Colorado

Order in which state was run: 28

Order in which state was admitted into the union: 38

The flag consists of three alternate stripes of equal width and at right angles to the staff, the two outer stripes to be blue of the same color as in the blue field of the national flag and the middle stripe to be white, the proportion of the flag being a width of two-thirds of its length. At a distance from the staff end of the flag of one fifth of the total length of the flag there is a circular red C, of the same color as the red in the national flag of the United States. The diameter of the letter is two-thirds of the width of the flag. The inner line of the opening of the letter C is three-fourths of the width of its body or bar, and the outer line of the opening is double the length of the inner line thereof. Completely filling the open space inside the letter C is a golden disk, attached to the flag is a cord of gold and silver, intertwined, with tassels, one of gold and one of silver. Flag adopted 1911.

 

Date: August 11, 2007
Race: Georgetown to Idaho Springs Half Marathon
City: Idaho Springs
Cost: $32.55

 

Georgetown to Idaho Springs was a race with a 1000 foot net drop in elevation going from 8500 down to 7500 feet.  I was somewhat worried about sore quads after a mostly downhill race like this one.  My quads were not an issue at all as I pulled a hamstring around mile 4 of this race.  At that point, I did some run/walking until I felt a pop around mile 10.  I then just walked it in from there.  This was my first injury that occurred during a race.

 

After dealing with nagging Achilles tendon injuries for most of my running time, the hamstring injury was a much different experience.  With treatment, I was back running within a couple of weeks and actually came within a minute of my PR at my next half.

 

The injury and a rental mini van (I actually reserved a compact car but mini vans were all they had left) that was sluggish in cranking really limited my post race scheduled hiking in Rocky Mountatin National Park.

 

I returned to Colorado to run Bolder Boulder 10k the day after I ran my Wyoming half.

 

Up next: Pennsylvania

Minnesota

Order in which state was run: 27

 

Order in which state was admitted into the union: 32

The Minnesota state flag is royal blue, with a gold fringe. In the center of the flag is the state seal. Around the state seal is a wreath of the state flower, the lady slipper. Three dates are woven into the wreath: 1858, the year Minnesota became a state; 1819, the year Fort Snelling was established; and 1893, the year the official flag was adopted. Nineteen stars ring the wreath. The largest star represents Minnesota.

Date: June 16, 2007
Race: Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon
City: Duluth
Cost: $72.00

 

Garry Bjorklund half is held in conjunction with Grandma's marathon in Duluth.  My first thought of Grandma's is a bunch of elderly women running but the Grandma's is the title sponsor as in the chocolate chip cookies.

 

The marathon is a major event for Duluth and bed and breakfasts required 2 night minimum stays for the weekend.  I was actually given the option to book the next years race weekend at checkout.  Um, no thanks, once was enough.

 

5 am up north in the summer is bright like mid day.  I was surprised by this.  Also, a course that follows one of the Great Lakes doesn't provide much shade.  It was definetely a warm day.

 

Flying into MSP, I was able to have lunch at Bubba Gump Shrimp Company in the Mall of America before making the drive north to Duluth.

 

Up next: Colorado

Wisconsin

Order in which state was run: 26

Order in which state was admitted into the union: 30

Starting at the top of a shield on a dark blue field is the state motto "Forward". Below it is a badger the state animal. A sailor and miner show that the people work on water and land. The shield in the center shows Wisconsin's support for the United States. In four sections surrounding the shield are representations of the states main industries: agriculture, mining, manufacturing and navigation. The cornucopia and pile of lead represent farm products and minerals. The flag law was amended in 1979 to include the name of the state and the date of statehood.

 

Date: May 27, 2007
Race: Madison Half Marathon
City: Madison
Cost: $55.00

 

Madison marathon and half marathons were held late May combined with what was billed as the world's largest brat fest.  I had my first bratwurst that weekend.  I also continued my Frank Lloyd Wright tour visiting Taliesin home and grounds in Spring Green.  Wisconsin was the 25th state where I completed a half marathon; NYC marathon was run but did not count towards half 2 run's race requirements.  I received my Half 2 Run certificate and medal shortly after this race.

 

 

 

Half 2 Run medal and Certificate:

 

 

Up next: Minnesota

Ohio

Order in which state was run: 25

Order in which state was admitted into the union: 17

 

Ohio's state flag was adopted in 1902. The Ohio burgee, as the swallowtail design is properly called, was designed by John Eisemann. The large blue triangle represents Ohio's hills and valleys, and the stripes represent roads and waterways. The 13 stars grouped about the circle represent the original states of the union; the 4 stars added to the peak of the triangle symbolize that Ohio was the 17th state admitted to the union. The white circle with its red center not only represents the "O" in Ohio, but also suggests Ohio's famous nickname, "The Buckeye State".

 

Date: May 6, 2007
Race: Flying Pig Half Marathon
City: Cincinnati
Cost: $50.00

 

I made the trip to Cincinnati for Flying Pig with several Woodlands Fit runners that ran the marathon.  Great running weekend!

 

 

 

Up next: Wisconsin

Idaho

Order in which state was run: 24

Order in which state was admitted into the union: 43

A silk flag, blue field, five feet six inches fly, and four feet four inches on pike, bordered with gilt fringe two and one-half inches in width, with state seal of Idaho twenty-one inches in diameter, in colors, in the center of a blue field. The woman represents liberty, justice and equality. The man is a miner. The pictures on the shield represent the main industries of forestry, farming and mining. The cornucopias, or horn of plenty are symbols of abundance. The elks head represents wildlife. Esto perpetua (Let it be perpetual). The words "State of Idaho" are embroidered in with block letters, two inches in height on a red band three inches in width by twenty-nine inches in length, the band being in gold and placed about eight and one-half inches from the lower border of fringe and parallel with the same. Flag adopted 1907.

 

Date: April 21, 2007
Race: Race to Robie Creek
City: Boise
Cost: $38.02

 

A Running Times article on several interesting half marathons around the country was the source for many of the initial/top 25 states that I ran.  Race to Robie Creek was one of those races.  I believe it fell into the category of toughest course...... 8 miles up a mountain and then a fast 5 miles down the mountain to a festive post race finish in a local park.

 

Given the limited size of the post race finish area, the field was small.  Fingers needed to be in peak performance the day race registration opened as slots were filled on a first come first served basis.  The server was on crash status the entire opening day.... sorta like Obamacare is these days!  After hours of attempting to enter the site and successfully complete registration, I entered.  However, the serves crashed before I received my confirmation.  So I wasn't totally certain that I was registered unitl my credit card charge came through later that week.

 

Race weekend was my fifth consecutive week of weekend travels.  It started with ING Georgia half and was followed by a wedding, Easter and another wedding.  At some point in my travels, I came down with a major head cold race weekend.  I learned about Earplanes, the devices you wear in your ears to keep stuff open while flying to keep your head from exploding.

 

Race logistics weren't exactly inviting for solo travelers as the available parking was at a lot away from both the start and finish areas.  A shuttle was provided from the finish to the parking but runners were on their own to furnish parking lot transportation to the start. 

 

I woke up race morning not feeling like running a half marathon.  I remember sitting in the hotel thinking to myself that if I didn't run the race I would have to return to Idaho.  Nothing personal against Idaho, but that thought got me out the door with my cellphone and a taxi phone number in hand.  Runners are a friendly bunch and I was able to get a ride to the start from a local that had a ride to the start. 

 

The race was as difficult as advertised; I ended up doing quite a bit of walking once the course incline got steep towards the mountain peak.  The last 5 miles were brisk and the race party seemed festive but with a head cold and not feeling well I caught an early shuttle back to my rental car.

 

I think it was after this race that travel fatigue set in and I established the goal of running state number 50 on my 50th birthday.

 

 

No finisher medal but an awesome light up button with the races theme.

 

Up next: Ohio