USA Today picks the Catalina Marathon as one of the 10 best winter marathons. Runner's World names the Catalina Marathon the #1 off road marathons in the world. I agree! It was an unforgettable day and an awesome race! While I will always remember the New York Marathon as the race with the most inspiring spectators along the course (besides the fact that it was my first), I will keep the Catalina Marathon in my mind for some of the most breathtaking scenery while running 26.2 miles over the Island of Catalina.
The marathon is one of the most difficult, but also most rewarding in the country. The race starts in Two Harbors and runs to Avalon. It traverses mostly dirt trails and roads through areas of the interior of the island where very few have gone. The first two and the last three miles of the race are simply nuts, with almost 1,000 feet of elevation gain in the first two miles and 1,500 feet of elevation loss in the last three. It is a hilly and challenging marathon with a total elevation gain of 4,310 feet (1.314 m), but worth every mile!
Time: 4:46:48 [hrs]
Overall: 174
Men: 137
Age Group (M35-39): 24
More pictures available in the web album or as a slide show.
And make sure to watch the last 47 seconds of my race as a video.
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Enjoying German dinner and beer in the