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<p>Reach The Beach Relay (<a href="http://www.rtbrelay.com/" target="_blank">http://www.rtbrelay.com/</a>)<br>
209mi from Franconia, NH to Hampton Beach, NH<br>
September 16-17, 2010</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I've heard of the Reach The Beach Relay. You can't live in New Hampshire and not hear of the RTB. To me, it's always been the stuff of legend, something that the likes of me could never accomplish. Then, last year my neighbor did it and after he told all the stories of his adventures I said I'd be interested too. This was, of course, during many beers around a campfire. One other neighbor, a Boston Marathon veteran said he'd sign up too. Several months later, with this long forgotten I got an email saying that it was sign-up time. I hesitated but after talking with DW decided to go for it. After all, the name of the team was "Here For Beer" and they were about the experience not trying to win it. Perfect. I can drink beer.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/57625/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="59173_438806748965_767013965_5012098_1246834_n.jpg" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="14096" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/14096/width/720/height/480" style="; width: 720px; height: 480px"></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>My two neighbors were the only ones I really knew on the team. The rest I got to know a little via email as time got closer. As for training, I have two half-marathons coming up, one October 3rd and another November 14th so I would just carry on with training for those. The only wrench was also needing to train for a couple of sprint triathlons, including Pumpkinman the weekend before RTB. Training went pretty well but during Pumpkinman I really tweaked my back and I was very sore all week to the point I could literally not bend over. I skipped running the whole week hoping to heal up but no amount of back pain was going to keep me from RTB.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/57627/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="58938_438806578965_767013965_5012090_3254281_n.jpg" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="14097" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/14097/width/720/height/480" style="; width: 720px; height: 480px"></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Thursday night before the race the team got a hotel in Franconia, NH. We met the van in Manchester and drove up in the pouring rain. This was not a good sign. No one could think of anything worse then adding wet to what was already going to be a stinky van for 30 hours. We knew the race was on when another van passed us with a big moon stuck to the inside of a foggy window. The hotel was pretty nasty and some folks had to share beds so it was a rough start. The next morning it was foggy and drizzly with intermittent harder rain shower. The forecast though was for sun by 2pm. Our start time was 10:40am. After breakfast and getting to meet everyone in the light, we loaded the vans, strapped our inflatable beer bottles to the roof and headed for the start.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/57646/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="DSCN0504.JPG" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="14101" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/14101/width/667/height/500" style="; width: 667px; height: 500px"></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>At the start it was muddy and wet. It was complete chaos with registration, orientation and everything else. Being an RTB rookie my head was spinning a bit. The word was that for the first few runners, full night gear would be required because of the fog. We got our first runner to the start (I was runner #6) and saw her off. Then, it was time to follow her in the van and set up support at mile 3. This was to be the order of the day. The runner could select anywhere they wanted the van to stop along their leg and we'd be there with water, Gatorade, gels, a beer, Red Bull and support -- whatever they wanted. I already liked this crew and the attitude in the van. By the time we made our way down the other side of Crawford Notch the sun finally came out and it was my turn for my first leg, leg #6 of 8.62mi.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/57619/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="58525_438819193965_767013965_5012392_4789619_n.jpg" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="14093" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/14093/width/720/height/405" style="; width: 720px; height: 405px"></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>This was actually the leg I was most anxious about. In my training I'd done probably 3-4 8+mi runs and none of them went particularly well. They always seemed to happen on 90+F degree days. This leg though, it was maybe 65F, mostly downhill and I would have support at miles 3 and 6. I had two goals: 1) don't walk except to get water and 2) average 10:00/mi. Upon leaving the transition area I noticed right away that the road was marked every 0.2mi by the NHDOT. The leg started at mile marker 51.6 so I was able to record all my splits and know exactly how far I'd come and how far I had to go. I felt great. I felt focused. And, most of all, my back wasn't much of a factor. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/57623/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="59505_438807338965_767013965_5012112_7558960_n.jpg" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="14095" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/14095/width/720/height/480" style="; width: 720px; height: 480px"></a></p>
<p>Here are my splits:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Mile 1: 9:47<br>
Mile 2: 9:48<br>
Mile 3: 9:50<br>
Mile 4: 9:55<br>
Mile 5: 10:04<br>
Mile 6: 10:08<br>
Mile 7: 10:12<br>
Mile 8: 10:22<br>
Mile 8.62: 1:26:44</p>
<p> </p>
<p>My splits were very even and actually represent the terrain I was running on. As the run went on it became less and less downhill. This was by far the fastest I'd ever run this distance and I nailed my goal exactly almost down to the second. The most remarkable thing about this run was that I spent at least 1/2 hour in the middle of it with no other runners around. After handoff we got dinner at the Red Parka Pub in Glen, NH and then headed to our "safe house" to rest before it was time to head to the start of our next set of legs. These would be in the dark between 10pm and 2am.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/57621/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="57933_438807548965_767013965_5012120_2223922_n.jpg" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="14094" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/14094/width/720/height/480" style="; width: 720px; height: 480px"></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Getting to our next set of legs (also called a VTA or Vehicle Transfer Area) proved hectic. Never trust your GPS. We actually ended up being 3 minutes late for our handoff from runner #12 back to runner #1 because we got stuck in traffic and they way underestimated their pace and what time they'd finish. Poor runner #1 was practically thrown out of the van in the dark when the poor girl had to pee. She was a trooper though and ran off in the dark. When I say dark I mean REALLY dark. Our in towns like Tamworth, Sandwich and Center Harbor, NH there are no street lights. Add to that running on winding backroads and it's darker than dark. When it came time to do my leg, leg #18 4.89mi, it was around 1:30am. My leg went through downtown Laconia so it was only pitch dark coming into town and leaving town. I carried a headlamp and a flashlight. The pace going into down was pretty quick but I was definitely suffering the after effects of my first run, a poor choice for dinner and needing sleep. The last 8/10 of a mile of this run though, was what tested my meddle where the road tilts up and gains 250+ feet of elevation. I've ridden my bike down this hill on NH-106 and you easily hit 40mph. It took everything I had to not walk. There was carnage everywhere with people walking but my number one goal in all of this was to never walk except for taking water. I did it and I actually had my one and only kill of the race on this hill passing someone in a fancy New Balance kit. After handoff and recovery we headed to our second "safe house" - my mother-in-law's place in Gilford where we spend our time in the summer (aka "The Chalet").</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/57631/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="IMG_4536.JPG" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="14099" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/14099/width/667/height/500" style="; width: 667px; height: 500px"></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Staying at The Chalet afforded us some much needed rest. Most people got a solid 2 hours of sleep and some got showers and ate as well. Getting to our next VTA, Bear Brook State Park was much less of an adventure and we got there with plenty of time to spare and get our runner #1 warmed up and ready to go. These were our final legs and spirits were very high. By the 3rd leg we were sneaking beers, blasting tunes and everyone would finish their leg carrying one of our 6' tall inflatable Corona Light bottles into the transition. My final leg, the last leg of our van for the race, was leg #30 3.15mi from Danville to Kingston, NH at the Sanborn Regional High School. For this leg, my wife and kids turned out for the start since we live the next town over. It was great to see them and share their excitement to see me! My leg started with a sharp downhill and I took off at a quick pace. My goal here was to run as close to my 5K PR as I could (28:53) and finish strong. I felt great, much better than the night before. Being the last runner and not starting my run until 1pm or so really made the difference for me. I really pushed it as hard as I could. Eventually my wife and kids drove by in the car on the way to the finish with the kids screaming, "GO DADDY!!! GO DADDY!!!". What a boost that was. The runner behind me enjoyed it too and commented, "cute kids!". Pushing the pace was the name of the game here and as it went on I felt stronger and pushed harder. Finally, it was my turn to take the Corona Light bottle and carry it to the transition. I handed off my bracelet and the bottle and stopped my watch at exactl 29:00, just seven seconds off my 5K PR. I think if I'd not carried the bottle (but what fun would that be) I'd been right at the PR. I greeted my family and gave out lots of high fives, jumped in the van, cracked open a beer and then we all headed to our neighborhood to shower up and then drive to Hampton Beach.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/57629/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="61851_438807123965_767013965_5012104_5851603_n.jpg" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="14098" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/14098/width/720/height/480" style="; width: 720px; height: 480px"></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>The finish was amazing. People were complaining about the traffic but to me it seemed like a normal Saturday afternoon at Hampton Beach: crowded. We parked our vans right at the state park for the finish and then we all ran into the finish together, including one of our beer bottles, as a team. It was such a great feeling. Everyone got their medals, had some food and then we all headed back to the hotel for some more beers and to let van 2 get cleaned up. That evening we met our spouses, etc. at a bar/restaurant to celebrate into the night with great live music (Demijon Music Clan) and great company.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/57617/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="58525_438819208965_767013965_5012395_3069947_n.jpg" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="14092" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/14092/width/720/height/405" style="; width: 720px; height: 405px"></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Needless to say, we are all planning for next year already. Never could I imagine doing something like this. I had such a great time. I feel like I've had this whole new spark lit underneath me and now I have something new to focus on. I've bribed them with stays for both vans at The Chalet next year so I know I am already in " class="bbcode_smiley" height="1" src="<a href="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies//biggrin.gif">http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies//biggrin.gif</a>" title="<img alt="
" class="bbcode_smiley" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies//biggrin.gif" title="
">" width="1" /><img alt="<img src=" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies//smile.gif" style="width:1px;height:1px;" title="<img src="></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Official Team results: #89 "Here for Beer": 264/430 Overall, 78/148 Mixed Open, Time: 30:03:05 (8:37/mi)</p>
<p>Personal results: 16.66mi in ~2:48:00 (10:05/mi) and no walking! GOALS MET! (besides have fun)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Up next: Smuttynose Rockfest Half Marathon, October 3rd</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/57633/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="IMG_4558.JPG" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="14100" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/14100/width/667/height/500" style="; width: 667px; height: 500px"></a></p>
209mi from Franconia, NH to Hampton Beach, NH<br>
September 16-17, 2010</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I've heard of the Reach The Beach Relay. You can't live in New Hampshire and not hear of the RTB. To me, it's always been the stuff of legend, something that the likes of me could never accomplish. Then, last year my neighbor did it and after he told all the stories of his adventures I said I'd be interested too. This was, of course, during many beers around a campfire. One other neighbor, a Boston Marathon veteran said he'd sign up too. Several months later, with this long forgotten I got an email saying that it was sign-up time. I hesitated but after talking with DW decided to go for it. After all, the name of the team was "Here For Beer" and they were about the experience not trying to win it. Perfect. I can drink beer.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/57625/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="59173_438806748965_767013965_5012098_1246834_n.jpg" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="14096" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/14096/width/720/height/480" style="; width: 720px; height: 480px"></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>My two neighbors were the only ones I really knew on the team. The rest I got to know a little via email as time got closer. As for training, I have two half-marathons coming up, one October 3rd and another November 14th so I would just carry on with training for those. The only wrench was also needing to train for a couple of sprint triathlons, including Pumpkinman the weekend before RTB. Training went pretty well but during Pumpkinman I really tweaked my back and I was very sore all week to the point I could literally not bend over. I skipped running the whole week hoping to heal up but no amount of back pain was going to keep me from RTB.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/57627/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="58938_438806578965_767013965_5012090_3254281_n.jpg" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="14097" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/14097/width/720/height/480" style="; width: 720px; height: 480px"></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Thursday night before the race the team got a hotel in Franconia, NH. We met the van in Manchester and drove up in the pouring rain. This was not a good sign. No one could think of anything worse then adding wet to what was already going to be a stinky van for 30 hours. We knew the race was on when another van passed us with a big moon stuck to the inside of a foggy window. The hotel was pretty nasty and some folks had to share beds so it was a rough start. The next morning it was foggy and drizzly with intermittent harder rain shower. The forecast though was for sun by 2pm. Our start time was 10:40am. After breakfast and getting to meet everyone in the light, we loaded the vans, strapped our inflatable beer bottles to the roof and headed for the start.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/57646/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="DSCN0504.JPG" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="14101" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/14101/width/667/height/500" style="; width: 667px; height: 500px"></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>At the start it was muddy and wet. It was complete chaos with registration, orientation and everything else. Being an RTB rookie my head was spinning a bit. The word was that for the first few runners, full night gear would be required because of the fog. We got our first runner to the start (I was runner #6) and saw her off. Then, it was time to follow her in the van and set up support at mile 3. This was to be the order of the day. The runner could select anywhere they wanted the van to stop along their leg and we'd be there with water, Gatorade, gels, a beer, Red Bull and support -- whatever they wanted. I already liked this crew and the attitude in the van. By the time we made our way down the other side of Crawford Notch the sun finally came out and it was my turn for my first leg, leg #6 of 8.62mi.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/57619/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="58525_438819193965_767013965_5012392_4789619_n.jpg" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="14093" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/14093/width/720/height/405" style="; width: 720px; height: 405px"></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>This was actually the leg I was most anxious about. In my training I'd done probably 3-4 8+mi runs and none of them went particularly well. They always seemed to happen on 90+F degree days. This leg though, it was maybe 65F, mostly downhill and I would have support at miles 3 and 6. I had two goals: 1) don't walk except to get water and 2) average 10:00/mi. Upon leaving the transition area I noticed right away that the road was marked every 0.2mi by the NHDOT. The leg started at mile marker 51.6 so I was able to record all my splits and know exactly how far I'd come and how far I had to go. I felt great. I felt focused. And, most of all, my back wasn't much of a factor. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/57623/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="59505_438807338965_767013965_5012112_7558960_n.jpg" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="14095" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/14095/width/720/height/480" style="; width: 720px; height: 480px"></a></p>
<p>Here are my splits:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Mile 1: 9:47<br>
Mile 2: 9:48<br>
Mile 3: 9:50<br>
Mile 4: 9:55<br>
Mile 5: 10:04<br>
Mile 6: 10:08<br>
Mile 7: 10:12<br>
Mile 8: 10:22<br>
Mile 8.62: 1:26:44</p>
<p> </p>
<p>My splits were very even and actually represent the terrain I was running on. As the run went on it became less and less downhill. This was by far the fastest I'd ever run this distance and I nailed my goal exactly almost down to the second. The most remarkable thing about this run was that I spent at least 1/2 hour in the middle of it with no other runners around. After handoff we got dinner at the Red Parka Pub in Glen, NH and then headed to our "safe house" to rest before it was time to head to the start of our next set of legs. These would be in the dark between 10pm and 2am.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/57621/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="57933_438807548965_767013965_5012120_2223922_n.jpg" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="14094" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/14094/width/720/height/480" style="; width: 720px; height: 480px"></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Getting to our next set of legs (also called a VTA or Vehicle Transfer Area) proved hectic. Never trust your GPS. We actually ended up being 3 minutes late for our handoff from runner #12 back to runner #1 because we got stuck in traffic and they way underestimated their pace and what time they'd finish. Poor runner #1 was practically thrown out of the van in the dark when the poor girl had to pee. She was a trooper though and ran off in the dark. When I say dark I mean REALLY dark. Our in towns like Tamworth, Sandwich and Center Harbor, NH there are no street lights. Add to that running on winding backroads and it's darker than dark. When it came time to do my leg, leg #18 4.89mi, it was around 1:30am. My leg went through downtown Laconia so it was only pitch dark coming into town and leaving town. I carried a headlamp and a flashlight. The pace going into down was pretty quick but I was definitely suffering the after effects of my first run, a poor choice for dinner and needing sleep. The last 8/10 of a mile of this run though, was what tested my meddle where the road tilts up and gains 250+ feet of elevation. I've ridden my bike down this hill on NH-106 and you easily hit 40mph. It took everything I had to not walk. There was carnage everywhere with people walking but my number one goal in all of this was to never walk except for taking water. I did it and I actually had my one and only kill of the race on this hill passing someone in a fancy New Balance kit. After handoff and recovery we headed to our second "safe house" - my mother-in-law's place in Gilford where we spend our time in the summer (aka "The Chalet").</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/57631/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="IMG_4536.JPG" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="14099" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/14099/width/667/height/500" style="; width: 667px; height: 500px"></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Staying at The Chalet afforded us some much needed rest. Most people got a solid 2 hours of sleep and some got showers and ate as well. Getting to our next VTA, Bear Brook State Park was much less of an adventure and we got there with plenty of time to spare and get our runner #1 warmed up and ready to go. These were our final legs and spirits were very high. By the 3rd leg we were sneaking beers, blasting tunes and everyone would finish their leg carrying one of our 6' tall inflatable Corona Light bottles into the transition. My final leg, the last leg of our van for the race, was leg #30 3.15mi from Danville to Kingston, NH at the Sanborn Regional High School. For this leg, my wife and kids turned out for the start since we live the next town over. It was great to see them and share their excitement to see me! My leg started with a sharp downhill and I took off at a quick pace. My goal here was to run as close to my 5K PR as I could (28:53) and finish strong. I felt great, much better than the night before. Being the last runner and not starting my run until 1pm or so really made the difference for me. I really pushed it as hard as I could. Eventually my wife and kids drove by in the car on the way to the finish with the kids screaming, "GO DADDY!!! GO DADDY!!!". What a boost that was. The runner behind me enjoyed it too and commented, "cute kids!". Pushing the pace was the name of the game here and as it went on I felt stronger and pushed harder. Finally, it was my turn to take the Corona Light bottle and carry it to the transition. I handed off my bracelet and the bottle and stopped my watch at exactl 29:00, just seven seconds off my 5K PR. I think if I'd not carried the bottle (but what fun would that be) I'd been right at the PR. I greeted my family and gave out lots of high fives, jumped in the van, cracked open a beer and then we all headed to our neighborhood to shower up and then drive to Hampton Beach.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/57629/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="61851_438807123965_767013965_5012104_5851603_n.jpg" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="14098" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/14098/width/720/height/480" style="; width: 720px; height: 480px"></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>The finish was amazing. People were complaining about the traffic but to me it seemed like a normal Saturday afternoon at Hampton Beach: crowded. We parked our vans right at the state park for the finish and then we all ran into the finish together, including one of our beer bottles, as a team. It was such a great feeling. Everyone got their medals, had some food and then we all headed back to the hotel for some more beers and to let van 2 get cleaned up. That evening we met our spouses, etc. at a bar/restaurant to celebrate into the night with great live music (Demijon Music Clan) and great company.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/57617/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="58525_438819208965_767013965_5012395_3069947_n.jpg" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="14092" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/14092/width/720/height/405" style="; width: 720px; height: 405px"></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Needless to say, we are all planning for next year already. Never could I imagine doing something like this. I had such a great time. I feel like I've had this whole new spark lit underneath me and now I have something new to focus on. I've bribed them with stays for both vans at The Chalet next year so I know I am already in " class="bbcode_smiley" height="1" src="<a href="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies//biggrin.gif">http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies//biggrin.gif</a>" title="<img alt="
<p> </p>
<p>Official Team results: #89 "Here for Beer": 264/430 Overall, 78/148 Mixed Open, Time: 30:03:05 (8:37/mi)</p>
<p>Personal results: 16.66mi in ~2:48:00 (10:05/mi) and no walking! GOALS MET! (besides have fun)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Up next: Smuttynose Rockfest Half Marathon, October 3rd</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/57633/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="IMG_4558.JPG" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="14100" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/14100/width/667/height/500" style="; width: 667px; height: 500px"></a></p>