Marathon Update

(as I know all of you have been sitting around wondering "did Amy manage to get in to the St. George Marathon?")

On Tuesday, this message popped into my email box:

 

Wouldn't that email title make your hopeful heart flutter with a "YES! I totally got IN!" kind of response?

Luckily, the day before I had already checked the lottery results, or I would have gotten all fluttery and then crashed even harder when I actually read the email:
 

Yeah, I didn't get in.

This discouraged me for awhile. After all, St. George seems like it's THEEEE marathon to run in Utah. You're a real runner if you've run it. But, onward and upward, right? I still want to accomplish my marathon-before-I-turn-40 goal, and while I could run the Salt Lake City marathon, which is on April 14 or so, that would mean spring training and, you know: the older I get, the less I like running in the cold. As our recent springs have been nothing but cold, I want to avoid a spring marathon if I can.

So now I am considering these marathons, which I am listing in order of appeal for your convenience:

• the Mesquite Marathon. Pluses: an enormous portion of this race goes through the Virgin River Gorge, which is one of my favorite places to drive through (I always think "I want to run on this road," every time we drive it); the course winds through three states (Utah, Arizona, Nevada) which is just cool to think about; the timing is good because it's not until November 19, which gives me more training time. Negatives: the timing is bad because November 19 is Nathan's birthday; the last six miles (which I'd imagine are the roughest part of any marathon) are in a stretch of ugly desert and what will sustain me for the last hour if the scenery doesn't?; the farthest away (more driving and who knows, by November gas might be $8 a gallon or so)
• the Top of Utah Marathon. Pluses: it's a classic Utah race starting at the top of a canyon and working its way down. Lots of downhill, and running in the mountains: what's not to love? also, perhaps my friend Sophia might let me crash at her house, thus saving the expense of a hotel. Negatives: it's the earliest one, September 17, and that gives me only 18 weeks to train. I think I need more time so I can build up more slowly.
• the Layton Marathon. Pluses: holy cow, this is a cool race. It starts on Antelope Island, which is in the Great Salt Lake and home to real, live buffalo (also antelope, obviously, but that's not as exciting). A big part of the race is along the causeway between the island and the shore, which seems like it would nearly be like running on the beach. It's October 8, which gives me 21 weeks to train. Negatives: no downhill at all. Sure, it's flat, but I also love a nice downhill stretch in a race; I like uphill, too. October is the tentative plan for Nathan's 11-year-old trip and I don't want to mess that up for my own racing needs. Plus, there's that "Layton is a scary place" rumor, and honestly: I've never been to Layton. In my head it's full of gang graffiti and whizzing bullets, which are definitely undesirable during a marathon. (If you know more about Layton, please enlighten me!)

I'm still waffling. I need to decide soon, as I imagine there's another 10,000 St. George Marathon rejects also scrambling for an autumn marathon to run. Tell me your vote!

Comments

[Britt]

Ah! Boo!

But it's so hot in Saint George... I vote for the Top of Utah because it's the farthest from the equator.

I can't believe there is such thing as a marathon rejection e-mail.

[Britt]

P.S. If you want me to, I will gladly write a letter to the Marathon Folks about their poor use of the subject line.

[Kayci]

Obviously I don't know much about marathons but I am really excited for you to run one! Sorry you didn't get in to the one you wanted most, I hope you accomplish your goal regardless. :) Love ya and I'll see you this weekend!

[Lucy]

Jay is anti-St. George Marathon after receiving that letter a few years ago. he thinks the entire system is lame so now he actively boycotts it. Whatever. Sorry you didn't get in. He ran the Top of Utah marathon in its inaugural year and it's a really pretty marathon. I have a friend from here running it this year too.

I had no idea Layton had such a gang infested reputation. I always associate it with waving a giant US flag from its mall parking lot.

If you want to really get crazy, you can fly to Georgia the second weekend of November and run the Civil War Battlefield marathon. It gets really good reviews:) Jay will be there (I was planning on going but will now be 8 months pregnant and not sure its safe to fly).
http://www.battlefieldmarathon.com/marathon.html

[Jessica]

I vote Top of Utah. It is a beautiful course. I'm so sad you didn't get in to St. George! I got in, but the people I run with did'nt. We should get together for some of the long runs. Those are no fun by yourself.

[Jenna]

You could come & run in Greenville, South Carolina. The marathon is the last Saturday in November & home plate of the cutest minor league baseball stadium is home plate.

I don't think you will have to worry about the scary parts of Layton in the morning hours of a marathon. In general, there is a policeman holding back traffic at every intersection.

[Jenna]

Greenville is the last Saturday in October.