Race Reports

Eric Johnson: MAYOR’S MARATHON
6/19/2010
50 STATES FINISH
Anchorage, Alaska
With Hardin Watkins & Rob Hall

I must start this race report out by saying that it was made special by having many friends participating in this event including fellow Raleigh Gallowayers Hardin Watkins and Rob Hall.  Hardin and Rob may not have known it but they did a great job of distracting me from thinking too much about the race.  Fellow Marathon Maniacs Donna Jacobs and Dianne Burton were also there.  I had met Donna at the Colorado Marathon and she told me that there would be plenty of support in Alaska.

This marathon started out with the longest flight I have ever taken.  My flight from RDU was carrying a military escort and a fallen soldier.  Instantly my 10 year journey seemed insignificant.  When the plane arrived they started removing the soldier and you could have heard a pin drop.  People weren’t trying to rush past each other or even attempting to check emails/phone messages. When I arrived at the Bed & Breakfast in Anchorage on Thursday night they were already sitting at the dining table chatting it up with other marathoners.  The B&B was nice and the staff/runners were very friendly.  After a short period of war stories it was time to turn in.  The first night was difficult because it never really got dark.  I awoke at 3am (7am EST) only to find it as bright in the room as it was when I went to bed.

The next morning we had breakfast with some of the other runners and some motorcyclists from western North Carolina.  Hardin picked up the rental car from what appeared to be a less than honorable establishment but it all worked out.  I invited some fellow marathon maniacs/50 staters (Donna Jacobs and Dianne Burton) along for our day of sightseeing after quickly visiting the small expo after it opened.  We made a short trip north out of Anchorage to visit an 18th Century Russian Orthodox Church.  This short trip north also included a trip to Wasilla, AK.  We did not see Sarah Palin or her house but we did meet some relatives (supposedly Levi’s 3rd cousin!) working at an Italian restaurant.  We also visited the Iditarod headquarters.  After taking many pictures of the sled dogs and meeting a musher who had participated in the Iditarod, we went to the incredibly beautiful Eklutna Lake.  It was here that we saw our first of many Bald Eagles.  It flew straight at us not 50’ off of the ground and landed in a nearby tree for us to take some pictures.  It ended up being a longer day than expected but once you see our pictures you will see that it was worth it.

Race Day.  You would think that it was my first marathon.  I had gotten all of my gear ready the night before and still almost left while wearing the t-shirt from the night before and leaving my race shirt and number hanging in the closet.  All things were a go and then Hardin couldn’t find the keys.  I was a nervous wreck and almost left to catch the shuttle around the corner but Hardin found the keys tucked in his shorts and we were off.  Good thing I didn’t go for the shuttle because we heard many horror stories about the shuttles.  I saw many MM and 50 State acquaintanences near the starting line.  Roger Wenchel is from Asheville and this was his 40th state.  Henry Rueden was also there.  This race was his 36th state of 2010 and 671st marathon.  He is attempting all 50 states this year.  Donna Jacobs was running her 40th state while Dianne Burton was running her 49th.  She was leaving AK for her 50th state in Kona, HI.

We all started this race together.  We stayed together (and by stayed together I mean they slowed way down to stay with me) for the first half of the race which was the uphill part.  I could tell that it was killing Rob to slow down this much so I told him I would see him at the finish.  We got him to run on to get the car from the start.  We saw so much bear scat on the trail after the half way point that you had to alter your running gait to avoid stepping in it.  There was a bear sighting on the course but it was behind us.

The course was beautiful but much of it was on gravel road with large, loose stones.  Many persons later talked about how bad the bottom of their feet hurt.  Once off of the gravel we had short distance on the road before getting onto a greenway.  It was on the greenway at around mile 19 that we saw the moose.  Not in the woods or on the trail but in the city near a major highway.  Henry caught us shortly after the moose sighting and ran with Hardin and I until mile marker 25 when Hardin ran ahead.   I tried to catch up to him but couldn’t.  It turned out that he was running ahead to talk to the finish line announcer and get positioned to shoot a finish line video using his IPod.  As Henry and I made the turn onto the high school track I could hear Hardin yelling for me and then I heard the announcer call out my name and number and that this was my 50th state to have completed a marathon.  As I crossed the finish the rocky theme song began to play.  I could hear Hardin yelling but was temporarily overcome with emotion.  I couldn’t talk and felt like I couldn’t breathe for a brief moment but it was done.  Although the excitement that had been building for 10 years I couldn’t help but think “now what”.  Rob had gone to get the car from the starting line and was fortunate enough to have the only bear sighting of our group on the shuttle bus ride over.  We met him back at the B&B and we dropped him off at the airport for his flight that afternoon.

Post Race.  We (Hardin, Donna, Dianne and myself) went to Humpy’s Bar & Grill for some celebrating.  We met some other 50 states runners from Arizona who were getting ready to leave so we moved in on their table. They decided to stay and we made an evening out of it. The next morning Hardin and I visited a farmers market, viewed a glacier, walked on another glacier, watched dozens of Bald Eagles and Dall Sheep and bought some Reindeer Sausage all before catching a late flight out of Alaska.  The time at the airport was the first time I had been alone since arriving and it gave me some time to reflect on the 50 States journey.  It would not have been possible without my wife (the most patient and understanding person on this earth) and the Raleigh Galloway Program.  I have made many friends along the way and I’ll be looking forward to making many new friends in the Galloway Program, 50 States Club, Marathon Maniacs soon the 100 Club.