Ottawa Marathon

Ottawa is a beautiful city.  I enjoyed  a few days of long walks and even a little river cruise as I explored the city. But one worry was hanging over the heads of all the runners as well as the race directors.  The forecast was for 90 degrees plus it has been in the high 80's to 90's for the last few days.  There was even talk of canceling the race.  They did finally move the half Marathon and the 10K races to an earlier start but left us marathoners with the original 7 am start.

But it was rather cool this morning plus overcast with a pretty good breeze.  Bystanders had hoses and sprinklers and sprayed us all as we passed by.  I was honestly never really too hot.  The water cooled me off.  I really did push myself though.  I finished at 6:10, which is quite the improvement over all those long ones I just completed.  I was worried that they would close the race before I finished.  The last 10K was a little warm but again it wasn't that bad with all the water that people were spraying on me.  I found out after I finished that those who didn't cross the bridge leaving Quebec by 11 am ended up being directed past the last 10K loop and finishing only a 20 mile course instead of 26.2.  Fortunately I was fast enough that it didn't happen to me. I was so happy to finish in time and I still had energy.  I've said before that it's really easier to run faster and get finished than to take your time and take 8 hours.  It's all about the amount of time on your feet.

I'm pretty happy that I was able to run 14 full marathons this month, plus one last month and also walk about 200 miles through Italy.  I am ready for a day at home and a more restful month up in Deadhorse at work.  But I think I will miss the daily marathons.  It becomes habit when you run that far day after day.  It was hard but I really did enjoy it.

The Medal is Gorgeous!

Crossing the finish line in Ottawa

New England Series Day 7 New York

Today is simply a repeat of the New York New Paltz run from the Independence Series.  I liked this funny course the first time so enjoyed it the second time too.  I didn't even mind the 20 lap part.  I was also feeling a little more energetic.  Perhaps that was just from knowing it was the last day. I'm hoping to get some time to walk on the beach and visit my cousins before I fly up to Canada. I wasn't exactly speedy today but did beat the 8 hours with a time of 7:45. I'm trying not to be concerned over the 6:30 time limit I have to deal with in Ottawa.  But I plan to run the whole way on that one and not do any walking to chit chat with my friends.  This is the last of the take my time and relax my way to the finish line races.  It has warmed up a bit so was pleasant. I ran with my dress and no long warm leggings, even bringing Hello Kitty along for the ride.

Many of the others dressed as their favorite super hero.  So I added some pink hair and said my super hero was Crazy Cat Woman.

I found a tiny fox on the grass watching us go by.

Here is the final long medal with all 7 states.

New England Series Day 6 Connecticut

Another slow one for me.  This one seemed tiring for some reason.  Most likely it has something to do with the previous 5 races.  It was along the Iron Horse Greenway in Simsbury, Connecticut.  It was conveniently close to my hotel, basically across the street. It still took me 8 hours.  I spent some time walking and chatting with the other runners. too.  It was a long straight gentle sloping paved trail and quiet and green.  I'm ready for the last day tomorrow.  I can tell I'm getting tired.  I'm looking forward to a few days off before hitting the race in Ottawa that actually has a time limit.

New England Series Day 5 Rhode Island

Day 5 brings us to Rhode Island and the pleasant Coventry Center Park.
It's definitely getting greener now.  These trees all have their leaves. Rhode Island is such a small state that I've heard many people having trouble even finding a race to run here.  So it is nice to have the chance to run Rhode Island. I was really poking along at 8 hours again though. I'm sure not breaking any speed records on these races.  I have to wonder if they are really being a good workout or if the are just not much more than long walks.  But by the end of each one, I can hardly stand up. So I must be making some progress in fitness. I find it's actually more difficult to take 8 hours versus taking only 5 or 6 hours.  Even if you are just walking, you are still spending that much more time n your feet.  I really prefer running to walking and try to limit the amount of time that I spend walking.

New England Series Day 4 Massachusetts

There was something about this course that seemed to bother almost everyone.  Personally I kind of liked it.  Most of it was on grass, so to begin with, the grass was wet in the morning. So my shoes got a little wet at first. But the main complaint was that the ground was kind of lumpy and uneven.  I liked it because the grass was soft.  Sometimes the pavement makes the bottom of my feet hurt. I liked that it was kind of spongy even if it was a little uneven. It was like a softer version of the cobblestones of the Rome Marathon. The weather is still kind of cold but still no rain or high winds.  I have no complaints.  I compare everything to the nightmare of the New Jersey Marathon.  And so far nothing has come close to that level of agony! Things are starting to green up so it is getting a little prettier as we move south. It was a slow course because it climbed partway up a hill.  I was a little over 8 hours today.

New England Series Day 3 Vermont

Now for the third day in a row in Springfield, Vermont. This course was easier than some for whatever reason.  I was back to 7:15 instead of closing in on 8 hours. There was a nice creek running beside most of the course so it was more like a nice walk in nature. I was feeling a little better and less tired for this one.  I always enjoy the sound of running water.

New England Series Day 2 New Hampshire

Now day two in Greenfield State Park in New Hampshire.  Once again we ran in a pleasant state park that was quite green with evergreen trees but with few leaves on the other trees. I was closing in on 8 hours again at 7:52. In the mornings following each race I am exhausted from the day before. I have been getting up at 4 am for each of these races.  That alone is enough to make a person slow down.  I seem to get progressively slower with each passing day.  It's an ever increasing accumulation of tiredness.  Plus each day after our race we have to scramble on to the next state which is often over 100 miles away.  Even the driving and the search for a meal when I get there tend to add to the general tiredness. But in spite of that, it is really fun to run with Mainly Marathons.