, 2017

Another double race weekend, but this time I tried the Half marathon first. I actually liked running a half marathon and then a full.  This race was on the way to the Oklahoma race.  Russell, Amy and I all stayed at a hotel near the race.
The course was very hilly.  It seemed like when one hill ended the next one started.  The last mile had pictures of soldiers with their names, rank, where they served and death date.  It was a very humbling mile.  After the race we were still able to get breakfast at our hotel because they served it until 12 noon. Then we traveled the 4 hours to Oklahoma to get to the running expo for the Route 66 marathon the next day.  Results are here

Bib

On the bus on the way to the race.

We ran around this beautiful hidden lake.

Alpacas photobombing our pictures.

Beautiful finishing medal.

Amy after she finished the race, next to a giant cart.

Screaming Pumpkin - Peoria, IL - Saturday, October 29, 2016

I love this race in Peoria. It's so worth the drive. It's a Halloween race at night running through a graveyard. So fun. Lots of pictures below:

Before the race started.  Russell, Chris and Me.

Chris in her costumer that actually won her first place.  She was Wander Woman.  Her sign said, "If found wandering in a dark cemetary give her a push.  She thinks she's a runner."

Race bib

Garmin results

Awesome finishing medal

Actual results

Chris placed third in her age group and received an amazing plaque, a cement tombstone!

The back of her award.

The end of the race with our medals!

Des Moines Half Marathon - Des Moines, Iowa - October 16, 2016

This was my first double race weekend. A full on Saturday and a half marathon on Sunday. Crazy I know. In my defense, I was scheduled for the half first and was only going to do that one. But then I saw that awesome medal for the full marathon in Baltimore on the same weekend and thought, "I could do both races" So I did.    I took pictures at almost every mile and just had fun.  It actually was extremely enjoyable to not worry about time.

Bib

Before picture with Russell

Around mile 3

Gorgeous scene

Cow

Funny sign

The bacon station that totally disappointed me.  No bacon left.  But I was running slow.

Cool garage door.

Right here.

Met up with Russell just after mile 12

My photographer friend Clark

Clark's wife Barb.  She used to be one of my Pampered Chef consultants.

Russell and I finished together.

Baltimore, MD marathon-Baltimore, MD-Saturday October 15, 2016

This was the first state I decided to travel on a plane alone to.  When I saw the finishing medal advertised online on their Facebook site, I had to have it.  So that very day in August I registered for the Baltimore, MD marathon and hoped for the best.  I booked my flight and hotel that day also.

In the Cedar Rapids airport I ran into my good friend Susan Ludwig, she was traveling to a high school reunion on the same flight to Chicago.  The weather was perfect for flying and was even more perfect for running the race the next day.  I got lucky.  My first flight was from Cedar Rapids to Chicago, then Chicago to Baltimore.  On that 2nd flight I met new friends, Emily and Terry Stubbs from just outside Peoria, IL.  Terry was going to run his 44th state and 50th marathon the next day and decided that they would let me tag along and ride with them in their rental car to the expo.  Super nice.  Then after that they took me to my hotel.  Terry didn't start running until he was 48 years young.  That is impressive to me.

It was weird being in a big city all alone, but I felt safe.  The hotel was located in a good spot.
That night I walked down to the city and went to Hard Rock Cafe in Baltimore.  Had a good dinner then went back to my hotel to sleep.
The weather was a bit cold in the morning and I wasn't properly dressed for it.  One of the hotel staff saw me and gave me some old towels to wrap up in.  So nice.
I liked the marathon for the most part, but it seemed really hilly to me.  We ran through the zoo for a mile and I stopped for a selfie which you will see.  It wasn't my worst time, but it wasn't my best.  I kinda took it easy the last 10 miles because I knew I had a half marathon the next day.  Here are pictures:

Susan Ludwig and I waiting for the flight.

The sunrise in Chicago when our plane was landing.

View of Baltimore from plane

Another view of Baltimore

my bib for the race

A nice police woman let me have a selfie with her and her horse.

Beautiful view from my restaurant.

This race does a thing called the Baltimoron race.  You run a 5K and the half marathon and you get 3 medals.

Thought this lady was cool.

The start line

At the zoo around mile 5.

Just outside the zoo.

Another state to color in.  State # 16

Just got back to the hotel, before the shower.  Showing off the awesome medal.

Waiting for my Uber to pick me up to take me to the hotel.  All showered and pretty again.

Inside of medal.

Outside of medal.