State #8: New Jersey

State #8 New Jersey : Trenton Double Cross Half Marathon, 10k, 5k, and kids fun run. Trenton, New Jersey 

November 7, 2015 

2,552 total Finishers. 1083 half Finishers. Finished Time: 2:00:08.  341 out of 1083. 

Highlights: 

1.  First time driving on the New Jersey turnpike. I was hoping to see a housewife or Governor Christie but it didn’t happen.
2. In this state I explored Princeton, NJ and Princeton University.  All Ivy’s aren’t all the same.
3. While on visit and drive I had to pull over and take a conference call. The work never ends.
4. This was my first Urban Race. Excited to run in the city. I’ve heard nothing but bad things about Trenton….crime, drugs, poverty. On the drive in, it was clear. Then there was another part of downtown with museums, parks, city buildings, and Thomas Edison resources.
5. First time a had a race on a Saturday.
6. I was overwhelmed to see Black Girls Run, Black Men Run (didn’t know they existed) and Latinas in Motion (didn't know they existed either). Each were partners of this race.  For the first time, I had never seen so many brown and black people. Plus there was all the BGR gear.
7. Before the race, we all got together for a picture. Someone had mention there were about 600 of us here.  I was just one smiling happy lady. I met black women who run who were my sorors, who came from Maryland, Philly, D.C., Texas, North Carolina.  They travel to run. I thought it was just me.  Since running the last 7 races in white spaces to see the power and presence and friendliness of these runs, was overwhelming.
8. I saw Christine. She was the African-american woman I met in Rhode Island who is apart of BGR and half fanatics. I see her again at state #8.
9. I love seeing all the varying shades of black and browns, different body types, hell even waves and natural types.
10. While racing, you clearly saw the racial diversity while running.
11. This course, I ran for a couple of miles in Pennsylvania, which was so neat.
12. I did curse at mile 8 and 13. Uphills and going through the park.  From an urban sociologist view point. I could see the gentrification of the city, the historic African American presence, and the gay presence as well.