Running the States

Tag: half marathons

  • 10/50 – Illinois: Rock n Roll Chicago Half Marathon

    10/50 – Illinois: Rock n Roll Chicago Half Marathon

    I completed state number 10 of the 50 states challenge this past weekend (wooo double digits!). Thank you, Chicago, Illinois.

    What did I know about Chicago before I left? Truthfully, not too much. The last time I was in the Windy City was November 2007 to celebrate a friend’s birthday. It was a short weekend trip. I remember a lot of cocktails and snow on the ground. I don’t remember much else, probably due to said cocktails.

    I had heard great things about Chicago — one being how nice it is in the summer. Other than that, I was pretty clueless about the city. My colleague, Erin, lived in Chicago and absolutely loves it. After my second visit there, I can see why. It truly is a beautiful city with great architecture and a vibrant food scene. And summers there are indeed lovely.

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  • One Year Ago: Ran My First Half Marathon

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    A year ago this month, I ran my very first half marathon (Frederick Half) and kicked off Running the States — my challenge to run 13.1 miles in all 50 U.S. states.

    The idea for Running the States came about in December 2013, when I met my co-worker, Kevin, who had recently completed the challenge. In January 2014, I signed up for my first couple of races and started training.

    If we’re going by calendar year, which I still do most of the time, I completed four half marathons in 2014. But if we’re starting the count from when I ran my first half, then I’ve completed nine since last May.

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  • 9/50 – Tennessee: Country Music Half Marathon

    9/50 – Tennessee: Country Music Half Marathon

    A couple of weekends ago, I took a quick trip to Music City to run the Country Music Half Marathon (aka Rock n Roll Nashville). It was my first time down there, and I loved it — such a fun city.

    The forecast called for a rainy race day, and I heard from locals and other participants that the course was super hilly. But I was pleasantly surprised on both accounts — the rain held off and it actually turned out to be great running weather, and while the course was indeed hilly, most of the hills were manageable. It was fun time!

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  • 8/50 – Pennsylvania: Philadelphia Love Run

    8/50 – Pennsylvania: Philadelphia Love Run

    A week after my road trip to Connecticut to run the Savin Rock Half, I headed back up north for another race: The Philadelphia Love Run. Sorry, I’m a little late writing this post—the past couple of weeks have been craziness.

    The trip to Philadelphia was super short, but a fun one. My friend, Jen, did the race, too, along with her friends Emily and Rachel. (Read Jen’s race recap here.) Emily and I shared a hotel room together. Always great to have company on these race trips!

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  • 7/50 – Connecticut: Savin Rock Half Marathon

    7/50 – Connecticut: Savin Rock Half Marathon

    Last weekend, my cousin, Janine, and I took a road trip to West Haven, Conn.—a town within the city of New Haven County—to run the Savin Rock Half Marathon. The weather posed some challenges to the race, as well as to the drive up there, but despite that, we had a fun weekend. (more…)

  • Spring Races and First Running Injury

    My new spring running shoes. Aren't they cute?
    My new running shoes. Aren’t they cute?

    February has been a cold, cold month. (As I write this, more snow is falling from the sky.) March is around the corner though, which means warmer temps (hopefully) and the start of the spring racing season. I have a few exciting half marathons coming up — two that I’ve been looking forward to since last year, and one that I signed up on a whim earlier this month.

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  • Coworker’s 50 states

    Image: Colin Hayes, Guts without Glory
    Image: Colin Hayes, Guts without Glory

    When I first started this 50 states challenge, my coworker, Kevin, emailed me a list of the races he ran in each state (the ones he counted toward the challenge). It’s a fun list to read. His comments on the races and locations are great. I’ve been meaning to post it for a while, and just now getting around to it.

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  • 6/50 – Louisiana: Rock n Roll New Orleans

    6/50 – Louisiana: Rock n Roll New Orleans

    Less than a week after I arrived home from Charleston, I was back on a plane, headed toward New Orleans. Next mission: New Orleans Rock n Roll Half Marathon. (more…)

  • 5/50 – South Carolina: Charleston Half Marathon

    5/50 – South Carolina: Charleston Half Marathon

    Did you know that South Carolina is the largest producer of peaches in the US? It produces 15 percent more than the “Peach State,” Georgia. Also, did you know that the city of Charleston claims 90 percent of the Atlantic coastline and is the largest cargo port on the Southeastern Atlantic coast?

    I just got back from the beach-lined city in the peach-filled state; I didn’t eat any peaches, nor visit any beaches (bummer on both counts), but I did run my first 13.1-miler of the year, the Charleston Half Marathon. Charleston, S.C. is officially #5 of 50 for #runningthestates.

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  • 4/50 – Texas: The Hottest Half

    4/50 – Texas: The Hottest Half

    It was Saturday afternoon. I stepped off a small plane at Dallas Love Field airport and was immediately hit with hot, dry air. I checked my weather app. It was 102 degrees F. Typical end-of-August temps for Texas — the kind of weather that would make the Hottest Half live up to its name. Lucky me.

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