Marathon #42 (state #30): Crater Lake Marathon, OR

4:25 finish, 29/69 place overall. Probably the most scenic marathon I've ever run, with Catalina as a close second. Even with the constant hills and elevations ranging from 6,000-8,000 feet, the nearly constant views of the Cascades and Crater Lake made the challenge more than worthwhile. The only downside, if there was one, was that the organizers decided to add an out-and-back for the last four miles that went up and down an extremely steep trail - steeper than anything we had run earlier in the already very hilly course. With that "insult to injury" aside, this will be a race to remember with very friendly support and top notch scenery.

Garmin map and performance details

Marathon #41 (state #29): Missoula Marathon, MT

3:58 finish, 318/1098 place overall. Great race in every way. For a small city in Montana, the organization and support could not be topped. Relatively flat course with nice scenery - varying from farmland to forest to residential neighborhoods - finishing in downtown Missoula. Broke four hours once again, but still haven't done so by more than two minutes since my PR one year ago.

Garmin map and performance details

Marathon #40 (state #28): Bay of Fundy Marathon, Lubec, ME

4:10 finish, 132/448 place overall. Unique, inaugural event in a very remote location on the Maine-New Brunswick border. Race begins in Lubec, ME - at the easternmost point of U.S. - and crosses into Campobello Island, NB around Mile 6. Very hilly through the Canadian portion of the course before crossing back into Lubec for the finish. Perfect running weather, but relentless hills made for less than ideal finish time. Cool experience running across international border with amazing local support from both countries and even from border patrol agents. Passport and customs procedures taken care of pre-race, so no hang ups on race day running over the border.

Garmin map and performance details

Marathon #39 (state #27): Wyoming Marathon, Laramie, WY

4:35 finish, 24/74 place overall. Smallest and most remote marathon I've ever done - start/finish is literally at an interstate highway rest stop. Hills and high altitude - entire course above 8,000 feet - makes this a very challenging race, but the remote mountain scenery makes up for it.

Garmin map and performance details

Marathon #38 (state #26): Shiprock Marathon, NM

4:04 finish, 65/176 place overall. First "normal" high-altitude road marathon (Pikes Peak is in a whole different league, and Top of Utah was marred by injury so can't be a point of comparison), and the effects were noticeable but not severe. Nice high desert scenery, starting at NM-AZ border, running past Shiprock rock formation and finishing near "downtown" Shiprock - entire course on Navajo Reservation. Navajos provided great enthusiastic support despite very remote location. Good time overall.

Garmin map and performance details