Tacoma, Washington

Friday, May 3rd - Monday, May 6th

The 'annual' Marathon Maniacs reunion race was scheduled for Tacoma, Washington in 2013; coupled with the fact that it was the first weekend in May, the biggest race weekend of the year by our estimation, and it was pretty much a no-brainer that we headed out for the run and festivities! (it was also a good Christmas present from me to Jill :-) ). Flew out on Friday and then drove from SeaTac down to Tacoma. Looking for some lunch on Friday we found Engine House No. 9, an old fire station converted into a brew pub. After lunch it was off to the Hotel Murano, host hotel for the Tacoma City Marathon as well as the Maniacs festivities. Friday night we had tickets to the Tacoma Rainiers game - very nice ballpark (so nice we would make a return visit on Sunday as well!). Before the game, however, we stumbled into one of the coolest dive bar hole in the walls we have ever been to - the Lucky Silver Tavern! Very friendly people to sit and talk with (only sorry we didn't get back later in the weekend!).

On Saturday we did a bit of sightseeing around Tacoma including a stop at the home of Almond Roca as well as the Emerald Queen Casino. In the evening, we were supposed to go to the Maniac pasta dinner; unfortunately a bit of ill planning shut many of us out. Instead, we ended up at The Old Spaghetti Factory, a short walk from the Hotel Murano. As an added bonus, Carey and Peter Oliphant were there waiting for a table as well and invited us to have dinner with them! Very nice time sitting and chatting with both of them!

Sunday we experienced probably one of the most scenic courses we have ever run, starting at the Tacoma Narrows Airport and then making our way across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, finishing behind the Tacoma Art Museum - definitely a beautiful course with friendly runners and spectators alike along the way. Post race, we headed back to the hotel and decided we had time to....go to another Rainiers game!

Monday brought another cross-country marathon jaunt as we made our way from Tacoma to Syracuse and then finally back to Binghamton.

Trip Notes:

The first leg of the outbound trip was aboard United flight 3748, SYR-->ORD, depart 6:00AM, arrive 7:03AM. Tim sat in seat 5A. Flight departed from Gate 21.

The second leg of the outbound trip was aboard United flight 1691, ORD-->SEA, depart 8:21AM, arrive 10:38AM.

The first leg of the return trip was aboard American flight 1628, SEA-->ORD, depart 11:50AM, arrive 5:50PM.

The second leg of the return trip was aboard American flight 3906, ORD-->SYR, depart 7:15PM, arrive 10:00PM.

Total flight cost was $783.20.

We stayed in Room #2205 at the Hotel Murano.

Our nightly room rate was $134.00 for two nights, $152.00 for one night, for a grand total of $327.61.

Our tickets for the Rainiers game on Friday were Section B, Row 6, Seats 20 & 21.

Car rental was from Alamo; total charge for the trip was $51.63.

Not sure why I have different flight information here? The above flight information was taken from the e-mail confirmation. Not sure what these flights are.

The first leg of our return trip was aboard United flight 260, SEA-->Dulles, depart 1245PM, arrive 842PM.

The second leg of our return trip was aboard United flight 4832, Dulles-->SYR, depart 1000PM, arrive 1131PM.