The York Half (and the accompanying full marathon) are sponsored by the local branch of the YMCA. Packet pick up is located at the Y, which means indoor bathrooms (always a plus), showers available for after the race, and tons of smiling, helpful volunteers.

The half marathon started at 6:15. We started on the street in front of the YMCA, ran a few blocks on city streets, and quickly turned onto the York Heritage Rail Trail. The race is mostly out-and-back on the rail trail.

The York Heritage Rail Trail is a packed cinder trail, about 10 feet wide, that stretches from York, PA to the Maryland border, where it links up with the Northern MD Rail Trail. The trail is mostly shaded and runs beside railroad tracks.

To read the full race report, please go here https://meditationsinmotion.wordpress.com/2018/05/22/york-half-marathon-race-report/

Montour 24 is a timed race. That means you run for a set amount of time (rather than a definite distance). I have done the 6-hour version of Montour 24 several times, but that was eliminated from the list of possibilities this year. Every option was a 24 hour option in 2018 – either run the entire race solo, or team up with 3 friends and run it as a relay. The friends who I ran it with last year (Nancy, Cammy and my hubby Bill) and I chose the relay option. I have never done a 24 hour relay before, so I was excited to try a special favorite race in new format.

The course is a 1.44 mile loop that is mostly trail, with a short section of grass and a short section of park road thrown in. Some of the trail is wooded single track along a stream with some rocks and roots; some of it is a more manicured double track. The course is fairly (but not completely) flat. I have always loved Montour 24 for its variety of surfaces and beautiful setting, but what I love most about the race are the friendly people I have met there over the years.

To read the full race report go here
https://meditationsinmotion.wordpress.com/2018/05/15/montour-24-race-report/

The Turkey Hill Country Classic is a race that I have heard my friends rave about for years. It is a local race that started out small, but it has grown to include a 5k, 10k, half marathon and bike races.

The Turkey Hill race started out as flat, but soon became gently rolling. There were no monster hills on the course, but there were one or two that got your attention around the halfway point.

The first mile was marked, and there was a volunteer standing at the mark calling out times. What a great perk! I do wear a watch when I run, but almost never look at it – I want to run by feel. I felt great, and my time was good at the one mile marker. Then came the hills. They were not too bad, but I could feel myself slowing down slightly.
To read the entire race report, please go here:
https://meditationsinmotion.wordpress.com/2018/05/06/turkey-hill-country-classic-5k-race-report/

A few weeks ago my speedy friend Diana asked me if I would be interested in running a trail half marathon with her. I checked my calendar, decided the date worked, asked my hubby Bill if he was interested (yes!) and said I would love to. This race fit into my schedule really well. I have an intimidating 25k in two weeks, and I figured this race could serve as a tune-up.

I would definitely highly recommend this race. The course is tough, with lots of mud, rocks, stream crossings, roots, and climbs, but not ridiculous. It is a trail race. The vibe is friendly and fun, the volunteers were amazing, encouraging and helpful, and the course was extremely well marked – probably the best marked trail race I have ever run. It would be almost impossible to get lost. The price was very reasonable and the aid stations were well stocked and well-placed. I have no complaints at all. I hope to do the race again next year!

To read the full race report, go here https://meditationsinmotion.wordpress.com/2018/04/09/buck-ridge-burn-trail-half-marathon-race-report/

The race was held on April 21, but I had to register almost a year ago. In Pennsylvania, Hyner is legend. Registration for the 2018 race opened on May 1, 2017, and filled four days later. There is also a 50k version of the race and a strictly enforced cap of 1,000 runners total, most of them in the 25k.

After running a short downhill on the gravel road, we came out on a state highway, which was closed to traffic, to run across a bridge over the Susquehanna River. We turned left and, after some congestion getting through a narrow gate, were on the Cliffhanger Trail.

The Cliffhanger Trail is aptly named. It is a narrow trail carved into the side of a mountain. The trail is rolling, with more ups than downs. To my left was the side of the mountain; to my right a steep drop-off about 100 feet down to the river. I am afraid of heights, but as long as my feet are on the ground (as opposed to, say, riding on a chair lift), my phobia is not too bad. I did, however, do some mental calculations about water temperature and surviving a fall into the river.

To read the full race report, please go here:
https://meditationsinmotion.wordpress.com/2018/04/25/hyner-view-trail-challenge-25k-race-report/