Twin Cities Marathon Triumph

Yesterday, I finished my fourth marathon, the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon in Minneapolis/St. Paul, and what an incredible marathon experience it was!


The day got off to a good start with a 0.9 mile walk to the starting line from the Holiday Inn to the Metrodome. The port-a-pottie lines moved quickly, there was free Caribou Coffee for Galen, and it was a brisk 41 degrees at the starting line (by the time I finished the temps were still a cool 54 degrees). I sat on a curb until it was time to go into the starting corral where things warmed up quickly as runners were stuffed like sardines into the two corrals (there were about 10,000 to 11,000 runners). The race started at 8:00 with the first corral (the elite runners) taking off and the second corral (everyone else) following about 3 minutes behind. My goal for the race was to beat 5 hours, so I wore a 4:50 pace band.


The first mile of the race is through downtown Minneapolis. One of my favorite parts of the course was between Miles 1 and 2 where the church bells were ringing at the Minneapolis Basilica. The sound of the bells resonated through downtown and followed us through Mile 2, where they became drowned out by spectators. Spectators on the sides of the street, hanging over overpasses, ringing bells, using thundersticks, cheering, using clappers...it was crazy! At Mile 2 we headed west into a neighborhood where everyone was out on the street and porches. I heard my first and only Prince song (When Doves Cry) on this street (unfortunately his majesty did not come to support the marathoners in person), and the first of many stereos blasting the Rocky theme song. The marathon continued to wind south through gorgeous neighborhoods with spectators lining the streets.


Around Mile 3, a guy on a street corner was playing the tuba. [5K split: 34:16] Between Miles 5 and 8, I saw a family dressed up in wolf skins, a small symphony, a reggae band, and one of my favorite signs at the race: "Run Like a Fat Kid Loves Cupcakes." The view looking back from Lake Calhoun to the Minneapolis skyline around Mile 5 was breathtaking. [10K split: 1:09:42] Miles 8 through 10 blend together a bit. I do remember coming out of the aid station around Mile 9 and seeing some spectators with a 2 foot tall budda. (Rub his tummy for luck anyone?) Mile 10 was the second big highlight of the course. A group was having a huge party and had extended an archway of balloons over the course. I knew this would be a good race because they were playing "I'm Your Man" by Wham! (Personal favorite, I can't help it.) About this point in the marathon, I was starting to get a little tired because I hadn't been taking walk breaks like I do in my Saturday training runs. I was starting to fall behind a few seconds on my pace for a 4:50 marathon so I picked it up a bit. There were some rolling hills between Miles 9 and 12 but they didn't get to me too much. I remember seeing some girls in Scandavian costumes dancing to polka music. I kept focusing on getting to 13.1 miles because I knew Galen would be there to cheer me on. [Half Split 2:25:29].


I saw Galen around 13.3 miles and then he ran over and met me around Mile 14. Galen wore his Epic Cycling winter jersey so he was easy to find...I think trying to find me was like looking for a needle in a haystack! There were oodles and oodles of runners. I should mention, at this point, that I didn't run at all the week before this marathon because I'd been having pain in my right ankle and shin. Around Mile 14 my shin really started acting up. I tried to ignore it, but it was really starting to get to me, so I walked for a little bit.


Miles 14 through 16 were scenic...unfortunately guys using the woods for pit stops took away from the scenery...I was really starting to hurt at the Mile 16 marker, but darn it, there was Galen waiting to take my picture so I kept jogging for a bit then slowed down to whine about my shin hurting. He told me he would try to find me again around Mile 19, but I wouldn't see him again until Mile 25. The spectator traffic was rather intense and he spent a lot of time while I was running stuck in traffic jams. I kept trudging on through Mile 16 to the Mile 17 aid station. As I left the Mile 17 aid station, the 5 hour pace group ran into me. I tried to hang with them and got through part of Mile 18, but I just couldn't hold their pace. I was really disappointed at this point of the race because I thought I was going to be lucky to finish in the 6 hour time limit. I tore off my 4:50 pace band so I would better focus on my Plan B. My shin was no longer an issue, because my quads, hips, and knees were getting very unhappy and I suspected I had a blister on my right big toe (note: This marathon DID take the prize for giving me the biggest running blister ever!). My feet were also starting to cramp. I continued running up to Mile 19 and walked across the Franklin Bridge (it was an incline) to save some energy.


The autumn colors and kayakers on the Mississippi River were a great distraction from my leg pain. I jogged the downhill on the overpass (I was officially in St. Paul) and just kept focusing on Mile 20...Mile 20 where I was greated by a giant inflatable wall. Yes, I hit the wall at Mile 20. Literally. Then I ran through it. ALARC had a giant inflatable brick wall that we all got to run through at the Mile 20 marker. There's nothing like getting a greating like "Welcome to the wall at Mile 20. Go ahead. Hit the wall. One at a time. You know you want to." As the ALARC wall guy kindly reminded us as we passed through: "Only 6.2 miles left, but they are going to be a looooooooooong 6.2 miles." Did I mentioned he was lounging in a camp chair under a blankie? He's lucky no one hit HIM! [Mile 20 Split: 3:51:19]


With 6.2 miles left, I could still finish the marathon in under 5 hours, but I was in extreme pain. I settled to at least set a personal record. I kept trudging along, averaging around 11:00 minute mile pace and then taking 1 to 2 minute walk breaks every 1/2 mile...with the exception of the hills. Miles 21 through 23 are uphill. Mile 21 had a large, steep uphill. I walked it knowing I'd make it up faster that way. If the hill were at the beginning of the race, it wouldn't have been an issue, but I knew from the elevation chart that Miles 24 through 26 were relatively flat to downhill. Around Mile 22, there were a couple runners dressed up with nuns and signs that said "Run Like Hell" with "hell" crossed out and "heck" penciled in.


I was in heaven when I got to Mile 23...well except for my pain...I was still jogging with mall-walker breaks and trying to keep going. I'd run from tree to stop sign to crazy spectator guy. At Mile 24, a spectator actually walked out in the street and said to me "You only have 2 miles left. That's like 20 minutes of running. Go for it!" So I jogged about 0.5 mile then took another walk break, jogged again, came to the Mile 25 aid station, and saw that my total time was around 4:55. I was shocked in a good way. I didn't realize that I was so close to 5 hours. I really started pushing it after the aid station to try to keep jogging. Somewhere in Mile 25 I saw Galen again. This was also near a group playing "Eye of the Tiger." Whoohoo! That's my song!!!!! I walked briefly and then just went for it the last 0.6 miles. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Galen running along the sidewalk taking photos of me. I didn't have the energy to acknowledge him, but it really helped to have someone cheering me on as I took the last 0.2 miles.


The view from Mile 26 to the finish line was spectacular. An American flag was hanging over the course, framing the capitol building in St. Paul. I grimaced my way the last 0.2 miles...which seemed to last forever...and finished with a time of 5:10:54...an 8 minute and 11 second PR over my St. Louis Marathon time in 2007. Whoohoo!


Despite how I felt around Mile 20 when I swore off all marathons, I am sure I will be returning to marathoning once I can walk again. For now, I am waddling and walking downstairs backwards...and seeing visions of the Target logo in my head. (They were sponsors and their logo was on every water cup at every aid station...) Minneapolis/St. Paul did an excellent job with this event. The crowd support was amazing...they came out to line the streets...every mile. While there are times that I can't remember the specific details about the scenery, there were no industrial areas on the course. As they say, it's the most beautiful urban marathon in America!

I'm a Triathlete!

It's official! As of August 1, 2009, I am officially a triathlete after completing the WIN for KC sprint distance triathlon. The all-women triathlon consisted of a 500 meter swim, 10 mile bike, and 5K run.


The day started with a 4 a.m. wakeup call and thunderstorms in the area. I picked up Galen (my wonderful cheerleader) at 4:45 a.m. and we embarked on the journey to Smithville, Missouri. Showers were still in the area as I pulled up to park at Sailboat Cove around 5:30 a.m. Thankfully, by 6:15 a.m. the showers had left and by race start at 7:30 a.m. the roads were drying off. (For the record, I was more concerned with my bike and shoes getting soaked in the transition area...I myself would be getting soaked during the swim...)


Swim (13:42): The swim started in a time trial fashion. Since I had never swim/swam/swum before registering for the triathlon, I didn't submit a swim time. This stuck me at the back of the pack of swimmers. The 1/2 hour wait for the water went by all too quickly. Before I knew it, it was my turn to run into the water. I started off doing about 5 freestyle strokes before I collided with another lady. I looked around and most people around me had started the breaststroke because it was congested. When I got to a free space, I tried freestyle again. I quickly got out of breath, and I imagine it was just nerves and anxiety passing through me. The swim quickly became a "quickly survive 500 meters moving forward" event for me. [Sidebar: This is where doing all-women's triathlon came in handy...no collisions with big men in the water. I noticed each time women ran into each other, apologies were flying. The women were incredibly polite. I thought it was funny that a few even talked throughout their swim as if they were out for a jog.) Since I had a hard time finding a space in the water to freestyle, I flipped over on my back and did an elementary "out for a casual swim in the pool" unofficial backstroke. Talk about flying through the water! I discovered a combination of my unofficial backstroke and freestyle, with a little breaststroke, prevented me from getting tired, and before I knew it, the swim was over. Pfew!!! When I reached the shore I knew I would be an official triathlete...I had the bike and run in the bag!

Transition 1 (2:38): No...I didn't stop to have a small meal or check my email during transistion. I was used to transitioning for duathlons, but this was my first transition from a swim to a ride. Next time, I will skip the bike gloves. I also lost time because I somehow knocked my bike computer off when I dismounted it from the bike rack. I didn't want to ride without the computer, so I spent precious time fumbling to get the computer reattached. I could hear Galen cheering me on since my transition location was near the fence. Little did I know he was taking all sorts of flattering photos of me as I bent over to get my shoes and socks on. (Those beautiful photos will not be shared here...)



Bike (33:29): I rode one of my fastest bike times ever on this course. I think I could have ridden faster; however, since I had a late start on the swim, I was riding around many women who were not familiar with riding and the proper riding protocol. (Applause for these women for being out doing the triathlon, though.) The majority of the 10 miles, I was hammering as hard as I could while repeatedly saying "on your leeeeeeeeeeeeeeeft." This was often a hint for a solo rider riding down the center of the lane to move over. Unfortunately, there were quite a few women who didn't take the hint. After about 10 minutes I lost count of how many women I passed. I continued to ride as hard as I could to make up for my really slow swim. Upon arriving to transition, I was thrilled because I rode about 1 mph faster than I had expected.


Transition 2 (1:54): This transition went smoothly, until a gal going out for her run decided to sit in the middle of the aisle blocking access to my bike rack. I nearly dropped my bike on her (grr!!).


Run (29:58): From my duathlon experience, I know that running after riding, well, it just hurts. I was able to get up and going and keep a sub-10 minute mile pace throughout the race. My legs were haunted by the abuse from the Prairie Punisher duathlon the prior weekend and a really brutal speed session workout on the hills of Shawnee Mission Park four days before the triathlon. To keep my mind occupied, I cheered on women as I passed or that were heading in the opposite direction. The cool thing about the run course is that it was relatively flat, with a few small inclines, and it was located close enough to the finish line that you could hear the beat of the music at the finish line during the run. I also enjoyed the scenic views of Smithville Lake, in which I no longer had to swim. =)


Total Time: 1:121:40 [33 out of 103 in my age group, 193 out of 537 overall]



I was pretty satisfied with my time considering I hadn't really trained for the event. In June, I started lap swimming one or two times a week, and in July I did two very brief open water swims at Shawnee Mission Park. I consider the Prairie Punisher duathlon the week before this event my brick training sessions. It will be interesting to see if I can improve my times at the Olathe Women's Triathlon in September with a bit more training.



Many thanks to WIN for KC for the awesome race swag. We got great quick dry New Balance shirts, an Epic water bottle, and a cute little green bag...not to mention race bling!! (You know I LOVE ME my race bling.) The medals were great quality and wonderful icing on the cake to well-organized event! Also, many thanks to Galen for catching some great photos throughout the race!

Country Music Marathon

It's been over a month now, so I decided to finally post my third marathon experience here on my lovely blog. I wrote this shortly after the marathon, and I had intended to add to it; however, I will just go with my original thoughts.

On April 25, 2009, I finished my third marathon, and it was an experience quite different than the other two I had completed a little over two years ago. The Country Music Marathon in Nashville, TN is a mega-marathon. By "mega" I mean there are 25,000+ 1/2 marathoners and about 4,000 marathoners.

For Kansas City and St. Louis, I had taken a disposable camera and took photos along the route. I had planned to do the same for this marathon; however, the course was either really crowded, not very scenic, or I was just too hot and tired to care about taking pictures. Here's my mile by mile synopsis.

Galen and I left the Holiday Inn Express around 5:45 a.m. on Saturday to begin our 1.5 mile trek to the starting line in Centennial Park. Upon getting to the starting line, we participated in the ritualistic prerace Port-a-Pottie line. It took us about 25 minutes to make it through the line. The next trek (for me) was to make it from the starting line to Corral 17. I felt like a fish swimming upstream as I meandered through the crowd to get to my corral.

The marathon and 1/2 marathon started together at 7:00 a.m. Every 2 or 3 minutes, race officials released a corral. Since I was in Corral 17 this means I didn't start the race until 7:32 a.m. In total, I was on my feet for 1.75 hours before the race even started. This would start to haunt my feet on the second half of the race.

Overall, I finished my slowest time of the three marathons I have completed. The weather conditions and Nashville hills were not conducive to a personal record; however, I was delighted that I finished the race without any dehydration issues and just a little sunburn.

Mileage Highlights:

Mile 1: High energy. It was about 67 degrees.

Mile 4: I couldn't believe it...I actually saw Galen on the out and back right at the course split.

Mile 5 through 7: The course was hot and crowded. Locals were handing out oranges to participants. Running over orange peels for thousands of runners reminded me of that sticky movie theater floor feeling.

Mile 8: I saw Belmont - still had banners from Presidential Debates...
Mile 9: Belmont Church. High energy worship music. Galen called me to tell me he had finished the 1/2 marathon.

Mile 10: I started to feel like I was overheating. The pace band on my right arm just felt hot. I took it off, and I decided to treat the rest of the run like a training run and walk for a minute every mile. It was about 78 degrees.

Mile 11: I look ahead and see a relatively large hill in full sun. I decide to walk the hill and jog at the peak. I was toasty.

Mile 12: I kept thinking surely there has to be shade somewhere...

Mile 13: Still looking for shade...

Mile 14: Walking and irritated. No shade.

Mile 15: On the trail along the Cumberland River. There are no aid stations until after Mile 17. I found out there was also no shade. Most of the marathoners around me have started walking. I called Galen to tell him that I had a bad feeling I was going to be walking a lot of the rest of the course.

Mile 16: Walked this mile until I came across a strategically placed snake (which was getting some wonderful sun on the extremely bright and sunny trail). Started running in case the snake decided to give chase.

Mile 17 to 18: I walked. The course was back on Rosa Parks, hilly, unshaded, breezy.

Mile 19: Heading back into downtown Nashville. Nice downhill into Bicentennial Mall. I had plenty of energy and enjoyed the scenery so I jogged most of this mile. The course joined back up with the 1/2 marathon course toward the end of this mile. It gave me an extra boost of energy when I saw that people were still finishing the 1/2 marathon.

Mile 20: Galen found me. I walked with a gal for a while. She asked me how I felt. I told her I felt like I was hiking through the desert. It was 87 degrees. Galen told me that there would be shade when I got to Shelby Park. (Do you see a common theme here? Hot! Hot! Hot!

Mile 23: The aid station had ice. Ice is nice.

Mile 24: I started to feel very light headed and officially decided to save my energy for the last 0.2 miles. Mile 24 was in Shelby Park and actually had shade.

Mile 25: Walking on a skillet again...

Mile 26: With 0.2 miles to go, I started running for the finish. There's absolutely nothing like the last 0.2 miles of a marathon. The crowd support is absolutely amazing. I forgot about the heat and reveled in the satisfaction of running for the finish line and getting my race bling.

Finish time: 5:49

Olathe Marathon

This season I was scheduled to do two marathons: Olathe and Country Music. The Olathe Marathon, which was scheduled for March 28, was snowed out. Okay, actually it was cancelled the day before because of an anticipated blizzard that didn't come until the afternoon of March 28. Regardless, the marathon was cancelled and I ended up doing the 1/2 marathon the following weekend. I PR'd at the half with a time of 2:15:35. My previous marathon PR was the Olathe 1/2 marathon in 2007 with at time in the 2:18s. Only three more days until the Country Music Marathon!

I'm Back

Well, it's been, oh, over 5 months since last I have updated my postings.... Besides a few cyclocross races here and there, I really was quite the couch potato since the cold weather moved in. At the end of December, I decided to start getting back into running (and did 2 miles hurt!!) and am officially about 4 weeks into training for the Country Music Marathon in Nashville, Tennessee.

Big excitement for me this past Saturday at the Love 2 Run 4 mile run!! I was doing this run as a time trial for my speed training sessions, and I actually set a PR (personal record for my non-running friends) for my 4-mile distance. Back in April 2004, I finished the 4-mile Trolley Run in 36:12. This past weekend I finished the Love 2 Run in 34:58.5.