Never say never.
Same lady who PR’d in Indy last November (& said no more marathons) organized this weekend’s marathon relay in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Christmas week, my sister reached out & asked if we’d be interested in running together as a family – then a week later, strong-armed everyone to sign up. Thanks Tammy – this would have never happened without you!
Left Friday a couple hours early, first stop Dallas. 15 minute turnaround (just made our connection), boarded a small regional jet to Fort Smith – one seat by 2 seats across…yep, might small.
Sleep, breakfast – ready ready ready to go. Both siblings, siblings’ families & Mom. Pretty fantastic.
Drove tomorrow’s course to get a feel for the area – whole lotta hills – then headed downtown for bib pick-up. Sunshine & 70’s – a bit warm for marathoning but perfect for touristing. Sis, brother-in-law & I explored Fort Smith’s historic buildings; Ash, Tom, cousins & Grandma geocached near the Arkansas River.
Fort Smith lies on the border of Arkansas & Oklahoma (former Indian territory). What to do? Obvious answer – visit Miss Laura’s, a former bordello. Fort Smith was a gateway to the West – a town marshaled by Bass Reeves, justice doled out by Judge Issac Parker, ‘the Hanging Judge’. Bordellos, row houses & gallows – everything you’d expect from a family vacation 🙂
Championship Uno followed by a whole lotta strategizing for the next day’s relay. Sister, brother-in-law & I all run regularly. Brother however is a former weight lifter – his wife is the runner but out-of-town on a work trip. Last member of Team 4-Layer Delight, my 14 year-old nephew – track team, super fast but has never run > than 4 miles (tomorrow’s leg, almost 6).
Kick-back, pace easy, enjoy the day? Heck no – double heaping of competitiveness in this family’s DNA!
-
- family marathon in Arkansas
-
- ‘Arkansas’ Christmas gifts
-
- only former brothel on the National Register of Historic Places
-
- Miss Laura’s Social Club
-
- Fire on the Row (1910)
-
- Gallows used by Judge Issac Parker (the ‘Hanging Judge’) – sentenced 160 people to hang (including 6 on one day), most in U.S. history (1875-1896)
-
- Bass Reeves (1838-1910), one of the first African American Deputy U.S. Marshals west of the Mississippi River, arrested over 3,000 felons, shot & killed fourteen outlaws in self-defense
-
- ready to relay – Team 4-Layer Delight
Woke Tuesday & thought: BONUS marathon (doesn’t everyone? 🙂 )
Deadline to enter the Des Moines Marathon was Wednesday. Next thought: What to do in Iowa?
Slept on it & woke with a plan. Iowa would be all about the journey – an all-Midwest adventure! I’d travel to Des Moines via bus (to Denver), overnight train (to Omaha, Nebraska), then rental car 2 hours across Western Iowa. Perfect!
2 short runs on Wednesday & Thursday would be the only prep I could fit in – always lose a few days after marathoning (letting muscles & joints heal). Have learned to listen to my body after a full year of 26.2 race days.
Had never been to Denver’s Union Station previously – what a surprise! Unbeknownst to me, a major renovation occurred over the past 2 years – what a beautiful station! Additionally, Denver’s night life was a-happening. Lotta laughter & hand holding as I passed couples walking to some of Denver’s finest restaurants. Super impressed – go Denver!
Train conductors, comfortable seating, polite conversation, leg room, no baggage fees, no security scanners, a dining car. Riding Amtrak is like going back in time – when humans were kinder. LOVE LOVE train travel. Wish the U.S. would greatly expand our railways. I’m telling ya – if you haven’t travelled by train, you’re missing out.
Plugged in my phone (yep, that’s also possible on train) & woke 7 hours later in Lincoln – an hour from my train destination.
Taxi to the airport (to pick up a rental car), breakfast, 5 minutes later…I’m in Iowa.
An hour into the drive, detoured down a rural highway to take in the scenery. Early morning grass was still wet with heavy dew. Cornfields, farmhouses, brightly colored silos – reminiscent of Waller’s Bridges of Madison County. Truly blessed.
Discovering there’s unique beauty in each of my 50 state marathon destinations.
Race packet pick-up at the Iowa Events Center, then spent a couple hours exploring the State Historical Museum & State Capitol Building. Iowans are proud of their John Deere tractors – ‘nuf said ‘bout the museum. The Capitol Dome however was fascinating. Saturday was probably the ideal day to explore – no bureaucrats 🙂
2 hour nap, quick shower, then off to Carlisle Iowa where I had VIP tickets to a local production of Dracula – performed at historic Randleman House, a “found space” production.
A found space is a nontheatrical space — the rotunda of the state capitol, a church, warehouse, courtroom, carpenters shop – which is used for production. Typically the space is chosen because of its context to the play: Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar at the capitol, The Passion Play in a church, Inherit the Wind in a courtroom.
2 hour original production (currently unpublished), poetry reading during intermission and dinner – all proceeds supporting Des Moines’ local arts scene. FUN night! Conversed with many – including Carlisle’s mayor, the play’s director, playwright & cast members. Thanks Mary Sue for creating such a special night before my 13th marathon!
What to do in Iowa? Think I found my answer. YIKES – only 6 hours sleep before race time!
-
- Iowa weekend adventure – bus, overnight train, then car – and a BONUS marathon!
-
- discovering unique beauty in all 50 states
-
- IOWA!
-
- downtown Des Moines
-
- State Historical Museum of Iowa (yep, tractors)
-
- State Capitol
-
- Iowa’s Il Duomo
-
- Capitol dollhouse
-
- LOVED this painting – American West, crossing the prairie
-
- Soldiers and Sailors Monument
-
- historic Randleman House
-
- holiday decked in Edgar Allan Poe
-
- pre-race drama in Carlisle IA
Arrived a day earlier than most for my Granddad’s funeral so…had a free day in Northern Virginia.
Woke early, hit the hotel gym, then off to Harpers Ferry National Park in West Virginia – approx 45 minutes away.
THE HISTORY OF HARPERS FERRY HAS FEW PARALLELS IN THE AMERICAN DRAMA. It is more than one event, one date, or one individual. Harpers Ferry witnessed…the arrival of the first successful American railroad, John Brown’s attack on slavery, the largest surrender of Federal troops during the Civil War, and the education of former slaves in one of the earliest integrated schools in the United States [Storer College].
Arrived 10 minutes before the start of a FREE ranger guided tour of the town. Ya’ll know – FREE is for ME – so on the bus we climbed. Best way to see the Park & understand its unique history in a short amount of time. Highly Recommended. That said, think the ranger thought we were prepping for Jeopardy – whole lotta information 🙂
Summer’s already arrived in the Shenandoah Valley – sunny & humid but luckily, this day included a breeze. Enjoyed spectacular views of the Potomac – rushing water still running high, early in the season. Walked over the river via a pedestrian bridge constructed by the B&O Railroad. Took pics at “The Point” (where Maryland, Virginia & West Virginia meet) & ate lunch at a local café before the heavens opened. Rain cooled temps by 15.
I had been to Harpers Ferry years ago as a boy. Seemed fitting to return before tomorrow’s funeral. So much personal history, shared memories with my Grandparents. Fun day but jeez, hard saying goodbye.
-
- Harpers Ferry Nat’l Park
-
- ranger guided tour – whole lotta information
-
- Potomac River & Shenandoah Valley
-
- springtime in the Virginias
-
- Appalachian Trail — 1165 miles to Maine, 1013 miles to Georgia
-
- historic Storer College (1865-1955)
-
- St. Peters
-
- “The Point” — Maryland on left, Virginia to the right, standing in West Virginia
-
- B&O Railroad
-
- pedestrian walk-bridge over Potomac – sunshiny humid East Coast day
