Three Marathons in Fourteen Days
Name of the Race(s): Peterson Ridge Rumble – Sisters, OR; Blue Ridge Marathon – Roanoke, VA; Mo Spring Marathon – Perrysville, OH
Race/Event Distance: 26.2 (x 3)
Date(s): April 11th, 18th & 25th
Describe the Event: A trail race in Oregon that I have attended every year for the past 12 years, a hilly road marathon in Virginia, and a trail marathon in Ohio that just happened to fall on the right weekend in a close-enough location to check another marathon state off of my list before my spring break ended.
How did you prepare for the race/event? I was able to run pretty consistently over the winter and put in enough mileage in recent weeks to make me think I was fit and healthy enough to finish all three. I had no plans to run hard in any of them; I just wanted to maintain a comfortable pace and finish with two new marathon states and without injury.
What they had in common: The length, as I opted for the marathon distance at each event. They were all impeccably organized with clearly marked courses, well-stocked aid stations, and fun vibes!
What stood out about each one:
Peterson Ridge Rumble: I happen to be married to the race director of this one so I have some inherent biases, but the Rumble is truly top-notch: a fun and laid-back adventure on some dreamy, flowy Central Oregon singletrack with snow-capped mountain views. It’s dog friendly, with 50-100 four-legged participants across all race distances each year, which adds so much joy to the event. The finish line food is about as good as it gets, with a build-your-own-burrito bar and bakery treats. I ran it in a bit of a sleep-deprived, jet-lagged stupor; I enjoyed the miles at a comfortable pace and spent time with the friends and family who make Central Oregon feel like home every April. Add on plenty of pre and post-race helping with race organization and traveling home to get back to work, and I was pretty spent after this one.
Blue Ridge Marathon: This was the only road run of the trio, and it dubs itself America’s Toughest Road Race. It certainly had a respectable amount of vert, and with race-day temperatures creeping toward 90, it had an added weather challenge to keep it spicy. It was fully embraced by the community, with spectators adding makeshift aid stations to an already well-supported course. It was really fun to be able to see Sean and my brother on the out-and-back sections, and I got to high five my adorably enthusiastic niece and nephew with their homemade signs as I came into the finish. I was pleasantly surprised with how my legs felt, as I was again able to cruise at a comfortable pace, and ran a negative split. I woke up without much soreness, even after all of that pavement pounding. This race provided a great excuse to spend a weekend with family in a new-to-us location.
Mo Spring Marathon: After the Blue Ridge Marathon, we did a bunch of hiking in and around the Smokies, so my legs had absolutely zero pep going into this one. I really didn’t start to enjoy it until the second lap of the two-lap course, as by that point, I knew I was getting closer to some rest days! I definitely did not run a negative split this time! The course was on some muddy trails with lots of punchy hills; Ohio made us work for this finish. Some sections were lined with a sea of white trillium; others were covered in thick mud. Fellow trail users – racers and weekend hikers alike – were all very friendly and supportive. I crossed the finish line, walked back to the car, sat on a curb next to Sean while our dog licked sweat off of my face, and let out a big sigh. I was thankful to be done, and thankful for every step my body lets me take these days. As I age, it feels easy to cross into Too Stupid territory, so I felt good about a 14-day stretch that felt Just Stupid Enough.
