I've been averaging close to 1,000 miles per year running the past few years. 2013 started out with me running close to that amount logging 75 total miles. In fact, the first quarter of 2013 had decent miles with me training 111 miles and racing 54 miles for a total of 165 miles. The last 9 months of the year told a completely different story with me logging 27 training miles and 73 miles run in events. All of the events were for races where I registered prior to finding out that I had a torn meniscus in my left knee.
2013 was a first for me in that I had 3 separate instances where I ran half marathons that fell on consecutive weekends. I have run several half marathons back to back on the same weekend but never had races in one weekend after the other. The interesting part of that pattern was that in all 3 instances there was a cool weather weekend and a warm weather weekend.
2013 brought me within 1 state of my 50 state half marathon challenge as I ran in South Dakota and then North Dakota on consecutive May weekends.
2013 also brought me 2 results within one race of PW's (Personal Worsts). I ran 2 half marathons in October after having not run for 3 months. Not a good sign for 2014 is that I ran the Louisiana half in January after running only 2 miles since October and finished worse than the October races. My saving grace from obtaining PW's was the mountain out and back course that I ran in Wyoming at altitude.
The good news is that my knee is feeling much better and I actually plan to train for my next half marathon in Rhode Island in May. I will be completing my 50th state on my 50th birthday and would like to wrap up the challenge with a decent time.
Good riddance 2013....here's to better days in 2014.
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Friday, January 24, 2014
West Virginia
Order
in which state was run: 36
Order in which state was admitted into the union: 35
Date: August
22, 2009
Race: Parkersburg News and Sentinel Half Marathon
City: Parkersburg
Cost: $35.00
Trip Report
One of the must see destinations while traveling the US for me was Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Water in western Pennsylvania. As I ran my Pennsylvania half in Philadelphia in the far eastern part of the state I did not visit Falling Water on that trip. Looking at the map of remaining states, West Virginia was the logical choice to plan a visit to Falling Water on a racing trip.
The News and Sentinel is a half marathon and a 2 mile race. It is part of the town's homecoming weekend. It also has prize money for the top finishers. As a result, there were several local runners and then a group of elite Kenyans in the race field.
Post race, I made my way to Pennsylvania and visited Falling Water before heading back to Columbus for the flight home.
Order in which state was admitted into the union: 35
A
white field is bordered in dark blue. West Virginia's
flag displays a rock containing the date June 20, 1863, the day West Virginia
became a state. The two men represent farming and mining. Below them are two
rifles with a "Liberty Cap" on top the rifles. A banner ribbon
includes the state motto "Mountaineers Are Always Free". Around the
picture are a wreath of rhododendron and the name of the state on a red ribbon.
Race: Parkersburg News and Sentinel Half Marathon
City: Parkersburg
Cost: $35.00
Trip Report
One of the must see destinations while traveling the US for me was Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Water in western Pennsylvania. As I ran my Pennsylvania half in Philadelphia in the far eastern part of the state I did not visit Falling Water on that trip. Looking at the map of remaining states, West Virginia was the logical choice to plan a visit to Falling Water on a racing trip.
The News and Sentinel is a half marathon and a 2 mile race. It is part of the town's homecoming weekend. It also has prize money for the top finishers. As a result, there were several local runners and then a group of elite Kenyans in the race field.
Post race, I made my way to Pennsylvania and visited Falling Water before heading back to Columbus for the flight home.
Up next: Washington
Monday, January 20, 2014
Louisiana Half Marathon - 2014
Patrick Morein's Louisiana Marathon - 2014 results
Yesterday I completed my third half marathon with virtually no training. I ran 2.3 miles in mid December and my knee still didn't feel right so I didn't do any more training. My last significant mileage prior to yesterday was the Gulf Coast Half-Louisiana Northshore last October 20.
My knee is actually pain free right now so I'm hopeful that I will be able to train for the finale to my 50 state half marathon quest in May.
Yesterday I completed my third half marathon with virtually no training. I ran 2.3 miles in mid December and my knee still didn't feel right so I didn't do any more training. My last significant mileage prior to yesterday was the Gulf Coast Half-Louisiana Northshore last October 20.
My knee is actually pain free right now so I'm hopeful that I will be able to train for the finale to my 50 state half marathon quest in May.
Friday, January 17, 2014
Hawaii
Order
in which state was run: 35
Order in which state was admitted into the union: 50
Date: February 7, 2009
Race: Run for the Whales
City: Wailea
Cost: $35.00
Trip Report
Run for the Whales was a small half marathon in the southern part of Maui. It was a part of whale month that occurs every February in Maui. This was my first (and only to date) trip to the Hawaiian Islands and i was able to visit three of the islands in my eight day trip.
Up next: West Virginia
Order in which state was admitted into the union: 50
Hawaii was once an independent kingdom. (1810 - 1893) The flag was
designed at the request of King Kamehameha I. It has eight stripes of white,
red and blue that represent the eight main islands. The flag of Great Britain
is emblazoned in the upper left corner to honor Hawaii's friendship with the
British. The combination of the stripes of the United States flag and the Union
Jack of Great Britain is said to have pleased the merchant shippers of both
nations. Flag adopted for official state use in 1959.
Date: February 7, 2009
Race: Run for the Whales
City: Wailea
Cost: $35.00
Trip Report
Run for the Whales was a small half marathon in the southern part of Maui. It was a part of whale month that occurs every February in Maui. This was my first (and only to date) trip to the Hawaiian Islands and i was able to visit three of the islands in my eight day trip.
Friday, January 10, 2014
Illinois
Order
in which state was run: 34
Date: October
12, 2008
Race: Bank of America Chicago Marathon
City: Chicago
Cost: $110.00
Race Report
Training for an October marathon meant running in hot and humid weather in Houston. My training was sidetracked by shingles and then Hurricane Ike. Even with the training obstacles I was able to run a marathon PR with warmer than ideal weather in Chicago.
Date: June 4, 2011
Race: 13.1 Marathon Series
City: Chicago
Cost: $38.00
Race Report
While I an a PR marathon in Chicago, I returned to Chicago to run an Illinois half marathon. Hot and humid weather conditions caused the race director to cancel the race prior to my finishing. This was my first race that I started and not have an official finish time. I did cross the finish line and did receive a medal.
Up next: Hawaii
Order
in which state was admitted into the union:
21
The
Illinois flag is a simple representation of
the Great Seal of Illinois against a white background. In 1969, the General
Assembly voted to add the word "ILLINOIS" under the Great Seal of the
flag. The State's name was added to the flag to ensure that people not familiar
with the Great Seal of Illinois would still recognize the banner. Flag adopted
1915.
Race: Bank of America Chicago Marathon
City: Chicago
Cost: $110.00
Race Report
Training for an October marathon meant running in hot and humid weather in Houston. My training was sidetracked by shingles and then Hurricane Ike. Even with the training obstacles I was able to run a marathon PR with warmer than ideal weather in Chicago.
Date: June 4, 2011
Race: 13.1 Marathon Series
City: Chicago
Cost: $38.00
Race Report
While I an a PR marathon in Chicago, I returned to Chicago to run an Illinois half marathon. Hot and humid weather conditions caused the race director to cancel the race prior to my finishing. This was my first race that I started and not have an official finish time. I did cross the finish line and did receive a medal.
Friday, January 3, 2014
Alaska
Order
in which state was run: 33
Order in which state was admitted into the union: 49
Date: June
25, 2008
Race: Great Alaskan Maritime Marathon
City: Juneau
Cost:
Race Report
Ever since watching Love Boat in the 70s I wanted to go on a cruise. I'm not much of a beach person so an Alaskan cruise in particular appealed to me. Fast forward to my state chasing and a cruise that included running at ports of call apealed to me so I picked this race for my Alaska half marathon.
Racing was fun and meeting other runners was fun as well. This may be my only cruise (I enjoy doing my own thing on my own schedule) but it was a fun experience.
Date: June 18, 2011
Race: Mayor's Half Marathon
City: Anchorage
Cost: $43.60
Race Report
Part of my adventures in running the 50 states is visiting National Parks nearby. The Alaskan cruise I took in 2008 cruised Glacier Bay National Park. I decided to return to Alaska to visit a couple more of the many parks located in Alaska. Since I was traveling that far I figured I may as well throw in another half marathon as well. I ran a half in Anchorage and then spent a week in Alaska visiting Kenai Fjords and Denali National Parks.
Anchorage was a fun place to visit in June. They had a summer solstice festival going on when I arrived; sunlight was out most of the 24 hour day that time of year. I was living in Texas at the time and got a kick out of the Alaska-Texas shirts (which I'd never seen before).
Up next: Illinois
Order in which state was admitted into the union: 49
Alaska
adopted the flag for official state use in 1959. The blue field represents the sky, the sea, and mountain lakes,
as well as Alaska's wildflowers. Emblazoned on the flag are eight gold stars:
seven in the constellation Ursa Major, or the Big Dipper. The eighth being the
North Star, representing the northern most state.
Race: Great Alaskan Maritime Marathon
City: Juneau
Cost:
Race Report
Ever since watching Love Boat in the 70s I wanted to go on a cruise. I'm not much of a beach person so an Alaskan cruise in particular appealed to me. Fast forward to my state chasing and a cruise that included running at ports of call apealed to me so I picked this race for my Alaska half marathon.
Racing was fun and meeting other runners was fun as well. This may be my only cruise (I enjoy doing my own thing on my own schedule) but it was a fun experience.
Race: Mayor's Half Marathon
City: Anchorage
Cost: $43.60
Race Report
Part of my adventures in running the 50 states is visiting National Parks nearby. The Alaskan cruise I took in 2008 cruised Glacier Bay National Park. I decided to return to Alaska to visit a couple more of the many parks located in Alaska. Since I was traveling that far I figured I may as well throw in another half marathon as well. I ran a half in Anchorage and then spent a week in Alaska visiting Kenai Fjords and Denali National Parks.
Anchorage was a fun place to visit in June. They had a summer solstice festival going on when I arrived; sunlight was out most of the 24 hour day that time of year. I was living in Texas at the time and got a kick out of the Alaska-Texas shirts (which I'd never seen before).
Up next: Illinois
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