Musings from the Mayor's Midnight Sun Marathon

-Just when you think you've done something special, you realize you haven't really.  I sat next to a guy who has completed over 100 marathons and 100 ultra-marathons, and has WON races in 12 different states.

-Ironic that on the longest day of the year, with 22+ hours of sunshine, the race is run mostly in the rain, and the sun didn't peak out once all day.

-Early on in the race, a lady turned to me and said, "We are running through Alaska!  How cool is that?"  Answer: very cool.

-I didn't see a bear or a moose.

-Part of the course was run through an Army base.  When I saw the models of Afghani or Iraq towns with bombed cars and buildings, "training" took on a whole new meaning.

-The marathon doesn't really get the attention of the locals here.  Besides the Iditarod, the biggest race in Alaska is the Mount Marathon race held every July 4 in Seward, Alaska.  It's not a marathon, but is a ~3.1 mile hike/sprint up and down Mount Marathon, 3,000 ft above see level.  The race is treacherous and leaves runners bruised, bloodied, and sometimes worse.  A few years ago the last runner up didn't come down, and has never been found.

- I am so glad I am not running another marathon tomorrow!