Goldilocks and the Three Runners

At the Finish Line next to Cary and Barbara

Eighteen weeks of dedicated marathon training while also being Mom, Wife, and Employee: One swim.  Two rides on the bike.  Six runs. Yoga and stretching and foam rolling sore legs.  Every week. 

To my amazement, following Hansons Marathon Method did not leave me injured.  It left me in need of a daily 30 minute nap.  It left me in bed before 10pm.  But most importantly when you're trying to qualify for Boston, the Hanson program left me STRONG.  I ran 50-60 miles per week.  I ran longer runs than the program called for: two 22 milers.  I got tired and bored during those long runs, but my legs held up.  There was no wall of exhaustion with which I was so familiar.  I went home after each long run and proceeded to go about my day like it was no big deal.  Not that I started doing laundry and dusting or anything.  No need to overdo it!

But this level of resilience in my legs was a big deal.  Despite being a runner for over 25 years, I had never felt such endurance.  It was amazing, and I suspected I might be able to qualify for Boston.  If everything went perfectly. But can you beat a personal best that you set in your mid-20's?  Can you do that at age 51? 

Grandma's Marathon is in Duluth, Minnesota.  It's cool there even in the summer.  We left 90 degree heat in Atlanta and met crisp 20 mph winds and temperatures in the low 50's in Duluth.  Stunning Lake Superior would be our chaperone for the entire race along it's shore.

Race day was nearly perfect-- a Goldilocks day for personal bests.  Perfect temperature.  A light tailwind for most of the race.  Beautiful scenery.  Cheering crowds.  Live music of all kinds.  Within the first few miles, I lost Barbara.  She was ahead of me.  I also lost Cary.  She was right behind me.  Although we three had different experiences, we would all three qualify for Boston on this day.




Thousands of runners made the first few miles challenging.  I zig-zagged an extra quarter mile around slower runners which threw my Garmin off the mile markers for the entire race.  This made the last mile torturous-- since my watch thought I was done, and the many twists and turns near the finish as well as a big blue inflatable arch that was NOT the finish line made for agonizing disappointments at every corner.

I took a fellow Ironman's advice and broke the race into three pieces.  The first nine miles, I sought to avoid going too fast.  This is not easy when you are excited and a little cold and you are passed by a nearly naked man with a rubber ducky on his yellow hat and a yellow bath towel instead of shorts. I did not want to be behind him if that towel dropped! 

The next nine miles were all about steady pace.  It was at this point I realized I could do it.  I had no stomach upset like last time.  Everything in me said today was the day IF I was willing to stay focused and get a little uncomfortable.  Although I fell off pace on a few hills, I managed to stay close to race pace.

Finally, the last nine miles (or almost) were all about pushing hard and ignoring discomfort.  Never before have I been able to do that.  There was no wall of exhaustion and no pain in my body other than fatigue and achiness.  I was tired of running.  I was ready to see my husband and hear him cheer for me.  Tears filled my eyes as I realized I might make it.  I had my unfortunate ugly cry face happening, and I thought how the crowd probably thought I was in pain, but really I was just very, very happy.  I was able to run negative splits in a marathon for the first time, and I ran the last mile at 5K race pace.

I crossed the finish line in 3:53:58.  Not only did I qualify for Boston by running under 3:55:00, but just as importantly for me, I set a lifetime personal best in the marathon-- running over 22 minutes faster than my past best time . . . 26 years ago!  

I couldn't and wouldn't have met this goal without my training partners, Cary and Barbara.  They showed me that I could still do hard things.  I can still meet challenging goals.  This is nice to know as you get older.

My dear husband made this trip possible, too.  He supported me during training, and pretended to listen as I discussed my various training efforts for 18 weeks.  He drove us to and from the airport, and back and forth between Minneapolis and Duluth.  He waited on me like a personal assistant as I fussed over needing a special pre-race dinner and other diva-like demands. And it was John who was waiting at the finish line to drive us back to the hotel and out to dinner.