My first trail marathon!!!!

So if you follow me on Facebook, you will know that I signed up for my first trail marathon.  It's the 15th year of the North Country Trail run in Wellston, MI.  I've run the half there and it was a hot and hilly race.  I finished in 2:18 so that tells you how tough it is(for me anyway).  That's slow for me!

Check out a couple pictures of me last year at my first all trail half marathon:

I got to meet Marshall Ulrich, an amazing ultra runner

The bling is incredible!!!! 3rd largest marathon medal in the country!

Anyway, I've been longing for some trails and just love being out there on them so what better way to force me out there in training than signing up for a trail full.  I'll definitely be training on those trails and hills next year and plan to do several trail races next season.  Yes, you heard that right, the race is not until August 23rd, 2014.  This is an amazingly popular race and you need to sign up quickly in order to get into it.  There's still openings for the full and Ultra(50 miler) but their first wave of the half marathon is already closed and sold out in hours.  They have a second wave but it will also likely sell out quickly.(it was open still at least when I wrote this post)

The race is very well run by an ultra runner and the swag for this race is the best I've seen for any race that I'll have done.  Check out the list of stuff you get if you register by 9/15/13:

Gender specific Race polo shirt
Race sweatshirt
Souvenir pint glass
Race hat(all runners get this regardless of when they sign up)
Race tech shirt(all runners get this regardless of when they sign up)
Third largest finishers medal in the country(largest half and ultra medal in the country) - they are talking even larger for the marathon in 2014! Wow!

Interested in visiting Michigan?  This is your chance.  Come run it with me!

Have a great day and....Keep Running!!!!