Late last year when I read that Grandma’s Marathon would be celebrating its 40th Anniversary I knew that I had to enter the event. I had run 49 marathons; Grandma’s had been my first-back in 1998 and would be my 50th marathon. I have run 11 Grandma’s Marathons.
With a few 50Ks earlier this year, Psyco Wyco in February
and Chippewa in April, I wasn’t too concerned about training for a marathon. I
and my friends, Heidi and April, began to run each Tuesday after school, on
pavement, so I was getting my legs used to the asphalt. I ran a few 20s and a
30 on asphalt and felt good. So good, in fact, that I decided to enter FANS 24
hour run. I changed my mind, a week before FANS, as I was feeling some neuroma
pain in my ‘good’ foot. I knew my foot would hold up for a marathon on asphalt
but rethought the 24 hour business.
Heidi has relatives who live exactly on Mile 22 of the
course, on London Road, on Lake Superior, right at the base of Lemon Drop hill.
What a location ! Her relatives
opened their home to 16 of us. Seriously. We weren’t even cramped!! They were the most hospitable,
welcoming, warm people I have probably ever met.
Friday 4 of us rode together and rolled into the Expo about
4. I actually ran into people that I knew just by chance. It was a blast. I
messaged Kim and we met up for a quick hello. So much fun to see good old
friends.
We made our way to our hosts’ home for a dinner they
prepared. Spaghetti, meat sauce,
various salads, fruit, breads, a real banquet. We walked around the property, checked out the lake, the
beautiful home and the lot. I was first to bed, at 830PM. That’s me!
At 430 I awoke, without an alarm, this is my regular wake
time. I dressed and got myself ready for the day. I went up hoping for coffee
and of course, our hosts had coffee brewing. Incredible.
The others began to filter into the beautiful 4 season sun
room. We had breakfast and checked out the weather. A gorgeous sunrise was
showing itself over Lake Superior, right in the back yard. It was amazing. The
forecast had called for rain/thunderstorms but that was not going to happen
today. I certainly didn’t think it was going to be a black flag excessive heat
warning, as it was!
For breakfast I had a sweet potato, avocado, coconut manna
bowl. I sprinkled half a scoop of UCAN over it. Delish. My new pre race/long
run meal for days I have time for digestion.
Since February I have been training using a low heart
rate-140 (Phil Maffetone) or below-and have been adding more fats to my diet,
in an effort to be able to burn more fat while running, not being so dependant
upon gels. This gel every 30 minutes has become tiresome. (Superior 100) Also,
the 140 HR allows a speedy recovery for me. Tracy has been helping me to train in this manner the past 4 months. I’m loving it!
We were only down the hill from The Edgewater, where the
busses were delivering runners to the start. We grabbed all of our stuff and
were off. We rode the busses to the start and were ready to rock and roll!
Riding the bus to the start I couldn’t help but recall
previous Grandma’s Marathons that I had run. My first. The one I ran with Dad.
My family waiting on London Road. All of the friends I have met. So many
memories.
As I was walking to the bag drop off I ran into so many
people that I know from running. I wasn’t looking for anyone, but yet I saw
Kelly, Jim, Shelly, Doug, it was crazy. 10,000 people and again I am running
into others that I know.
I removed my sleeves, it was already warm, it was going to
be a toasty day. There wasn’t a breeze, either.
The herd began to move toward the starting line, here it
was, my 50th marathon!
I kept my heart rate at 140 or below the whole way. The heat
caused it to rise a few times. I noticed the black flag warning of excessive
heat at about mile 10. I then drank, grabbed a sponge at the aid stations and
walked until it came back down to 140. Only a few steps, and back down it went.
I wasn’t going to push it.
During the race I used a scoop of UCAN at mile 18, I had a
strawberry and orange slice during the race that was handed out.
At about mile 11 I was running along and pretty soon Scott
was at my side! What a nice
surprise! He and Greg were running
together. We gabbed for a while and then they were running too fast.; I looked
at my HRM and told them to have a good race, I was staying at 140. That was my
plan.
At mile 19 I began to look for Kim, it was so great to see
her and Barry. Hugs. I was ready to move on. At mile 22 I stopped to say hello
to our hosts, then up the hill I climbed, onto the finish line.
I was getting warm. It was toasty. I saw the 445 pace time
pass me, I was ok with that. My first marathon and slowest marathon was 459. I
felt that this 50th marathon would probably be about the same. I was
happy with that. I only wanted to finish healthy. My feet didn’t hurt at all,
nothing hurt. I was in a good place, albeit it a bit warm.
I thought about the 18 years that have passed since I first
ran this marathon. I thought about my family, the friends that I have made, the
sobriety I have kept, all of the lift changes…running has been a constant.
I am truly blessed. I crossed the finish line with tears in
my eyes and a smile on my face. 4:50.
I felt fantastic!
