Monday, November 7, 2011

A Marathon Relay, and other Ramblings..

I seem to run my best when other people are relying on me - it's been that way ever since I was 10 years old as the anchor of a 4x100 free relay team (swimming). Letting others down is something that I avoid at any given chance, and yesterday I was able to put that theory to the test in the form of the Manchester Marathon Relay.

I was asked to be part of this relay as a "reunion" of sorts from the Race to the Cape 24-hour relay we did back in May. I agreed, because running with friends is always better than running alone! I was "blessed" with 7.1 miles of an insanely hilly course, on a beautiful morning in Manchester, NH. I asked Lisa to come along and be race sherpa/race time sitter for Caitlyn, which worked out perfectly.

There was cheering:
And running:

Don't be fooled, I think this was the ONLY downhill of the entire 7 miles! 
There's nothing better that having this waiting for you at the end of a hard run:

I was happy with my run - I've had a very hill-fest kinda running week as I start to ramp my miles back up. I was happy to find that extra gear in my legs, and it was a great, sweat-filled morning.

In other news, I'm still in negotiations regarding my Spring 2012 Marathon. I know for sure that I'll be doing one, after I lay down a huge PR in a Half Marathon later this winter.

Currently, my top 2 contenders for 26.2 in the Spring are:

The Colorado Marathon
Napa Valley Marathon

There are others being kicked around, but those are the races I'm swooning over at the moment. If you know of any FAST early-ish spring marathons where I won't melt, I'm all ears. I want to sign up for my spring race STAT!

Congrats to everyone that races IMFL this weekend, as well as everyone that destroyed the NYC Marathon. So many awesome races this past weekend!

Happy Training!
Posted by at

17 comments:

  1. amyNovember 7, 2011 at 10:24 AM

    USA Marathon, in DC in March. I'm just saying...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Boston Bound BrunetteNovember 7, 2011 at 10:27 AM

    Wow fun! Glad you had a good time and had that beautiful little girl waiting for you in the end :) I am running my first 10K this weekend with rain in the forecast so I am kind of bummed about it. I don't want to get sick!! Have a great week. Choices..choices...what marathon do you run? I haven't ran either one of those so I don;t have any advice for you :( Have a great week!

    ReplyDelete
  3. MeaghanNovember 7, 2011 at 11:00 AM

    @ Amy - I can't find a bleepin' course/elevation map of that race. Is it fast? Send me the deets!

    @BBB - you'll do awesome at your 10K - all my PRs have been in the rain, so think about that while you're running!

    ReplyDelete
  4. TerzahNovember 7, 2011 at 11:24 AM

    I vote for the Colorado Marathon. I may be doing that one, too, and I've heard many good things about it. It would be fun to meet you. :^)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Katie @ Will Race for CarbsNovember 7, 2011 at 12:41 PM

    Well like Terzah, I am going to vote for the Colorado Marathon. Maybe I can go cheer for you and Terzah!

    ReplyDelete
  6. MeaghanNovember 7, 2011 at 12:59 PM

    @Terzah and Katie - I have a huge crush on that marathon right now. My ONLY fear is the elevation loss, and how my body will fare at mile 22 after all that downhill. It would be awesome to meet both of you!

    ReplyDelete
  7. BethNovember 7, 2011 at 1:45 PM

    I feel the same way about running for other, but really I should run just as hard for myself! When is the Napa Marathon? I ran the Colorado last year and loved it but want something new this year I think, or maybe not. I need to decide soon because the Colorado is already 55% full!

    ReplyDelete
  8. KarenNovember 7, 2011 at 1:46 PM

    Nice job - love the picture of you and your daughter - too sweet! I heard that race was super hilly too!

    ReplyDelete
  9. MeaghanNovember 7, 2011 at 5:18 PM

    Thanks Karen!!

    Beth - can you tell me everything you know about Colorado?!? Napa is the first weekend in March - I believe the 4th?

    ReplyDelete
  10. robinbbNovember 7, 2011 at 6:00 PM

    Of those two, I would be all over Napa. So pretty.

    And love the picture of you and your daughter.

    ReplyDelete
  11. LaurenNovember 7, 2011 at 8:15 PM

    obviously I vote for CO so we can become real life friends! :) Colorado is May 6th so a little later than Napa.

    ps- your daughter is the cutest!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. AnonymousNovember 8, 2011 at 7:48 AM

    Ha! We ARE alike. I have run the Colorado Marathon 6 or 7 times. It is fast but starts around 6,000 feet or more? Anyways, the first 18 miles are downhill and then it's flat. Killer on the quads :). It is where I qualified for Boston the second time. The new LA course is hilly but I love hills!!! Austin is hilly too but if you like flat, stay away. Um, trying to think of flat and fast Spring... Let me think about it and get back to you. And let's talk Ironman... What is holding you back? If you say a 6 year old, I get it. If you say anything else, I don't buy it. :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. KatieNovember 8, 2011 at 8:30 AM

    Come to DC! National Marathon in March!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Christina @ The AthletarianNovember 8, 2011 at 9:10 AM

    Ho about the Toronto Marathon in MAY?!?!?! A Canadian marathon would be fun, no??

    ReplyDelete
  15. StephanieNovember 8, 2011 at 2:25 PM

    i do not like that nj marathon is not on this list lady!!! lol ;)

    ReplyDelete
  16. EmilyNovember 8, 2011 at 5:09 PM

    Both of those races sound amazing...but...I'll add on to what everyone else already said: DC DC DC!!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. NicoleNovember 10, 2011 at 1:21 PM

    Oh that looks like fun (but not so much the hills!). I am sure you ate it up! :)

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)