Maine Event: My Longest Run to Date

This is both a fitness post & a travel post. I’ll try to mix it up.

I was on Peaks Island, ME over the weekend, where I had my longest run to date. Though the scenery was awesome, the weather was kinda crappy (drizzly, humid & overcast).

We had a great time hanging out with friends Scott & Nance (above) at their cottage, eating, watching movies, walking on stony beaches (see prior post) & visiting artists’ studios. But typical me, I eventually get punchy. I’m like a big dog: I can lay around for so long, but after a while, I need to be exercised.

So… I went out to run on Saturday afternoon. There’s a perimeter road around the island, a 3.8 mi. loop. One can extend it by going down some short private roads as well, which I did of course, to make 4 mi. I have only ever run 3 mi., but because an island’s coastal road is mostly flat, I thought this quite doable for me despite the longer distance.

Left my music at home, to really enjoy the sights & sounds. Great run, despite my pokey timing (44:28). Saw & heard the ocean, lighthouses, boats, rocky shores. There were cormorants & gulls, even eiders with ducklings! The road was lined with beach roses in full bloom, their fragrance intoxicating. I started & ended at the 5th Maine Civil War & Peaks Island History Museum (shown below). Prettiest run I think I’ve ever had.

There was only one not-so-pretty part of this milestone. (Laura will be glad I’m not posting a photo of it, HA!) I got some kind of friction-burn, really high up on my thigh, about 2 inches below where my leg joins onto my body. That’s a new one. Not sure what caused it. I was wearing a running skirt I’ve worn a million times, so it can’t be that. I’ve run in drizzle & high humidity before, too. My thighs are no fatter than usual, happily. What gives?

Fortunately, it didn’t start til post-3.5 mi., so I finished out the full 4 mi. & quit. I was bummed, because I had hoped to keep going. I was correct about flat elevation making the distance easy, so after the 3 mi. mark, I was planning to go for 5 or 6 mi.! But a raw thigh ruined my plan. I just did the open sore thing last Friday on my heel, no thanks on a replay elsewhere.

Special note about Peaks Island, ME: the only way to get there is by ferry. Most people park their cars in Portland & come over the ferry on foot with backpacks or small pushcarts for belongings. It’s a tiny island, so unless you work as a landscaper or need to bring over big hauls of supplies, a car is not a necessity.

I saw walkers, runners, a few golf carts & lots of folks on bicycles. The bikes were mostly “vintage,” which was particularly fun. No need for fancy gearing, as there’s little elevation or distance to cover. I expect the old bikes I saw everywhere simply get passed around, handed down, bought or sold & rarely leave the island. 

Tags: beach roses, chafing, fit over 40, fitness over 40, friction burn, Peaks Island ME, running, running injury, scenic run