State #13: OHIO!

State #13 OHIO: Athens Marathon and Half. Athens, Ohio 

April 10, 2016  

Total Race Participates: 671 Finished Time 1:57:40. Overall 183/524; Female 74/313; Female 40-44 5th/42 

This was a race I wanted to run. This was a race I planned for. To run a half at my alma mater, Hell ya!! I know in Ohio, the Columbus half and the Cincinnati half are big and extremely popular. This was personal, this had meaning for me. To go back to Athens, 20 years after I graduated. This was just priceless. 

Highlights:

1. First race that I have an emotional connection with...super excited
2. First run at my Alma mater
3. Ran on the Hocking Trail the whole race. 
4. Realized I don't like running in the country 3 miles is cool no problem but an addition 10.1..kill me on this trail.
5. It snowed around mile 9 and kept on snowing
6. And I was the only Black girl running.
7. It was a quiet, beautiful race along the Hocking River, snow, grass.
8. Saw cows, horses, black lives matter and stand up against rape culture signs.
9. I stopped for water around mile 9 and a woman hit me and said" I've been following you for 5 miles, we're almost there and you can't stop now"..wtf..so I dumped my water and ran..lol.
10. Think I PR..under 2hrs, getting better and stronger.
11. First time running during birthday month plus 2 week celebration 
12. This is OHIO'S longest running marathon. They have been doing the half for 26 years. I have no memory of this in my four years..I wonder why. Lol.   

Back to Bobcat country 

I wanted my Athens crew to come with me to share the experience down memory lane. As life happens that wasn’t possible. One of girls was 6 months pregnant so that wasn’t going to happen. My other partner in crime completely forgot because she had to go to Florida that weekend for a work conference. My Dad couldn’t come because his Lady-friend’s Mother passed away, so he stayed behind to have dinner with her family. I was the lone Bobcat. 

I actually teared up as I was getting closer to Athens and seeing West Green. I just couldn’t believe I was here. So amazed at how much the place had changed. This was the weekend of the Spring Game and Palmer Fest. Court Street and the bars were packed with students. The bad part is that I couldn’t hit up all my favorite food spots and really drink like I wanted (now I can really afford the drinks) because I had to run and drive back to my hotel.