Running Goals

 Running has been a big part of my life, especially during quarantine in 2020!  But before this miserable year, in 2019 I made a goal of running a half or full marathon in all 50 states.  As of 2019, I had only done this in two states.  I have done most of my races in SC, and almost almost all in the Charleston area.  My first half was in Myrtle Beach in February 2008.  I didn't immediately get the long distance running bug then, but in 2013 I signed up for the Charleston half and have been running since!  Here are some of my SC races....

My first half that I ran with, or rather behind, my brother in law Rob,  Myrtle Beach  February 2008

My first marathon, January 2014, with my faithful family supporters!  It was very cold that day and they had to wait a long time for me to finish!!  Charleston Marathon

My parents also showed up to cheer me on at the end!

Diva Half Marathon 2014, Myrtle Beach, SC

My most unique "medal"  This was for a May Day run on May 1, 2015.  This was a guerrilla style run that started out in downtown Charleston and ended at Folly Beach.  No road closures and no guaranteed water stops.  It was an interesting run!

2017 Charleston Marathon  (Although I had said I wasn't running another marathon after LA, I told my friend Kelly I would run it with her.)

Save the Light Half on Folly Beach with Kelly Bessinger, February 2018

About the second marathon state...after already checking off my bucket list goal of a full marathon in Charleston in 2014, my friend Tara talked me into doing the LA marathon in 2015.  She didn't have to talk too hard!!  So California became my second state.

Tara Jackson and I at Dodger stadium at the start of the race 

  

So coming into 2020, I had two states checked off and 5 more planned for the first half of 2020.  Then Covid hit!  Fortunately I was able to run in NC for a Valentine's Day getaway at Oak Island in freezing cold weather, but good running temps, Dave and I ran the Oak Island 5K and half marathon.  He finished his 5K a long time before I finished my half, but then we had the rest of the day to rest and explore Southport, NC.  It was a great weekend!!  And now NC is my 3rd state!!

But then the next four races were canceled.  The most frustrating one was the half in Memphis that most of my family had signed up to run.  Camden and I trained for this to happen in April.  He had trained so hard and had made it up to running 11 miles before they postponed it to June 6, 2020.  If you are reading this, you know that by June, Covid had not disappeared.  So after training for a second time, Camden was really disappointed!  We now will have to wait until April 2021, hopefully, to finish that race.    

But for me, I was able to find a half to run on June 6 thanks to Vacation Races.  But that is a story for another post!