Ausable Chasm, New York

I've had Travel Tuesday on hold for a little while, which I am sorry about because it's one of my favorite weekly posts to put together. Hopefully, I can get back to being more regular with them all.

For this week's Travel Tuesday adventure, I'd like to show you a gem I found in the middle of the beautiful lush Adirondack Mountains of New York.  This place is called Ausable Chasm and there is a limitless amount of adventure that you can do here. It's definitely a place for adventure seekers!

This is the view you will see from the road itself.  I would like to mention I visited in the spring during an extremely high runoff time, and they were having unusual amounts of flooding.  Normally, these falls are big and beautiful, but not quite as big, powerful and muddy water like you will see in my pictures.

So what can you do in this area beside enjoy and take in the views of the beautiful chasm?

A walk or hike along the 5 miles of trails.  Could make your hike as short at 1 mile, or as long as 5 miles as you get down in and explore this canyon right next to the river.  (Again normally, there are trails that are right aside this river, they are sort of buried in water in my pictures:)

The beautiful rock that you see in this chasm area, was formed about 500 years ago.  There are caves you can explore in the area too.

How about taking a river rafting trip?  Or hoping on an inner tube and floating down the river.  (Not down the falls, sorry daredevils:)

You can also make a family trip of it, and camp in the campgrounds or cabins.  They even have a motel in the area for those who don't enjoy the fun adventure of camping:)

IF YOU GO:

*  Although viewing the chasm and falls do not have a charge.  The trails and facility rentals are privately owned.  So those do have regulations and charges.

*  They also charge for tube and raft rentals.  However, you can save some money by bringing your own water shoes.  However, if you forget them they do have them for purchase in the store.

*  There is a delicious grill at the Chasm, that I ate at and enjoyed, for those who love great grill food!

* Check with their "open hours", they close some of the things down in the evening.

* Nearby spots of interest: Lake Placid, Lake Champlain (NY & VT boarder - as well as near the Canadian boarder) not to mention stunning views and drives through the Adirondacks.

* I actually stayed in Burlington, Vermont when I went and drove my rental car onto the ferry to New York, and drove over to the falls for an afternoon.  It is a beautiful drive and ferry ride!

* For those who like to run races along with checking out stunning places of adventure. I actually visited this chasm on the same trip I ran the Vermont City Marathon, which is a great race for those who enjoy marathons with beautiful scenery. For those interested, you can find my marathon race review HERE.

High Falls Gorge

If your going to be in the New York Adirondack Mountains, High Falls Gorge is a fun place to visit and see.  This was actually one of those places I accidentally happened upon as I was driving and exploring the beautiful Adirondack Mountains, not to far from the Lake Placid area.

This is actually a privately owned park, so you must go inside their visitor center first and pay a fee to walk the trails.  It's a little pricey to go, I believe I paid $11.  However, for a one time experience I felt it was worth it.  You can find more information HERE.

High Falls Gorge has 4 main waterfalls, that are all accessible by foot.  They have 3 trail systems depending on what you would like to do.  Anywhere from 1/4th of a mile, 1/2 mile or 1 mile.

Granite cliffs, and lush forests surround you as you walk along the gorge.  Their are stairs and rails to hold onto as you get down near the cliffs.  It's actually all really pretty safe, even if you look at the stair system in my pictures and think otherwise.

Yeah that is me, I rarely get shots of myself on these trips.  But
fortunately I brought someone with me on this one, so I could be in a few pics:)

The falls may not normally look like this.  I visited during the spring when they were having a little bit of flooding in the area, so there was a lot more water rushing through the gorge at that time.

They also have a small mining operation going on.  You can sign up to do this yourself.  Although I did not do this, but I think for kids it would be a lot of fun.

There really are some breathtaking views.  Although as I walked out onto the ledges (when I visited) the water spray was quite significant.  So I was thankful I brought a camera lens cleaning cloth with me.  However, as you can see in the pictures, a few of them I had to hurry and take before the spray built up on the lens too much:)

It was a great little surprise place to come upon, and I am only showing a couple of pictures.  There are actually dozens more photo opportunities in some unique and beautiful settings!

Central Park, New York City

TRAVEL TUESDAY

Today for Travel Tuesday, I'd like to suggest a walk/run or hike through Central Park.  I went in the fall, but people will tell you any time a year is a great time to enjoy this beautiful park.  If you are like me, and not from a big city.  Let me tell you Central Park is huge, not like parks I am used to in Utah.  Central Park is right smack in the middle of Manhattan, but when you are inside it, you can completely forget you are in a huge city surrounded by skyscrapers.

The Loeb Boathouse in the distance.

What is there to do in this park?  If you are active: Go for a run, walk or bike along the paths, or hike in the 80 acres of woodlands exhibit. In the winter, you can cross country ski.    Or play sports games, or chess in the park.

Or just sit back and relax and do some people watching.  Sometimes I think people watching is one of the funnest things to do!

You can also rent a boat, row boats or kayak's or if you'd like pay for a Gondola ride.

Summer's you can go fishing in their catch and release ponds/lakes.

Walk around and see the different area's statues and places.  You'll probably recognize many of them from the movies.  Or if you need lunch money, just set up yourself and your guitar and play some tunes and hope tourists like you enough to donate:)  (I didn't do this:) but saw many who were, and a lot of them were quite good, even the choirs!

Or just sit on a bank or trail and relax and enjoy some peace and quiet and write a book:)

IF YOU GO & INTERESTING FACTS:

*  Located in Manhattan, New York
*  If you want to run around the reservoir track it is about 1 1/2 miles for 1 loop.
*  If you'd like to walk around the entire park, it is just over 6 miles.
*  Open 365 days a year, opens at 6am and closes at 1am.
*  Need a bench?  Their are over 9000 of them and over 24,000 tree's to sit under:)
*  You won't be entirely alone, over 38 million people visit the park a year.
* The park has 7 fountains and 36 bridges.
*  Get a map of the park if you go, there are designated quiet zones for those looking for peace.
*  Dog's are allowed in certain area's only.
*  Although you can drive to central park, I recommend taking the subway.

My New York City Marathon

Statue of Liberty

     When I applied for the New York City Marathon this year on the very last day to enter, I honestly never thought I'd get in.  After all less than 10% of all the people in the world who enter the race ever get into it (so I've read).  But I was accepted and THRILLED!  I had never been to NYC and I had excitement all year while I waited to run the worlds largest marathon.
     A week before the race I was in a lot of pain and the Dr. diagnosed me with hip bursitis.  Things weren't looking good for me, I could barely stand the pain I would get running just a few miles, how I was going to finish a marathon?  I got 3 cortisone shots and then took a week off of running and did a lot of praying and mental preparation.  Bursitis usually takes 6 weeks off of running to begin the healing process, I had less than 5 days just to be able to take the pain...

View of Manhattan from Brooklyn
(In my opinion the best place to view)

     I arrived in New York and checked into the Brooklyn Marriott.  (I decided to book the marathon portion of my trip with Anthony Travel, because not knowing the area and being alone they guaranteed me transportation to the expo and to the race start along with my hotel stay.)  Took a shuttle bus the next day to the huge expo at the Javits Center.  I had a bus driver who on the way took us on a sight seeing tour of parts of Brooklyn and Manhattan which was cool.
     The expo was huge, but unlike others from all other races I have ran.  It was more of a shopping mall for runners, Asics was the sponsor, and literally anything a runner could want in several colors, I could have gone broke with all the cute shades of pink running gear options available.  Several other big running gear names were there as well, races from around the world just a bit more high priced commercialized than most race expo's.  But full of lots of energy and pre-race excitement.
My hip ached a bit just walking through the expo and it kept my worrying up.

Famous Brooklyn Bridge

     Usually the day before a marathon in rural area's I love to go for a hike, but being in New York I decided to just go for a city walk.  Starting in Brooklyn originally the plan was to just walk to the famous Brooklyn Bridge and then back, but curiosity got the best of me when I crossed to the other side in Manhattan and I decided to walk around the city a bit (turned into several miles).
I had no idea where I was going, but figured if I got lost I could just grab a taxi to take me back to Brooklyn, so I just walked around eventually ending up at the 9-11 Memorial Site, which wasn't much to see since it was still under construction.  But had a good view of the new WTC tower they are half way through building. (Didn't get lost.)

New World Trade Center
It's half built

That night I took a locals tip and enjoyed some great New York pizza from a small Brooklyn Pizzeria. (Yummy)
That night I had another problem, I during the day discovered a new muscle pull behind my knee, it was bad I was limping while walking. (Not good!)  Worried about a hamstring pull, I spent most the night icing it off and on.

     Marathon Morning, mine started at 4:20 a.m.  The back of my knee was really hurting me, but when jogging across my hotel room I discovered it only really hurt while walking, not so much while running.  This was good news to me!  I skipped my regular routine and just had a bagel and got dressed and headed downstairs for the bus. 
Had fun talking to a runner from North Dakota along the way, and arrived at the race start on Staten Island at 6:30 a.m.  Normally this would be fine, but I was in the 3rd Wave, and my green corral line up start wasn't going to start until 10:40 a.m.
I had A LOT of time to spend waiting...  I put on my ear covers, gloves and garbage bag, and found a good place to sit and try to keep warm.  I was keeping my hip and thigh injuries warm using those peel and stick heat warmers, and then I just sat and waited wishing I had a book or a comfy spot to lay down and take a nap.  Instead I people watched and talked to runners around the world.
     Things started going a little faster when I heard the gunshot in the distance for the elite women runners, then a few hours later I loaded for my corral.
I didn't actually get across the start until a little after 11 a.m.   (Yes I had to wait almost 6 hours before I could start the race.  A VERY long morning!!!)

Verrazano Narrows Bridge
Longest Bridge in the world

     There were 47,000+ Marathon runners that morning and broken into 3 Wave starts, and each wave had 3 color start lines.  By the time we were in the corrals we were like packed sardines.  Each wave got their own star spangled banner song, and gun start (which was cool).  Then as we walked to get to the start to begin our race on the longest bridge in the world the Verrazano Narrows Bridge which connects Staten Island to Brooklyn.  They played Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York" and every one sang along "Start Spreading the News, I am leaving today, I want to be a part of it, New York, New York..."
Immediately the energy of the race went up, and everyone came alive. 
I knew right then that this was going to be a GREAT race to be a part of!!!

     The bridge was long, and yes I can honestly say with the thousands of footsteps pounding on it, it did feel like it moved a little.  Other bridge, fire boats spraying water up, down below from the bay.  Clear beautiful blue sky and perfect temperatures in the 50's for running.
Thousands of runners on the top and bottom sections of the bridge, I was on the bottom.  There were actually 3 courses with the different wave colors and we all were on different sections and courses until later on around mile 8 on the course when we all combined.  Mostly it was running on different sides of the freeway, or different sections of the bridge.

Central Park

     Soon as the bridge ended the spectators began, at first there were only a few hundred, and then when we hit the Brooklyn neighborhoods WOW they were out in the 10's of thousands if not 100's of thousands.  They weren't just standing around watching, they were cheering, singing, playing music, dancing...  You would have thought us running through Brooklyn was a national holiday, everyone from families, gangs, heck even a few groups that looked like mafia were there enjoying it.
We went through old neighborhoods, to places that I would probably never venture into any other time even with a police escort.  Some area's were nice and clean, others plastered with graffiti everywhere except on the churches and schools.
Unbelievable energy running through Brooklyn, I was so caught up in watching and listening to the spectators I literally forgot all about my hip injury at times.  It was great!
Passed a group of kids playing music with metal garbage can's and lids, AMAZING they were unbelievably good, you would have never guessed the musical instruments were metal trash cans.

Brooklyn Visitors Center at Night

     Brooklyn was the area I'd say that had the most spectators, I would even guess possibly close to a million of them, by far the most energy and some of the best music.  Who would have thought I'd enjoy listening to gangsta rap & Jamaican music while running...  Heck one group was even singing Beastie Boys songs, haven't heard that in a while.  But I really did enjoy it all, and the singers were mostly great!  Even the gospel rock singers at an old church that they had put up huge speakers and just sang and danced.  Lot's of fun!
I was told there were 130 bands along the course, and I believe it, other than when on the different bridges, (the only places spectators weren't allowed) all you heard was cheers and music.
I personally no longer run with headphones in Marathon's just to experience it all.  But in this race particularly, anyone with them turned on was really missing out on the experience.

Fountain in Central Park

     The fun didn't end in Brooklyn, we entered Queen's next, and although not as many in the crowds I'd still say it was a safe bet to say it was still in the 10's of thousands range.  Good music, and still lots & lots of energy!  I was surprised Queen's was a really unique place.  I wish I could have enjoyed it a little more, it turned out this is where a lot of my problems starting to occur, so I was sidetracked a little at times with my own issues.  But I loved seeing all the people, and at one point at the city basketball courts just playing ball and cheering and having fun at the same time.
     I started having some running problems around mile 11, I mentally prepared for them in advance, but it was still discouraging when it happened.  But I wasn't about to let it get me down, even if it slowed me down a bit and put me into a slower group of runners.

"The Lake" at Central Park

By the time I started feeling good again, after crossing the Queensboro Bridge it was too late I was already stuck in a crowd of runners that were going much slower than my normal pace and it would have added more miles to the race weaving in and around them, not to mention the energy to do so to bother so I just shrugged my shoulders.  Unless you are an elite runner, this isn't a race that in my opinion you can really go for a PR in, so I just accepted the fact that this was going to be my slowest marathon ever and I just concentrated on the original goal, to finish regardless of my injuries.

     Entering the Bronx was fun too, we were only in there less than 2 miles, but boy did they have a lot of energy and fun.  Their gangsta rap stuff was re-written for marathon runners (like those in Brooklyn did) and it was raps of all about running.  Fun stuff!!!

View from Empire State Building

Then back into Manhattan, the Harlem area first, then past the rich area near some "Trump" hotels a few miles later entered the Central Park area.  The crowds in Manhattan were still out in the thousands, although I am sure several had already gone home by the time I got into the area.  It was still more spectators than I had ever seen in a race.
Central Park is not like any park I ever would have imagined.  Not only is is huge, several miles in length and at least a mile across in width.  Had a reservoir and several lakes.  Lots of hills and I swear mountains, trails and beautiful fall tree's.  I can't believe I was so lucky to be there before all the fall foliage had gone away.  It was so beautiful!
The last few miles of the race in my opinion had more spectators out cheering than if you combined all the spectators from the last 10 marathon's I've run.
It was really incredible and indescribable!
I should also mention all the jumbo trons along the course, I almost want to say there were at least 6 throughout the race before the one at the finish.  It was so fun to look up and see myself running on on the screen, it just picks up the energy a little.

Red, White & Blue
Empire State Building

     After spending 6 hours waiting around, then another 5+ running lets just say it was a long day!  I was tired (actually words cannot explain how exhausted I was.) I felt pretty hungry by the time I reached the last miles of the course too, after all I was living on 1 and a half bagel and water and Gatorade all day. 
Because of daylight savings the sun was already starting to drop by the time I reached the finish area, and it was starting to get cold, really cold even got a sore throat at mile 25 from it.
But their is so much energy from that race that it carries you to the finish.
When I did finally reach the finish area I was thrilled, I just finished running the worlds biggest and greatest marathon.  Less than 1% of runners ever run a marathon, let a lone the small percentage of those that actually get in to run New York.  It was one of the most expensive races to enter ($200 entry fee alone) not to mention hotels are well over $300 a night.

Picture I took after the Finish Line
Lots and lots of tired runners

I can honestly say when I approached the finish I thought about how it was worth every penny of it!  All the hype was true, this really is one of the best marathon's ever!!!  (I should know this was my 23rd and 16th state.)

After I crossed the finish and received my medal, and was handed a heavy bag of recovery drinks and food, I made my way through the finish corrals and past all the UPS baggage pick up trucks...  It took me over an hour, there were thousands of runners no chance of getting through it sooner. By now it was full on dark, I was told that no taxi's were allowed in the area, (how I had planned to get back to my hotel) so I was going to have to take the Subway for the first time. 
Looking back at my fear now I laugh, but at the time I was worried, at night in NY and having to take the Subway alone...  Not what you hear is the smart thing to do, but I had no other choice.

I followed other runners who seemed to know where they were going, I asked a few volunteers for help, which they gave me but they all gave me different Subway directions to take, all it did was confuse me and make me almost want to cry.  After all I was cold, exhausted and just wanted to get back to my hotel take a bath, eat something and collapse on my bed.

Mary Poppins
Amsterdam Theatre

     I just walked underground, and decided to follow the last ladies advise, however she ran up to me just as I was going down and changed her directions once again... (Yikes, apparently not many knew the best way to get to Brooklyn..)

I bought a ticket easy enough and then went through the gates and waited and just decided to climb on the first train...  There were others around, but they were all just as clueless as me, and none going to Brooklyn.

    Luckily after getting on the Subway about half way into my ride when others were getting off and it was starting to empty, a nice older couple came over and sat with me.

Turns out they were from Brooklyn and were more than willing to help me out.  I will be forever grateful for their help, because turns out the directions I had previously been given were wrong, and the nice couple got me to the correct stop I needed to get off on.

In all after the race it took me 2 more hours to get back to Brooklyn, and I walked around another 2 miles to get out of the finish and to the trains.  It was almost 7 p.m. when I got back to my room that night.

Inside Grand Central Terminal

     I have to mention that this race had some of the best race organization I have ever seen.  I guess it would have to be, to accommodate 47,000+ runners.   I also need to mention the volunteers, especially those in the ING orange raincoats who helped at the water stations.  I never needed to wait for a cup, and they were extremely friendly and supportive.
Which is surprising after how drenched in sticky Gatorade they were. 

I didn't enjoy going through all the water stops, they were at every mile on the course after mile 3.  I just stopped every 2-3 miles for water.  When I didn't want any I tried to stay in the middle of the road, keeping my eyes on the mountains of water cups and watch out for the thousands of slippery banana peels. (That was all I wanted to have to come back and say, yes I broke my tailbone again slipping on a banana peel in the race, LOL..  Thankfully I never fell when I slipped:)

Near Wall Street
Trinity Church down Center

The other annoying thing about the water/Gatorade stops was the sticky ground.  It was sticky for almost 200 meters past the pick up point.  Your shoes would literally stick to the ground, I laughed and thought of it as resistance.

A few more interesting things about running in a big race like this, I ran elbow's out at the beginning until the crowds thinned and I wasn't getting pushed into so much.   I got punched in the back of my ribs a lot.  Because runners behind me would move over because someone pushed them, and then their hand/fist would get shoved into my back.  I seriously thought I'd have some bruises from it...

Also, you really had to pay attention to the runners in front of you.  If the guy in front decided to stop or slow if you weren't paying attention you'd run right into them.  It took some getting used to in the beginning, especially after I started paying attention to the spectators.  But eventually you get the hang of using the peripheral vision and it works out okay.

Time Square

I wasn't expecting New Yorkers to be so friendly, but they were, and went above and beyond really!

I am glad I booked with the travel agency, because it was one less thing I had to worry about that weekend.
I lucked out the shot I got really did help, and so did keeping my leg heated before and during the race, I know I was being watched out for and helped because I was expecting the worst.  I honestly prepared to be in tearing horrible pain every time my right leg hit the pavement and the sheer constant pain never came, and what did come I was able to mentally push aside, it helped with all the excitement on the sidelines I used it to detour my mind at times.

The race was huge, running through all of the boroughs was amazing, I still can't believe it.  I finished the New York City Marathon. 
I only shared a little of it above, but I have hundred's of other memories from it that I'll be talking about it for the rest of my life I am sure!
     People kept asking me which celebrities did I see, well I didn't see any while running.  But on the rest of the trip I did run into a few.  I met Ann Curry, Adam Sandler and Talor Lautner.  Yes I am bad with the camera, I didn't ask for a picture with them, and I decided to take pictures before or right after I met them.

Ann Curry, just before I met her

Adam Sandler, just before I met him

Taylor Lautner

Al, Ann & Natalie giving a morning broadcast on the Today Show

     To re-cap the rest of the trip in short.  After the race weekend, I transferred over to another hotel in Time Square, and spend a week sightseeing and experiencing NYC.  I saw a couple of fabulous Broadway plays, Mary Poppins, and Adam's Family (with Brooke Shields).  I saw the famous sites, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Tiffany & Co., Grand Central Station, Central Park, Empire State Building, Macy's on 34th Street, Time Square, was on the Today show, Rockefeller Center, ate NY Cheesecake, NY Pizza and so much, much more... 

I mentioned earlier I laughed at my original fear of riding the NY Subway system, well it turned out to be a financial saver...  I saved what I believe was hundreds from taking the trains instead of Taxi's...  I found it to be perfectly safe and after the original trip quite easy to navigate and much faster than driving.  I consider myself a pro now:)

I had a great trip, a fabulous marathon and memories to last a lifetime!

Tiffany & Co.

Inside Macy's on 34th Street
One of their Christmas Displays

Bryant Park Ice Rink

Time Square, Ball they Drop at New Years

My Vermont Marathon

     I ran the Burlington Vermont Marathon a few days ago, I had an incredible time both in the race and while on vacation exploring Vermont and Northern New York.

I did get a little short hiking in the day before the race, actually because they were having record breaking rain I was able to see some incredible waterfalls.
I took the Ferry over lake Champlain to New York and drove over to the Ausable Falls area.  Completely beautiful!

I also went over to Lake Placid New York that same day and found this beautiful water fall.

High Falls, Lake Placid NY

Race day, I woke up to a little rain in the morning.  Luckily not a heavy down pour like had been the past few days.  Actually ran the first few miles of the race in a light rain.

When the rain came to a stop, the humidity was probably the highest I've ever run in, and the temperature climbed through the morning, I believe it was mid-80's.

I felt pretty good, but a funny thing that happened.  It was around mile 5 or 6.  I looked down the tree and pond lined road, and I saw what looked like some steady downhill.  So I figured, hey I'll try and pick up the pace a little.

However, I couldn't figure out why at times I was feeling much more tired than I should have for down hill, it was actually even worrying me.  I thought, Oh Great, I have only begun the race I hope I am not going to have one of those days where my legs feel heavy and tired the entire way...  I was only imagining what it was going to feel like when running back on the other side of the road on the up hill.

Well, when I got to around mile 8, which was near the out and back turn around.  As I was running back on the other side of the road it was much easier.  I realize then, I was having one of those "I'm an idiot" moments, as I had been running up hill on the other side, it was just the treeline and how it looked that made it appear that I should be going down hill, when it was really up...

Thank goodness though!!

Lake Champlain

I've been battling a foot injury, and I was hoping it wouldn't bother me during the race, but of course things like that rarely work out like you'd like.

Between mile 11 and 12, my foot was in such extreme pain, I wasn't sure I was even going to be able to finish.  And that thought has NEVER crossed my mind in a race EVER.

My foot felt with each step that it was almost broken.

So I slowed down to a walk to figure out what I could do.  At first, I tried a run walk, but it wasn't working the pressure was causing the pain to get worse and worse.

After much thought, I started playing around with things, and I started by teaching my self to walk and only put pressure on the side of my foot that didn't hurt.  Then once I got the hang of that, I tired to do a little run/walk combo to try to teach myself to run on only the other side of my foot.

I remembered I had some Tylenol on me, so I took a couple just in case they might help.

It took about 5 to 6 miles of this run/walk combo to get the hang of only running and putting pressure on one side of my foot.  But it worked, THANKFULLY!

I had lost a bit of time during that process, but at least I had figured out a way to run through it.

The only problem was, any extreme up hill, or uneven surface I wasn't able to run with my foot trick, so I had to slow in those area's to be careful.

Lake Champlain

Luckily, there weren't too many places like that.  The lake had over flowed, and some of the trails they had us on, were a little muddy.  But truthfully, the race officials did a great job making them far more passable than they would have been.  They were probably just a little sloppier and muddier for me because of the many runners in front of me who had stomped through the area first.

But I will say, the area was absolutely beautiful, maybe more so because of the rain, but the area was just so green and lush, a very beautiful marathon.

When out in the city, I noticed the heat and humidity the most.  Lucky I guess for me, because of the foot problems, it really took my mind off the heat, to be honest it really didn't bother me.

When it did, there were plenty of houses and kids in the neighborhood portions of the course that were more than willing to give the runners who wanted a quick cool spray as they ran by.

The last 6 miles of the course were on bike paths and a trail along the lake.  Just beautiful, I absolutely LOVE the green hills and mountains of Vermont!

Also, by this point, I had really gotten the running on one side of the foot thing down, and I ran almost all of those last beautiful miles of the course.

One thing I'll say about this race for anyone looking to run one in Vermont.  I highly recommend this one.  It's a great course, a few hills along the way.  But then hills are what make a marathon even more fun, right!

There is A LOT of crowd support and cheers for the runners, both in and around Burlington and even in the surrounding neighborhoods.

The community seems to really support this race!

I had a little more time during this race vacation than others, so after the race I headed up to Palmyra New York, and visited the Sacred Grove and other surrounding areas.

Sacred Grove

Such a beautiful place, and pretty community.  I loved my drive through the Adirondack Mountains, I had never realized New York would be so green and lush too!

And of course, while in Vermont I hit up Ben & Jerry's.

I had done a wedding for a lady who lived in New Hampshire, and she told me to make sure and have a Maple Syrup Breakfast in Vermont when I visited, which I did!

I had a great time and lots of memories.  I really hope to be able to make it back to this area one day, I just LOVE all the trees and green lush mountains!





Ben & Jerry's




Now to the next phase, getting my foot healed.  Because of the new way I had ran on it for most of the race, it was a bit sorer than normal after.  But hopefully, I can get it healed quickly and ready for my next marathon state!