Marathon #91 / Ultra-marathon #1: Caumsett Park 50K (31 mile) Run, Lloyd Neck, NY

4:53 finish, 12/47 place overall. This was a 50K (31 miles), the shortest standard ultra-marathon distance. (Ultra-marathons can range from 50K to upwards of 200 miles.) Since it was my first time ever going beyond the marathon distance, my only goal was to finish without bombing at the end. It was painful late in the race, but with good running weather and a relatively easy course, I was able to finish with a 9:27 average pace - just under five hours. It may be my only ultra-marathon, at least in the near future, but glad to have done at least one. My main focus is still on regular marathons, completing them in different countries, continents, and Canadian provinces while filling in calendar gaps with local U.S. races.

Garmin map and performance details

Marathon #90: Icebreaker International Marathon, East Meadow, NY

4:21 finish, 32/66 place overall. I went into this as a long training run rather than a race, not looking for a fast time. Only signed up because I needed a 23-24 mile run this week anyway as part of training for my 50K in March, and since this is a very cheap local race and the timing worked out, why not add a few miles and get another marathon under my belt? It's a small race with not the most exciting course (eight loops around Eisenhower Park), but it is well organized and supported for what it is. Finish time was slow as planned, but I got the training run I needed with the added bonus of a marathon completion.

Garmin map and performance details

Marathon #89 (second round state #12): Northern Central RR Trail Marathon, Sparks, MD

3:39 finish (PR), 56/285 place overall. Small but well-organized scenic race along a smooth dirt path in rural northern Maryland; fairly flat with a very gradual uphill for the first half and a very gradual downhill on the return. Ideal cool temperatures and flat course made for a fast time, allowing for a personal best marathon finish, beating 2012 Washington State marathon by about two minutes.

Garmin map and performance details

Marathon #88 (second round state #11): Marine Corps Marathon, Arlington, VA & Washington, DC

3:53 finish, 2142/20122 place overall. Very popular and patriotic race, well supported and organized by US Marines. Race starts in Arlington, VA, crosses into DC passing many monuments and landmarks, and finishes back in Arlington at the Iwo Jima Marine Corps Memorial. Course is mostly flat aside from the first few miles in Arlington and the last stretch up to the finish. Weather was unseasonably warm, which slowed me down a little more than usual in the later miles, but still managed another sub-four.

Garmin map and performance details

Marathon #87 (sub-4 state #28, second round state #10): Clarence DeMar Marathon, Keene, NH

3:48 finish, 67/339 place overall. Originally registered for Montreal, which was canceled due to heat, so switched to Clarence DeMar last-minute. Weather in NH was similar, but instead of canceling, this race moved its start time earlier and simply reminded runners to take it easy and hydrate properly. Race is small, but very well organized and supported, running along scenic rural roads of southwestern NH. It did get warm in the later miles, but far from the worst heat I've dealt with in a marathon. Glad to finish sub-3:50 for the third time in four months.

Garmin map and performance details