Melanie Dorland Content Library

Fallsburg Marathon in Lowell, Michigan - Beautiful race, 1/2 on country roads and 1/2 in the woods on well groomed trails. Miles 20 through 23 were pure torture...big hills on country roads that weren't shaded. I ran across a large turtle hanging out on the road during mile 22, and spent a couple minutes having a fellow runner help me move it into a cornfield. I may not have had the best finish time that day, but at least I did a good deed while running!

North Country Trail Marathon in Manistee, Michigan - This marathon was all trail. The trails were beautiful, scenic, and well groomed, without as many tree branches or rocks to jump over as other trail marathons. I loved the pine trees, they were everywhere. The second half of the marathon was a lot more difficult than the first. I wiped out once in mile 22 and again in mile 23. Amazingly, I got a second wind after each fall. I was pretty beat up and sore the next day though!