Number 10 - West Virginia
Marshall University Marathon
We left on a Friday and came back on Sunday. This super quick road trip was full of fun and memories. The coolest part of this race was getting tossed a football when I ran into the stadium and high-fiving my kids as I crossed the finish line. Afterwards, I loved feeling like QB1, throwing passes to my boys and Lucie.
Number 9 - Washington
Seattle Marathon
This was a special marathon because we got to visit our great friends Danny and his baby Charlotte in Seattle. The long weekend consisted of a beautiful Thanksgiving that included me, Kerry, baby Michael, and my brother-in-law Eric. Both Eric and I ran the marathon. Thanks again Danny for all your support over the years and of course housing me many times.
Number 8 - New York
New York City Marathon
New York, the center of the universe, was one of my favorite times. Todd and I both ran the New York City Marathon. Our wives came too, Kerry and Amanda. We took advantage of the city and saw "Promises, Promises" on Broadway. The muscial starred Kristen Chenoweth (starred in "Wicked") and Sean Hayes (star of Will & Grace.) The marathon had 40,000+ runners and went through many burroughs of the City. Running through Central Park and over the bridges was very memorable. Todd, thanks again for your encouragement over the years and your friendship. You helped me many times finishing the Chicago Marathons too.
Number 7 - South Carolina
Kiawah Island Marathon
Kiawah Island was a really neat race to be in, but the town of Charleston made this trip a top 10, Charleston had a mix of historical sites along with a charming downtown with an abundance of restaurants and shops. Kerry and I were fortunate to learn that Chicago was getting pummeled with snow. Our flight home was cancelled and were able to stay one extra day!
Number 6 - Pennslyvania
Philadelphia Marathon
What made it special?
This would be my Personal Record (PR.) My fastest race in all my marathons. It was an amazing feeling to cross the finish line! When I started 10 years before this, I didn't realize I would be able to be over one hour faster than my first marathon in Chicago. For those trying to figure out other stats, this was a 7:07/mile pace or over 8.4 mph. When I write this and think about where I was and what I can do now, I'll admit it is a bit depressing. I would be lucky to pull that pace for 2 miles today. Okay, I will keep my chin up.
Kerry joined me on this weekend getaway. Philadelphia is a great city. We went to the famous Philadelphia Museum of Art and I ran up the stairs, a la Rocky Balboa.
Number 5 - Maine
Mount Desert Island Marathon
Mount Desert Island was hands down the most beautiful marathon I ran. Running in the hills of Acadia National Park was so breathtaking. Kerry and I took this picture on the top of Cadillac Mountain, roughly 1,500 feet above sea level. This area amazed us so much that the following year we took our whole family and my mom to revisit our experiences. I highly recommend that you go to Acadia National Park in Maine. Bar Harbor, all of the tiny white buildings you can see at the water's edge in this photo, is where we stayed for race and where the race starting line was located.
Number 4 - Massachusettes
The Boston Marathon
I ran the Boston Marathon in 2013, the year of the bombing. It was an incredibly sad day to know that 3 people died that day and 17 others lost limbs. I had run in the first wave and had finished an hour before the bombs went off. This still gives me chills thinking about what happened. The picture above is with Michael, Thomas, and their second cousins Jackson, Taylor, and Austin. Thanks Laura and Jim for taking care of us during that crazy time and keeping our spirits in tact.
Number 3 - Florida
Disney Marathon
This is the race where I qualified for Boston. So that is one of the reasons it is special. The more important reason is the time spent with my family, Nana, Papa, and the kid with the Bama shirt, Danny. You see, we need an extra pair of hands to help us navigate the Magic Kingdom with our 4-headed monster. Danny was 16 at the time and was incredibly helpful and sweet with our kiddos. Danny was part of the original 4-headed monster back in the day. Thanks again Danny for your helping hands!
Number 2 - Hawaii
Kona Marathon
If you ask my kids what was their most memorbable and best vacation was, the Big Island would be in their top 2 or 3. We rented a house with Nana and Papa. The house was on top of a hill and had a pool. Our kids had a blast. Every day was swimming in the pool and going to the beach. Lots of sun and relaxation! Thanks Nana and Papa for all your support in this marathon and the many others that you were there for or watching our kids or simply thinking about meand checking in to see how I did.
Number 1 - Illinois
The Chicago Marathon
The race that started it all for me is my most favorite one of all. Anyone running a marathon for the first time will tell you the same. It's the feeling of accomplishment and knowing you did something that required a lot of work and dedication. Hitting mile 20 is as far as I did in my training. That is typical. The last 6 miles took a lot of mental toughness and courage. Thanks to Ali and Tim for hosting us that night in the city. They made that part of the journey easier to tackle! What an unforgettable experience!