“Dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die today.”
(James Dean)
The Walk into the Future blog continues to find new ways to explore and live life in 2026. Not the largest revelation I have put on this blog, but it is something that I remain proud of.
I have made a concerted effort to write more about leadership and consulting this year, but I am still out here putting in the miles and living this running tourist life. Yes, Alisa, I’m still using running tourist to describe this life I’m living. 😊
I made my way to Hampton, New Hampshire last year for the 2025 Smuttynose Half Marathon. This was my first time up there and I was able to cross two states off my visit list: New Hampshire and Maine. I wanted to get over to Vermont last year but ran out of time and want to get there to explore without having to rush.
Fun fact, Breeze Airways just started a non-stop flight from Vero Beach to Burlington, Vermont. I will book a trip to Vermont in 2027 so I can cross that state off my list as well. Not sure I’m going to run there considering the mountains in the state. This may be another hiking trip for me. 😊
I enjoyed my 2025 Smuttynose Half Marathon experience so much that I signed up for the 2026 race before I left New Hampshire last year. The weather, people, course and after party were great and I decided to run it back again in 2026.
The experience this year was just as great as last year. I set my half marathon personal record (PR) at this race last year but did not enter with a goal this year. My training has been consistent, but my training paces have been off for a good portion of the training cycle. I can make and/or share excuses, but I continue to toe the line and show up daily.
I flew out of Orlando again this year and headed to Manchester, New Hampshire. This provided a direct flight, and I had a 30-minute ride through the fall foliage from Manchester to Hampton. I went straight to the race EXPO to pick up my race packet and browse. The EXPO was in the same spot as last year, but it was smaller than I thought it would be. There were only two vendors this year so my time at the EXPO was just picking up my race packet and taking a couple pictures before heading to my hotel.
I remain a creature of habit and booked the same Marriott hotel as last year which was close to everything in the area. I made my way to the same sports bar to carb load and get off my feet. Wings, fries and Bud Light is still my go to meal when I’m in Hampton, New Hampshire. 😊
I leveraged Saturday for some sightseeing this year. I researched lighthouses in the area and decided this would be my focus—explore as many lighthouses as possible while back in the northeast. Here are a few pictures from my lighthouse adventures:
I made sure to get to bed early so I would be ready for the 13.1-mile journey on Sunday. I was able to secure race day parking close to the start/finish line again this year. I took the five-minute walk over to the race village and got in some stretching and a light jog. The temperatures were in the low 40’s this year so I kept my throw away sweatshirt on until I got into the race corral.
I was assigned to start Corral C which put me close to the front based on my time from last year. I like to be close to the front so I can avoid the pushing and shoving that happens further back in the pack. Fast forward and my race strategy was simply having fun and enjoying the course. I went out with a controlled pace and was able to maintain this throughout the race. I crossed the finish line with another smile on my face and enjoyed hearing the crowds cheering for random strangers on a Sunday morning.
I got my medal and made my way to the food tents. The Smuttynose Half Marathon is known for providing a lobster roll to everyone who crosses the finish line. I tried one last year and was not impressed. I gave it another run this year and I’m still not impressed. 😊 I love lobster but the texture does not go well with a simple white roll—my opinion. I think it would be great on a toasted roll but that’s not what they offered. I made my way to the beer line and got two beers to go with my bag of chips.
They had the same band from last year and everyone was singing along and some folks were dancing to the tunes. It was another great post-race environment, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I found a great spot across the street for breakfast and posted up to continue to enjoy the morning.
I highly recommend this race if you are looking for a New Hampshire adventure.
Fun fact, I visited three states on this trip: New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts. I’ve been to them all, but it was fun to hit three states in one weekend. It’s the little things that make me smile. 😊
Yes, I’m still traveling, running and writing. I call this Walking into the Future! What do you think, Cathy? 😊
Irie!
Calvin Williams
“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.
(Oscar Wilde)
