MT CHARLESTON MARATHON 05/04/25

Third year in a row. I'm in a different hotel as The Tuscany Suites is sold out but this one might better, I have a junior suite with a whole kitchen.

Everything else is familiar, the early bus ride in the dark with the fluttering nerves, the cold and beauty at the top of the mountain pass, the uphill start and then the long smooth downhill stretch. Some unwelcome familiarity as well, two comfort breaks in the first half. For a while I run and chat a bit with Chase, a 25 year old doing his first marathon.

Then, for the first time, my left knee gives me problems during a race. I have to nurse it over the last six miles and limp home in 4.39.39.