Going into the race I was hoping to run under 3:45. Training didn’t go as planned and I didn’t run as many miles or as hard of workouts than in the past. After a couple of long runs finishing at marathon pace effort, 8:30 miles or slower were about what I thought I could handle.
Before the race started, Laura and I rode the shuttle to the start. The ten mile started an hour before the marathon, so after hanging out with Laura for a bit, I found a spot to sit and then warmed up.
The temperature for the race was nearly perfect. It was very windy, but standing in the crowd of people lined up for the race I wasn’t too chilly in my singlet and shorts.
The race started out great. Last year, in Madison, I got to the start with only a few minutes to spare and ended up spending six miles or so weaving in and out of the crowd because I was lined up so far back.
At Twin Cities Marathon I was able to line up in corral one, and it was easy to run my goal pace. There was no pacer for 3:45 and I thought that 3:40 would be a little too fast, so I positioned myself between the 3:40 and 3:50 pacers.
As I ran I settled into running about 8:26 miles, which had me on track to run a little faster than 3:45, but I was feeling good.
On my wrist I had a band with the names of people who had donated to Team World Vision. I enjoyed dedicating miles they had chosen to the donors. It was nice having people to think about as I ran.
The first water stop offered a bit of a surprise. Usually I depend on whatever sports drink is offered for my calories, but this year they were offering Nuun instead. I then had to make a decision: risk crashing from a lack of calories or take in calories from whatever I could get on the course and end up with stomach troubles.
I decided to do the latter and take my chances with stomach trouble. The first calories I took in was a mimosa. It was only a Dixie cup, so I wasn’t too concerned about the alcohol. Then, in no particular order I ate: bananas (once a quarter of a banana once a half), jelly beans, an orange slice, and a maple syrup gel.
I got some big boosts from seeing some people I know on various points throughout the course. I saw a former coworker, one of Laura’s coworkers, a former college professor, and a former cross country athlete I coached.
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My biggest boost came from seeing Laura and the kiddos at mile 24. For a while I thought they were going to be at mile 22, but just after 22 I remembered it was 24. Thinking they were going to be at mile 22 and then realizing they were not made the next couple miles a little more challenging. Laura texted me while I was around 23 (I can read texts on my watch) telling me she would be on the right side of the road just after the mile 24 aid station.
As I continued to run, I couldn’t remember if she said the left or the right side. I remembered that she had always been on the right side of the road, but since I wasn’t entirely sure, so I ran in the middle of the road so I could look on both sides.
After passing the mile 24 aid station, I saw Laura jumping up and down to get my attention. I ran to the side of the road where Laura, the kiddos, and Laura’s parents were cheering. I gave the kids high fives and got to see the sign my older kiddo made.
After that boost I was able to really pick up the pace. I never hit a wall, and the random calories didn’t bother my stomach.
I finished the race in 3:39 and ran hard enough to the finish to pass a couple of runners including the 3:40 pacer. If I went with the 3:40 pacer at the beginning of the race, I think I would have ran faster, but I’m still happy that I ran over five minutes faster than I thought I could.
After the race I saw Jeff Webber, the coach I worked with when I was coaching track and cross country as Burnsville High School along with a former athlete I coached. We had a nice chat and then I headed to the Team World Vision tent where I met Laura and and the kids for pizza. As I came in to the tent, a World Vision volunteer asked me how much money I’d raised, then announced how many people were provided with clean water because of those who donated.
Running Twin Cities Marathon and raising money for World Vision was a great experience, and I’m thinking I’m going to do it again next year. Thanks for all the support raising money and motivating me to run — especially to Laura who supported and encouraged me throughout training and fundraising.
Be well.
