Thoughts in Random Patterns

Another Weekend, Another Marathon

After last weekend's Newport marathon, Brad did another one on back to back weekends in St. Louis, Missouri, completing #20.  The 50 marathons in 50 states quest is a great way to see the country, including places I wouldn't necessarily have gone to, including Bismarck, North Dakota.  I'd never been to St. Louis, and it was especially fun to be there when they're playing the world series, although we were glad the games were in Texas so we didn't have to deal with the crowds.

Brad ran #20 with Matt Shobe, who also ran the Huntsville, Alabama Rocket City Marathon with him in December 2008 for Brad's 14th marathon. In addition to being amazing (crazy?!) to run two marathons in two weekends, Brad's official time of 4:51:26 was considerably faster in the second weekend. 

Some St.Louis photos: 

 

The banner for the marathon, partially obscuring our view of the arch from the Ballpark Hilton: 

Runners from my window on the 19th floor: 

Matt and Brad after the race, looking pretty lively: 

Brad's next planned marathon is in Philadelphia in November, and will be the first one that I'm not there to sherpa for.  After 20 finishes, I figure he can manage without me?!?  

Newport Marathon

We spent the weekend with our longtime friends Warren and Ilana Katz at their house in Newport, Rhode Island so Brad could run his 19th marathon.  Warren and Brad ran the full marathon and Ilana ran the half and I cheered for them.

It rained hard when we arrived on Friday, but cleared off on Saturday and was clear but breezy during the race on Sunday. 

The ocean was quite lovely, although you can see the wind at the top of the waves in the second photo:

 

Another lovely thing about Newport is the stacked stone fences, which is often what you see in towns established in 1639. 

 

The runners before the race -

 

 Runners hitting the first hill next to one of those Newport mansions - 

Brad at the half - 

 

Taking a small break and still smiling - 

Warren at the half - 

 

Ilana at the finish of the half in an official time of 2:00:51, a personal best for her. 

Brad at the finish of the marathon with a new friend made in the final 3 miles of the race.  Brad's official time is 5:13:36.

 

Warren at the finish in a time of 5:40:46 for his first marathon ever. 

 

The gang, relieved to be standing still:

 

Next weekend Brad plans to run marathon #20 in St. Louis, Missouri.  I'll be there, cheering when it happens. 

 

Bismarck

Marathon #18 in Brad's quest to run one in each of the 50 states is completed.  We spent two nights in Bismarck, North Dakota and I can cross another state off of my list.

Brad blogs about his race here.  I really liked following him on Run Keeper Live to see where he was at all points during the marathon.  

It's race day!  Light rain, cloudy, gloomy: 

   

Brad's usual pre-marathon preparation - last minute emails:

Before:

During:

 

Crossing the finish line: 

  

After - feeling pretty good: 

Back in our hotel room - with finisher's medal:

 

 Next up, Newport, Rhode Island on October 15th and St. Louis, Missouri the following Sunday October 23rd. 

Rocket City Marathon - Alabama

Last weekend we were in Huntsville, Alabama for Brad to run his 14th marathon.  I've never been to Alabama before, but my father's family is from around there, which partly explains how it's not such a huge coincidence that the woman driver at the airport is related to me.  Maiden name Batchelor, first name Samantha, grandfather's name Walter Batchelor.  My grandfather was Oscar and my first name is Margaret for my grandmother.  Samantha is the same age as I am, and we figured out that we were both at my grandparents' 50th wedding anniversary celebration in Tennessee in 1977, but couldn't completely figure out the connection.  Some kind of cousin somehow. 

And Huntsville turned out to be an excellent place for Brad, who finished in 4:39, which was so fast that I actually wasn't at the finish line yet to greet him.  Oops.  Bad Sherpa.  I'll go earlier next time!

 

Brad Before:

Doing some last minute email -- crucial for marathon prep

All numbered up and ready to go:

The Start - photographs taken from my 7th floor hotel room:

 

Brad is in here somewhere:

Brad During -- at Mile 13:

Brad After:

Finisher medal, Garmin watch results:

A storm drain cover:

Another marathon down for Brad and a new state visited for both of us.

The next marathon is the Mardi Gras Marathon in New Orleans on February 1st. 

Maine Marathon

One of the big highlights of October was Brad finishing his 13th marathon in his quest to run 50 marathons in each of the 50 states before he turns 50.  Here's his version of events, but I have all the fun photos.

Here's Brad crossing the finish line in under 5 hours:

Brad before the race, full of energy:

and after the race, slightly less energetic, but happy  --

And some of the gorgeous fall foliage in Bar Harbor:

 

Heading to Alabama for the 14 marathon in December, which is a state I've never been to.  It's fun to see the United States this way.