Delaware

Order in which state was run: 41

Order in which state was admitted into the union: 1

Adopted on July 24, 1913, the Delaware state flag has a background of colonial blue surrounding a diamond of buff color in which the coat of arms of the state is placed. Below the diamond are the words "December 7, 1787," indicating the day on which Delaware was the first state to ratify the United States constitution. Because of this action, Delaware became the first state in the Union, and is, therefore, accorded the first position in such national events as presidential inaugurations. According to members of the original commission established to design the flag, the shades of buff and colonial blue represent those of the uniform of General George Washington. Inside the diamond, the flag recognizes the importance of commerce {the ship} and agriculture {wheat, corn, the ox and the farmer} to the state. Tribute is also paid to the revolutionary war soldiers. The words in the ribbon banner read Liberty and Independence.

 

Date: March 21, 2010
Race: Caesar Rodney Half Marathon
City: Wilmington
Cost: $42.60
Trip Report

Caesar Rodney was much smaller than the National Half that I ran the day before.  It was a standalone half compared to the companion National event that included a marathon.

Up next: Wyoming

Washington DC

Date: March 20, 2010
Race: National Half Marathon
City: DC
Cost: $81.32
Trip Report

The National Half was the first leg of my 2010 back to back half marathon weekend.  DC in March was wonderful weather wise.  The race pic of the Capitol building in the background in fog is probably the most awesome of my race pics taken to date.

Up next: Delaware

Mississippi

Order in which state was run: 40

Order in which state was admitted into the union: 20

The committee to design a State Flag was appointed by legislative action February 7, 1894, and provided that the flag reported by the committee should become the official flag. The committee recommended for the flag "one with width two-thirds of its length; with the union square, in width two-thirds of the width of the flag; the ground of the union to be red and a broad blue saltier thereon, bordered with white and emblazoned with thirteen (13) mullets or five-pointed stars, corresponding with the number of the original States of the Union; the field to be divided into three bars of equal width, the upper one blue, the center one white, and the lower one extending the whole length of the flag.

 

Date: December 12, 2009
Race: cellularsouth MTC Half Marathon
City: Madison
Cost: $17.00
Trip Report

 

 

This was a spur of the moment scheduled race for me.  Continental (now United) was matching Southwest airfare sales and I found a $70 flight, a $25 rental car and a $93 hotel along with the $17 race fee made for my cheapest running trip.  No medals or race pic but I do have the tiny bib used for the race.

Up next: Washington DC

Massachusetts

Order in which state was run: 39

Order in which state was admitted into the union: 6

 

On a white field is a blue shield emblazoned with the image of a Native American, Massachuset. He holds a bow in one hand and an arrow in the other. The arrow is pointing downward representing peace. The white star represents Massachusetts as one of the original thirteen states. Around the shield is a blue ribbon with the motto: "By the Sword We Seek Peace, but Peace Only Under Liberty". Above the shield is a arm and sword, representing the first part of the motto. Flag adopted 1915, amended 1971.

 

 

Date: October 11, 2009
Race: B.A.A. Half Marathon
City: Boston
Cost: $54.00
Trip Report


The Boston half was the second half of my 2009 back to back half marathon weekend.  However, it was the event that got me to select this back to back combination.  Having failed to qualify for the Boston Marathon earlier in the year, I wanted to remove the temptation to try to qualify again by running a half in Massachusetts to complete the state.

 

Up next: Mississippi (to complete the South)

Connecticut

Order in which state was run: 38

Order in which state was admitted into the union: 5

On a field of azure blue is an ornamental white shield with three grapevines, each bearing three bunches of purple grapes. The states motto "He who Transplanted Sustains Us" is displayed on a white ribbon. The vines stand for the first settlements of English people who began to move from Massachusetts in the 1630's. These settlements were thought of as grape vines that had been transplanted. Flag adopted 1897.

 

 

Date: October 10, 2009
Race: ING Hartford Half Marathon
City: Hartford
Cost: $61.80
Trip Report


ING Hartford was the first leg of my 2009 back to back half marathon weekend.  Of the 49 states that I've run in to date, I experienced my longest delays both flying and driving on my trip to Hartford.  I really enjoyed the race but didn't spend much time in Connecticut as I had a half marathon in Boston the next morning. 

Up next: Massachusetts

Washington

Order in which state was run: 37

Order in which state was admitted into the union: 42

 

The state flag and the state seal are similar. Passed in 1923, Washington state law describes the flag as having dark green bunting with a state seal in the center. It is the only state flag that is green. It is also the only state flag with a picture of a president.

 

 

Date: September 7, 2009
Race: Super Jock n Jill Half Marathon
City: Woodinville
Cost: $55.00
Trip Report

Super Jock n Jill was only the second half marathon that I ran that wasn't on a Saturday or Sunday.  The only other half being the half I ran in Juneau on the Alaskan marathon cruise week. SJnJ was run on Labor Day just north of Seattle.  it was a small well organized race.  I ran this race for Washington as it fell the same weekend as LSU football's away game against the University of Washington.  So I saw some Saturday football, played tourist Sunday and then ran Monday.

 

Up next: Connecticut