Hartford, CT Marathon 10 11 2025

Hartford, CT Oct 11, 2025

5:33:59 – 1792/1914 Overall – 5/6 in 75-79 

            I flew into Hartford on Thursday (10/9/25) for the marathon on Saturday but the flight was via Chicago  so I saw a lot of Chicago marathon runners including CJ Albertson and others from Bakersfield and Atascadero. On Friday I toured Mark Twain's house where he wrote most of his books in the 1890s. There are some photos of his sayings. One that seems to always be true: “Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.” The state capitol was just across the stree from my hotel and I got some great views of it each day from my window. I took a self-guided tour of it and learned a lot of interesting things about CT. There was a water fountain in it where they used to get water for their horses and a tree with a cannon ball from the Battle of Chicamauga. Right next to the capitol was the staging area for the marathon so I got to take a look at it.

This was the 31st running of the Hartford Marathon and these folks really have it down pat on doing everything right to benefit the runners. My hotel was only a 1/4 mile from the start so I could walk there. When I got there, it was easy to find the start/finish lines. I wasn't sure where the gear check was, but there was a guy with a sign saying "Ask Me" and I was quickly directed the right way. Near the start was something else that I appreciate: a hydration station so runners could get that last drink of water. The corrals were easy to get to and even though I was near the back, it took only a couple minutes for me to get to the start.

Even the day was perfect running weather with temps in mid 50s and clouds most of the race with some light, cooling breezes at times. The course has a lot of rolling hills which aren't steep or long so they add variety to the course. The aid stations had enthusiastic volunteers and there were lots of spectators and bands along the way. Although the number of spectators dropped off in the second half (the half-marathoners split off), there were enough to help keep me motivated.

My legs felt good and I felt good in the first half and went through half at about 2:37, but about mile 15, I just didn't feel right. So, I went from running 3:30 and walking :30 to 2:00/:30. The last 8 miles were just powering through at 1:00/:30. My hips ached, I had a cramp developing in my hamstring, and I had wooziness whenever I switched to walking which made me want to be careful. (I have a stent and take blood pressure medicine.) The second half wasn't what I hoped for but I did power through the pain and get another marathon in the books.

I would highly recommend the Hartford Marathon. The course was interesting with the fall colors in the leaves on the trees. Part of it goes through downtown including going by my hotel (tempting...) and part goes out in the countryside with rivers and meadows and even a rose garden park. There was even a bigger than life Mark Twain on stilts near by the Twain House I'd toured the day before.

This was Marathon #191; 46 states+DC on 2nd go-round; All 10 Canadian provinces.

Next marathon possibilities: Spring 2026: Burlington, VT, Lincoln, NE

Pictures with captions can be seen on my 2 Facebook posts.

Or go to: https://photos.shutterfly.com/album/1845881261032217

 

 

Erie, PA Marathon, Cleveland, Canton

 

Erie, PA Sep. 7, 2025

5:19:02 – 1041/1103 Overall – 3/4 in 75-79 

            Jodi and I flew into Cleveland on Friday and spent the night there. Saturday morning we took the tour of the Cleveland Indians’ ballpark. (Our guide, a Cleveland area baseball coach and teacher said he’s never had anyone on the tour who liked the name they use now.) After the tour, we also saw the basketball arena across the street, and drove a couple miles to see their football stadium. Our guide had told us about the original field that Cleveland played on in the early 1900s when they were named the Naps. Cy Young pitched with them back then. The field is in great shape and used now by local baseball teams.

We then drove to Erie to pick up my race packet and check-out the logistics which were a bit complicated since the race is on a peninsula that juts out into Lake Erie and is closed to traffic during the race. Sunday morning we had to walk a mile from the parking lot to get to the race start/finish area.

            When we got up race morning, we saw that it has rained during the night, but had stopped. So the air was fresh and the temperature was 55 and the skies were partly cloudy with lots of shade from gorgeous trees along most of the course. Jodi was able to get in a 9 mile run along an adjoining path and ended up with about 14 miles being a great Sherpa and spectator. Since the race was 2 loops, she was able to meet me a couple of times and see me finish.

During the race, I mostly ran 3:30 and walked :30-45 seconds. I ran pretty much alone until about mile 17 when I noted lady with a 50 state hat. We were able to pace together the rest of the way and entertain each other with stories which helped a lot with the tediousness of running 5+ hours.         She started running in her 60s and is now 75 and has run marathons in 30 states so far, on all the continents and run the 6 majors. She is Vietnamese and escaped from Saigon just as it falling to the Viet Cong. It was quite interesting to hear her full story and realize that she is the living history that I used to teach about in my Vietnam War unit for my students at Hoover and Reedley.

My stomach was a bit upset, and Jodi volunteered to go back up the hill to the parking lot to get the car to pick up me and my new friend who needed a ride to her hotel. While we waited, we found out that we had each placed in our age groups and they gave us our plaques.

Monday, we drove to Canton, OH to visit the NFL Hall of Fame. We spent 4-5 hours there and then drove back to Cleveland where we stayed at the same hotel at which we had stayed on Friday. Since our plane didn’t leave until 5PM, we had time to go visit the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. We got right in when the doors opened at 10 and got to see most everything we wanted to see during the 4 hours we had to do so.

This was Marathon #190; 46 states+DC on 2nd go-round; All 10 Canadian provinces.

Next marathon planned: Hartford, CT Oct. 12, 2025

There are 2 sets of pictures available to see on Shutterfly:

Ballpark and Race: https://photos.shutterfly.com/album/1842983048610350

NFL and RNR Hall of Fames: https://link.shutterfly.com/VFv0w6V5zWb

Tetons, Yellowstone, Glacier June 2025

Our trip began on Saturday June 14, 2025 with us flying into Jackson, WY, gateway to the Tetons. We rode up the Snow King ski lift which John famously was afraid to ride 55+ years ago. Looking at the old ski lift chairs on display there, you can see why. The new enclosed chairs are luxurious in comparison. That afternoon we saw that a local theatre group was presenting an old western musical, “The Ballad of Cat Ballou” so we had fun watching that in the evening.

The next day we looked around some old Mormon homesteads called “Mormon Row” and then took a 3-hour raft trip down the Snake River. We saw spectacular views of Grand Teton and heard great stories of Lewis and Clark and the history of the area. The next morning, we did about a 5-mile run along a running path that extends from Jackson to the Tetons and beyond for at least 35 miles. We then drove to Yellowstone where we passed “Continental Divide” signs many times in the mountains.

Yellowstone was spectacular. We never realized its vastness and complexity. We saw bison, elk, rivers, lakes, Yellowstone Falls, Grand Prismatic Spring, Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and of course Old Faithful. We felt in awe of God’s creation. We enjoyed a buffet in the classic Yellowstone Lodge and then drove around the southern part of the park and saw Lower and Upper Yellowstone Falls. Jodi was hoping to see a bear, but we never did although we did have a fine breakfast at the Running Bear Pancake House in West Yellowstone.

            We headed to Helena the next day but stopped on the way to visit Big Sky ski resort where John and a group of Westmont buddies had met and skied many times in the past. It looks quite different in the summer and has a lot of expansion going on. On the drive we saw some rafters who were rafting in rapids, something we did not do on our raft trip (which was quite peaceful)..

            In Helena we met Charlie Bauer, John’s long-time friend who he met as a freshman at Westmont in 1968. Charlie gave a tour of the city which included a visit to the library and a great steak dinner. The next day Charlie drove us to Kalispell, but on the way, he  took us through his old stomping grounds in Missoula. We saw the football stadium where the University of Montana Grizzlies play.

            Friday Charlie took us on the Going to the Sun Road through Glacier National Park. We checked out the lodge and then Charlie took us to the Avalanche Lake trailhead. On the hike we saw some deer up-close (but no bears) and had a great view of the lake and the waterfalls going into it. After the hike we continued on the road with amazing and scary views of the valley, the waterfalls, snow, and the mountains. We made reservations to drive this route over Logas Pass back in February. It opened 4 days prior to our arrival and then promptly closed again the next day due to a snowstorm. We were grateful to have had the opportunity to enjoy these views!

 

            We spent two nights in Kalispell in a hotel that was originally built in 1912 but has been nicely remodeled. It had great homemade breakfasts which got us going both days we stayed there. We flew home Saturday afternoon via Salt Lake City. Getting on the plane in SLC, John told Jodi that former Fresno State QB and coach (and Cal Bears coach) Jeff Tedford was on our flight. We got to talk to him in Fresno while waiting for our baggage; he was very friendly and personable and told us that he is enjoying retirement.

Rehoboth Beach DE Marathon 4/13/2025

 

Rehoboth Beach, NJ Marathon

April 12, 2025

5:20:57 – 704/788 Overall – 5/6 in 70-74

I flew all day Friday to get into the Baltimore Airport and then had a 3 hour drive in the rain to get to Rehoboth Beach, but I got there about 9:00 EDT. It was really cold and windy on Saturday, with wind chill in low 30s so I was not sure what I should wear Sunday. But race morning was a bit warmer and was actually perfect with just breezes and lots of clouds. It was a really pretty course through coastal parks and starting and finishing on the boardwalk. My hotel was 200 yards from the start so it was great to just walk there.  

Rehoboth Beach is very much a tourist town with at least 6 ice cream spots and hundreds of stores in the main section by the beach. It was like Carmel on steroids. It was fun to walk around, but so cold Saturday that I kept going back to my hotel to thaw out and rest.

I knew my training was lacking due to having to rest and do PT for some back issues so I early on decided to walk more than my usual 4/:30. I did mostly 2:15 run/:45 walk so was out there longer, but didn’t feel too beat-up or sore as I would have been if I had run more. 

After getting cleaned up (too cold for ice bath😊) taking a long nap and watching Warriors game, I got a great Wagu burger for dinner. But it was a late dinner and when I went for ice cream, all the shops had just closed. It was 8 PM.

But, Monday my plane didn’t leave until 5:30 PM so I had time to go into Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and get my ice cream there 😊. I also had time to tour Ft. McHenry. Quiz: Why is it famous?

Yes! It’s where Francis Scott Key saw the American flag still flying after the British attacked in the War of 1812 and wrote the “Star-Spangled Banner”.

For pictures:  

https://photos.shutterfly.com/album/1829499794849812 

This was Marathon #189; 45 states+DC on 2nd go-round; All 10 Canadian provinces.

Next marathon planned: Erie, PA Sep 2025

Ft Worth, TX Cowtown Marathon 2 23 2025

 

Cowtown Marathon

Ft Worth, TX

February 23, 2025

5:15:39 – 1299/1695 Overall – 5/9 in 70-79

  

   I hadn't run a marathon since July last year and I didn't have my next state marathon until April, so I decided to run the Fort Worth, TX Cowtown Marathon. This marathon has been around for 47 years so was one I'd heard of over the years. I was anxious to see how my body would respond after the "incident" in September and then my steady recovery. I'm happy to report that I felt fine and ran a strong, steady race ending up with 5:15. I did run/walk of 4/:30 and later 2-3/ :30-45. The shorter running intervals allowed me to run faster for shorter periods which worked well. Weather was ideal with overcast and 40 degrees at the start; sun came out in last third, but with breeze, it wasn't a factor. This was marathon #188 and my 4th in Texas (Austin and 2 Houston) so not a new state. My next scheduled state is Delaware and the Rehobeth Beach Marathon in April; that would be state #45 on second go-round. Thanks for all your prayers and support; I feel like I've fully recovered! Photos: https://photos.shutterfly.com/album/1825420793709132

            The day before the marathon, I drove about an hour out of Ft Worth to join Bruce and Karen Bauer for fun time seeing their place (they escaped CA about 6 years ago), Creation Evidence Museum and Fossil Rim Wildlife Center. We saw evidence of dinosaurs and people living together in that area as well as many other evidences supporting creation and young earth. At the Wildlife Center we got to drive our car around as if we were on a safari seeing many types of wild animals such as zebras, rams, cheetahs, and giraffes. We were given pellets so we could feed the animals which came right up to the car (not the cheetahs😊).

            On Sunday their son, Brian ran the half-marathon and then we all went out for steak dinner later that afternoon. On Monday I went back to the Ft Worth stockyards (we ran by them in the marathon) and saw a lot of western history including a demonstration of Longhorns being herded in front of us. Then I drove out to Arlington and saw the Texas Rangers’ ballpark and their old ballpark that is across the street. And across the parking lot is the home of the Dallas Cowboys. Always fun to see stadiums in various cities. Gas in Texas was $2.67; I had just paid $2 more/gallon in Fresno.

Photos: https://photos.shutterfly.com/album/1825429325512797

This was Marathon #188; 44 states+DC on 2nd go-round; All 10 Canadian provinces.

Next marathon: Rehoboth, DE April 13, 2025