32nd Sub-3-hour Marathon State: The Ohio Redo

You know me, GO SPORTS!

After a dozen or so sub-3-hour marathons, I changed my original 50-state-marathon goal to running them all in under 3 hours; to my knowledge, there are less than 10 people that have done so. My previous Ohio marathon was the first time I ran a back-to-back marathon (2011 Kentucky Derby Marathon on Saturday and 2011 Flying Pig Marathon on Sunday) and my post about that race starts with, "And here we are, a couple of post-race beers, a shot of bourbon, and 100 miles (drive) later..." Needless to say, I had to redo Ohio.

That brings me to Canton, OH for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Marathon. I had never heard of this race until a friend, Carrie, mentioned she was running it. I changed my plans from another OH race and in doing so, was able to add the Eisenhower Marathon 3 weeks ago. Little did I know at the time that Canton was home to the McKinleys and is now the resting place of William and his wife, Ida and home of the McKinley Presidential Library - by now you know my love of presidential history. Everything's coming up Milhouse!

Ohio trips involve a visit with family and beers at Fat Head's Brewery - easily one of our favorite breweries. While surfing channels at the hotel, I stumbled upon a public access music showcase with Strand of Oaks - he rips, check it out! After visiting family and the North Olmsted and new Middleburg Heights Fat Head's locations, we left the kids with Grandma to spoil at will and drove to Canton on Saturday afternoon.

It's 5pm, the expo closes at 6pm, and we still don't have a hotel reservation to this SOLD OUT race! But I did get a good laugh from the volunteer that handed me my GO SPORTS custom bib name. The race hotel and probably the best hotel in the area, McKinley Grand Hotel, had a few reservations open up at reduced rates so we lucked out. The hotel houses artifacts pertaining to President McKinley. It's located half a mile from the start and across the street from Ida McKinley's family home - now the National First Ladies' Library.

The National First Ladies' Library

Burial site of President McKinley and First Lady

We met with Carrie et al. for dinner. After a presidential night's sleep, I awoke in time for a short walk to the start line. The temperature was set to rise to the mid-80s; the faster I get this over with, the better. After a 15-minute delayed start, we were off.

Within minutes, I fell in line with Chuck Engle and a small entourage. Remember Chuck? I've mentioned him in previous posts; he's the guy with 350-some sub-3-hour marathons and likely the first person to have run all 50 states in under 3 hours. I figured I would stay with him but he didn't fare so well in the heat as he dropped off pace after 5 miles. I was soon alone.

I enjoyed the course. It's got some slight rolling hills and shows you what it can of Canton. It's out and back so there is a lot of opportunity to cheer for my fellow runners. In fact, I don't recall being cheered for by runners as much as this race - good midwestern people! It did get a bit warm and the course wasn't so generous with shade. I had a woman ride past me, stop to shout, "you're my hero!", then ride ahead to do it again and again until the end of the race. That ruled. I finished 8th of 1,227 with a time of 2:56:29.

Near the end: kind of hot, kind of wet.

Book of Shadows is a witchcraft shop on the course. I had to go back.

After a shower, we ventured into Cultured Coffee & Waffles Co. for beer and waffles. I know, their name is misleading. We met Christine and walked to Mile 26 to cheer for the rest of the runners. It was wild to see how strong the winds were getting: knocking over the course flags and creating litter cyclones. I ran the last stretch in with Carrie and back we went for more beer and waffles then lunch at BJ's Brewhouse - the best option we had since the Canton Brewing Company was closed on Sunday.

Carrie and I flashing the (Michael) Stehling.

I've mentioned in the last two state entries that I've been going to physical therapy and Pilates to fix this hamstring issue. In addition to that help, my therapist/instructor recommended staying at Gervasi Vineyard (Thanks Rachel!) so we headed there Sunday afternoon. This rustic Tuscan-style winery and villa seemingly doesn't belong: it's a beautiful property with a couple of restaurants, upscale villas around a lake, and a jogging/biking path on the outskirts of Canton. After a nice dinner (their ice wine was really good) and childless night's sleep, The Wife and I enjoyed a peaceful morning 5K and breakfast before reclaiming our offspring.

Most peaceful coffee I've had in a while.

At least they were exhausted.

Next up: Fargo Marathon on May 20th.

37/50 - Eisenhower Marathon

Carry on wayward son! Yes, I'm listening to Kansas while typing this

I registered 2 days before this race, just as I was about to get in the car for the 10-hour road trip. Ok, this race was on my radar for a few months but I've got a nagging hamstring strain that won't leave me alone. After the Snickers Marathon 5 weeks ago, I needed to address it: physical therapy, Pilates, rest. Just before leaving, I got a call from my son Mars' school that he fell off the playground equipment. After an ER trip and 4 staples in his head, I was on the road. Poor kid.

Abilene "City of the Plains", Kansas was considered the wildest town in the west as a bustling stockyard for cattlemen traversing the Chisholm Trail after the Civil War. It is also the birthplace of the cowboy boot; true story. Nowadays, it is home to the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Dwight Eisenhower's boyhood home, and about 7,000 people. The main drag is lined with stately colonial homes surrounded by less fortunate dwellings. I couldn't find anything wild (oh, I looked) but President Eisenhower was a fascinating man!

President Eisenhower's boyhood home

Boots made for Ike as President

While looking for Kansas marathons to run a sub-3-hour race, this one came up as the best option. Most of my research for this 50-state marathon goal comes from Marathon Guide. This is a small race that combines the marathon with a half marathon, 10K, and 5K and is set up as 2 half marathon loops. I like these. You get to survey the course then you know what to expect on the second loop. For small races, it ensures you're never alone for too long.

I've mentioned before that I don't have a pre-race regiment. Enter Joe Snuffy's fried chicken. This homey diner is reminiscent of your grandparents' wood paneled, drop ceiling basement - probably with similar cooking. I listened as the pre-dinner staff meeting unfolding in front of me discussed the exotic special item for the evening: gyros. Or is it gee-rohs. Or maybe guy-roos. No one could be quite certain. This place knows fried chicken.

It was as greasy (and delicious) as it looks

The first loop went well. You climb slightly uphill to the 6.5-mile turn around then coast back down to the start line. I fell into second place after a few miles and that hamstring kept its mouth shut. Lap number 2 brought the sun and warmer temperatures - the day would reach the low 80s. I realized at this point that 2nd place was secure so I dialed it back a bit. There is a part of me that truly enjoys the thrill of just finishing under 3 hours. I like to get to a point in a marathon where I determine that I can still run a sub-3-hour race by dialing back the remaining miles to a 7-minute pace. It's a dance with the clock and any miscalculation can cost me the entire goal. By finishing in 2:58:33, I kept it exciting and had minimal pain in the hamstring. I now have 31 sub-3-hour marathon states completed. Another one bites the dust!

I won $300, I'm a paid runner! Time to take myself seriously, get some sponsors, and post my running exploits incessantly - complete with a lot of unnecessary pound signs. Or I can just hit up the donut shop on my way out of town and spend with reckless abandon. I think you know what I did. #donuts.

This is Mary Eisenhower, Dwight's granddaughter, handing out the awards

From Abilene, it's 2.5 hours to Kansas City, MO (I could have made it longer as I stopped to consider a visit to the Wizard of Oz museum but hunger won). Kansas City, KS is not a city to me because all the great BBQ is on the Missouri side. I drove straight to Danny Edward's BBQ for burnt ends. It's another 4 hours to St. Louis where I met with friends at Perennial Artisan Ales (a highlight of the St. Louis Marathon blog post 2 years ago).

You know it's good by the bars over the windows and doors

Rural America is beautiful. I love to drive through areas of wide open space, poverty and wealth, historic land and buildings, stocked with podcasts, music, and NPR. Having conversations with locals is what moves me to see more and see differently. Try it. I haven't been to a state marathon I haven't enjoyed because of it... or maybe I just enjoyed 4 peaceful days without the kids.

Next up: Ohio in a couple of weeks.

So serious