#47 New Hampshire, New Me

Ice formation with 1 mile left

Ice formation with 25 miles left

Picture, it. New Hampshire, April 2026. State number 47. Well actually it was the 9th state to join the United States, but for me it checks off #47.  I registered for one in November, but due to a stress fracture, I had to do a redo this past April. So the Cheap Marathon in Windham it was. A new stress fracture free me! 

It was in early April and winter was still hanging on a bit. Looking back as some photos of the ice on the course is really nice memory as I sit in the 96 degree heat and humidity of southwest Florida in August. The race was an out-and-back times 2 along a rail trail that went from Windham to Derry.  The out and backs always play with my head because it just makes it seem longer for some reason. Maybe it's because you keep passing the place where you see a mile marker for mile 21, but you still have to go down and back again before you get there. Also to add an additional mind-f@#$, this race counted down the miles instead of counting up. Actually, I'm not sure what a prefer. Maybe a count down is better? Either way you count, it still hurts. :) 

The course, while repetitive, was beautiful and shaded for when the sun came out. The temperature was actually perfect running weather and there was no rain during the race, so conditions were great. It didn't really help me run faster, but it made it a little less painful. 

So after running an incredibly mediocre time I was rewarded with this lovely finisher ribbon at the end. There is a reason they call it the Cheap Marathon (despite the fact that the entry fee wasn't all that cheap). I will admit it looks pretty sad on my medal-hanging ladder, but it still hangs among them, silent, with no jingle as it swings against the others. 

I stayed in Manchester, which was only a short drive from the course, but seemed to have better options for hotels and restaurants than the other towns in the area. New Hampshire is a great spot for oysters, so as usual I had to partake of these. This was after I stopped at a local brewery, Harpoon Brewery. They had good beers and a really great homemade French onion dip with potato chips. Brought me back to a lot of midwestern cookouts, but minus the Ruffles chips and the store bought dip. 

Also before I found my way to oysters, I walked around downtown Manchester and took in some of the murals around town. To be honest, I couldn't find much else to do there on the weekend and it was also a bit rainy. But was a good way to walk off some of the post-race soreness. 

Ok, finally time for oysters. I went to a place called The Foundry and for some reason their espresso martini was calling to me. Maybe it was because when I was supposed to do my original November marathon, my friend Genevieve and I went to Maine instead and at all the oysters and drank all the espresso martinis. Although we didn't enjoy these two things together. And I know you're thinking that these things don't go together. But I don't care. I wanted them and both were delicious.  So there. 

Overall, I enjoyed the course, the food and the town. For a short time. It's a beautiful state, and I'm sure the prime time to go is during the fall foliage. But appreciated its beauty in April still. Only Wyoming, New Mexico and Hawaii remain. Jackson Hole is coming up in September, followed by Albuquerque in October and then Maui in April 2027.  Then I can move on from the early 2000s blog writing into 2026/27. But it has been a good way to chronicle this journey that started in fall of 2009. Hoping to get through the rest as planned. Cross your fingers! 

#46 Couer d'Alene, Idaho - A giant lake and giant ankle pain

Ok,  so this might be the latest I've ever written and posted about a race. So much has happened and we've even got a second dog since this race. Also, I feel very archaic writing a blog but when I started this 16 years ago, blogging was a thing people! I'm not taking us back to blogging times, but let's go back to May, 2025. 

I was excited to return to Lake Couer d'Alene, Idaho after 30+ years. I was first there with my dad when I was 16 on a roadtrip to visit family in Rathdrum, Idaho and just remember the amazing view while parasailing for the first time over the lake. And as expected, nothing at all looked familiar except maybe the lake. I don't know if that is becuase things have changed so much or if my memory is just crap. Sometimes I feel like most of my memory is spent recalling 90s song lyrics. 

My husband and dog, Jerry joined me for this race. We started the weekend doing a very easy hike after packet pick up around Tubb Hill. I learned my lesson in Alaska to not go crazy with any hikes the day before, so this was a pretty tame hike around the base of the hill. 

Weather was great. As you can see from the pictures, it was sunny but it wasn't too hot. Jerry enjoyed some fresh air during our hike after a long flight in a tiny carrier the day before. We dipped a toe into Lake Couer D'Alene which felt pretty icy. There were a few crazy people in the water, maybe doing a polar plunge. 

Post-hike, we had lunch downtown Coeur D'Alene at a place called Cricket's Restaurant and Oyster Bar. Now I know I went against protocol with PRE-race oysters, but this is my self-inflicted challenge so my rules and I can change then if I want! Also, if you need a dinener recommendation, we had dinner at a place called Vine & Olive, which was set within an area with a bunch of shops. I convinced my husband to buy a new winter coat on sale which he probably hasn't done in 15 years since he's moved to Florida. So far so good in CDA. 

Now its race day. It was a chilly start but otherwise nice weather.  No one wanted to be up early including Jerry. I feel you, buddy. There isn't a race that I don't wake up that morning and really question my life's choices.  But here we are and too late to go back.  

So I have to mention that I basically didn't do much running the last few weeks leading up to this race because I began to have some high ankle pain. I couldn't get into see a doctor about it before the race, but figured it was just something that I could address later. And it also usually felt better after I warmed up a bit. So I figured I'd struggle through this one and deal with it when I got home. Typical runner I guess if you ask any physician. So I ran the race anyway.  It was really a pretty course, although some out and back which I don't always love. But it is not so bad when you get to see your two fans twice and they don't have to drive all over town to see you. Solid medal so no complaints really.... Except about my ankle. 

Post-race is when the ankle was really feeling it. But I would not be stopped from post-race oysters, so we (I) hobbled to a place called Anthony's for lunch which was on the water, but not THE lake, so a bit misleading. It was on what appeared to be a man-made pond. Still good ambiance. And it had warmed up from the morning so we could sit outside. Instead of straight oysters, we went seafood tower for this one.  I don't remember exactly what was at the top of tower, but those things were delicious.  

We stayed a couple of nights after the race to enjoy the area. We explored the area a bit as well and visited some nearby towns and got Jerry out and about to a dog park. 

We took a cruise around the lake and saw some houses that you have to basically take a boat to get to. Beautiful properties with beautifully high prices. A bit cold and windy depending what side of the boat you were on. If you are looking for dinner with a view, Beverly's at the Coeur D'Alene Resort was great. 

So to share the findings from the great ankle pain mystery, I had a stress fracture. That was the one and only race for me in 2025. I was supposed to run New Hampshire, but the stress fractures continued to plague me into the fall so I sat that race out. I got through much of the training but started feeling pain again so actually took my doctor's advice to not run. So I'm back at it in 2026, and just finished New Hampshire as I write this! Stay tuned and I'll share those highlights later in 2027. 😉