half-marathon

Since we’ve settled into our new little home in the Phoenix area, I wasn’t interested in getting back on the road too soon. So, while I stayed home and nested, Steve tackled much of the spring marathon season solo. Here’s a recap on his Herculean efforts.

Maryland #45

First, he flew to Baltimore and participated in the B & A Trail Marathon. The race was conducted on the rail-to-trail path that goes from Baltimore to Annapolis, and he finished the 26.2 mile race in his normal time of about 4 1/2 hours.

New Jersey #46

Three weeks later he boarded a plane to Newark. There he traveled into Jersey City which lies on the Hudson River across from Manhattan. The day before the race he picked up his packet and then enjoyed the views of the city on a beautiful day.

The run through the streets of Jersey City and past the Statue of Liberty was a classic urban race. He finished again at his normal pace.

Oregon #47

Less than a week later he was on a plane again, this time to Eugene, Oregon for the Eugene Marathon. Eugene is the home of the University of Oregon and is known as “Track Town USA.” Since this was Steve’s third 26.2 mile race in five weeks, it was a bit slower. He still finished in under five hours.

Illinois #48

We fit the final spring marathon in during our travels to Michigan for the summer season. The Starved Rock Marathon was held in the town of Ottawa, IL and the race ran through the beautiful Starved Rock State Park, where we also camped. We were joined by Steve’s high school running buddy Kent Ferris and the guys “enjoyed” doing the race together, if you can enjoy running 26.2 miles up and down big hills.

A side note: Kent also ran state #20 in Des Moines with Steve.

With #48 in the books, Steve has just two states left to complete his goal of running a marathon in all 50 states. We’ll hit Vermont and Massachusetts the fall. But first, Traverse Bay RV Resort is beckoning.

On our way north we stopped to see our Baja buddies, Yujing and Jim in Kalamazoo. Yujing prepared an incredible meal of Chinese Hot Pot that was a super fun experience. This is what RVing is all about…the fabulous friends you make and the unique experiences you have along the way. Thanks guys!

Jim, Yujing, me & Steve with hot pot ingredients in the foreground

We plan to spend another summer in Traverse City with our friends, enjoying the lakes, trails, and wineries. Have a great summer everyone!

We have visited Washington DC many times over the years. As kids, with school groups, and for work, we’ve seen the monuments and museums multiple times. Years ago, we were here during Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) weekend and were so inspired. It’s been on our list for a long time and it didn’t disappoint.

The MCM is the fourth largest marathon in the United States with over 30,000 runners from all over the world. The weekend event begins with a large expo where we picked up our race bibs. We enjoyed the festivities with cheerleaders from the local NFL team, the Washington Commanders. We learned the best way to get to the start line and picked up some fun goodies.

Trains begin running at 5am on race morning

At 4:45 a.m. on race morning, we left Cherry Hill Park, our basecamp for the week and headed to the nearest Metro station. After a 30 minute train ride, I got off the train and headed to the 10K start line. Steve rode a few more stops before getting to the marathon start line.

Waiting in the warmth of the Metro station before the race

By 8:00 a.m. we were both beating the pavement. My 6.2 mile course took me around the mall, into Crystal City, and past the Pentagon, before crossing the finish line at the Iwo Jima Marine Corps War Memorial. Steve ran his 26.2 miles through Arlington, Georgetown, Rock Creek Park, and around the mall before crossing the same finish line as I did.

The course is lined with supporters, including enthusiastic marines who fist bump and cheer you along. The race is one of the best in terms of organization, support, and energy. For both of us it was a successful event. Highly recommend!

While in DC we did a little exploring. We noticed that security around the White House is greater than it’s ever been. The photo below shows the barricade that keeps the public at least a block away. Who remembers when you could get right up to the fence and almost see in the windows?

Being in the area of the White House, we had to grab lunch at Old Ebbitt Grill, Washington’s oldest saloon, established in 1856. We also checked out the view from the Old Post office, a historic building with quite a history.

One new stop for us in the DC area was a visit to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis. It’s about a 30 minute drive from DC and a world away. The Academy, established in 1845, prepares young men and women to become professional officers in the Navy and Marine Corps. Notable graduates include Jimmy Carter, Ross Perot, David Robinson, and Roger Staubach. We loved seeing the athletic facilities, the chapel, and Bancroft Hall, the largest college dormitory in the world.

While staying at the closest campground to DC, we enjoyed the park’s weekend celebration of Halloween. Many RV parks have special activities on weekends in October, and our RV parks have been packed on the weekends with families enjoying the outdoors. Cherry Hill had a big celebration that included site decorating contests, wagon rides, and trick or treating. Hundreds of kids and families dressed for the occasion wandered the park collecting candy. We didn’t have costumes, but Bob enjoyed the attention. Have we mentioned he’s a “little girl” magnet?

Marnie and Steve Travel

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Steve’s Spring Race Season

Marine Corps Marathon