Lock 2 Lock Marathon: Williamsport, Maryland, September 9, 2023 – Marathon #29
This weekend marked the 5th consecutive weekend of running a marathon in a different state. I must admit, I’m ready for a bit of a break next week. After that, I’ll be diving into the longest streak of weekly marathons since I started my quest to complete all 50 states. The next time I race, I’ll be 51 years old, and this marathon was the last one I’ll run as a 50-year-old.
While there were no age group awards at this race, if they had been offered, I would have placed 1st for the second week in a row. In the five weeks of racing across different climates and altitudes, I’ve managed to take 1st place twice, 2nd place twice, and 5th place the week I was sick. I think that’s pretty solid.
The Lock 2 Lock race was flat and another trail race. It started out beautiful for the first 6 miles, but then I found out we had to do an out-and-back twice. Trail races like this can be mentally tough for me because the repetitive scenery tends to bore me. I had hoped to run a faster time but found myself getting distracted, which led to more walking in the final 6 miles.
I’ll admit that these past few weeks have been tough both mentally and physically. Some personal issues have gotten in the way of me performing at my best, but I’m confident that taking this next week to rest and recover will get me back on track mentally.
Next up is New Hampshire on September 24th, 2023, kicking off an 11-week stretch of weekly marathons—my longest stretch yet. I’m excited to push myself further, face new challenges, and prove to myself that I can overcome whatever obstacles come my way.