Charles DeMar Marathon: Keene, New Hampshire, September 24th, 2023 – Marathon #30
I arrived in New Hampshire on Friday, September 22nd, but the marathon wasn’t until Sunday, so I had some time to explore. I was actually staying in Vermont, which meant I had a scenic two-hour drive from the airport. I love seeing new places, especially the countryside, so I was excited for the journey ahead.
On Saturday, I decided to make the most of my free time and took a 3-hour drive to Cape Cod. The drive was a bit longer than expected, and the rain didn’t help, but the scenery was stunning. Once I arrived in Cape Cod, it looked pretty familiar—just like the other small towns I’ve visited with Target, Walmart, a Staples, and an Olive Garden. But I knew there had to be more to see, so I drove a little further and, to my surprise, found the high-speed ferry to Nantucket.
I didn’t know much about Nantucket, but after hearing the ferry ride was just an hour each way, I figured I could manage it. Plus, it would be a nice chance to visit an island and eat some seafood. The ferry ride was a little bumpy, but it didn’t bother me. Once on Nantucket, I ate at the Tavern on Nantucket, where I had some of the best clam chowder I’ve ever tasted, and of course, the famous lobster roll. It was amazing! I didn’t have much time to explore due to a severe weather warning, so I headed back to Cape Cod and then had a 3.5-hour drive back to New Hampshire.
Race day arrived, and I couldn’t have asked for a better morning. The weather was perfect—cool and overcast for most of the race, with beautiful scenery throughout. There were about 350 marathoners in the race, and while I had anticipated more rolling hills, they didn’t affect my performance. I set a second-best marathon time at 4:43, which I was really proud of. Though I didn’t place in the top 3, I was thrilled with my result.
Next week, I’ll be running in Portland, Maine, and I’m looking forward to the next adventure.