http://www2.brightroom.com/email/97740/1001/133999225

Finisher’s Certificate, Fargo Marathon, May 19, 2012

“Slow and low, that is the tempo…”

MCA was watching out for me yesterday in Fargo, as I had to keep reminding myself that a fast time wasn’t worth blowing the chance to run New York in November. The knee pop injury I suffered on Thursday at the TC 1 Mile had me seriously doubting my ability to finish marathon number twenty, but I was going to at least try.

During packet pickup at the Fargodome, I talked to Kris from Sweaty Bands, who recommended I visit the KT Band booth and get my knee taped up. She said all the high school track kids are using it and if I didn’t like it, I could just pull it off. I don’t like trying new things so close to a race, but I decided it was worth a shot.

The guy at the booth had about six people waiting in line, but it didn’t take long. He was very knowledgable, asking where it hurt and describing what was involved in that region. After a little shave, my pink band was in place and it felt good. I don’t know the science behind this, but I do think it helped me finish the race. Oh, and did I mention it was free? Thank you KT Band!

The whole setup at the Fargodome was pretty awesome – Thursday and Friday it hosts the expo, while on Saturday all of that was gone and the main floor transformed into finish line central: the actual finish, food and refreshments, bag pickup and lots of places to sit and meet family members. Colleen said this was by far the best race ever for spectators, with ample free parking right next to the dome and good seating in the stands around the finish. Lots of bathrooms and open refreshment stands too.

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Fargo, which was quite a ways from the Fargodome, but right across the street from West Acres Mall, where multiple race shuttles picked up runners. The hotel had a nice pool area for the kids and the rate was decent ($135/night), but the walls were paper thin – not a good thing with a crying baby next door.

The whole Fargo area had lots of signs up welcoming runners, including our choice for pre-race pasta, Happy Joe’s on University. The baked spaghetti was just what I wanted. We went looking for Jigg’s Diner in West Fargo after the race, but it’s apparently now called TNT Diner (and was good too).

I took an early shuttle to the race and ended up sitting around for about two hours. The 10K started first, followed by the half, then the full. There was a brief thunderstorm that moved through while I was inside the dome, and it dropped temps much more than I expected. It was in the mid 90Fs on Friday and the forecasted low was 67F, but I saw a bank sign that said 53F – perfect! It stayed cloudy most of the race with a decent wind, but it never rained and the sun did peek out for a few minutes.

The course was flat (as advertised) and there were spirited spectators along the way, but quite a bit fewer than any other race I’ve been to (with maybe the exception of Eau Claire). The finish line made up for that, though, as I felt like an Olympian coming down the chute to the cheers of the Fargodome crowd for my slow, barely sub-5 finish (official chip time of 4:57:49).

This is billed as a music race, but I think some of the bands must have skipped it due to the weather forecast. With me running slow, though, maybe I just missed them. The marathon course itself was mostly residential, but did pass through downtown and across the Red River into Minnesota for a half mile or so. Several miles run parallel on the same streets, which I would have liked more if I was running faster.

Speaking of pace, I ran without a watch and just planned to listen to my knee. I wanted to stay at ten minute miles or slower if I could, despite a competitive urge to speed things up. The first mile was uncomfortable and I was doubting my ability to finish. I bought the damn poster, though, so I needed to finish. The knee actually felt quite good around miles 6-10, but I had to listen to MCA and keep it slow the rest of the way.

Looking at my official splits, I did stay in the 10:00 range for most of the race – 5K in 32:04, 10K in 1:03:57 and the half in 2:19:09. I did feel a little more pain in the second half and slowed the pace down accordingly (although I never did take any extending walk breaks). Stopped twice for bathroom visits (unusual for me), and roughly hit every other water station. Couldn’t resist a sprint at the end when I saw the clock – so glad the knee didn’t pop during that moment of indiscretion.

Overall, I thought this was a good event. I still like Twin Cities and Grandma’s the best, but you can really tell the community supports this event and I think they realize it’s an up and coming race on the national calendar (voted best value by Runner’s World). Fifty Staters will do well to pick this as their ND race (it was state number five for me) and those looking for a flat course will love it. I found the religious undertone a little odd (bible quotes on the race poster and medal, blessing before the national anthem), but everyone was very nice and welcoming. Even the governor and mayor showed up to wish us good luck.

Nothing else planned now until New York on November 4. I’ll take a few days off and see how the knee does in recovery mode.

And congrats to Courtenay (www.autopilotlegs.com), who ran her first ever half marathon – way to go Twitter friend!

http://www.mtecresults.com/race/show/671

Fargo Marathon finish line inside the Fargodome, Fargo, North Dakota

Outside the Fargodome with kid one and two, Fargo, North Dakota

They snuck up quickly, but tomorrow is the TC 1 Mile in downtown Minneapolis, followed by the Fargo Marathon on Saturday. Fargo sent me an email today with my bib number, which will be the very cool 1001. I hope the weather forecast gets cool too, but it’s not looking good (upper 70s and thunderstorms).

I’ll have to hustle from my last work meeting and drive straight to the starting line in Minneapolis tomorrow. Thankfully they have packet pickup on race day, but that will still be a hassle to get the stuff, run back to the car and get back in time. Looks like I’ll either do the masters wave at 7:24 or the open wave at 7:39. Two goals for this year: 1) beat last year’s time of 6:20 and 2) beat Megan. I’d really like to get a sub-6, but I don’t want to risk injury before the marathon.

The whole family is going to Fargo and we plan to get the kids out of school early and start driving around noon. Google says a little more than four hours to the Fargodome, where packet pickup is located. We have until 9 p.m. to get there, so we should be fine. We have reservations at the Fargo Holiday Inn, which has a big pool area for the family to hang out at until I get done running.

Mentally, I feel ready for both of these. My running log has been a little light this month, but the 2012 year to date totals haven’t been awful. I’ve done a fair amount of cross training this month too, so I should be fine. No pressure on the Fargo time, so I’ll just see what the weather dictates. In fact, I don’t think I’ll even run with a watch this time…

Continuing on with the ten favorites theme I started a few days ago, here is my initial pass at outstate Minnesota. There is a heavy focus on the northern part of the state, as I’ve spent the most time there. Other areas are very nice too, but maybe that can be a third post down the road.

1. Devil’s Kettle Hiking Trail

Part of the Judge C.R. Magney State Park, the trail to the Devil’s Kettle is pure North Shore beautiful. It’s not too long or too tough, so almost everyone can do it, and I just love that we haven’t figured out the mystery of where all that water goes.

2. World’s Best Donuts and Sven & Ole’s Pizza

Grand Marais is such a beautiful town. I’ve been lucky enough to visit almost every year of my life, so I’ve had plenty of time to see the dining options come and go. These two establishments are firmly planted within shouting distance of each other and continue to be must visits on every single trip I take.

3. Lutsen Mountains and Lutsen Resort

Lutsen has always been Minnesota’s only “real” ski area and I love visiting any time of the year. The golf course added another dimension and the original Lutsen Resort on the lake holds special memories of my friend Megan’s beautiful wedding on the beach.

4. Gooseberry Falls (above) and Split Rock Lighthouse

Gooseberry Falls State Park represents everything that is good about the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Gorgeous setting, nice visitor center, easy access off highway 61, miles of great trails and photogenic waterfalls. And it’s all free.

Just down the road, Split Rock isn’t free, but what a wonderful historic site. Another great visitor center, friendly, informative guides, super cool lighthouse structure and a beautiful hiking trail down to the lake and the iconic photo opportunity that awaits.

5. Ely Blueberry Festival

This is a relatively new thing for me, but I’ve been to the last two Blueberry Festivals in Ely and will plan to keep coming back. My parents have been going for years and it’s just down the road from work, so I think it’s officially tradition now.

6. The Wilderness at Fortune Bay and The Vermilion Club

Speaking of work, it’s a no brainer to include The Wilderness at Fortune Bay, Golfweek’s #1 public course in Minnesota.

Best. Benefit. Ever.

After the round, the food at the resort is good, but nothing compares to the VC. You know your foursome needs a Bamboozler…

7. Grandma’s Marathon

This race lacks the total spectator count of Twin Cities, but it’s so very special in a different way. Taking the train to the start, the beauty of Lake Superior, the crowds when you enter the city, the party at the end – Grandma produces a world-class event. A true showcase for the city of Duluth.

8. Tobies Caramel Rolls

Not quite halfway between the Twin Cities and Duluth, the pit stop in Hinckley almost always means a visit to Tobies. And Tobies means caramel rolls – soft, sweet, sticky caramel rolls. Yum.

9. Brainerd Area Golf – The Classic, The Pines, The Preserve and Deacon’s Lodge

While I’ve photographed all of these courses, I’ve actually only played two of them (The Classic and The Preserve). Throw in Golden Eagle and you have a solid week of great Minnesota resort golf. One of these years I’ll organize a buddy trip to do just that.

10. Greg’s Meats

Last, but not least, Greg’s Meats is located just north of Cannon Falls on highway 52. While they have lots of great things for sale, all I have to say is: beef jerky time!

What else do you like outstate?

http://www.baa.org/

Last night I pulled the trigger on registering for the next long race I plan to run – the Fargo Marathon, which will be held on Saturday, May 19 at 8:15AM. The fast, flat course starts and ends at the Fargodome and has received good reviews on MarathonGuide.com.

The 2012 edition will be the eighth running and it sounds like the marathon field is much smaller than half, which should be interesting. Still need to book a hotel room for Friday – the whole family will come with and we’ll probably leave right after school.

So I’m now officially back in training mode. I plan to up my minimum treadmill runs during the week from 5K to 8K (or 10K if I can stand it) and will start regular weekend long runs in Minneapolis again. If the weather continues to cooperate, I may try to do more outdoor running in the Northland too.

This week is also tech training week, as we have three days of kiosk training scheduled Tuesday-Thursday with a vendor from Las Vegas (the “kiosk whisperer”). Our formal meeting rooms were all booked, so we actually have some tables set up in a back storage area. Classy, no?

http://www.fargomarathon.com/

Confirmation number for the 2012 New York City Marathon lottery – third time’s the charm?

Email from the New York Road Runners announcing the 2012 NYC Marathon lottery.

http://www.marathonguide.com/

Inspired by the idea behind Megan’s clever blog Forty by Thirty, I’ve been trying to think of a theme I could do to spice up my running goals for 2012 and beyond. I’ve seen people running with “50 Marathons in 50 States” shirts and Megan has talked about it in the past, but I never really considered it before.

I’ve only finished four so far, so 46 more before I turn fifty probably isn’t logistically (or financially) feasible. Fifty marathons before fifty is probably more realistic. I do like the idea of researching and planning all of those trips, though, especially since I haven’t been able to travel for fun much the past three years.

When I started writing the list of states, there really aren’t a lot that jump out. Hawaii, Oregon, New York, Texas and Massachusetts are easy; some of the others will take more research (see the full list after the jump).

With Boston moving the goal posts again, it will probably take me a few more years to get a qualifying time. If I started running more than 2-3 a year, though, it might happen quicker. It will be tough to not run Grandma’s and Twin Cities every year, but I’d probably have to save that money for other races. We’ll see…

Since I’m still grandfathered in for the New York City lottery, I’ll be running that in 2012 or 2013 and I’m thinking maybe I’ll try Fargo in May. Here is the list, with states in bold already completed:

1. Alabama
2. Alaska – Mayor’s (June)
3. Arizona
4. Arkansas
5. California – Los Angeles (March) or Big Sur (April)
6. Colorado
7. Connecticut
8. Delaware
9. Florida – Walt Disney World
10. Georgia
11. Hawaii – Honolulu (December)
12. Idaho
13. Illinois – Chicago
14. Indiana – Indianapolis (October)
15. Iowa
16. Kansas
17. Kentucky
18. Louisiana
19. Maine
20. Maryland
21. Massachusetts – Boston (April)
22. Michigan
23. Minnesota – Grandma’s, Twin Cities
24. Mississippi
25. Missouri
26. Montana
27. Nebraska
28. Nevada – Las Vegas (December)
29. New Hampshire
30. New Jersey
31. New Mexico
32. New York – New York City (November)
33. North Carolina
34. North Dakota – Fargo (May)
35. Ohio – Flying Pig (May)
36. Oklahoma
37. Oregon – Portland (October)
38. Pennsylvania
39. Rhode Island – Ocean State (October)
40. South Carolina
41. South Dakota
42. Tennessee
43. Texas – Houston (January)
44. Utah
45. Vermont
46. Virginia
47. Washington
48. West Virginia
49. Wisconsin – Eau Claire
50. Wyoming

I’ll continue to update this post as I find additional races that sound good.

Any suggestions?

http://imm2011.onlineraceresults.com/individual.php?bib=751

Yesterday was the 29th running of the Twin Cities Marathon (and my seventh TCM). My brother Brian came up from Florida to run it for the first time and we were joined by Lisa, one of his Disney co-workers. This was also her first TCM, so it was fun running with two first-timers (although both had run marathons before, including several Disney races).

The weather was perfect – 37 and sunny at the start with little wind. The forecasted high was 62, but I’m not sure if it got that warm. I wore shorts and a long-sleeve shirt and was never hot or cold. I also wore gloves at the start and handed them off to the family just before the half-way point.

Brian and I hadn’t trained much for this race. His excuse was warm weather in Orlando this fall and mine was the new job up north (and all the commuting). I’ve only run a total of about 60 miles since Grandma’s in June, so I was planning on a nice, easy pace this time.

Lisa and Brian both subscribe to Galloway’s run/walk method, so I thought I’d try it out with them. They were doing the 4-1 version: four minutes of running, followed by one minute of walking. Lisa’s watch was set to give audible indicators, so you didn’t really have to keep track.

While it was nice to have the frequent walk breaks, I’m not really sold on it yet. They say you don’t get as sore this way, but I felt just as bad this morning as I usually do. I’d rather go out too fast, build up a surplus, then walk more at the end. Plus, I like to walk through the water stops and not be forced to walk when the clock tells says so. Our splits were interesting, though:

10:43, 10:17, 11:03, 10:49, 10:03, 11:03, 10:26, 11:02, 11:03, 10:33, 10:43, 10:46, 11:38
11:08, 11:00, 11:36, 11:16, 12:24, 12:26, 11:49, 12:41, 13:16, 12:47, 12:16, 12:00, 11:25

They were a little more consistent than my usual splits, but they all needed to be closer to 10:00 to meet Brian and Lisa’s original goal of 4:30. Lisa started to get leg cramps after we crossed the river, so those later splits included more walk breaks than usual for the 4-1 method. She really wanted a PR, though, so I helped coach her down Summit and she ended up getting it by a minute and a half.

After the race, Brian was selected by TCM staff for a “middle of the pack” award. He got a cool gift bag with about $300 worth of stuff (gift cards, poster, hat, magnets, DVD, book).

Two neighbors earned Boston qualifying times – congrats Heidi and Michelle! I was hoping to join them next April, but my lack of focus on proper training have postponed those plans.

I’ll probably run Grandma’s and TCM next year, since they are anniversary years (35th and 30th, respectively). New York City will depend on the lottery draw and I may throw in a smaller race depending on how much I get to run in the coming months.

Search 2010 TCM Results

Last weekend I ran my sixteenth marathon (and sixth Grandma’s). This one was technically against doctor’s orders (who said I should wait 4-6 weeks after breaking my toe), so I guess I shouldn’t be too upset with my regression in times.

After setting my new PR earlier this year in Eau Claire, I was hoping for another sub-4 race (even with the toe). The weather turned out to be decent and the first half of the race went well. I started out with the 3:40 pace group for the first two miles, then tried to catch the 3:30 group. I got within shouting distance, but then started to slow down.

I hit the halfway point in 1:52, but really wanted to quit around mile 17. Turns out not running for four weeks was a bigger problem than the toe – my knees and thighs were killing me. The splits for the final Duluth miles were terrible, but I still managed to finish in under four and a half hours (4:28:56 – 10:16 pace). Looks like my watch erased the last few miles, but here are the first 22 miles:

• 8:08, 8:08, 7:39, 7:42, 7:54, 8:15, 8:30, 8:53, 8:55, 8:28, 9:12, 9:19, 9:51, 9:51, 10:39, 11:14, 11:19, 11:25, 12:03, 12:34, 12:45, 12:54

As always, this race was incredibly well organized. I know there is more competition for spring marathons, but Grandma’s is special. I’ll keep coming back as long as I can – it’s a true Minnesota running tradition. Special thanks to all of the on-course volunteers at the water stops and at the finish who made me feel like the most important runner they had seen all day.

My legs and feet are feeling OK now and the swelling on the broken toe is mostly gone. I had a nasty sore on my waist from where my iPod was clipped to my shorts, but that’s healing now too. I may take another week off from running, but then need to start preparing for Twin Cities in October.

Today I ran the second annual Eau Claire Marathon in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. This was marathon number 15 for me and I set a new PR by 25 minutes. I averaged an 8:42 pace and finished with an official chip time of 3:47:49. Here were the splits:

7:58, 7:42, 7:53, 7:51, 7:56, 7:48, 8:01, 8:09, 8:13, 7:42, 8:09, 8:31, 8:30
8:35, 8:34, 9:01, 8:59, 9:08, 9:24, 8:50, 9:21, 9:22, 9:59, 9:54, 10:18, 10:09

That time was good enough to place 60th out of 230 marathon finishers. The half marathon had 1234 finishers, while the two mile run had 207. Full marathon results can be found here.

The course was interesting. There were some very beautiful sections, including a four mile stretch on a dirt trail through a forest and multiple river crossings. Some other stretches were just there to get you from point A to point B (which is fine and couldn’t really be avoided). The only thing I disliked was the nasty hill that ended right at mile 26 – pure evil.

The weather was a mixed bag. The temperature was good, but the sun was out the entire time. Winds picked up over the course of the morning and provided a challenge in many spots (although it was a cool breeze and helped offset the hot sunshine).

One last note – the course volunteers and Eau Claire police officers were all wonderful. Even though the field wasn’t very big, they really treated all the runners like royalty.

Here’s what the 2009 editions of the Twin Cities Marathon finisher’s shirt and medal look like. I’ve added the medal to the background image here on the 7 Minute Miles home page (and also on my Twitter page).

Today was the big day – the 28th running of the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. This was my sixth TCM (fourteenth total) and today I was running with my friend and neighbor Gina in her first ever marathon.

The weather was perfect (low 40s at the start, overcast skies and light wind) and the race went really well. Gina’s goal was 4:30 and we were on that pace until the last few miles, finishing in 4:36:19 (10:33 pace). I’m very proud of her – she went from her first 8K race last summer to a half marathon this spring to a full marathon today. Impressive!

There were 8,428 finishers today (3,539 women and 4,889 men), with an average time of 4:20:39. Jason Hartmann of Grand Rapids, Michigan, won the men’s title in 2:12:09 (5:03 pace), while Ilsa Paulson of New York won the women’s title in 2:31:49 (5:48 pace).

I’ll be back next year too – my brother will be visiting from Florida to run with me…

7MM 2009 Twin Cities Marathon Photo Gallery

UPDATE:
Link to KARE 11 finish line video (we cross around 30:50)

Today we got everyone out of the house for the Twin Cities Marathon Family Day events at the state capitol grounds. The weather wasn’t great (cold and rainy), but more than 5,000 other brave souls turned out for the 10K (new this year), 5K, Diana Pierce Family Mile, Half Mile, Toddler Trot and Diaper Dash.

Colleen walked the 5K with a group from Allina and finished in 59:02 (19:00 pace). The 5K was won by Mathew Chesang in 15:30 (5:00), while Meghan Armstrong took the women’s 5K title with a time of 16:45 (5:24). There were 1,989 finishers (850 men and 1,139 women), with an average time of 35:04.

Here are a few other results from people we knew in the 5K:

• Chris Hlusak, 20:45 (6:41)
• Trevor Huinker, 30:00 (9:40)
• Rebecca Schutz, 34:57 (11:15)
• Sarah Hlusak, 57:51 (18:37)

The inaugural 10K was won by Evgeny Beletskiy in 33:49 (5:27). Ariella Gottfried was the first women to cross the finish line with a time of 36:32 (5:53). There were 1,215 finishers (458 men and 757 women) and the average time was 59:50.

We also had a few friends in the 10K:

• Jake Schutz, 53:15 (8:35)
• Amy Schmidt, 1:07:09 (10:49)

Our kids both decided to run in the one mile race this year and we all had the opportunity to meet Diana Pierce before the race. Deerwood had a smaller crowd this year, but it was great to see everyone.

I stopped in at the expo two more times today – once to get an event poster signed by the artist and later in the day with my neighbor Gina (who will be running her first marathon with me tomorrow). It’s amazing how much free junk you get at those things – even more when you bring kids along.

Pictures from today have been uploaded to Facebook and the private section of the 7MM photo gallery – email me if you need access to either.

Pasta dinner tonight, then off to the Metrodome (er, “Mall of America Park”) in the morning for the 28th running of the Most Beautiful Urban Marathon in America…

Tonight I stopped in at the TCM Expo in downtown St. Paul to pick up Colleen’s 5K bag and my marathon stuff. The family races are Saturday (the 5K is at 9AM and both kids are running the one mile race at 10AM), while the marathon starts Sunday at 8AM.

I was so sad to see the “M 40-44″ tag in my packet – I guess that makes me a masters runner now. Sigh.

More TCM news coming soon…

My fifth Grandma’s Marathon turned into quite a scorcher towards the end. I found out later that the medical director actually came close to calling off the race, but I didn’t think it was that bad.

I had stayed overnight Friday in Grand Marais and got dropped off in Two Harbors early Saturday morning. The temperature when I left Grand Marais was 45, but by the time we got to the start, it was 67 and humid. The sun stayed out for most of the morning and there was very little breeze. I think the bank sign said 84 when I reached downtown.

Personally, my race went OK and I felt fine the whole day. I tried to stay with the four hour pacer, but she slowly faded into the horizon around the 11 mile mark. My final result was a 4:21, which I was perfectly fine with, given the conditions.

Here are the top three finishers in the main race:

2009 Grandma’s Marathon – Men

• 1, Christopher Raabe, 30, Washington, DC, 2:15:13 (5:10 pace)
• 2, Charles Kanyao, 33, Nairobi, Kenya, 2:18:36 (5:18)
• 3, David Tuwei, 30, Coon Rapids, MN, 2:19:49 (5:20)

2009 Grandma’s Marathon – Women

• 1, Mary Akor, 32, Lomita, CA, 2:36:52 (5:59)
• 2, Alina Ivanova, 40, Albufeira, Portugal, 2:36:58 (6:00)
• 3, Robyn Friedman, 36, Lambs Grove, IA, 2:38:03 (6:02)

Registration for the 2010 marathon, which will be held Saturday, June 19, 2010, is already open. Get $10 off the regular $85 fee if you sign up before September 7.

Got this is the mail recently from the Twin Cities Marathon – mark your calendars!

Received my official confirmation of entry card in the mail today for the 33rd Annual Grandma’s Marathon, which will be held Saturday, June 20, 2009. My number this time will be 3669.

Online registration is still open as of today, so grab your spot if you want to run this year.

The 2008 Twin Cities Marathon was much cooler than last year, but was also accompanied by way too much rain. I managed a new PR and couldn’t believe how many people still came out to cheer in the unpleasant weather.

Finisher totals for 2008: 7,970 (4788 male, 3182 female)
Average Time: 4:22:20

Here are the top three finishers for each of the events:

Twin Cities Marathon – Male

• 1, Fernando Cabada, Gray, TN, 2:16:31
• 2, Matt Gabrielson, Minneapolis, MN, 2:17:38
• 3, Edwardo Torres, Boston, MA, 2:17:54

Twin Cities Marathon – Female

• 1, Olga Glok, Tampa, FL, 2:32:27
• 2, Silvia Skvortsova, New York, NY, 2:32:38
• 3, Elza Kireeva, Miami, FL, 2:39:47

TC 10 Mile – Male

• 1, Josh Glaab, Superior, CO, 50:27
• 2, Chris Erichsen, Bloomington, MN, 51:14
• 3, Justin Grunewald, Merrifield, MN, 51:18

TC 10 Mile – Female

• 1, Kara Goucher, Portland, OR, 53:16
• 2, Katie McGregor, St. Louis Park, MN, 55:04
• 3, Kelly Liljeblad, Niwot, CO, 57:06

TC 5K – Male

• 1, Dan Fadgen, Rogers, MN, 14:48
• 2, Mike Hanlon, St. Louis Park, MN, 14:54
• 3, Travis Burckstrand, St. Paul, MN, 15:20

TC 5K – Female

• 1, Annemarie Iddins, St. Paul, MN, 19:35
• 2, Julia Anderson, St. Louis Park, MN, 19:49
• 3, Nancy Schmelzle, St. Louis Park, MN, 20:21

The 2009 Twin Cities Marathon (the 28th) will be held Sunday, October 4, 2009.

For the second year in a row, I didn’t make it to Duluth for Grandma’s Marathon. My local housing contact has moved and the thought of $500/night hotel rooms has scared me away. I do miss it, though–maybe next year…

Finisher totals for 2008: 6,874 (4342 male, 2532 female) out of 7,103 starters (229 DNF)
Average Time: 4:34:01
Weather: sunny, 59 degrees and humid at start, 72 degrees at noon

Here are the top three finishers for each of the events:

Grandma’s Marathon – Male

• 1, Lamech Mokono, Kenya, 2:13:39
• 2, David Tuwei, Kenya, 2:13:44
• 3, Benson Cheruiyot, 2:14:20

Grandma’s Marathon – Female

• 1, Mary Akor, Hawthorne, CA, 2:38:50
• 2, Margaret Toroitich, Kenya, 2:41:43
• 3, Sally Meyerhoff, Scottsdale, AZ, 2:42:58

Wheelchair Marathon – Male

• 1, Krige Schabort, South Africa, 1:29:33
• 2, Ernst Van Dyk, South Africa, 1:29:35
• 3, Mark Ledo, Maple, ON, 1:35:25

Wheelchair Marathon – Female

• 1, Amanda McGrory, Champaign, IL, 1:49:59
• 2, Tricia Downing, Denver, CO, 2:26:16
• 3, Jacqui Kapinowski, Point Pleasant, NJ, 2:48:37

Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon – Male

• 1, Mathew Chesang, Kenya, 1:04:48
• 2, Fernando Cabada, Gray, TN, 1:05:07
• 3, Michael Reneau, Rochester Hills, MI, 1:05:21

Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon – Female

• 1, Liza Hunter-Galvan, New Zealand, 1:13:29
• 2, Caroline Rotich, Kenya, 1:14:40
• 3, Kate Smyth, Australia, 1:16:32

William A. Irvin 5K – Male

• 1, Jordan Tucker, Omaha, NE, 16:22
• 2, Mike Kramer, Cloquet, MN, 16:23
• 3, Adam Zais, Hudson, WI, 16:36

William A. Irvin 5K – Female

• 1, Michelle Oman, Mankato, MN, 18:35
• 2, Raynee Degrio, St Paul, MN, 19:14
• 3, Laura Hughes, Mankato, MN, 19:29

The 2009 Grandma’s Marathon (the 33rd) will be held Saturday, June 20, 2009.

Last week was the 13th Annual Med City Marathon in Rochester (with a start in Byron). The men’s winner was Mark Ott of Jackson, Michigan, in 2:54:33. On the women’s side, Kara Arzamendia of St. Paul won with a time of 3:12:19.

Family friend Debra Miller was 18th among women, with a time of 3:58:23. Way to go Deb!

This race doesn’t have the high profile that Grandma’s and TCM have, but it attracts more than 1,000 participants. This was the first year the race was organized by the Rochester Area Family YMCA.

The 2009 race will be held Sunday, May 24th.

The 2008 Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon reported today that the 11,000 runner field is now full.

If you still want to run, there will be 150 entries available beginning Thursday, May 22 at 12:00 p.m. via the Fundraiser Entry Program. These entries cost the regular $95 entry fee, plus a $100 tax-deductible donation that will support kids’ fitness and wellness through several youth fitness partners:

• Bolder Options mentoring program teaches youth to succeed in all of life’s races, and the vision to build a community of caring relationships in support of our youth, nearly 350 youth have benefited since 1998.
• MIGIZI Communications effects and contributes to the American Indian community through social justice and positive change by committing resources to telecommunications, education, health/wellness, and other areas that contribute to capacity-building within the American Indian community.
• YWCA of Minneapolis works to fulfill their mission of eliminating racism and empowering women. YWCA of Minneapolis’ girls and youth programs focus on the strengths of young people and challenge them to expect and create great things in their lives.

“Runners looking for a great fall race come to the Twin Cities for the terrific community support, the beautiful fall weather and for a top-quality marathon experience,” said executive director of Twin Cities Marathon, Inc. Virginia Brophy Achman. “We are excited to offer a limited number of additional spots in the marathon as we help raise funds for our community partners.”

Today both Twin City newspapers reported that the 2008 Twin Cities Marathon online registration was half full. This is the first year of online-only registration (with a price increase to $95) and the field size has been increased by 500 to 11,000.

I got caught up in marathon fever this week, watching the Boston Marathon live on Versus yesterday and deciding to register for the TCM today (I’m over my headphone ban issues). So I guess that means it’s time to get this site up and running. Now that hockey season is mostly over, it will be all golf and running until the fall.

So I welcome you to check out the about page, subscribe to our RSS feed and get ready as the 2008 Minnesota running season goes full tilt.

Welcome!