Georgia

Order in which state was run: 23

Order in which state was admitted into the union: 4

The Georgia flag has three red and white stripes and the state coat of arms on a blue field in the upper left corner.Thirteen stars surrounding the seal denotes Georgia's position as one of the original thirteen colonies. On the seal three pillars supporting an arch represent the three branches of government; legislative, judicial and executive. A man with sword drawn is defending the Constitution, whose principles are wisdom, justice and moderation. The date 1776 represents the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Flag adopted May 8th, 2003.

Date: March 25, 2007
Race: Inaugural ING Georgia Half Marathon
City: Atlanta
Cost: $65.00

 

I believe we had nice cool weather for this race; some hills but nothing too bad.  MARTA is the southernmost metro transit system that I have used.  Nice transportation from the airport to downtown Atlanta.

 

Up next: Idaho

Gulf Coast Half Marathon - Louisiana Northshore

After not running for 3 months,  I ran my second half marathon in 8 days...... and survived!

I actually ran almost 30 seconds per mile faster than Jazz 1/2 the previous Saturday: 11:17 overall pace versus an 11:46 jazz pace.  Much cooler weather was a definite factor in the faster pace.  Another huge factor in the faster pace was the fact that my son ran the entire race with me as a training run for his 1/2 ironman distance event in a couple of weeks.  I was able to maintain a 10 minute per mile pace for the first 5 miles.  After that I ran between 11 and 13 minute paces with lots of walk breaks scattered in with my running.

This race was the second of five races that I had in my race que prior to my learning of my degenerative meniscus tear and my stopping training.  My three remaining races are 2 half marathons and a 10k all in the first half of 2014.  After that, I do not plan on running any additional races.  However, my performance the past 2 weekends has me confident that I could complete a Disneyland Paris 1/2 event if such event is organized.

 Half marathon number 75 done!

 Horrible pic of  my backside eating post race goodies.

 World's most useful race medal!

Waldog/Walmonster was too anxious for his morning walk to pose.

South Carolina

Order in which state was run: 22

Order in which state was admitted into the union: 8

Asked by the Revolutionary Council of Safety in the fall of 1775 to design a flag for the use of South Carolina troops, Col. William Moultrie chose a blue which matched the color of their uniforms and a crescent which reproduced the silver emblem worn on the front of their caps. The palmetto tree was added later to represent Moultrie's heroic defense of the palmetto-log fort on Sullivan's Island against the attack of the British fleet on June 28, 1776.

 

Date: February 10, 2007
Race: Hilton Head Island Half Marathon
City: Hilton Head Island
Cost: $33.00

 

 

HHI Half Marathon and 10k was a nice small race that had perfect running weather.  This is the only state where I have no race photo, there was no race medal, and I don't have my bib from the race.  However, this race is priceless in that it is my half marathon PR race.  The race wasn't chip timed, bag check for me was a tree near the start where I left the sweatshirt I wore until right before race start.  Temperatures stayed in the 40's with mist at the start of the race.

 

Up next: Georgia

2006 Update Complete

2006 was clearly the most active period for me running in new states.  I had run half marathons in a total of 10 states at the end of 2005.  I ran in 11 states in 2006 with all of the states being new running states for me. 

Part of the reason for the surge in states was that I realized I wasn't getting any younger and there were a lot of states out there.  Travel opportunities also opended up for me in 2006 as I settled into The Woodlands, TX at the end of 2005.  Being just north of Bush Intercontiental in Houston I was able to travel easier to more locations than being remote in New Orleans.

2006 on the map

 

 

I actually ran more states in 2007; I ran a total of 12 states in 2007.  However, not all 2007 states run were new.  The states ran in 2007 also did not cover as wide an area as 2006.

 

 

2007 on the map



Couch 2 Half Marthon..... DOMS is a sounds like W I T C H

I completed my 4th consecutive Jazz Half marathon Saturday.  This was definetely the toughest of the four as I was unable to train due to a meniscus tear.  Here's what my daily mileage has looked like since running the Fargo Half marathon in May (Saturday through Sunday):


13.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 3.1 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 1
2.1 0 2.2 0 2.27 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
13.1

Basically a whole lot of zeros from late May to early October.  Even with all the time off the knee hasn't gotten better so I have another ortho consult tomorrow and will most likely get the knee scoped.

I wore an Ace knee bandage for the race.  I was able to spot myself on the WDSU coverage of the race thanks to the black brace on my knee:

Just call me ACE

 

 

The race itself was very well attended. There was an announced field of 3,100 runners but I believe quite a few were 5k runners as there were right under 2,000 finishers.

 

 

I had much appreciated Blue Bell ice cream at the post race party then headed back home to get ready (recover) for next Sunday's Gulf Coast Half Marathon.  I was able to get Waldo Guacamole to take a break from lizzard hunting to pose with my medal.

 

 

 Where is that pesky lizzard!



Will pose for treats!

Nevada

Order in which state was run: 21

Order in which state was admitted into the union: 36

On a cobalt blue background in the upper left quarter is a five-pointed silver star between two sprays of sagebrush crossed to form a half wreath; across the top of the wreath is a golden scroll with the words, in black letters, "Battle Born". The name "Nevada" is beneath the star in gold letters. The current Nevada State Flag design was adopted March 26, 1929, and revised in 1991.

 

 



Date: December 10, 2006
Race: Las Vegas Half Marathon
City: Las Vegas
Cost: $90.80

Devine (I believe now defunct) was the race organizer....or rather disorganizer.  This race had the most disorganized start and finish area that I have ever witnessed.  Elite racing acquired this event soon after the 2006 version and it became part of the Rock n Roll series.

The first half of the race was really cool running down the Vegas Strip at 6 am.  The return portion of the race was on the back side of the strip with a head wind so tough and boring.

 

Up next: South Carolina

Picked up my Jazz Half race packet

Yesterday was satellite packet pickup for next weekend's Jazz Half in New Orleans.   Picking up my race packet was the closest thing I've done to running since a 2 mile run July 10th.  Jazz was one of five races that I registered for prior to learning of a tear in my lateral meniscus in my left knee earlier this year.  My plan is to run the 5 remaining races I've registered for and then hang up the running shoes for biking. 

2013 started off like most other years for me running wise.  In January I ran half marathons on consecutive weekends with no issues.  I ran a 1/2 marathon the first weekend in February that seemed more difficult than other races.  I've had good and bad running days so just chalked it up to a bad race day.  I did notice that my quad tendons around both my knees were sorer than usual post race.  My left knee started bothering me shortly after and I spent time resting trying to let whatever was ailing recover.

In May I ran half marathons on consecutive weekends in North and South Dakota.  Leading up to the races, I only ran 12 miles total in the 4 weeks leading up to the race.  After the races, I took six weeks off of running to attempt to heal again.  My attempted comeback in July was unsuccessful so I got an MRI and was diagnosed with a degenerative tear in my lateral mensicus.  Hearing "after 40 your body doesn't recover as well".....got to be frustrating with me.  

I went into my ortho consult against having surgery if possible.  I was told that I didn't have to have surgery but a 15 minute procedure could remove the scar tissue.  Over 2 months later and I'm still having the same issues with no running as I had earlier in the year.  I scheduled another consult for the Monday following Jazz and will hopefully get scheduled for surgery before year end.

Not being able to run has just been frustrating for me as running was my therapy to take out frustrations.  I never ran on a treadmill; I loved getting outside to run.  The Jazz Half benefits the Cancer Program at Childrens Hospital in New Orleans.  Picking up my packet yesterday I realized how grateful I am to have been able to run all these years.

I have a knee ace bandage that I plan on wearing Saturday and look forward to enjoying my time on the course.  WDSU will be airing the race live so I plan on setting the DVR and enjoying the program post race.  I was able to spot myself at last years event on TV!

New York

Order in which state was run: 20

Order in which state was admitted into the union: 11

Emblazoned on a dark blue field is the state coat of arms. The goddess Liberty holds a pole with a Liberty Cap on top. Liberty stands for freedom. At her feet is a discarded crown, representing freedom from England at the end of the revolutionary war. On the right is the goddess, Justice. She wears a blindfold and carries the scales of justice. Meaning that everyone receives equal treatment under the law. The state motto "Excelsior" on a white ribbon expresses the idea of reaching upward to higher goals. On the shield a sun rises over the Hudson highlands and ships sail the Hudson river. Above the shield is an eagle resting on a globe representing the Western Hemisphere.

 

Date: November 5, 2006
Race: ING New York City Marathon
City: New York City
Cost: $134.00

 

 

Date: March 20, 2011
Race: NYC Half Marathon
City: New York City
Cost: $104.00

 

New York was originally scheduled to be my 7th state in 2004.  I successfully entered the lottery in 2004 but ended up deferring 2 years to 2006 due to illness in 2004 and then Hurricane Katrina in 2005. 

I actually made the trip to NYC in 2005 and volunteered at the start area so was very familiar with the start setup when I ran the race in 2006.  In 2011 I decided to return to NYC to run the half as it was questionable whether marathons qualified for my half goal in every state.  Also I wanted to visit NYC again.  That's the main reason for the return.  It was nice running a double loop of Central Park to start the half.  The full finished in Central Park and I thought CP went on forever and had mountains.

In 2006 I stayed at the host hotel for the marathon.  I was quite surprised to share an elevator back up to my room post race with the winner of the marathon.  I also was able to see the then reigning Olympic gold medalist, Italian Stefano Baldini doing a last minute workout in Central Park the day before the marathon.

 

Brazil's dos Santos 2006 marathon winner

 

Up next: Nevada