Ah here it goes…another marathon report and another post today. Let the spamming begin.

Let’s start with the good news, technically it was my fastest Grandma’s at 3:29. That’s enough good news. Ha.

Little background on the training for this race. I had been training for the Earth Day Half Marathon in April and was racking up some pretty higher mileage weeks. Was up in the 80′s for most of the winter and spring. So I had a pretty big base going into the end of April.

Even though I had sworn I’d never do this race again, a friend asked me to pace her. She was hoping to run around a 3:35. I figured that if I could get some solid long runs in, I wouldn’t have a problem that. Then it happened, I was laid off. This gave me way too much free time, so I did what I do best. Run.

I really wasn’t following much of a schedule just running when I felt like it. Tuesdays I’d throw in some tempo work (I hate interval stuff) and Wednesdays I’d do around 12 or so miles. Saturdays would be 10 with five at my marathon pace. Sundays would be long. It was the first time in a long time I wasn’t on a real schedule and I was feeling awesome. I also increased my easy running pace down to 7:45 (from 8:00) based on my mile and 5k times.

I evaluated my training the Monday before Grandma’s. Sat down and analyzed all my runs. I told myself if the weather was as perfect as they were predicting, that I would go for it. Sure enough go to Duluth and  the weather was perfect, around 55, cloudy, and a little tailwind. A perfect day to lay it on the line.

I got down into the Canal Park area around 6:00 race day. It was pouring. Luckily a friend set me up with a night at a hotel in the area, so I had a place to park the car and didn’t have to drive anywhere after. Hopped on the train to Two Harbors and all of a sudden the rain cleared up. Looking outside you could see the wind blowing the balloons back towards the finish. I started to get super excited and had no second guessing of going for it.

I had decided on a race plan of 7:25 for the first 5k, 7:15 till 10, then 7:10 for the next 10, and hopefully bring it down after 20 for a nice PR. Like the dumb ass I normally am when I race, I didn’t follow the plan.

Got to the starting area, lined up near the 3:10 group, and ran into a bunch of people I know. Todd and Kris were there, then I ran into Cindy, and a couple other people I recognize, but don’t remember their names. I’m horrible with names. Even ran into a guy that lives on my block and sees me running everyday. Small world.

The gun goes off and I start nice and easy. So bizarre for me. I’m pretty sure I was running the first half mile around 7:45 pace. I felt good and fresh. The pack finally loosened up and I settled into what I though was an easy pace. All of a sudden at the mile split, 7:19. Crap. Slow down idiot. Next mile needs to be slower. So I run a 7:22. Which I was ok with, then 7:16. Yep, not smart again.

I keep telling myself to relax and all of a sudden the miles start clicking off. 7:15 and 7:11 for the next two. Then all of a sudden I hear a familiar voice saying “I wish my running partners were slower”. It was Christian. Totally caught me off guard and incredibly happy to see him. Now the miles just start flying by. Right around 7:10 for lots of miles.

We were having conversations with a lot of people around us. Everybody was really friendly. Going into the half starting area, I could feel the legs starting to fatigue. Grandma’s is a deceivingly rolling course. There’s not much flat at the beginning and my lack of hill running was starting to show.

I had to stop at the porta potty in mile 15 and that always spells trouble. I started to slow a little bit and eventually hit the wall right at mile 20. Dammit that hurt. I kept plodding along as my pace slowed into the 8:00′s and then eventually into the 9:00′s. Luckily Christian was still with me and helping me along. We call him a border collie on training runs. He usually is off in his own world pace wise, but today he was the perfect pacer. I really owe him one.

Around mile 21 I saw Nycole and Beth, totally made my day. I then trudged up Lemon Drop Hill. Tough little bugger that late in the race (nothing like the hills in Boston or Twin Cities). Finally Christian headed off around mile 23, Rob jumped in and gave me some encouragement, but I was already done.

Finally got through the nasty cobblestone road downtown. Almost tripped a couple times. Got down into Canal Park saw a bunch more people I knew, my dad, Curt, Adam, Charlie, Brandy, Kyle, and Kristi. I love doing these local-ish races, I get to see tons of people I know on the course. I’m sure I’m missing a bunch (sorry I was a bit out of it), but it was great seeing everyone.

Then I was done. Finally.

I was a little disappointed in my race, but overall I couldn’t complain. I went all in and raced as hard as I could. I suppose there’s a few things I’d do differently, probably going out town the week before the race would be one of them, but that’s for a different post.

Well that’s that. No more marathons until Houston, promise (I might have my fingers crossed).