Tuesday Topics: Traveling the Alphabet – Part 2

This week’s Tuesday Topic:  Where I’ve been, A-Z: Letters J-R.  You can write about this topic or feel free to post any running related blog post.  Remember to link up with Kim and Zenaida!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Remember to come back for later linkers!

Thanks for joining me again this week again.  Click here to read Part 1 for letters A-I.

Thanks to my Race in the 50 States +1 running goal, I’ve run in 43 states.  I need 8 more to complete it.  Before I was a teacher, I worked at the American Bar Association.  Through this job I also traveled to various states for our Spring and Annual Meetings.  The traveling aspect was fun but the work itself was not.  I was ready for something different and more challenging and so I went back to school to become a teacher.  My job now is different and definitely challenging.

So, let me tell you where I’ve been.  Ready?

J is for Jackson
I ran the Mississippi Blues Half Marathon.  Don’t you love it when in order to cross the finish line you need to run up a darn hill?  Despite the hilly course I ended up with a decent time (2:29:29) for me.  I’ve also been to Juneau where I ran a half marathon.

K is for Ketchikan
I had the option of running either a 5k or 10k.  I chose the former.  Nice course and the last race before leaving Alaska.

L is for Lima
Yes, Lima, Peru!  Our last stop before Machu Picchu.  We met up with another group and shared a big room in a hostel.  I’ve also been to Las Vegas (Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon), Louisville (Republic Bank Big Hit Half Marathon & Quarter Marathon), and Little Rock (Little Rock Half Marathon).  The medals for the Little Rock races are IMPRESSIVE!

M is for Machu Picchu
The trip of a lifetime!  After 3 days of walking we arrived in a hotel where we had electricity and running water.  It was wonderful.  The next day we took a bus to Machu Picchu.  We had the option of walking, but, no thank you.  I’ve also been to Manchester (Manchester City Half Marathon) where I met Katherine Switzer.

N is for New Orleans
I went there in 2012 for the Rock ‘n’ Roll New Orleans Marathon.  This was right before my first 50k.  Then went back in 2016 for the half marathon.  I’ve also traveled to Nashville (Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Half Marathon).

O is for Omaha
I will never forget that time I tripped and fell while running the Omaha Half Marathon.  I’ve also been to Orlando to run quite a few RunDisney races.

P is for Philadelphia
I ran the Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon.  It was my 10th Rock ‘n’ Roll Race.  I’ve also been to Princeton (Princeton Half Marathon), Providence (Rock ‘n’ Roll Providence Half Marathon), Phoenix, (Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Half Marathon), and Portland (Rock ‘n’ Roll Portland Half Marathon and Shipyard Old Port Half Marathon).

Q is for Quito
It was my first time in South America.  It was also my first time staying in a hostel.  We went to a few places in Ecuador (Tena, Baños, and Cotopaxi) before going to Peru.

R is for Raleigh
I went there to run the Run Raleigh Half Marathon.  Another hilly course but at least the finish line was downhill.

Topic for next week – Where I’ve been, A-Z: Letters S-Z.  Feel free to write about this or any running related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!