Gate City Marathon, NH

Published May 21, 2017

Crazy cold in Toronto 2 weeks ago, today’s forecast in New Hampshire: low 80’s.

Main Street FINISH

7am marathon start. Mid-50’s, sunny skies, pretty much perfect. Would go out fast, try to log as many miles as possible before temps started heating up.

My first cloverleaf course. Little confusing initially – overall, HUGE fan. Generally NOT excited ‘bout running loops…but when 4 of those 5 loops are unique, hardly seemed like lap running. Loved the ole New England feel of Nashua’s historic Main Street, [ran] out-n-back 4 times.

Started UPHILL past Nashua City Hall, on the right: Church of the Good Shepherd (circa 1871), [ran] by the Telegraph (city’s newspaper home), over the Nashua River, long trek down Manchester/Hill’s Ferry/Concord streets, east ‘round Atherton Park, back over the River, THEN Main Street-returned via my favourite chunk of local architecture – St. Mary & Archangel Michael’s Coptic Orthodox Church, built in 1898 (previously Roman Catholic)…beautiful old building, Nashua’s tallest church.

17 miles in, sun blazed warm. Avoided the day’s strongest rays for another 3 miles. Ran those miles alongside water-gorged canals in Mine Falls Park. Dirt path, BEAUTIFUL treed property – LOVED.

21-mile aid station. Stopped/regrouped, slow jogged back to Main. Loop 5: shortest of the cloverleafs. Seemed like a looooong 4.3 miles. Walk/jogged, water-doused my head at both aid stations.

Finish line. Came in hot, unsteady. Main Street never looked so good.

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center provided support in the Finish area. Blood pressure 80 over 40, body temp just over 93. Disoriented, not my best. Hour later, good to go ❤

Beautiful course, well run event – with friend support at both Start & Finish. Not a great finish (20 minutes slower than my past 2 marathons) but…a finish is a finish. #90 in the books.