Vermont - State #41

Waitsfield, Vermont

The Mad Half Marathon

(The world's most beautiful marathon) (so they suggest)

State #41

I have scheduled so many races which includes plane flights and hotel rooms or AirBnB rooms and race entry, etc... there are multiple logistics that have to be managed.  I only schedule the races 3 months out, in case I get injured or have a need to change plans or maybe they change the race -- it has happened.  Anyway, I mention this because I scheduled this race several months ago and I cannot remember why I scheduled it the way that I did.  I am certain there is a reason, but I just cannot figure what it was.  It was the July 4th weekend.  I was off work for the 4th and we also took off the 5th.  The race was on the 7th.  My flight was on the 5th and I spent the day in Waitsfield, Vermont on Saturday the 6th... alone.  I have no idea why I did that.  I stayed in an AirBnb apartment that was above a restaurant/bar.  It was a nice place, as much as I needed.  

The first night I arrived and went directly to the restaurant and had dinner.  I had a nice halibut, and it really was good.  Then I made my way to my room, and went to bed.  The next morning I woke up and went for a light jog, then to packet pick up.  - at the Waitsfield Inn.  There was only a tent with four older ladies and gentlemen handing out shirts and bibs.  Then I walked around Waitsfield for a few minutes.  There really is not a whole lot to Waitsfield.  It is a cute little town, but the operative word there is little.  it did not take me long to see the whole town.  There happened to be a farmer's market going on that day.  There was a band and lots of little tents where people were displaying their items.

There was also a store.  The Store.  

I decided it would be fun to go see the ski area as there were a few nearby.    I drove my little rental car over to Sugarbush to check it out and I got my first taste of the super duper hills in the area and I started to get worried that there might be some big hills on the run.   Not the largest ski resort I have ever been to, but I could see coming out here for the day if I lived in the area.  After that, I drove around the neighboring towns just to "see the area".  

Then I had dinner with the 50 states half marathon club.  I had the salmon, but it was not great.  It had been frozen... not at all fresh.

The next morning was race morning.  I woke at 4:30am and got myself ready.  Had a light breakfast and watched some HGTV until time to walk to the start.  I took the pre-race photo with the 50 states club and then realized that I forgot to get on my nipple protectors.... so I walked back to the room and took care of that and walked back to the start with plenty of time.  They played the national anthem and then it was about 3 minutes prior to the start time, then announcer announced that the race would begin right away, so the race director walked up and fired the gun.  Everyone looked at each other, as if to ask, "Was that the starting gun?  OH!!  OK... Here we go!"  And we started running.  The elite group had not even moved to the start line yet.  It did not bother me, but it was a bit sudden and a surprise start.  

The first mile or so was fairly flat or maybe even downhill, then all of a sudden came this mountain.  Then a crazy steep downhill, then a turn-around... which of course means that you are gonna have to go back up that screaming steep downhill... only now it will be an up-mountain.... and up we went -- slowly.  Then up and up and up and more up.  I kept waiting for the downhill to come again, but then it would go up again.  Yes, the downhill did come, but then ended on a mild uphill.  I admit that I had to walk part of the uphill three times.  But I think I made up the time on the downhill.  I was screaming down the mountain.  If only there were snow and I had my skis.

The race was very scenic.I did finish and actually finished 3rd in my age group.  Here is the before and after.

Then I received my age group medal.;36

Official time 1:47:36  Not my fastest, but I was not terribly unhappy given all of the steep hills.  The weather was great.  55ºF or so and clear skies, relatively no wind.  

Next race is the following week.  This time a triathlon in Clermont.  .25mi swim,  11mi bike, and 3.1 mi run.  My first triathlon.  Let's see how this goes.