Grandma's Marathon Weekend!

Well with all the work and anticipation Grandma's Marathon has come and gone! We stayed in a cabin about an hour north of Duluth and took in many of the state parks and sights on the day before. I would have loved to do more hiking but I wanted to stay fresh for the morning.

On Saturday I was up around 4:45 to get ready for the drive into Two Harbors, MN to make it to the bus in time. The buses transported everyone to a scenic stretch of highway on the coast of Lake Superior. Festivities started around 7:15 when the held a moment of silence for Wesley Ngetich who was a two-time Grandma's Marathon winner that was killed several months ago in his home country. After the moment of silence there was the national anthem and a flyover by 2 F-16 fighter jets.

I lined up near the 4:15 pace team and wanted to stick with them until the finish. The first 10k flew by at a 1:00:06 which was on pace with the group. Despite the race course being on the coast in an isolated area there were people up and down the highway. I even saw comedian and senate hopeful Al Frankin along the way cheering on the crowd! I hit the 13.1 mark with a time of 2:07:43 and was able to stick with the group. Around mile 19 the scenic highway opened up to packed Duluth streets with people cheering on both sides. Its also the time that I hit the wall.

I hit the 20 mile mark at 3:17:41 and at this point I was hurting. I started cramping in my quads about every half mile and I would be reduced to a walk/ slow hobble for about 1/10 of a mile before the cramps subsided. I pushed through the last 6.2 miles with cramps through the legs. I lost the pace group at this point but I was more concerned with just pushing and getting through. As I hit the 25 mile mark at 4:14:08 I knew I could finish. I kept pushing and as I turned the corner and saw the finish line a quarter mile away all pain disappeared and I ran. I don't know how fast I ran but I moved and pushed. I finally crossed at 4:27:22! It was a little slower then I hoped but I knew I gave it my all and left all I had on the race course!

Fulfilling a lifetime dream was an amazing experience and I am grateful that I had so many family members there to celebrate it! As of now I will be taking a week off and letting the legs heal. I have to walk down the stairs backwards until the quads improve! Time to figure out what race is next on the calender!

Coming down the final stretch in the last 100 yards! (White shirt, Dark Blue Shorts)

Post Race Celebration!

It's just me and 26.2...

Well it is finally here. I have put in 433 miles, ran the Irish for a Day 10 mile, Earth Day Half Marathon and the Northern Lakes 30k all in preperation for this weekend's marathon in Duluth, Minnesota. I am hoping to finish between 4:00-4:15 if all goes well. I am excited, scared, nervous, and anxious all in one. Running a marathon has always been one of my three lifetime goals and now I am on it's doorstep. I am thinking I might shoot for one more after this (maybe Chicago or New York) but I am pretty sure I will be sticking with the half marathons from here on out. I will log with pictures next week upon my return from Duluth!

Northern Lakes 30k and 3 Weeks to Go!

It was quite the exciting week in my little world of running. I hit my first 100 mile month and ended up with 120 miles during May! Its exciting that I have been running this much and do not have any major injuries. The IT band is slightly more sore than it has been but I am not too worried since the taper began after the race today. I have a 12 mile, 8 mile and then the marathon.

Today was my longest race yet. It was the Northern Lakes 30k (18.6 miles) in White Bear Lake. The weather was absolutely beautiful and was around 65 degrees and sunny. The race was mostly on the roads without trees so needless to say it got quite warm. I was shooting for around 3 hours which would have been under a 10 minute/mile. The flew during the first 15 miles and hung just under a 9 minute pace and then the heat and direct sun took its toll and I slowed down the last 3 miles. I finished at 2:53:16 well under the 3 hour mark! Right now I am contemplating running a half marathon next week as part of the taper but that is yet to be seen. So far so good and I hit the 400 mile mark on the year which is half way to the goal! Stay tuned pictures to come!

I was never happier to be done with a run then I was in this picture!

4 Weeks to Go!

The marathon is officially 4 weeks out! Just knocked out my last 20 miler the other day and I am happy to say that I made it the whole way this time! There was no collapse or sputtering out at the end! It was a good confidence boost. I am not sure how I will ever do another six miles beyond that but ignorance and adrenaline will have to carry me the rest of the way!

I am also looking at my first every 100 mile month this month! I have hit 80 mile months several times but nothing above that so far. I have the Northern Lakes 30k next Saturday which will be a great tune up for the marathon! Its right around the corner!

Five Weeks to Go!

I love recovery weeks, I love recovery weeks, I love recovery weeks. Oh yes, It was a recovery week this week. Total miles on the week were only 16. It was a welcomed week after the last several in the upper 20's! The long run on the week was 8 miles and I felt pretty good through it. Some IT band soreness afterward like usual but nothing a little ice and Aleve can't help. The other runs were an easy 3 miles on Tuesday around the neighborhoods. Wednesday was supposed to be 7 around Calhoun but I cut it to 5 miles after swallowing 1.75 million bugs around the leg. It was nuts and there were swarms of gnats everywhere. Next race will be the Northern Lakes 30k two weeks from today. There is starting to be a light at the end of the tunnel! :)