When Bois Forte decided to put together a team for the 2013 Ragnar Great River relay, I was asked to be the Fortune Bay representative. This was partly due to my reputation for running and partly because no one else volunteered. Rae Villebrun was the captain and organizer of team Running Wild Through the Wilderness and did an excellent job of logistics and communication throughout.

We had some turnover on our roster in the weeks leading up to the race, including one person who dropped out the week of the race. This lead to me taking both the 8th and 9th runner positions, effectively turning it into a Ragnar Ultra. I decided to just do the back-to-backs three times (see the segment maps after the jump), for a grand total of 36.6 miles. I was a little worried when the Ragnar guide listed the segments as very hard, very hard, very hard, very hard, easy and moderate (which should have been “hard” in my opinion).

My Garmin had all kinds of cool stats from this event:

• 5:29:58 overall, for an average pace of 9:01
• 4,675 ft of total elevation gain
• 5,130 estimated calories burned
• Fastest split – 7:35
• Slowest split – 12:48 (walked half a hill)
• Split breakdown: 3 sevens, 16 eights, 15 nines, 2 “others”

As you can see from the elevation chart, this course had some serious hills. I had to walk for part of the last hill in segment 9 (my slowest split) and the long downhill after the peak was almost as painful (in a different way). I also walked part of the hill at the end of segment 33, which was my least favorite part of the entire relay. Thankfully Megan was there with me for that part – many, many thanks to her teammate Yaniha for the surprise water bottles too.

Even though this was my first Ragnar, I could tell right away that people are what make this event what it is. I hadn’t met any of my teammates in real life before Friday, but we had an awesome team. I really appreciate all the work that Rae and John put into organizing our group and thanks to my van two partners Amy, Melissa, Nikki and John for sharing their Target snacks, driving us everywhere and providing support throughout the relay. And cheers to all of the van one runners too – you did great. Running Wild Through the Wilderness kicked ass!

I’ve wanted to be there, but I’m not fast enough. I live vicariously on Patriots’ Day each year through people I’ve never met in real life (such as @susanruns and @mattlegal). Their wonderful blog entries are full of excitement and commitment to excellence. The world-class athletes that are featured on the live stream I watch every year make it look so effortless. Pure inspiration to get faster so I too can travel to Hopkinton some day.

I had turned off the live stream after Jeptoo and Desisa finished, just keeping a tab open to see if Nurse on the Run could maintain her 3:10 pace for the second half of her race. Then a few tweets starting trickling in my feed about an explosion. Then another. Links to unimaginable photos and video. I was in shock.

Runners are a close-knit group. Every time I see a runner out somewhere, I tell my family “there goes one of my people.” Today hit straight at my heart. Not just for the runners, but also the spectators, the first responders that line the entire course, the volunteers. It could have been my kids waiting there for me to finish. Such a senseless tragedy.

So very thankful everyone I know is OK. Google has set up a page if you are looking for someone here. The official BAA site also allows you to search for people here. The American Red Cross has a page here for people to donate blood in Massachusetts (although you can always donate blood wherever you are). The official BAA Facebook page is posting frequent updates here.

Peace and healing to everyone in Boston tonight…

Here is the disappointing news from New York:

The policy states that a runner must be denied 3 entry consecutive years, without entering these marathons through another means such as a charity. You were denied entry in 2010 and 2011, but you were accepted in 2012, so you are no longer eligible for guaranteed entry through the denied 3 times program. I am sorry.

As was stated on the website, this program is being phased out. The last year to enter the program was 2011.

So it looks like I’ll pick some different options for 2013…

The New York Road Runners continue to hold sway over my future running plans. Yes, they refunded my $255 entry fee this week from the 2012 (non)marathon. The trouble is, they also posted a note that said they haven’t decided yet if there will be an open lottery for 2013, nor what they will do for people who didn’t get in for three years in a row (2012 would have been my third year). So I really don’t want to sign up for any long races until I know for sure whether NYC is an option this November or not. This is a bit of a problem, as there are several alternative options for this year that may or may not fill up before I find out about New York:

• Deadwood Mickelson Trail Marathon, June 2 – my next 50 states option (plus I’d get to check out the Deadwood casino scene)
• Grandma’s, June 22 – really missed running it last year
• Med City Marathon, May 26 – continue to hear good things about this southern Minnesota race (and the price is right)
• Twin Cities, October 6 – I’d love to have Ms. Medtronic 1) get the TCM monkey off her back and 2) break that 4 hour mark
• Goofy Challenge, January 12, 2014 – not really 2013, but the cost would probably mean not running any other marathons in 2013

I’m currently registered for two shorter races: the Get in Gear 10K (April 27) and the TC 1 Mile (May 9). There are a few other ones I was thinking about too:

• Get Lucky Half Marathon, March 16 – not my favorite route, but nice swag
• Goldy’s Run 10 Miler, April 13 – looks like a nice course with a fun finish
• Lake Minnetonka Half Marathon, May 5 – it’s been on my list for years

I also plan to cheer on Megan and her dad at the Zumbro 50 Miler on April 13, which I think is completely crazy. Of course I say that after looking at bikes today that could be used in the Arrowhead 135 next year, so I guess it’s all relative, right?

Mileage so far this year has been a little on the light side, but I’m mostly OK with the current state of things. I’m planning to focus on treadmill speed work until I can get outside more, which should help prevent another knee issue at the 1 Mile. The 17 miler this weekend was a total surprise, as I was only planning to run 9 or 12 when I left the house. I love the calorie benefits from longer runs, though, so warmer weather can’t come fast enough.

Same goes for news from New York…

Marathon number 21 wasn’t my fastest and the weather was way too hot (82F and sunny at the finish), but it might have been the funnest one yet. My friend and running partner Megan ran with me dressed as Minnie Mouse, so I just had to be Mickey, right? It was so fun running through all four parks in costume – my only regret was wearing hot mouse hands for 26.2 miles. Much respect for the cast members that wear full costumes all summer long.

We really didn’t have any time expectations for this race – I had only run long twice since New York, with November and December monthly totals of only 41.9 and 59.3 miles, respectively. Megan hadn’t done any formal marathon training since her 50 miler in September and kept saying she would have to do a lot of walking after mile 17.

Turns out I was the one who wanted to do the walking late in the race. Just like my previous two Disney races, it was sunny and hotter than normal, with high humidity. I was glad to be in a forward corral, which gave us more time to run in the dark. I was hoping to get to the halfway mark before the sun hit us, but that happened just before Animal Kingdom (around mile 11). I wore the gloves for as long as I could stand it, but ended up carrying them for about four miles (and put them back on for the finish).

We saw the family near mile 15 and in Epcot near Spaceship Earth. We looked for my sister near the Contemporary Hotel, but must have run right past her in the dark (sorry Lynn!). My brother ran with his co-worker friend Bob, who we didn’t see until after the race (they started a few corrals back and were trying to break five hours).

The course was new this year, starting in the same spot, but running straight to the Magic Kingdom. Most of the course was similar from there on out, with the addition of a loop around the Richard Petty Driving Experience track and three miles looping around the ESPN Wide World of Sports area. I liked the changes for the most part – give me the same course next time with cooler weather and I’d probably love it.

We saw lots of characters during the race and stopped for a photo with Wreck-It Ralph. I really liked the grave diggers from the Haunted Mansion – that was really clever. The special surprise at mile 20 was cool too – giant puppets on both sides of the road, followed by a big arch with medals from all 20 races (and Mickey, Minnie and Pluto on stage).

Run Disney does such a great job organizing large races like this. The expo was big and crowded, although closing at 7 p.m. with a jam-packed hall was silly and made me feel bad for the smaller vendors. Race day setup with bag drop-off was very smooth and I still think the fireworks are one of the coolest things in the running world. LOVED the misting cooling fans in the finish area, but thought the food in the little box lunches was a little weird.

Now I’ve got Goofy on the mind!

Final results:

Megan and David

• 5M – 49:14
• 10M – 1:38:16
• Half – 2:09:34
• 20M – 3:25:45
• Chip – 4:43:11 (10:48 pace)

Brian and Bob

• 5M – 53:49
• 10M – 1:49:34
• Half – 2:22:05
• 20M – 3:38:22
• Chip – 4:57:03 (11:20 pace)

7MM Photo Gallery

The Mayans say it won’t matter, but the New York Road Runners finally decided what they are going to do about the cancelled marathon. When I saw the option headers, I thought they were going to do exactly what I was hoping. Reading further, though, the guaranteed entry option for 2013, 2014 or 2015 requires full payment (again), instead of a free entry (or a reduced entry fee).

I was initially disappointed in this, but I think the refund option is the way to go. $255 for a guaranteed spot is just too high – I will take the refund and continue to pay the $11 fee to enter the lottery until I get picked again, whenever that may be.

As for my current running plans, I have a January marathon coming up very soon that I’m not really prepared for 100%. After New York, my mileage dropped way off, primary because I’m a cold weather wimp. I will get in a longer outdoor run in Minneapolis this weekend, though, come hell or high water (insert Mayan joke here).

My bib number for this next race is 1216, which puts me in corral “A” right behind the elites. There are eight corrals, so I’m not sure why they keep putting me there. A few of you know which race this is, but I’m keeping it a secret for now.

The run log sits at 1107.1 miles for 2012, a new personal best. Given the injury issues I had, I’m pretty happy with that number. My knee is much better since the new shoes, but the heel pain still lingers. Hoping for better health in 2013…

So the race is now off and the kid and I will return back to Minnesota tomorrow afternoon. Thanks go out to Delta for waiving the change fees and to the Pod Hotel 51 for not charging a cancellation fee.

What a roller coaster of emotion the past few days. Our trip up to this point lacked any of the drama and devastation you see on TV. Midtown Manhattan was full of life: cabs and traffic, full restaurants and museums, stores open for business, Broadway performances, mobile phone service, Internet access, electricity, water.

We waited to fly here until the mayor said the race was on, the marathon director concurred and Delta was cleared to fly into LaGuardia. Things seemed to be getting better – more people were getting power back, public transportation options were expanding and parks were scheduled to reopen on Saturday. Friday’s decision to cancel the race seemed like a failure of leadership and a cop-out by the city that considers itself the greatest in the world.

Just like in politics, I found many comments on television and online about the race (and its runners) to be rude, unwelcoming and misinformed. Comments by many runners were just as bad. The mismanagement of this crisis by race organizers compounded the problem and created a no-win situation. New York Road Runners needs to step up and fix things or this will impact the marathon for years to come.

It was reported that 40,000 out of the 47,000 entrants showed up in New York this week. I’m hoping that they offer refunds to those that want them and a paid, guaranteed entry to a year of your choice (not just to the 2013 event). This is not an inexpensive city to visit, so assuming everyone can just come back next year isn’t realistic (especially for the many, many foreign competitors).

I’m not sure how runners became the object of vilification this week, but it wasn’t a good thing for New York tourism. We will end up canceling four hotel nights (all with sky-high lodging taxes), multiple meals and other spending in the local economy. We also would have volunteered to help with disaster recovery, if that had been organized by race officials. I’m sure most of the 40,000 other runners would have too, given the chance.

While this would have been my first New York City marathon, I’ve covered the distance many times already and don’t feel all that bad about all the training I completed. It made me fitter and healthier than I would be otherwise and I’m proud of the 16 weeks I followed under the Runner’s World plan. I do have another race already planned for January, so I’ll stay active and hope that one goes better.

As for New York 2013 (or beyond), that’s in the hands of NYRR now…