Just finished the 2014 Prairie Fire marathon in Wichita, KS on 10/12/2014. It was my 50th state and…read more74th lifetime marathon. Once I had known that I would be finishing my 50 states marathon in Kansas a year earlier, I scoured marathonguide.com and marathonmaniacs.com for a suitable race for Kansas. Out popped Prairie Fire marathon in Wichita. I had asked around for a good one, but I didn't want to wait till the following April for the Garmin marathon in Olathe, KS. Plus, I did like the rabbit on fire logo. I had read about the race course support and how cool it would be to visit Wichita for a weekend. And so, that's how I chose the Prairie Fire marathon for my grande finale. In retrospect, I am so glad that I had picked this race to be my last one for my 50 states marathon journey. Once I sent an email requesting special bib #50 to the race officials, I had gotten a couple of emails requesting interviews with the local media thereafter leading up to race weekend, since it apparently was a big deal to them for someone from Hawaii finishing the 50 states marathons at their race. I tended to think so as well. :)
Along with the media requests and a newspaper article in the Wichita Eagle, only thing left to do was to show up and run 26.2 miles! I have got to thank the Prairie Fire marathon race director and his staff for the love and support he has given me. They went beyond the call with this one and made this race priceless and memorable. The race expo was held at the Centurylink II complex in downtown Wichita. It wasn't too big of an expo, but it was big enough to have it in an exhibition hall type setting. There were couple handful of vendors whom sold runner related products as well as other vendors in the community. I also attended the official race pasta dinner and met with elite runner Camille Herron, as well as the race director, familiar faces, and other runners. The pasta dinner was okay. Just two kinds of pasta, sauce, and salad, along with water. The pasta dinner was served at the host hotel, the Hyatt Wichita.
The race was 26.2 miles. The last of what I was working everything towards. The financial sacrifices and everything else hinged on me finishing this one at Prairie Fire, so I don't need to delay this quest. With everything ordered and the expectations were at its feverish pitch, race day couldn't be any more insane. The race started at 7:30am, where the race director announced that I was in the field, completing my 50 states from Hawaii that morning. I got quite a bit of congratulations out there at the start and along the course. That tone alone set the day for high expectations and a day filled with some emotions that could not be categorized or filed in any particular way. It was just everything and everything that would be the end all for this journey from Hawaii. The race course was mostly residential areas we ran through, some park areas, but very little urban downtown areas. The race course is a modified loop course, but a point to point course, nonetheless. There was adequate aid stations every 2 miles, which was good. Timing splits were there at 10K, 13.1, and mile 20.
After clicking off 20 miles, the emotions started coming over me. 10K left till the finish line and it will all be over. I had managed to keep a 1st time marathoner company for the last miles. After approaching mile 24, I was joined by a volunteer course cyclist. We made small talk till about mile 26, where I crossed the small bridge and onward to the finish line. The most memorable moment would be approaching the finish line and the staff of the Prairie Fire marathon held a special banner congratulating me on finishing the 50 states. That was totally a surprise and beyond the call of a race to do that sort of thing. Very blessed and grateful to the race director and his staff for everything!
The course support was adequate and there was a few spots of cheering volunteers and local residents who cheer on the runners along the course. While the course ran through residential areas and a couple of parks in the later going, I was surely glad that I picked this one for Kansas and the last one for my last hurrah. I was even presented a certificate from the race director for the achievement soon after crossing the finish line. The finish line food was really nothing, but some leftover pizza and some sports drinks. There may have been a lot more for the rest of the pack. But for me, it was the close of an epic year. 50 states, 50 marathons.
End of an era.
Onward to the next goal...
:)
A++++
