Nancy Peck-Cook's Staging Area

This is one of the races I will do every year. I love the community, the organizers, the photographer (Joe Viger) and all my friends that come back year after year. The race is short enough to enjoy the views but still push to finish strong. I love the 2 fiddlers playing right near the finish line and how friendly the mountain runners are at this race.

I won my age group and have a super cool mug to match the ones that I have won in the past and glad that they put first, second and third on them so I can add to the collection.

Delta Dental is a great supporter of mountain races in the Northeast and I am thankful that they are still there in full force at the finish and sometimes out on the course. Love the toothbrushes, the shirt here and the ice cream! Free beer for those that indulge too (They give you a ticket as a participant).

It is a family friendly race and the kids race at the bottom is always fun to watch while having a healthy burrito as post race meal. Well done! AND it benefits the Catamount Trails in Vermont.

Best aspect is the ease of parking, getting to the race start, the staging area, volunteers and the finish line with party at Bushnell Park! It’s a great half marathon course with some small hills, definitely NOT boring – with all the fall foliage around it makes for a terrific run. This is a good PR course with a down hill finish under the arches. I love that they have been a “green” marathon with less use of paper cups! They give a Finisher water bottle at the end instead of all that plastic. Love it and will do it again!
5th in my division (55-59) and 444 overall

2022 USATF national mountain running championships at Whiteface Mtn in New York.
8 hour round trip drive to Whiteface with travel team mate Dawn – Air BNB team bonding with epic pre-race meal & DONUTS! Early morning rise to grind up Whiteface and down some pretty steep and gnarly terrain. Definitely the toughest mountain race I have experienced in my “mountain running career” that began in 2009. At one point on the steep and wet cliff I turned around and sat in the water to take in the view. Running down a black diamond trail “Upper Empire” was like doing box jumps – I noted to the “boys” around me that I wish I had my rock skis and a little snow – it would be much easier! I was second in my age group behind incredible team mate Karen E!
WMDP cleaned house!! It was a great trip very strong runners and WMDP came out on top with one age group gold and three age group Silver. First open the first master and first senior teams! It was fun because we saw Stephen from the WMDP Men’s team was seventh overall! A great day of racing congratulations everyone!
Side notes: One girl asked me on the way up one steep – “Is that another race number, are you doing the one later?” — I responded — no that’s my AGE. LOL “Oh wow – you’re amazing” she responded. Obviously she was an open runner (younger than 40) as most of the open runners didn’t wear the bib on the back.
Athletic Brewing Company NA beer was a hit in the parking lot sharing with the champs of the day! My favorite post race refreshment! SO honored to be a part of this amazing mountain running community!

The grand daddy of them all! Love this marathon for so many reasons! The Expo rules! The jacket I wear all the time is something I will cherish for a lifetime. This race was in October which is new timing but much better for me. This was my 13th Boston and I hope to go back again! Great crowds, great course, amazing finish line and schwag! Love it all!

This year I ran and raised money for the Navy SEAL Foundation which was truly an experience I will never forget. The runners on our team were incredible and the City of Boston took care of all of us. Fun to be a part of a group giving back to the SEAL families and community.

I tripped at Mile 11 – probably a crack in the road, and fell hard. I got up and walked to the side. The First Aid people were really great to take care of me. My watch was still working and I kept going (can’t ring that bell!) . I stopped at 5 total aid stations because I was afraid I might have a concussion, but felt good enough to keep going. Very happy with my time and re-qualified if I want to run in 2023. I felt very taken care of the the crowds kept me going! Well done BAA!

Mt Washington Road Race 2021
My 8th time running this uphill prestigious race to the clouds. The weather was beautiful at the bottom we started out in the field. It was warm and sunny as we gradually grew closer to the summit the winds increased to almost 50 miles an hour. It was cloudy misty and when you got to the top you couldn’t even see the top it was so cloudy and dark.
My training for this race was not what it had been in the past not to make excuses because I’m very strong and fit (because of all my indoor rowingi meters!). But this was a test for me to see what I could do without putting in that same kind of mileage. I walked and ran all the way up taking long strides when I walked to keep my pace. It was tough at the top with the winds but this race is all about grit and determination more than any other race.
The start was much different than it had been in the past. They started us two at a time so we ran by ourselves and not in a crowd which in itself was challenging. But it got me to start out slow and keep an even pace throughout.
My mantras were “dig deep” and “the faster you run the faster you are done!” I would count 5 walking steps – 25 running steps and it was a good ratio to keep me going and distracted at the same time.
I couldn’t find my bag at the top as we wandered around and took photos by the sign and hid in the shipping container 😳. When we finally connected with everybody we took a bunch of photos cheered everybody on that was continuing to finish and enjoy the rest of the day as the clouds cleared up in the blue skies opened up. It’s an amazing place Mt Washington ❤️.
My time was 1:48:01 and it put me 2nd in my age and our master team first and open team 2nd. This was the first race I have done since the pandemic and it really felt great to see everybody out there having a great time and seeing old friends too! Amongst the running royalty braving the worst weather I have faced at this race. Cheers to all that made that trek and for everyone’s success yesterday 💪🏼 #westernmassdistanceproject #mtwashingtonroadrace #wmdp #masterrunner #mtnrunning #newbalance #athleticbrewingambassador

Race Schwag: Love the fleece blanket and the super cool medal! My favorite things. The tshirt technical fabric is weird and I haven’t like the design the past few years, hopefully they will change it up again. The guy on the back of the shirt this year irritated some of my female friends. (maybe a female on the back of the female shirt?).

Definitely one of those races that is tough to get into and tough to keep qualifying and making the trip. But I love it and will continue as long as I have the opportunity. Year 8 for me – not a PR but pretty good considering my training has been on a rowing machine!

This is my 5th VT City Marathon over quite a number of years because it is where I grew up and a lot of my friends and family make it out to the marathon or as part of the Relay. The expo is medium in size, but a lot of great vendors and people that are welcoming while sharing their love for the product they are featuring. My favorites were the HOKA booth (bought some great HOKAs) and the Smuggler’s Notch Distillery (ok I had to try at least one shot of vodka) 🙂

On the course the opening singing of the National Anthem on Battery Park was a welcome send off. The only part of the course that doesn’t have as many spectators is the out and back on the highway. It’s a long stretch and a little boring. But when that is over you are back in town and headed the the bike path on Lake Champlain!

One of my all time favorite spots on the race is about mile 16-17 where you can hear the kettle drums playing in the distance. It’s the “only” hill in my estimation and memory – so the energy from the drums just pushes you to the top! Then out to the bike path along the water after a few neighborhoods serving Vermont Maple Syrup as the energy shot (super yummy but be sure to try it on your stomach prior to diving in!). The last miles are along the shore and the water gives me a sense of calm. Stayin in my zone to the end, keeping up my pace and then you can hear the crowds cheering from about a mile away! A beautiful finish area and after race treats! I would definitely do this one again! I have had some great times here and the nature and course profile is one that I do well! Thanks VCM for a great marathon!

I ran this in 1989 so this report is based on an amazing memory of my first marathon. I remember running through Old Montreal – the marathon was a beautiful tour of the city of Montreal on foot – all the landmarks and beautiful buildings along the way. The volunteers and crowds were out in full force and very friendly. I remember the finish line and all the goodies – cases of Labatts beer stacked up high and the fresh fruit was a beautiful site! Sad to say I have long lost this medal – but these memories of my first marathon live on! I would highly recommend this race to others!