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FLRC Newsletter - November 2004 |
| Ruthie Turns in Number 50! | |
At last it was time for me to run a marathon in my 50th and final state. On Thursday, October 7, Larry, Sam and Sue Familo, and I were flying to Durango, Colorado. Sam and I would run the marathon, while Sue ran the half marathon. Of course Larry would once again be our support group.
Our flights were going well until Denver, when we were all aboard for our last leg to Durango and a mechanical defect was detected. We waited for over two hours while the defect was repaired. At last we arrived in Durango—exhausted. It was off to dinner, and then we all collapsed in bed for the night.
Thursday was our day to tour. Our choices were a train ride to Silverton through the mountains of San Juan National Forest or visit the Mesa Verde National Park. We chose Mesa Verde Park, which consists of nearly 600 cliff dwellings. A guided tour took us to Cliff Palace where we climbed ladders on the side of cliffs to peer into the Indian dwellings from hundreds of years ago. We continued on a self-guided car tour to view other interesting cliff dwellings. The area in the past eight years had three major forest fires due to the very dry conditions.
Saturday was packet pickup, which started with a glitch in the computers. Sam had bib number 50, which I had been promised. Matt Kelly, race director, immediately came over and corrected the situation. I was then given number 50 for my 50th state.
A tour of the course was our next step. Elevation was going to be a major factor, because the whole course was above 6000 feet. The scenery was beautiful from the start on top of a mountain at Fort Lewis College overlooking Durango. White capped mountains surrounded us along the course. Rolling hills were on the course with steep hills requiring walking at the 7, 16, and 25 mile markers.
The prerace pasta dinner was held in the evening. Jeff Galloway, famed runner and writer for Runner's World Magazine, was one of the speakers who told us that each runner affects 20 people in some positive way to exercise. The keynote inspirational speaker was Chris Lear, author of Running with Buffalos and The Allen Webb Story. A special announcement was made at the dinner that I was finishing my 50 states. Many Durango runners then came over to thank me for choosing Durango as my 50th and final state. Runners also congratulated me on my accomplishment after reading the article in the Durango Herald.
Marathon day was perfect, with temperatures in the 30s to start and low 60s to finish. The sun was shinning the whole way. At 8 am we were off and running. Sam ran one mile with me and then took off, promising to stop and wait at the 25 mile marker until I came along, and then we would then run in together.
Many had read the Durango Herald article and knew I would be running with bib number 50. The runners and spectators would call from the sidelines or run past me and call out congratulations or even stop me to shake my hand or give me a hug.
The Durango Marathon was one of the most difficult marathons I have ever done due to its high elevation. I found it very difficult to keep putting one foot in front of the other and knew my time was going to be very slow.
At 20 miles, tears were forming in my eyes, as I knew I was approaching my last 6 miles in my last state and I was about to fulfill my dream of running a marathon in every state in the United States. My thoughts were of all the hard work that had gone into this goal and all my friends who had been so wonderful and supportive to me to help me reach it.
True to his word, Sam was waiting at mile marker 25 with his special shirt on that Sue had brought out to him that said "Way To Go Ruth." We continued to Main Street in Durango where we held hands and raised our arms in victory. The announcer was screaming out my name and accomplishment while spectators were cheering and waving. Larry and Sue were at the finish line with the same T-shirt on that Sam was wearing. Jeff Galloway immediately came over to hug and congratulate me and tell me what a great accomplishment I had just completed.
To make this event extra special, our running friends had driven in from South Dakota to see me cross the finish line. Richard Neild, formally of Oswego and now working in California, flew in along with his fiancee so he could run this marathon and celebrate with us. Friends had also flown in from Nevada to watch.
My finishing time was a very slow 4:43:48, but that placed me in a very happy second place in my age group to complete my dream.
We all celebrated in the evening with dinner at Francisco's Restaurante in downtown Durango.
I just want to thank everyone for all the support and words of encouragement given to me during my difficult time with cancer, but most of all the encouragement and support given to me to accomplish my dream. Also, my wish is that I have inspired just one person to put on running shoes, train, and run a marathon.
I hope you have enjoyed reading about my marathon adventures as much as I have enjoyed writing them.
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