Gettysburg

I've never been particularly interested in the American Civil War. Right time period, wrong country. I'm really not interested in military campaigns or strategies at all. 

But when I had a day off between races in Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey, it seemed like a good opportunity to at least visit the battlefield and, more importantly -- for me anyway -- the Gettysburg Cyclorama. 

After finishing the Maryland race, I got in the car and drove west. Of course my first stop was the museum and visitor center. 

I bought a ticket to the film, museum, and CYCLORAMA and spent a couple of hours enjoying them. The film was excellent -- a great overview of the battle. The museum was interesting, even to me -- though by the end I was a little bored of all the details. (Shame!)

And then... CYCLORAMA. 

I have been fascinated by the idea of the Gettysburg Cyclorama for years -- I love 19th-century entertainments and the fact that this massive painting still exists astounds me. Cycloramas were 360-degree circular paintings on a massive scale, displayed with lights and sound effects and elements in the foreground to make them more 3-dimensional and immerse the viewer in the scene being depicted. Think 19th-century IMAX in 3D. 

French artist Paul Dominque Philiippoteaux painted the original in 1882-83. It was such a success that copies were made; this version was painted for a Boston exhibition, nearly lost to time, and restored in 2005. At 42 feet high by 377 feet in circumference, it depicts Pickett's Charge, the failed infantry assault that was the climax of the Battle of Gettysburg.  

Phillippoteaux painted himself into the picture -- he's the soldier leaning against a tree at the far right of the painting

The only downside is that you are allowed into the space in small groups, and escorted out after 15 minutes. There was very little commentary -- I thought it would be a "show" but it wasn't. It was impossible to really see all of it. But it was still SPECTACULAR. 

note the fence built in the foreground

I found a great "cheat sheet" from a 19th-century exhibit program that would have been really useful to have while I was in the room!

After spending time at the Visitor Center I picked up a map and headed out to the battlefield. I had considered joining a tour, but realized I just didn't have the interest. So I drove myself around, stopping at various points, listening to the NPS videos for each of the tour stops, and stretching my legs. 

But it was haaaaawwwwwt, and I knew that my hotel had a pool and, well, I was just done. 

I had a nice swim and then went for a walk into town. I stopped at a cidery for a tasting flight and was repeatedly bemused by the historical walking tours that kept passing by. I rather regretted not joining one, but wasn't sure I really cared enough. 

The next morning I would enjoy a nice breakfast at the hotel, and then drive back east toward New Jersey. I dawdled along, stopping at quilt stores and pootling through Amish country (lovely!). 

Next up: New Jersey

Independence Half Marathon Series day 2: Elkton, Maryland

After finishing state 25 and visiting Winterthur I got a fantastic vegetarian burger and settled into my hotel room to put my feet up and relax. 

And at 10:00pm my phone pinged VERY LOUDLY with this: 

Ummmm. My knowledge of tornadoes comes from A) The Wizard of Oz, B) Twister, and C) the trailer for Twisters. I turned on the television ("check media") and saw this: 

and then this -- note that I was in a top floor, corner hotel room with essentially a large glass wall next to the bed. 

I could hear the storm raging outside, so I got my wallet, my phone and a charger, and a bottle of water and walked down to the lobby. There were three teenagers there excitedly standing in the door looking outside. And no one else. I didn't know what to do. In the end, I waited in a windowless conference room on the ground floor until 11 COMPLETELY ALONE and then I went back upstairs and obsessively watched the news and weather channels. 

I wondered if the race would happen -- their site said that they had rarely cancelled races due to weather because they are small and on loop courses and they can usually shelter people if needed. Then I wondered if I would be able to get to the race location. News was reporting trees down and widespread flooding. 

After a very fitful night with little sleep I got up early and decided to drive to the starting area. Turns out roads were fine, and completely empty, so I got there about 5:15 (oops). Rather than cool my heels until the 6am start, I decided to just jump in late to the early start and get started. 

This is what it looks like when you start a small race late:

No one. 

No one at all... wait, are those people in the mist???

This course had some paved stretches, then a very well groomed stretch through the trees. It was so humid -- yes, even at 5:30am -- that there was a heavy mist. 

Then the course headed uphill and the paths had been really damaged by the storm -- lots of ruts and big rocks. I heard that the blind runner pulled out during his first lap because it was too dangerous for him. 

After the uphill there were some ups and downs, all on a wide but damaged path. I finally started seeing some of the other runners.

Then, happily, RED CONE. 

This course had 6 laps for the half marathon -- my FAVORITE. Why? Because I'm a math nerd and you get a lot of excellent fractions throughout the race. 1/12, 1/6, 1/4, 1/3, 5/12, 1/2, 7/12, 2/3, 3/4, 5/6, 11/12, DONE!

The day got nicer, but stayed hot. The stretch through the trees was my favorite. 

The long uphill less so. 

But I just kept plodding along, even though I knew that my feet were wet from the puddles and swollen a bit from the running... and I knew that I would lose a toenail. Ewww. 

Run a lap, get a rubber band...

...say hello to the volunteers...

...and get some snacks and a drink...

Finally, I was done and rang the Looney Bell: 

With my late start I was recorded as extra slow, but that's okay. I was extra slow myself during this race. When I was done I went back to the hotel, had a quick shower, and then checked out and drove west to Gettysburg. Later that night I would update my jacket because I had just run in state #46!

Independence Race Series day 2: Elkton, Maryland

3:40:33 (yikes!)

State 46

Independence Half Marathon Series: Bear, Delaware

 

Having arrived in Elkton, Maryland, a day and a half before, I had the chance to find the race site the day before. Elkton is only a few miles away from Delaware, you see, and I would be staying in one place for three nights, which felt like luxury (even in a La Quinta)...

Race morning I drove across state lines and into the park. This would be my first Mainly Marathons race is YEARS, and my first with the new owners. I hadn't realized that they had owned the company for EIGHT YEARS. 

I picked up my bib and my shirt and was thrilled to see that not much had changed. Handsome bling? Check. Quality shirts? Check. RUBBER BANDS? Check!

After a little while we gathered for the race talk. Nice to see a good-sized crowd. 

The usual chat about cones (green means you're on the right path, there's a yellow cone for the second 5K loop, there's a purple cone for the 50K folks, and everyone has the friendly red cone at the main turnaround. And today the half marathoners would be running 8 laps. 

There was a special call out for Jim, who was hitting the North American record for number of marathons. 

He and his adorable partner run almost ALL the races now. There was chatter all day about Jim's record, and that he is something like third on the all-time list, but one of those people is no longer active, and the other is -- and I quote -- "only runs like 5 a year, so Jim will catch up with her soon."

Promptly at 6am we set out across the lawn and into the woods. 

The trail through the woods had a lot of "trail snakes" (tree roots) and I saw a couple of people trip and go down. It was a little alarming, but I kept my feet. And then after a couple of hundred yards, you would emerge onto this paved (but closed) park road: 

A couple of rolling hills, and then ... HELLO RED CONE!!!

Back and forth we went -- and of course those out-and-backs mean you get to see other runners multiple times. Two of my favorites were Steve, the friendliest, most positive person I have ever met:

 

and Wanda, who was cheery every time I saw her:

It was also great to see the volunteers every time I came in to finish a lap and pick up a rubber band: 

One change was that all the snacks were pre-baggied. Probably makes sense in a post-COVID world.

At the end of the race I ran up to the timing table and rang the Loony bell. Hooray!

I picked up my medal, the "Delaware" dangle, and a big glass of chocolate milk and headed back to the hotel. 

Once there I went for a swim (tiny pool!) and, of course, updated my running jacket with STATE 45!

Independence Half Marathon Series, Day 1: Bear Delaware

3:17:28

State 45!