Massachusetts (State #19) ~ Note: New England is Complete

The race started at 9:00 in the morning (felt like rain, but never did. Instead it was nice and cool) and we started at DCR Myles Standish State Forest (which we had a problem finding on the GPS).  This was a small race with 300 runners doing the half marathon.   

Race:  Run To the Rock, 24th Annual 
Location:  Plymouth, Mass 
Bib: 1292
Time: 1 Hour, 58 minutes, and 10 seconds
Division: M50-59 / 15th place
Course:  Lots of rolling hills, and a couple really tough ones (Point to point race)
Weight:  215 lbs.
Training:
- 11 Miles on 9/1 @ 9:01 per mile
- 8.5 Miles on 8/25 @ 9:13 per mile
- 6.6 Miles on 8/18 @ 9:03 per mile 

TRAINING:  trained up to 11 miles at a 9 minute mile.   Last weight was 210-218 lbs (on the heavy side), did some outside and hill training in the last week.  Also because the gym lost a/c - ran in terrible heat.  Mood:  good, but a little nervous (as always).

Side Note:   Jennifer (wife) and Megan (youngest daughter) came with me to Plymouth - and we had a great time.  We stayed two days in an Airbnb which was perfect for us.  

New Hampshire (State #18)

Went to this race with my daughter Megan, which made it a memorable trip.

Race:  Big Lake Half Marathon, 18th Annual 
Date/Time:  May 18, 2018 @ 8 am
Location:  Alton, New Hampshire
Bib: 345
Time: 1 Hour, 59 minutes, 25 seconds (267 place)
Pace:  9:07
Division: M50-59 / 17th place
Course:  Up and Back, Near a lake
Weight:  209 lbs

Training:
- 5 Miles on 5/12 @ 8:20 per mile 
- 11 Miles on 5/5 @ 9:12 per mile
- 3 Miles on 6/30 @ 9:44 per mile
- 6 Miles on 6/14 @ 9:09 per mile 

About the Race:
I woke up at 5 AM for the race and went to the race location.   It was sunny, but cold.  35 degrees.   I was the first runner there.  I sat in my car until I saw the registration desks open.  I lined up on the front line (because no one else took the spot.   The beginning I did a good pace of 8:30 per mile - and a lot of folks passed me.   As I passed the 1/2 way point - I started passing other and in the end finished with a 1 hour 59 minutes time!   This made me so happy.

The end of the race - they had water, bananas, ice cream, pizza and beer.  I wasn't interested in anything but water - and after seeing my official time, jumped on the shuttle (a school bus) and went back to my car.