Mystic Connecticut (#17)
To most New Englanders, Connecticut is known as the cut through state. You don’t go to CT on purpose, you usually just past through on your way to somewhere else. For this reason, I wanted to pick a race that was in the only city I thought people might actually want to travel to. (Sorry Lauren)
The Mystic Half Marathon is fairly small race. It starts in Olde Mystic Village, winds through downtown and ends at The Mystic Aquarium. Our friends, who live in Mystic, got to cheer us on from their front lawn. It was a nice little treat in the first few miles of the race.
This was yet another race where not looking at the race map/elevation came to bite me in the ass. The back half of this race is extremely hilly. In fact, the point at which the race splits for the 10K, there is a 100ft hill. No joke, turn left and run straight up the 100ft hill, or turn right and head to the finish of the 10K. It really made me question my life choices.
The after party was fairly small, but the medal was pretty cool. Given Mystic Seaport’s history of building and restoring wooden ships, a ship in a bottle seemed pretty appropriate.
Another highlight was seeing 0.0 Spectator man on the course. I don’t know this man, but I’ve seen him in several other states. His wife is also doing the 50 state challenge. Seeing him at random races always cracks me up because he’s like my own personal traveling spectator!
While we didn’t do any sight-seeing activities this trip. Here are a few highlights of things that I’ve done in the past, that you should definitely check out if you are ever in Mystic.
Mystic Seaport Museum – 75 Greenmanville Ave. It’s been many years since I’ve been to the museum, but I have many memories from going there with my parents as a kid. The museum has a re-created old seaport village in addition to a preservation shipyard with wooden boats they are restoring and/or preserving.
Mystic Aquarium – 55 Coogan Blvd. Despite the race ending here, we didn’t visit this time, but I have been several times as both a child and adult. I highly recommend the Beluga Whale exhibit!
Olde Mistick Village – 27 Coogan Blvd. Village of cute little shops and restaurants. Tons of options for food or souvenirs. Highly recommend Kelley’s Pace for all your running needs.
Mystic Pizza – 56 West Main Street. I don’t think this needs any explanation, just do it.
Sift Bake Shop – 5 Water Street. Highly recommend the strawberry rhubarb croissant!
Clyde’s Cider Mill – 129 North Stonington Rd. The last steam-powered cider mill in the US. Serving up sweet cider, hard cider, cider slushies, amazing cider donuts and apple pies. Full disclosure, I know the owners, but they literally have the best cider donuts around.
Previous States:
15: The Big Easy: New Orleans, Louisiana (#15)
16: Music City: Nashville, Tennessee (#16)
Next Stop: Moab, Utah