Marathon #104 (country #15): San Valentino Marathon, Terni, Italy

3:52 finish, 255/627 place overall. Small scenic race running through Terni and the surrounding rural areas of Umbria, about an hour northeast of Rome. The theme and timing of the race commemorate St. Valentine, who was supposedly born in Terni in the 3rd Century. The town makes a giant deal out of Valentines Day and the race is part of the celebration. It’s a mountainous area and the course is hilly, but there’s no real altitude and most of the inclines are gradual and not too strenuous. Weather was ideal. Finish time was a little slower than recent marathons, but still faster than average and solidly under four hours.

Garmin map and performance details

Photos

Marathon #103: Disney World Marathon, FL

3:51 finish, 1030/11480 place overall. Popular, well organized race through and between Disney parks, starting and finishing at Epcot. Unseasonably warm weather made the later miles a little slower than recent races, but still a better than average finish.

Garmin map and performance details

Marathon #102: Rehoboth Seashore Marathon, DE

3:45 finish, 245/951 place overall.  Flat, scenic, and well organized race along the coast of Delaware. Sunny and cold, but not windy - ideal conditions.  Decent finish, consistent with recent marathons, and fastest of the four times I've done this race.

Garmin map and performance details

Marathon #101: Philadelphia Marathon, PA

3:48 finish. Nice well-supported race through downtown area and local parks, starting and finishing near the famous “Rocky Steps.” Mostly flat with a few hills in the mid to late miles. Ideal conditions - cloudy and chilly but not too windy. Third time doing this race; beat 2016 time by ten minutes and 2010 time by 16 minutes. A little slower than some of my recent marathons, but still better than average.

Garmin map and performance details

Marathon #100: Suffolk County Marathon, Patchogue, NY

3:39 finish. 53/297 place overall, 3/11 in age group. Third time doing this race, which starts in Patchogue, runs west on Montauk Highway, through Heckscher, and finishing back in Patchogue. Much better weather this year than first two times when it was unseasonably warm. This year was ideal - cloudy and cool - helping me to my third best finish ever, just a minute slower than my personal best in April.

Garmin map and performance details