Congrats! But be careful ramping up the distance that fast. Shin splints are a real pain in the legs!
I don't know about the smallest, but I've always thought that Santa Fe, New Mexico has an outsized influence on everything from food to art to architecture and culture. I visited last year and it was much smaller than I envisioned, partly because there are local regulations on building height to keep from ruining the charm of the city.
Smoked paprika. That is all.
You set the bar pretty high for your first race.
One way to send money without really sending "money" is to give them gift cards for the local grocery store. Everyone needs groceries and it often has more of a free gift feel than a charity case feel to it. You could even pass it off as if it's something you won or received and you're just passing it along.
I retire my shoes at 500km. I figure $100 a few times a year is a small price to pay to prevent injury. To paraphrase Death Becomes Her: take care of your feet. You're going to be together for a long time.
I went to a podiatrist last year because I thought I had a stress fracture (it felt like I was walking on a rubber ball), but after being x-rayed I was told it was metatarsalgia and what I was feeling was inflammation. I got some inserts for my shoes, eased up on the running for a bit, and took some ibuprofen. Earlier this year I ran my second marathon and I signed up for my third next spring. Now I only need ibuprofen when it flares up which is mostly when I get to peak running weeks in my training plan. Running is not out of the question but definitely listen to your body when it tries to tell you that you are overdoing it.
Have you tried a physical outlet for these emotions? Hit the gym, or put on some headphones and go for a long run. Running can be very meditative and you can do it pretty much anywhere.
Studies show cases of rhabdomyolysis are on the increase over the past few years. The unfortunate thing is it's completely preventable with a well thought-out workout plan and sufficient hydration.
I recommend going with the OpenRun Pro if you're going to buy some. I have both the OpenRun Pro and the less expensive OpenMove, and the OpenRun is more comfortable and has better sound quality.
I'm a bigger guy (over 200 pounds) who runs marathons so my concern is the cushioning and the impact on my feet. I put a 500 km limit on my running shoes, after that they graduate to walking shoes or general gym shoes. My go-to are Asics, and I wait until a new model comes out and then buy last season's shoes at a discount, anywhere from $60-$110 for a pair depending on what color I want.
I don't trust the Garmin heart rate monitor, at least on wristwatches. I've used cardio equipment at the gym with HR feedback. I know my HR is elevated, the cardio equipment reads 140 bpm which feels about right to me, and yet my Garmin says 90 bpm. One of these things is not like the others.