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FLRC Newsletter - July 2004 |
| The Odyssey | |
I hadn't seen her since last year's Ithaca 5&10, too long a time for a good friend who lives less than 50K away. Telephone conversations, e-mails, and monthly FLRC newsletters kept us current with each other's lives. The 'live-and-in-person' minutes shared before Elmira's Race For The Cure were long overdue.
True to form, and knowing I'm always going somewhere, she asked, "Where are you going next?" True to form, she added, "Write a story for the newsletter." So, Diane Sherrer, this one's for you.
I haven't written about my marathons and ultras since April 2001. I'd like to say I thought about it, but I haven't. As I immersed myself in the 50-states odyssey, my life became a willing slave to marathon applications, airline reservations, hotel reservations, and car rentals, as well as to a continuous cycle of packing, unpacking, laundry, and re-packing. I often quipped, "The marathon is the easiest part of the weekend." In between marathons, usually 1–3 weeks apart, I tried to catch up on 'real life' at work and home. After October 2001, I was also making at least one visit a month to Albany to indulge my new role as 'doting grandmother.' Home, aka my legal residence, became a place I visited occasionally.
I didn't set out to run a marathon in every state. I didn't even set out to run marathons. I didn't even set out to run. Thirteen years ago, I was quite content to walk marathons. The '94 Los Angeles marathon initiated the switch when I saw runners being companions to blind runners; my interest was piqued. Running camp and 110 marathons later netted that experience as well as other opportunities to accompany runners with disabilities or in need of a companion.
I live in Seneca Falls, which lacks a plethora of runners in general and long-distance runners in particular. In March 2001, with the prerequisite twenty states necessary, I joined the 50-States & DC Group strictly for the like-minded marathoning camaraderie. I had no intention to do the states as an end goal. I joined the group with the following states on my resume: MA, LA, NC, FL, PA, NY, CA, MS, NV, IA, IL, OH, VA, SD, MD, RI, NJ, SC, TX, CT, VT, WI, TN, ID, IN, and the District of Columbia.
I ushered in the new millennium with 43 marathons and 16 states & DC under my soles. I was using marathons as long training runs for ultras and marathoned whenever–wherever the marathon schedule coincided with my work schedule.
Which is how I ended up in Coeur d'Alene (Idaho), Memorial Day weekend 2000. I took advantage of the long holiday weekend to travel four-fifths way across the USA. I volunteered at packet pick-up and was put in charge of pasta dinner tickets. While there, a quite gregarious woman approached and asked, "Do you want to run an inaugural marathon?" "Where is it?" I queried. "Yakima, Washington"—which almost had me ask again, "Where is it?" But, politely I answered, "Sure," knowing the probability and possibility that I'd travel to Yakima, WA, was remote. Then she added, "March 31, 2001." That date immediately clinched the deal; a birthday marathon. I'd always wanted to do a marathon on my birthday, but realized the date minimized the opportunity to one notch above nonexistent. I'd done enough marathons in enough states to be sufficiently weary of travelling, but this seed was planted. I also remember thinking that if I was going 'nowhere,' aka Yakima, to run a marathon perhaps it was time to reconsider the remainder of the contiguous states. I'd often stated I'd be the only 50 stater doing 48 states since I had no desire to do extended trips to Alaska and Hawaii. Yet, I needed another nudge and that came in the person of Ruth Ripley, a hard-core 50 stater who, unlike me, would do a marathon only in a new state. As we compared marathon notes, Ruthie confirmed she could fit Yakima in her schedule. We teamed up for one of many marathon adventures. And I was adding pins to the US continental map: AZ, WA, UT, AL.
With a granddaughter in Albany and spending as much time as possible with her, I decided to concentrate on new states. I even let Ruthie talk me into Hawaii. So, when my Oregon friend asked me to join her for a marathon in Alaska, the foundation for the completion of the 50 states circuit became a goal. By the time Ashley celebrated her second birthday, I added: WV, ND, MI, ME, MO, KY, GA, AK, OK, OR, AL, MT, CO, NM, NH, MN. I finished 2003 with KS and HI. When my daughter announced she was pregnant again, I made an all-out effort to finish before Zachary was born. Although I marathoned, I was still lacking NE, DE, and WY at the time of his February 22, 2004 birth.
As I write this, I'm on a plane to Laramie, WY, marathon #111 (exclusive of my 27 ultras), state #50. The course in Medicine Bow National Forest (www.angelfire.com/wy2/marathon) coupled with the altitude will make it challenging. This will reinforce the sense of accomplishment in being able to wear the 50-states "FINISHER" T-shirt in this odyssey of states.
Although I know people who have completed the circuit multiple times (one recently started his ninth), I've no plans to do so. I plan to continue marathoning. I plan to be a companion to disabled runners more often. I plan to finish the remaining four (of fourteen) marathons in New York State. I plan to do marathons I've postponed in my 50 states quest.
I may even write more stories for the newsletter.
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