msblrobs
Faith, Trust, Pixie Dust 26.2 or Bust
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2004
- Messages
- 974
I will update with pics as soon as I am home!!
DH and I flew from Albany, NY to Minneapolis, MN on Friday, 6/15 and drove up to Duluth, MN. I should have known I was in trouble when it was 90 degrees in Minneapolis when we landed. Not what I was exactly hoping for and not what the weather forecast had been predicting for Duluth for the weekend,
Arrived in Duluth around 4:00 and checked into our hotel downtown. Went over to the race expo to pick up my packet and shop. Great expo with lots of items.
Soaked, stretched and went to bed around 10:00. Slept like a baby until 4:00when the alarm went off. Soaked, stretched, a little oatmeal and lots of sunscreen. Decided at the last minute not to wear my hat or my race pack. Perhaps not the best decision on my part.
Grandma’s is a point-to-point marathon so they bus you to the start in Two Harbors, MN. I caught a bus up to the start right around the corner from my hotel around 5:30. Accuweather hour-by-hour forecast said mostly cloudy and upper 70’s for the entire race. I am comfortable with that and I’m feeling good. We got dropped off at the start which is the parking lot of a car dealership to wait it out for the 7:30 start. As I’m sitting in the parking lot I notice there’s not a cloud in the sky. I am very fair and freckled but I did put SPF 70 on my face and SPF 60 on the rest of me so I am thinking I’ll be okay.
No corrals at Grandma’s with 9600 running so we all herd over to the start and there are balloon’s with projected finish times to guide you as to where to stand. My plan is to run with the Clif Pace Team 4:30 guy since iPod’s are out and I want chatter to distract me.
We’re packed like sardines and right at 7:30 there is a fly over by two jets and then we’re off running.
The crowding never really thins but it is tolerable. Pace guy is running about 30 seconds per mile too fast but it is alright. There is a nice little pack of us running and lots of talking going on. The miles are coming at me and I am still confident.
Around mile 8 or so I blow off pace guy and start thinking about the sun. I know I am getting burned and there is no relief from shade anywhere. We run along the shoreline of Lake Superior but there are only brief views of the lake that provide a breeze and due to the sun’s position the trees don’t offer shade.
Right before the halfway point I hear at one of the aid stations that it is 82 degrees out and I know it’s going to be bad. It is humid, hot and the sun is unrelenting. I am wishing for my hat and for some more sunscreen to reapply. My ½ split was 2:10 and I am still feeling fine but I am worried and know it is not going to be pretty by any means.
Rolling hills for a bit but mostly flat. Grandma’s has great water stops and due to the heat they had sponges and ice cubes at every aid station. Locals had hoses out spraying runners as they passed by in many locations. Locals were also passing out candy and gels at many locations along the course.
I have a history of asthma and the weather was affecting the lung capacity. I was cold and clammy and covered in goosebumps which was frightening me because I didn’t know how much danger I was in by continuing at the pace I was going. I had to dump a cup of water over my head at every stop which was washing away any sunscreen. I had sponges down the front and back of my shirt.
Once in Duluth the streets are packed with crowds on both sides of the street. I began intervals of running/walking/stumbling somewhere around mile 21 or so. I knew I could make 4:30 if I just pushed on but I also knew I had to walk a bit in order to have the capacity to finish this thing out. This worked well for me and I continued up Lemon Drop Hill around mile 23 or so before I began my descent into Canal Park for the finish.
At one rest stop I considered asking for a hug from one of the volunteers just so I could make it to the finish. It was that bad and those that know me well would howl at the thought of my doing that. I just kept thinking that I trained so hard and we only get so many chances to put ourselves to the test so I had to step up and get it done.
Once in Canal Park the course just winds around again and again and again – sort of like a sick joke where the finish line is just elusive. I was still on target so I pushed it hard and crossed the finish line with an official time of 4:29:38.
Got my medal, got my mylar, got my beverage ticket and looked for DH and the reunion tent. The mylar was on my sunburned body that was being beaten down on by the blazing sun and I was incredibly fried. Went waist deep into Lake Superior and ate a banana. Feeling like I wanted to cry - both for joy and for the mess that my body was right at the moment.
Grandma’s has a wonderful post-race party in Canal Park from noon to midnight. It is sort of like a county fair feeling with live bands, lots of tents and the like. Tons of people just hanging out and having a great time celebrating their accomplishment.
Grandma’s was great and I would love the opportunity to run it again in more favorable conditions. The locals and business community really support this race and it is a signature event for them. Their spirit shines through and the crowd support reflects their love for this race.
Thank you so much to my WISH team family for being there with me on Saturday giving strength and inspiration
. I got so many compliments on my shirt and I was so proud to be representing our team at Grandma's. I thought of Cam, Rhonda, Sunny and all of you guys that have overcome so many obstacles to realize your dreams.
DH and I flew from Albany, NY to Minneapolis, MN on Friday, 6/15 and drove up to Duluth, MN. I should have known I was in trouble when it was 90 degrees in Minneapolis when we landed. Not what I was exactly hoping for and not what the weather forecast had been predicting for Duluth for the weekend,
Arrived in Duluth around 4:00 and checked into our hotel downtown. Went over to the race expo to pick up my packet and shop. Great expo with lots of items.
Soaked, stretched and went to bed around 10:00. Slept like a baby until 4:00when the alarm went off. Soaked, stretched, a little oatmeal and lots of sunscreen. Decided at the last minute not to wear my hat or my race pack. Perhaps not the best decision on my part.
Grandma’s is a point-to-point marathon so they bus you to the start in Two Harbors, MN. I caught a bus up to the start right around the corner from my hotel around 5:30. Accuweather hour-by-hour forecast said mostly cloudy and upper 70’s for the entire race. I am comfortable with that and I’m feeling good. We got dropped off at the start which is the parking lot of a car dealership to wait it out for the 7:30 start. As I’m sitting in the parking lot I notice there’s not a cloud in the sky. I am very fair and freckled but I did put SPF 70 on my face and SPF 60 on the rest of me so I am thinking I’ll be okay.
No corrals at Grandma’s with 9600 running so we all herd over to the start and there are balloon’s with projected finish times to guide you as to where to stand. My plan is to run with the Clif Pace Team 4:30 guy since iPod’s are out and I want chatter to distract me.
We’re packed like sardines and right at 7:30 there is a fly over by two jets and then we’re off running.
The crowding never really thins but it is tolerable. Pace guy is running about 30 seconds per mile too fast but it is alright. There is a nice little pack of us running and lots of talking going on. The miles are coming at me and I am still confident.
Around mile 8 or so I blow off pace guy and start thinking about the sun. I know I am getting burned and there is no relief from shade anywhere. We run along the shoreline of Lake Superior but there are only brief views of the lake that provide a breeze and due to the sun’s position the trees don’t offer shade.
Right before the halfway point I hear at one of the aid stations that it is 82 degrees out and I know it’s going to be bad. It is humid, hot and the sun is unrelenting. I am wishing for my hat and for some more sunscreen to reapply. My ½ split was 2:10 and I am still feeling fine but I am worried and know it is not going to be pretty by any means.
Rolling hills for a bit but mostly flat. Grandma’s has great water stops and due to the heat they had sponges and ice cubes at every aid station. Locals had hoses out spraying runners as they passed by in many locations. Locals were also passing out candy and gels at many locations along the course.
I have a history of asthma and the weather was affecting the lung capacity. I was cold and clammy and covered in goosebumps which was frightening me because I didn’t know how much danger I was in by continuing at the pace I was going. I had to dump a cup of water over my head at every stop which was washing away any sunscreen. I had sponges down the front and back of my shirt.
Once in Duluth the streets are packed with crowds on both sides of the street. I began intervals of running/walking/stumbling somewhere around mile 21 or so. I knew I could make 4:30 if I just pushed on but I also knew I had to walk a bit in order to have the capacity to finish this thing out. This worked well for me and I continued up Lemon Drop Hill around mile 23 or so before I began my descent into Canal Park for the finish.
At one rest stop I considered asking for a hug from one of the volunteers just so I could make it to the finish. It was that bad and those that know me well would howl at the thought of my doing that. I just kept thinking that I trained so hard and we only get so many chances to put ourselves to the test so I had to step up and get it done.
Once in Canal Park the course just winds around again and again and again – sort of like a sick joke where the finish line is just elusive. I was still on target so I pushed it hard and crossed the finish line with an official time of 4:29:38.
Got my medal, got my mylar, got my beverage ticket and looked for DH and the reunion tent. The mylar was on my sunburned body that was being beaten down on by the blazing sun and I was incredibly fried. Went waist deep into Lake Superior and ate a banana. Feeling like I wanted to cry - both for joy and for the mess that my body was right at the moment.
Grandma’s has a wonderful post-race party in Canal Park from noon to midnight. It is sort of like a county fair feeling with live bands, lots of tents and the like. Tons of people just hanging out and having a great time celebrating their accomplishment.
Grandma’s was great and I would love the opportunity to run it again in more favorable conditions. The locals and business community really support this race and it is a signature event for them. Their spirit shines through and the crowd support reflects their love for this race.
Thank you so much to my WISH team family for being there with me on Saturday giving strength and inspiration
. I got so many compliments on my shirt and I was so proud to be representing our team at Grandma's. I thought of Cam, Rhonda, Sunny and all of you guys that have overcome so many obstacles to realize your dreams.
I can't wait to see the pictures!
