Marathon training ends differently each experience. Are you or are you not ready? The end of October left me in a low energy state of mind. That as well as travel that intercepted my last 20-miler had me reconsidering whether I might do an early start and walk the marathon.

Final preparations for the Enders Harrisburg Marathon began the night before. Everything organized, early dinner, relaxing evening and sort-of early to bed. We planned to be downtown near the marathon course for some madrigal music with Market Square Concerts. I took that opportunity to tip-toe through the dark and drop off a small bottle of Coke wrapped in a plastic with my name on it, a leftover crutch from my brief ultra days, and stuck it in the crook of a tree just steps off the marathon course.

Dawn was breaking over the Susquehanna River as I sat in bridge traffic waiting for my turn to drive onto City Island. Using the pedestrian crossing to the start, veteran volunteer Diana Karlinsey was there helping runners, families and friends get to where they wanted and needed to be.

Having made the decision to run rather than walk, I started very easy, my only goal being to finish under five hours. With that, I held back and I believe I was the last person through the start line.

The weather was nearly perfect beginning at 41-degrees and a light breeze. I started in a light long-sleeve shirt, light windbreaker and a pair of threadbare gloves, a giveaway from the 2006 Boston Marathon.

Not long after the start, I ran across two people, Nick Marshall and Park Barner, who are giants in the running community, were originally and have been through the years important to the origin and history of the Harrisburg Marathon.

After saying hello to both in our first mile, and exchanging a word of two several times during the race, we continued at our own paces on this two-loop course.

There were some course changes from last year, not unusual with some limitations on the Greenbelt access. Like last year, it is a two-loop course and with the exception of a couple of short ramps, completely flat. The addition of a loop around scenic Italian Lake was a welcome in spite of the brick path underfoot.

Mile 2, I passed the 5:15 pacer and his group. Around Mile 5, I passed the 5:00 pacer. I was where I needed to be. If I caught the 4:45 pacer, I was running too fast. That didn’t happen.

Miles 10 and 11, I ran alongside a chatty young woman. We exchanged some tales of previous marathons, favorites, worst, and of course of age-groups. A quick calculation told me I was twice her age, (or she was half my age). Coming off the Harvey Taylor Bridge close to finishing our first half, we separated.

Mile 21, I was beginning to tire but generally felt good and stayed on pace through most of the second loop. I looked for my stashed bottle of Coke, placed in a tree last night. There it was, peeking between two branches. That crazy concoction (to borrow a Jimmy Buffet line) of bubbles, sugar and syrup helped me hang on and I took small sips right up to the finish line.

Mile 23, I was turning onto the Harvey Taylor Bridge for the second time. Coming up beside me was the wonderful young woman I chatted with on the first trip over this bridge. She and her friends were good company right up to Mile 25 where they picked up their pace (and I didn’t). I saw in the results that she finished in 4:55. Thanks for the company, Rebecca.

All in all a good race. With the exception of a couple of potty stops, I stayed on pace right up to Mile 25 where I slowed to 11:30 pace. With a 2:24:50 time at the half and a finish time of 4:57:49, not a negative or even split but I’ll take it.

I’m pleased I didn’t choose the walk. For a change, I don’t have any complaints about my performance. I set out to run a conservative 10:50-10:55 and I was successful up to mile 25.

Another running friend, Hap Miller authored Harrisburg Marathon: Four Decades of Running 26.22 Miles at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and frequently updates that history. He emailed to congratulate me for setting a new time record for women 75-79 and a new record as the oldest woman to run the Harrisburg Marathon. I immediately thought of the Woody Allen quote “80% of success is showing up.” I have some good friends coming right behind me in years who always show up, so I don’t expect to wear that crown for long.

Congratulations to all, in addition to we locals, those who traveled to Pennsylvania from around the USA and internationally and ran the 51st Enders Harrisburg Marathon.

So, what’s next on my agenda – and yours? Tell me about it.