State #6: Vermont

VERMONT: Green Mountain Marathon and half; South Hero, VT

October 11,2015 . 

Finishing Time: 2:01:43. Placed 168 out of 376 half runners. 10th out of 46 women in the 40-49 age group. 588 people total for both races.  

Highlights: 

1. Vermont will complete all my England States! This will be another milestone on this journey. First was completing 5 states and the second completing the New England region.
2. Second time I had to get a hotel because the race was so far. This time I had a chance to explore the famous Killington, Vermont and Woodstock Area. From Boston to South Hero it is about a four hour drive. Since race time was at 8:30am. I did not want to drive all night and then run. I saw that Killington was less than two hours from South Hero. I could do some exploring. Rest and then go run. 
3. South Hero is on Lake Champlain, I didn’t know the place existed. I’m driving in the dark and one point I thought I was in Canada because my radio "got French on me." I have never driven so far up north before.
4. I couldn’t believe how close to New York and Canada I was. Hell you could take a ferry to both places.
5. This course was gorgeous. As I am running I see cows on my right and Lake Champlain and New York on my left.
6. This community was artsy and flat.
7. First race that everyone was so environmentally aware about picking up trash and putting it in its proper container. There was literally no trash on the route.
8. Wishing I had a go pro because of the views and the dinosaurs in the trees
9. Met an African American man who flew up from Georgia to run this race. He’s trying to complete 50 states before he is 55. He told me this was his expensive golf habit. One weekend $500 easily gone... so true. Thankful that I have been driving to save on airfare but I know this will end soon.
10. Met another African American woman who moved up here for work and she’s from Cincinnati. I gave her my card besides the 3 of us, I didn’t see any racial diversity. 
11. Being on the water and October is was cold. The mornings are always rough. I had gloves and I kept them on the whole time.