Maine

Order in which state was run: 19

Order in which state was admitted into the union: 23

 

The state coat of arms is placed on a blue field. In the center of the shield a moose rests under a tall pine tree. A farmer and seaman represents the work that people did in early times. The North Star represents the state motto:
"Dirigo" ("I Direct"). Flag adopted 1909.

 

 



 

Date: October 1, 2006
Race: Sportshoe Center Half Marathon
City: Portland
Cost: $28.00

 

Maine was the second leg of my first back to back half marathon 2 state weekend.  While Applefest in Hollis, NH the previous day was chilly and sunny, the weather in Portland from start to finish of the half marathon was chilly, overcast, and misty.  I think this is the first race that I discovered that weather in the 40s with no sun was my ideal running weather.

 

I remember running the first mile slow just to make sure that everything was fine after running a half marathon the day before.  I quickly loosened up and just ran what felt like a good pace.  I ended up running a PR that day.

 

After the race, I took a shower at the finish area (a college campus I believe) and headed back to Logan airport in Boston to return the rental car.  I then took the T to Boston's Backbay area for the night.  I was able to catch the IMAX film "Wired to Win: Surviving the Tour de France" at a Boston museum.   I first learned of the film earlier in 2006 in Kansas City while in town for the Hospital Hill half marathon.  However, the film in KC was broken so I was unable to view it then.

 

 

Up next: New York

New Hampshire

Order in which state was run: 18

Order in which state was admitted into the union: 9

The state flag shall be of the following color and design: The body or field shall be blue and shall bear upon its center in suitable proportion and colors a representation of the state seal. The seal shall be surrounded by a wreath of laurel leaves with nine stars interspersed.

 

Date: September 30, 2006
Race: Applefest Half Marathon
City: Hollis
Cost: $25.50

 

Applefest was a wonderful stand alone half marathon in rural New Hampshire.  It was my second consecutive "New" state.  It was also the first of five back to back half marathon weekends that I've run.  I ran Applefest Saturday and then drove to Maine to run the Portland half Sunday.

 

I think this was the best I've felt 10 miles into a half marathon as I intentionally held back in order to be able run the next day.  It was also a weird feeling post race watching people enjoying post race apple crisp and then realizing I had to get cleaned up, checked out, and drive to a race expo to pick up my packet to run in another state the next morning.

 

This was also the only event that I've participated in that offered a no shirt discounted race entry fee option.  I opted for no shirt as I had way too many race shirts.

 

Up next: Maine

 

 

New Mexico

Order in which state was run: 17

Order in which state was admitted into the union: 47

 

• The yellow field and red symbol colors are the colors of Spain. First brought to New Mexico by Spanish explorers in 1540. On New Mexico's flag we see a red sun with rays streching out from it. There are four groups of rays with four rays in each group. This is an ancient sun symbol of a Native American people called the Zia. The Zia believed that the giver of all good gave them gifts in groups of four. These gifts are:
• The four directions - north, east, south and west.
• The four seasons - spring, summer, fall and winter.
• The day - sunrise, noon, evening and night.
• Life itself - childhood, youth, middle years and old age.
• All of these are bound by a circle of life and love, without a beginning or end.

 

 

 

Date: September 3, 2006
Race: New Mexico Half Marathon
City: Albuquerque

Cost: $43.60

 

This was my second time visiting Albuquerque.  I remember the welcome cool weather at altitude in early September.  It was a welcome break from the ongoing heat and humidity in east Texas.  Seeing several hot air balloons toward the end of the race was a nice diversion and awesome site.  The clay race medal was one of the more unique and definetely most delicate race medal I have received.  The local race photographer was kind enough to photoshop out the effects of bleeding nips from my race pic (remember cool weather!)

 

 

 

Up next: New Hampshire

Missouri

Order in which state was run: 16

Order in which state was admitted into the union: 24

• Centered on red, white and blue fields is the Missouri state seal. It is encircled by a blue band with twenty-four stars representing the number of states in 1821. The stars in the inner circle have the same meaning. Two huge grizzly bears support the circular shield in the center which has three parts:
  
• The motto "United We Stand,Divided we Fall"
• The right section representingthe United States
• The left section containing a moon representing a new state and a grizzly bear standing for courage.
• The flag was designed by Mrs. Marie Elizabeth Oliver of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Flag adopted 1913.

 

 

 

Date: June 3, 2006
Race: Hospital Hill Half Marathon
City: Kansas City
Cost: $43.60

 

I  guess it had to happen somewhere.  I finished this race within a minute of some of my 18 previous half races but it was my first half marathon that I took over 2 hours to complete.  2:00:32 and one of my half marathon goals of running them all sub 2 hours was gone.  Hospital Hill also lived up to its name with six challenging hills during the 13.1 mile race.

 

 

 

 

Up next: New Mexico