State #26: New Hampshire, Clarence Demar Marathon

State #25: New Jersey, Jersey Shore Marathon

State #25 completed!! I will update soon!

Boston Strong

I am really heartbroken by what happened at the Boston Marathon just a few days ago.  I was volunteering at mile 18 in Newton and had several friends that were running, spectating, and volunteering.  Thankfully, all of my friends are okay, but I am really saddened by the amount of people injured and those who are no longer here. 

Ever since I was in high school, I have wanted to run the Boston Marathon.  I plan on running Boston as my 50th state.  My dad loved Boston. He was a big Boston sports fan, especially rooting for the Red Sox.  Boston holds a really special place in my heart and it will always be my favorite city. 

I have signed up to donate blood at Boston College next week.  To donate blood, click here: Red Cross Blood Donations To donate to the One Fund that Mayor Menino and Governor Patrick have established click here: http://onefundboston.org/  I am joining a group run tonight (4/17) in Wakefield, MA, for two brothers that were injured at the marathon. The Mystic Runners have organized this run, all registration fees will go to the Norden Family of Wakefield. Click here to read more about the run: http://www.mysticrunners.com/

I am also doing The Last Mile walk/run in Salem, MA on 4/18 at 6:45pm.  For info about this event and other events, go to:  http://www.bostonmagazine.com/health/blog/2013/04/17/boston-marathon-relief-events/

I know our running community/family is strong and will continue to run and help the victims.  Marathon runners are some of the most generous people I have met.  I am proud of Boston and proud to call it home. Please pray for Boston, run for Boston, donate for Boston in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

District of Columbia: Marine Corps Marathon 2012, "The People's Marathon"

Well this is the first marathon that I ran during a hurricane.  Hurricane Sandy wasn't so bad during the marathon, but she really hit us hard the day after the marathon.  My flight was supposed to leave Sunday night after the marathon, but was canceled and reschedule for Thursday.  I asked around and my friend Melissa and her boyfriend, Peter, from Connecticut had their flights canceled too.  I joined them for the beginning of a long adventure home on the road from DC to NY.  We spent the night in NY because the wind and rain was getting crazy and highways were shutting down.  In the morning we drove to CT and the Amtrak and bus service to Boston was canceled.  So I drove from Hartford to Boston then took a bus to my car and drove home!! Hoorah!! I am so glad we made it home safely and I hope everyone affected by this storm is able to recover soon.

The marathon was a bit hilly to start out, but awesome to run past several monuments.  The spectators were great with lots of funny signs and the field of runners was huge.  I really love big city marathons, love all of the spectators, and the feeling of being surrounded by others wanting to tackle 26.2 miles for many different reasons.

I decided to run this marathon to bring the race bling medal back to my Uncle Dave who is a retired Marine.  He served in Vietnam.  My family and I are planning a party for him, we will give him the medal and he will get his restored '57 Chevy with the Marine emblem painted on the back window.  It's all going to be a surprise! :)

The first few miles of the marathon were really hilly, but it was fun to have the Marines yelling times at us during the marathon.  The wind picked up a lot during the marathon due to the storm, but I survived!  The hardest part was getting to the marathon and eventually getting home.

OOOORRRAAAHHHHH!!!

Jody and I

I was able to meet up with a bunch of friends during the marathon and very fortunate that Jody and her husband Mark hosted me at their house in VA for the weekend! 

Louie from LA and I

Sarah, my Crow Athletics teammate and friend from Maine

Jasmin from the LA area and I at the finish.  We ran the last half together which was great! It's always nice to have someone fun to talk to during a marathon, it makes the miles go by so much faster!

Happy Birthday Dave!! 

Marathon Mitch and I

For Uncle Dave!

#24: Michigan, Grand Rapids Marathon

I ran with my friend Nicole, who is also a 50 stater and we are so happy that we ran this marathon.  Don Kern is an awesome race director and he stays at the finish line until every runner comes through and gives them hugs and high fives!! The course was beautiful, it went around Lake Leota on a running/biking path.  It was would be a great course to qualify for Boston as there were no significant hills.  This is the best marathon to run in Michigan and probably one of the best marathons in the country, it's definitely one of my favorites. 

We survived another 26.2!

Always a good sign!

Out for some carbs!

Yes, there was pickle juice at mile 21 and yes I did drink that!

We are ready to run!

I loved the pickle juice!!

#23: Hawaii, Maui Marathon

I survived another hot, hilly, and challenging marathon!! At several points during this race, I asked myself, "Why am I doing this??!!"...It was hard to look past the torture of this marathon to remember why I started running marathons.

So you're thinking, how can a marathon in Hawaii be that bad??  Well, it was 26.2 miles of highways, hills, and humidity...no shade!  Thankfully, the volunteers were great about keeping the aid stations fully stacked with ice and they even gave us sponges to stay cool, however it was almost impossible to stay cool on marathon day.

I am very thankful for the runners I shared 26.2 miles with in Maui, my goal was just to finish and not to be concerned about time.  I am not a fast runner in the heat and humidity! My best times have always been in the cooler weather.  I love temps in the 40s-50s to run in!!  I am so happy to have another state and marathon under my belt and so excited to be almost at the half way mark for the states.  It's hard to believe so much time has gone by since I first began this journey and how much it has helped me cope with the loss of my best friend, my dad.  Thanks everyone for following my journey to complete a marathon in every state and DC!! I can't wait for the next one!! There is no finish line.

We did it!

#22: South Dakota, Leading Ladies Marathon

South Dakota wasn't so friendly to me during the marathon.  I was sick the last few miles and then sick the rest of the day after the marathon and traveling home.  I somehow was able to manage to finish the marathon.

I had a great time before the marathon with a great group of ladies!  We explored Mount Rushmore, Deadwood, SD, the Black Hills, Crazy Horse, and Sturgis, SD.

I am happy to be home and excited to get closer to the halfway mark for the 50 states. Thanks for all of your support!

Ice cream social!

I survived another 26.2 even while sick!

Mt Rushmore!

"Never forget your dreams."

Before the race on the bus...freezing!!

We found a great store in downtown Deadwood!!