One week ago I crossed the halfway point of my 50-states-50-marathons goal and as excited as I am about crossing this significant finish line is as unenthusiastic I am about writing about it. My limited free time mixed with self-consciousness about every word makes writing feel more like a chore than an enjoyable leisure activity. I’ve been debating taking this blog down, or neglecting to update it, but every time I consider that, I remember what motivates writing the blog in the first place. I want a journal of this achievement. So how to make journaling feel more like leisure than a chore? The answer was given to me by this blog’s biggest fan, Lisa Sieverts. Lisa, you said the other night at Toastmasters that “it’s the practice of putting pen to paper” that motivates you to write. Well, now it’s the same for me. Running doesn’t feel like a chore, I enjoy the act of running for running’s sake. I wonder if I think about writing as the act of putting pen to paper (or fingers to keypads), and not so much about the outcome and what it sounds like or when it’s done, will I be as eager to write about a race as I am to run it? Let’s find out. The following is a free flow practice of writing about the E.T. Full Moon Midnight Marathon.
I love sleeping in with Chris. He’s so cuddly and affectionate first thing in the morning. We slept in till 10 on race day, hanging in bed, close in each other’s arms like we had nothing to do all day. Race day was a 36-hour day! I hardly noticed the extra couple of hours of rest by the equitant of 11pm to us and 8pm Nevada time. After a 2-hour drive to the airport, then a 5-hour flight to Vegas, an hour’s walk to and then down the strip, and a slice of pizza, we were both very sleepy laying on the floor in a hallway outside a ballroom in the Hard Rock Hotel trying to cram in a few zzz’s before boarding the bus to Area 51.
We squeezed into the bus like sardines, not a single seat was left, but we got seats next to each other and that’s what I want most, even if that meant being on a noisy bus. Excited runners chatted away while Chris stared out the window making out the views in the moonlight and I rested my head on his shoulder. Chris already had his running clothes on, but I was going to wear a costume and I wanted to be comfortable for the bus ride, so I planned to change at the last minute possible. I was nodding in and out and just as soon as I thought to myself that we must still have plenty of time, I looked out the window and saw hundreds of tiny headlamps and glow sticks. The 2.5 hour bus ride flew by and suddenly we’re there–at the black mailbox–which is actually white. The mail box is at the start of a dirt road that leads to Area 51 and it is where on average 2 to 3 UFO sightings occur per week. If ever I were to see an alien, then that was my chance. And, I might have seen an alien, but so many people were dressed in costume that I couldn’t tell. It’s possible.
It wasn’t cold, nor hot, nor breezy, nor hilly. I would be just perfect if it wasn’t dark, midnight 
(3am to me), 2,600 miles from home, in between two plane, bus, and car rides, with 36 hours total trip time and no hotel room. Travelling was the challenge, not the run. It was far reaching flat desert land with desert bushes speckled around and dark hills in the background, stars were everywhere and a bright full moon the lit up the sky well enough for shadows to be seen. Shooting stars flew across the sky several times. There was the occasional plane (UFO?).
There were a few hundred full marathoners at most, maybe twice that in the half marathon. Runners stuck close together in the first two or three miles, but with a small field of runners, it wasn’t long before Chris and I were alone. Except for some runners with lights on, we couldn’t tell that there were others out there with us. At times I looked back and couldn’t see any lights. We saw blue and red flashing lights in front of us for 16 miles until we caught up with the guy wearing quite the glowing costume. It was a fun idea to wear a costume myself, but if I knew then what I know now, lights would have made all the difference for the other runners, I’d have gotten a costume that required a battery pack.
Sometimes it would get a good 10 degrees warmer for a few minutes, it was a totally noticeable change in temperature, but there wasn’t any wind, barely a breeze. Strange desert weather. I expected it to be hot considering it’s the middle of summer in the desert, but it was actually quite comfortable while running, and slightly cool when still.
“On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair, warm smell of colitas rising up through the air.” Off and on we sang the Hotel California lyrics and made jokes about alien abductions. We were cruising along nicely and even charged up Coyote Summit, the only hill, which was so long and gradual that compared to Vermont running, it may as well been downhill. The volunteers were incredible. I couldn’t believe people were even out there and they were so nice and encouraging.
Around mile 18ish, Chris ran out of steam and we walked a bit here and there. It was a point to point course that passed the finish at mile 20 for an out and back of the last 6. Passing mile 20 while walking would make the last 6 a terrible mental challenge. I tried to keep Chris running as far past that point as possible, but between lack of training and sleep, he couldn’t do it. The last 6 miles were slow, but we got to enjoy the course more and see the very beginning of the sun rise.
We crossed the finish in 5 hours and 13 minutes in the most original and epic marathon I’ve ran to date. This was the best way I could imagine running my 25th state. I’m officially at the halfway point of this huge goal. Thank you, Chris, for being there every step of the way. Thank you to everyone out there that follows this blog and the amazing journey I’m on. Thank you, Lisa, in particular for reading and for inspiring and encouraging my writing. Next up is the Clarence Demar Marathon in Keene, NH at the end of September where I’ll shoot for a sub-4!
