"Mom, when I was in Catalina . . . "
"Well, in Catalina, we did . . "
"So did you happen to get my cimi photos developed yet?"
"When I grow up, I want to live in Catalina."
Peanut went to Catalina Island for her sixth grade trip back in mid-January and well . . . . it's still like it was yesterday around our place.
this. kid. loved. Catalina.
So you can imagine the shrills of happiness & joy when I told Peanut we'd be heading there for the Catalina Island Conservancy Marathon!
[sad but true fact . . . ]
I have never been to Catalina Island. Crazy right?
Hong Kong - check
New Zealand - check
Great Wall of China - check
blah
blah
blah
Catalina - [soon to be "check" 3/10]
I was stoked when they asked me to run this.
Things I know about this race:
* It's all nature-y and outdoors-y "rugged terrain". I can do rugged. Yes, I freaking love my treadmill but I loved my 50 mile "Man against Horse" trail run too.
* The elevation chart looks totally awesome. hills? what hills? What the hill?
* There will be plenty of "aid-stations" [they better have Twizzlers]
Anyone want to make a friendly wager? I'm calling this a "two fall mary". [I bet, I'll fall twice].
* That I am going to love this much needed break with my family.
* That WE get to meet Caroline on our way to Catalina.
Yes, that was on my 2012 bucket list. This woman owns a huge space in my heart. I am beyond thrilled to GET to meet her.
* * * *
I had a chance to visit with a lot of runners last weekend at Ragnar Del Sol. EVERY person I talked to about the Catalina Island Marathon said one of two things:
"That one is on my list of must do's".
or
"That is one of my most favorite marathons!"
I. cannot. freaking. wait.
Which marathon is on your "must do" list?
21 comments:
I've always wanted to go there too. And to run a marathon there - incredible!!!
Looks awesome, the hills not so much but I know you will conquer them!!
So COOL!!!! This sounds like it's right up your alley...really hard and challenging :) My son loved his 6th grade trip to Catalina, too.
Wow! That elevation profile is NO JOKE! But it looks gorgeous, AND you get to meet Caroline - so FUN!
Heather and I went there :) Had a blast and went horseback riding (where DON'T we go horseback riding haha).
As you are running up the hills (we walked around the whole island) look to the small retaining walls on the sides of the roads. I joked w/ Heather that I built them when I was a kid. My first project. When you see them you will know why, look like they were just thrown together.
It is hilly and hot out there but a gorgeous laid back place none the less.
My 2 cents... Kauai is 100% better than Catalina Island.
Catalina is on my List!
My oldest had a week-long trip to CIMI in 6th grade also. Sadly, she got sick half-way through the first day, and on the second day, I had to go to the island and retrieve her. Also, did you know they don't refund? And that I had to pay ferry passage there, and back for BOTH of us?
Most expensive 6 hour field trip ever.
That sounds like so much fun! Good for you!
March 9 2012.
03-09-12.
9 Mars 2012.
March IX MMXII.
This cannot come soon enough!
So happy we will meet in person.
Wow that looks fun! Um at least the rolling down part lol! Catalina completely rocks and you'll have a blast of course.
Just a little bit jealous.
Okay a lot jealous.
Yay for family trips!!! Peanut can show you around to all the hot spots. :)
They should not put the elevation profile on there. The one time you'll say your favorite miles were 22-26! ;)
We honeymooned in Catalina and I've been dreaming of going back and doing something like this. One day... Hope you have a great time and I think rolling after mile 22 might = PR :) Now you have me singing the theme song to the boat we road out there, ~"Catalina Express!"~
If I picked one marathon in the US it would be Mount Desert Island Marathon in Maine. I also would like to do one in Ireland. But my heart isn't in marathons at all right now.
This is SOOO cool!!
Honestly, my first marathon (Chicago this year) is a MUST for me. And I can't wait to do it with my sister, Bobbi!
What a cool race! Catalina is beautiful!!! Have fun!
that is fantastic, you're going to rock it, no doubt!
I have the Dublin Marathon on my list...a girl can dream :)
Given I haven't done 26.2 at one time yet, any marathon is on my bucket list. Not educated enough on the options to narrow it down just yet.
That's a challenging course profile. You'll have to have your treadmill on maximum tilt for your training runs. I particularly like that last hill - the one that goes up and up and up just near the end.
I've never been there either and it's like, 20 miles away.
Juniper Berries
That is some course - holy hills batman! But no doubt you'll rock it!
Have run Catalina marathon twice and the half twice-but will NOT run it again as they "bought out " the original race director's race (who put on a great event by the way) so I am forever boycotting. A bunch of rich property owners decided it would be an "environmental rock and roll type" and not keep it small like it should be. It's ruined in my book-but glad to have done it when only the cult runners ran it (like Cowman).
http://www.avalon50.com/course
This is the one to shoot for.
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