26.2 miles. This is an impressive distance sought by few and feared by many. The marathon, as this race is often called, is a true test of determination, mental fortitude, and physical endurance. I am proud to say I am of the 1% of all individuals who have completed a marathon, and this location holds a special place in my heart for being where I earned a lot of those miles. One of my favorite hobbies, apart from geocaching, of course, is long-distance running. There is something so satisfying about pounding the pavement, step after step, and watching the miles fly by. Not only is it a good physical challenge, but running has a variety of benefits including improved mental health, mental clarity, sleep, focus, and creativity. There aren't many problems that a good run can't solve. I invite you to become an honorary marathoner as I introduce you to my second hobby, running.
Why 26.2 Miles?
No, I'm not just being a jerk and making a cache hard to get for the sake of making it hard ... this time. The marathon distance actually has historical roots that tie all the way back to ancient Rome. The legend goes that a Greek messenger, by the name of Philippides, saw a Persian vessel sailing towards Athens at the end of a victorious battle for the Greek army. Philippides interpreted this as an attempt by the Persians to rush to the Greek capital and claim the battle’s victory for themselves. So, what did Philippides do? Well, Philippides threw down his weapons, armor, and clothes and he ran. He ran without stopping, all the way to Athens in order to rightfully proclaim the Greek victory at the battle. The name of the battle he had run from? Marathon. After delivering the message, it is said that Philippides collapsed and died from exhaustion and it was believed that 26.2 was the physical limit a human could run before perishing. Today, we know that to not be the case, as several ultra-runners find thrill in 100-mile races.
About This Cache
It's not quite the Roman coliseum you'll find in Greece, however, the WVU Coliseum just so happens to be 26.2 miles away from the start of the Mon River Trail in Fairmont. The hard way to access this cache is by traveling nearly the full length of this trail system, ending by racing up Monongahela Boulevard. (Fun fact, this is in line with the tradition of finishing races up steep hills to better break up the runners to avoid ties.) While I invite you to try to complete this cache from the start of the trail, this is actually a pretty easy park-and-grab. Originally, this cache was going to be a 26.2-mile wherigo, but after having the container placed for over a year and having no progress made on the cartridge, I decided it was best to let cachers enjoy the final as is.
The cache is placed at the old WVU track, affectionately named "Old Blue". This is a popular spot for community runners and events. If you try to visit while the park is packed, I recommend visiting another day. If you try this one while there is a game at the WVU Coliseum ... good luck trying to find a place to park. You'll need to enter the turnstiles at the waypoint listed to access this cache. You are looking for a camo peanut butter jar.