Arizona

Order in which state was run: 11

Order in which state was admitted into the union: 48

 

The 13 rays of red and gold on the top half of the flag represent both the 13 original colonies of the Union, and the rays of the Western setting sun. Red and gold were also the colors carried by Coronado's Spanish expedition in search of the Seven Cities of Cibola in 1540. The bottom half of the flag has the same Liberty blue as the United States flag. Since Arizona was the largest producer of copper in the nation, a copper star was placed in the flag's center.

 

Date: January 15, 2006
Race: PF Changs Rock n Roll Half Marathon
City: Phoenix
Cost: $45.00

 

Rock n Roll Arizona may have been Elite/Competitors 4th racing event.  I registered for this race while still living in New Orleans; otherwise, I would have run the Aramco Half Marathon in Houston held the same weekend.   I was able to get a couple of rooms at the Ritz Carlton in Phoenix at the family rate.  A highlight of this trip was touring Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West in Scottsdale.  I had previously toured his home and studio in Oak Park, Illinois on a business trip to Chicago and would tour more of his works on future running trips.  A $10 gift card to PF Changs received in the mail either before or after the race was a pleasant surprise!

 

 

Up next: Texas