8 day run-break after a mixed-result Mainly double.  Unloaded my truck, cleaned weeks of laundry, bought East Coast groceries — & enjoyed a GREAT first week with FAMILY.  2-year-old has a solid on my heart.

This week, Bangor.  Crazy long drive past Boston, Portland, Augusta — to eastern Maine.  Road signs reflecting ‘NB’ Canada locations further up the highway.  Heavy overcast, light drizzle.  2 days ago, Bangor recorded an all-time high of 96.  High heat would have put this marathon at risk.  Add-in East Coast humidity… brother dodged a bullet.  Bring on the RAIN!  Bib pickup, motel check-in, dinner, early sleeps.

Still working thru a hip injury/pain.  Lotta runner excitement — pulled from that energy.  Lost majority of field at the Half turnaround.  Popped in earbuds & logged couple more on-pace miles.  Course alongside a rural highway.  More traffic on a Sunday morning than you’d expect.  Music kept me steady.

Weather forecast?  Heavy rain by 9am.  And... they weren’t wrong.  Last 15 miles.  Chose to run without a jacket, hands got cold but… count myself SUPER lucky.  Summer HEAT vs heavy rain?  No brainer.

Mile 23 meltdown.  Laid back/stretched on a large rock.  Downed a bag of chips.  Long break… 5 minutes.  Needed to pull together the mental.  Followed 2 runners outta the aid station.  Followed their run/walk routine.  Company.  ALSO… easier to navigate trek back to town as a group of eyes (poor course signage, crossing traffic).  Scenic last mile along the Penobscot River.  Moving well, ready to get it done.

2 Maine finishes in 2 weeks.  Hung ’round & cheered on fellow marathoners.  Whoop whoop 🙌

Couple weeks ’til my next 26.2.  Next up: HOLIDAY WEEK in New England — happy 4th, y’all!

Great Bangor Marathon — Bangor ME

Super blessed & appreciative yet... feeling it’s the trip that never ends.  Truck still loaded with belongings I packed weeks ago in Colorado.  Visited my Mom & Bro in Arkansas, Sis in St Louis, family in Connecticut.  Pup has come & gone.  Started my 2nd ‘double’ Mainly series — Independence & New England.  11 days, 11 states but struggled, mixed results… in/out of walk-in clinics.  Missed PA.  Shortened 50K day in Mass to marathon distance.  More trail, lotta hills, East Coast humidity.

Checked-out of the swankiest of all my Mainly lodgings.  4-minute drive to Day 5 start.  Lush tree canopy, overcast skies, high humidity & summer mosquitoes.  It’s a plague we don’t suffer in Colorado.  Sweet blood, warm body temp — next series will pack repellent.  No drama, learning experience.  I’d travel to Maine with unicorn-whelps sprouting outta my forehead.  Why the face?!  LOL>

Lotta laps on single-track trail.  Wooden bridge crossing, scenic/aged/spoke New England.  Trail congestion dissipated after majority of runners finished 13.1 mile distance, gathered their medal. Second-half far faster than the first, another ‘negative split’ day.  Check, done.  Ready ready for one last 3-hour commute.  Would stay in Wells, on the Maine coast.  Lobster roll, early to bed.

Day 6.  Last day runner goodbyes (always tinge of sadness) & faster than expected last day finish in Sanford ME.  Hung ’round & cheered on my Mainly mates.  But honestly, heart was elsewhere…. couldn’t wait to see my best pup Ro.  Reunited at last.  Summer has BEGUN!

New England Series — NH & ME

Final 230am alarm.  Last quiet-stepping thru my CT family’s home using iPhone screen light.  Time to hit the highway & get my 50K obligations done.  Notta lotta sleep nite prior. Mexican fiesta probably not recommended pre-marathon prep.  LOL>  Quick preview to SUMMER FAMILY FUN — ready ready to jump aboard that train.  Whoop whoop!

Two-hour commute to Mainly’s third New England locale, Massachusetts.  14 laps, mostly trail, turnaround stretch on bike-path cement.  Started NE Day 3 slow, two passes by a scenic lake.  No trail falls.  Geese, goslings.  Duck, ducklings.  That time o’ year.  Putting in liquids, nothing coming out.  Couple burning drops released mile 18.  Two miles later grabbed a Styrofoam cup to porta-potty confirm my colour.  Yep, brother’s seeing RED.  Doctors talked blood during my cancer bouts.  Never saw red, was always just talk.

Mentally freaked.  Physically good (‘xcept for the burning).  Paced-up next 6 miles & told the RD: just a marathon today.  Are you sure?  Barely 5 hours.  Without getting into details… yep, I’m done.  Walk-in clinic bound before travelling north to rural Vermont. Not gonna die.  Week of meds would cure the infection.  3 run days more then find a physician.  Moving forward.  Two-nite stay at a swanky red-brick hotel: ‘the Common Man’.

While other runners struggled to locate lodging in VT/NH, my (sold-out) digs included a spa & restaurant.  Couldn’t have come at a better time.  Easy 30-minute drive to Vermont (Day 4); short mile-half to (Day 5) course in Claremont.  Location, location, location!

Back on pavement, alongside VT’s scenic Black River in Springfield.  Just BEAUTIFUL! ❤️  Two low-impact laps, early miles easing thru my hip injury.  Paced up before the Half, another good day.  New Hampshire & Maine — just 2 states to go! #50K every day

New England Series – MA & VT