Lincoln, NE May 3, 2026
5:49:42 – 1071/1107 Overall – 2/2 in 75-79
I always look to do special things
in the places where I run marathons so that it's not just about the race. On
this trip, it was definitely not about the race. I ran a decent, comfortable
half and then the weather got into the 70s and my legs and body just didn't
want to run much. This was state #47 (192 total marathons) with only 3 more to
do to complete all 50 again. But it was a real slog as I pretty much ran 1
minute and walked 30 seconds in the second half after doing 3/:30 in the first
half which I ran in about 2:38. Sadly, I limped in at 5:49.
All I wanted to do was sit down when
I finished so I went to med tent to sit and get an ice pack and some gatorade
for my tight hamstring. Then I went to get my gear bag and sat some more
talking a to a young lady named Shelby who had lived in CA for 9 years and
loved Yosemite and Kings Canyon. She even gave me a couple of extra race shirts
that she had. Just like everyone I met in NE, she was so friendly. From the
hotel staff, to expo helpers, to airport people everyone was fun to talk to and
very engaging. People told me that the state is known as "NE
friendly" and they sure lived up to that motto.
At the pasta dinner put on by the
race, I got to meet my cousin, Mike and Sandy Duncan's daughter, Stephanie and
her husband, Zach who were running the marathon. I knew them from FB and that
they were working on running all the states and had run Boston so was hoping to
someday met them at a marathon that we were all running. And it finally
happened.
The day
before the marathon, I took a tour of the capitol. It is quite an impressive
structure. Do you know NE has the only unicameral legislature?
Also, it was great that the start and finish of the race were next to the Cornhusker's football stadium and that it was less than a 1/2 mile walk from my hotel. And then today as I was driving down a street toward the airport, I happened on the new College World Series stadium. I just had to stop and take a picture of it and the plaque showing the Wonder Dogs of Fresno State as the 2008 World Series champions. I had seen the plaque in 2009 when I ran the Omaha Marathon; it was at the old ballpark Lindblatt Stadium.This was Marathon #192; 47 states+DC on 2nd go-round; All 10 Canadian provinces.
Next marathon: May 24, 2026: Burlington, VT
Pictures with captions can be seen on my Facebook post.
Or go to Shutterfly: https://linkit.shutterfly.com/NpY__i
