State Number 17 - Bear Lake Marathon, Idaho

State Number 17 – Bear Lake Marathon, Idaho

St. Charles, ID

 

19 June 2015

THREE marathons, THREE states, THREE days.  The three-state area of Idaho, Utah and Wyoming in the Bear Lake vicinity is an ideal setting for a trifecta and a perfect race weekend for 50-State Club runners.

The centralized location of the Bear Lake trifecta is ideal for us Fifty-Staters and die hard marathoners who can’t pass up the opportunity to check off three states in one weekend with only a 45-minute, or less, travel distance between the three races.  How great is that?

On a side note, the Wyoming marathon was run twice, Thursday 18 June and Sunday 21 June.  Thursday was available for those wanting to run Wyoming early, did not want to run on Sunday or wanted to complete four marathons in four days.  I believe most ran Wyoming on Thursday.

We boarded a short United flight from LAX to Salt Lake City (SLC), rented a car and drove up I-15 to Montpelier, ID via Highway US 91 through Logan and Preston, ID.  After stopping for a pleasant visit with one of my cousins in the Preston area, it was off through the scenic Idaho Route 36 over the Bear River Range Mountains into Bear Lake Valley’s Montpelier.

As we entered the city of around 2800 residents lying in the heart of the farming region north of Bear Lake tucked away in the far southeastern corner of Idaho, a scary life-sized bear statue of Old Ephraim stands on a grassy patch along the main highway greeting those who drive or walk by. 

Settled by Mormon pioneers, the city is also situated on the historic California/Oregon Trail.

This trip was my first ever visit to the Bear Lake area and I was excited to run two of the three marathons.  Since I had already run Top of Utah (State No. 4) nearly three years earlier, I decided to skip the Utah portion of the trifecta.  The Utah marathon was held in between the Idaho and Wyoming runs, so a one-day break between marathons advanced my morale.

It was beautiful weather in the valley with temperatures hovering around 70°F.  The forecast called for sunny skies with warm temperatures.  NOT an ideal situation for me.  Shade in this part of Idaho seemed to be minimal, at best, and I prepared myself to be in it for the long haul. 

The elevation of the Bear Lake area averages around 6000 ft, so I was a little nervous how, or if, the altitude would affect my performance.

No, not the capital of Vermont

Some runners may claim that the Bear Lake marathons are so-called “fake marathons” just so runners can crank out as many states as possible in one trip.  While I’m not opposed to such marathons, if it is a way to knock out some states, then I’m all for it.  Some runners may like only large marathons with all the glitz, glamour, bling and swag; but occasionally I prefer small low-key events from time to time.  Besides, there’s no hassle or frustrations that come with the larger marathon events.

Idaho, as well as the other two, was a small race with a small field of runners.  The Bear Lake Memorial Hospital in Montpelier served as our bib pick-up location – no expo or swag to speak of.  The race director looked disorganized and had a disheveled look on his face from a lack of sleep and non-stop running around.  Anyone trying to organize three or four marathons without major glitches by him/herself using only a handful of volunteers must be a difficult undertaking.

This year’s course layout looked to be different from previous years.  The point-to-point course began in Montpelier and finished in the community of St. Charles nearly 18 miles to the south along US Highway 89.  Because of the point-to-point configuration, I left the hotel a couple of hours before the start time to drive and park the car near finish line area at the LDS church in St. Charles and caught a shuttle bus back to the Montpelier start line.

It was a cold and crisp morning and I was dressed anticipating warmer weather later as the day progressed.  Since the runner pool was small (around 150, more or less), runners were allowed to use the rest rooms and keep warm in the hospital lobby until the 0600 start time.

The marathon did not begin on time – surprise, surprise.  Runners gathered at the rear of a largely empty parking lot across the street from the hospital.  There was no hint of starting line delineation and the race director told everyone to “stand about here” as he pointed to the ground.  The director said the course “should be well marked with small signs and to follow the arrows.”  After that, he yelled, “Go!” and we raced out of the lot with minimal fanfare.



We start about here!

Wow!  That was it?  No chip timing?  On the face of it, low budget.  I was surprised there were a few official pacer runners.  I was concerned if the course actually measured 26 miles 385 yards in length.  I wasn’t about to complain, however, as I set out to enjoy the scenery throughout the agricultural and livestock grazing lands outside the Montpelier expanse.  The wonderful whiffs of the livestock, feed lots and grazing land aromas brought back some old memories. 

It wasn’t long before Montpelier’s asphalt covered roadways turned into county maintained gravel roads.  I’m not a fan of running on gravel roads and it reminded me of Colorado’s Mt. Sneffels Marathon (State No. 3).  With little pebbles somehow working their way into my shoes, I had to stop every so often to remove those annoyances before a blister or hot spot appeared on my foot.

Course spectators were nowhere to be found with the exception of every two or three miles or so, at a manned water station staffed with a couple of volunteers.  There was only water, but no Gatorade or other sports drinks.  Honey Stinger energy gels were available at select tables; however, I took some energy gels with me just in case. 

Beginning around Marathon Mile 7 as runners diverted to the gravel surfaced Airport Road, the course intersected an active railroad track.  I heard the sound of train horns off in the distance and wondered if any runners behind me would be stuck behind a train causing their finish times to be longer than expected.

The long section of Airport Road, with an occasional tractor or farm truck passing by, wound its way through Wardboro, the livestock fields and across the Bear River.  Of course, I took an interest with all the irrigation district ditches, take-out structures and in-stream weirs as I crossed over them or were visible from the road.

On the gravel roads

With several miles of gravel roads, I was more than ready to once again run on a paved surface.  My wish came true, even though it was only temporary, when I entered the little unincorporated community of Dingle and the first sign of any civilization or spectators.  Runners were chiefly left to their own volition pretty much throughout the entire course, and notwithstanding the solitude on the roads, I was content with running my own race.  By the way, I am my only time limit.

Besides a smattering of houses, an LDS church, post office and a park/playground, the rural community of Dingle was a welcomed relief from the emptiness of the agricultural lands and gravel roads.  It was a blessing the good folks of Dingle came out to cheer on the runners for a much needed boost of energy and confidence. 

About a mile after leaving Dingle, the paved road once again became a graveled roadway heading up the course’s only “hill” skirting the escarpment of the Eastern Bear Lake Fault overlooking the Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge and Mud Lake situated on the northern end of Bear Lake.

For the next 6.5 miles, the steep escarpment alongside the road provided much needed shade as the sun was hastily rising to the east.  The weather was beginning to warm, but the shade turned out to be my sole luxury along that segment of the course.

I had to stop and remove all the pebbles that made their way into my shoes as I negotiated the turn leaving the gravel road at the Bear Lake Hot Springs Resort.  That’s when the wheels came off the proverbial bus.  I was now becoming worried for the remainder of the course.  The next 5.5 miles ran along North Beach Road that separated Bear Lake from Mud Lake.  With the sun at my back, there was not a lick of shade (excepting the trees at the Utah Power & Light facility), and I was becoming sunburnt, overheated and dehydrated.  The weather forced me to resort to walking most of that section.  The water level of Bear Lake was noticeably lower than the shore’s usual lake line.  The allure of running down the beach area and jumping into the striking blue waters of Bear Lake was very enticing, I had no time to spare, I had to finish.

I don’t know which was worse – walking or running.  Walking seemed just as torturous as running in the blazing sun, but running became more and more painful.  As various thoughts kept trolling through my mind, I was constantly weighing the balance between “do I want to finish sooner?” or “do I want to experience less pain with more time in the sun?”  With approximately four miles remaining, my wife texted me that she finished and expect the course to be about 0.25 mile short.  Also in the message, she informed me that she signed up for the Utah portion of the trifecta.  I so wanted to be done and the thought of the course being short lifted my spirits somewhat¼ultimately the “do I want to finish sooner?” won out. 

I had just under two miles left coming off North Beach Road and the penultimate turn onto Powerline Road.  This final part of the course was again on a gravel road, but I didn’t care.  The heat and sun were brutal.  No breezes, no shade – just sun.  But since I was so close to the finish, I put that aside and cruised into the finish line on one of St. Charles’ rustic streets, 100 North, just east of US Highway 89 with a time of 5:05:19 (age graded time 4:36:32 – age graded score 45.87%). 

My Garmin read approximately 0.25 mile short of the 26.2 miles needed for a full marathon, but I wasn’t complaining.  It was close enough for government work and I was happy to be finished after a brutal five hour run.  Time for my medal.  What?  All that work and no medal?  My wife told me medals were available in the food area near the church.

As for the altitude, I don’t believe it had much of an effect on my performance.  When the temperatures were cooler, I kept pretty much a steady pace for 19 to 20 miles.  On the other hand, with Mt. Sneffels being over 8000 feet, I immediately noticed the effects of high-altitude running just after a few short miles.  In the for-what-it’s-worth department, I train at an elevation of 350 feet, more or less, with occasional hill training that reaches altitudes of 800 feet.

Considering all the marathon participants, the average finish time was 5:09:26 with a standard deviation of 1:04:14 and a median time of 5:03:40.  Bearing in mind how awful I felt over the last seven miles, at least I was above average.

To quote George Sheehan, “Have you ever felt worse after a run?”  Given Idaho’s performance, I would have to answer that question with an emphatic “yes!”  I usually feel good after a run – who doesn’t feel better after a dose of endorphins?  My endorphin dose must have assimilated back into my system throughout the course of the day since I lacked any sense of euphoria after crossing the finish line.  Let’s see¼the other times I felt miserable, Mt. Sneffels, CO (State No. 3) and First Light, AL (State No. 9).

I wanted my medal and I was in desperate need of some water and food.  Before I could enjoy the fruits of my labor, we had to walk another quarter mile or so – maybe to make up for the course being a quarter mile short – to a community park area adjacent to the LDS church.

Stalactite and stalagmite formations

We didn’t spend a whole lot of time at the post-race festivities and drove back to Montpelier for some pool/hot tub time to relax our tired muscles.

After we cleaned up and relaxed in the hot tub, we embarked on a visit to Minnetonka Cave up the St. Charles Canyon just outside of St. Charles.  Because everyone knows, the best thing to tackle after a marathon is exploring a strenuous cave formation by hiking 444 stair steps – multiply that by two for the trip out.  While waiting for our tour group to enter the cave, we took the edge off our appetites by consuming a Snickers candy bar.  It was just enough to temporarily tame the hungry bear in us.

The one kilometer long limestone cave leading deep into Idaho’s Bear River Range mountains glistened with stalactite and stalagmite formations with large cavernous rooms bathed in blue, green and white light to accentuate the natural beauty the formations create.  Numerous bats clung to the ceiling seemingly ignoring the noise and commotion from the tour groups.  The temperature in the cave was a nice, cool, constant and comfortable 40°F, so it was a revitalizing and welcomed relief from the outside heat.

I didn’t find the passage into the cave that difficult.  Sure, I was a little stiff and sore from the marathon, but I didn’t allow that to hinder my enjoyment of our spelunking adventure and the stair climbing.  Moreover, the energy expended on the stair climbs can only further my endurance training. 

What’s a cave without bats?  Seeing the numerous bats flying in and out of the cavern was incredible.  I found it remarkable how they can fly so fast under the cover of darkness while skimming over people’s heads simultaneously avoiding the rock formations, cave protuberances and other obstructions – thanks to their biological sonar capabilities.

As we drove down the canyon road back to St. Charles, we happened upon some a herd of bovine quadrupeds sauntering down the highway without paying much attention to the vehicular traffic.  With a little coaxing from the car’s horn, they seemed to take notice and eventually moved off the roadway.

 

Yikes, this dude is huge!

We arrived back in Montpelier with a giant appetite for some lunch.  But first, we needed to strike a pose with Old Ephraim.  The effigy is a life-size representation of the bear who once roamed the area in the early 20^th century.  I was amazed with his sheer size and would unquestionably not like to encounter something that size in the wild.

For lunch?  Pizza, at this hole-in-the-wall place called Always Fresh.  It was a busy little establishment off the main highway not far from our hotel.  Packed with summer visitors and a youth sports team, it took some time for our pizza to arrive – all hot and cheesy.  Of course, we also needed to sample of their “famous” ice cream.  I wouldn’t say it was the best, but it had a pretty creamy texture with a good flavor, at least with the flavor I had.

Before heading back to the hotel, we made a pit stop at Broulim’s Grocery Store for some snacks, bottled water, Diet Cokes and some food items for pre-marathon breakfast meals.

After we got back to the hotel, I wandered across the street to the National Oregon/California Trail Center to see if anything captured my interest.  There were a several pieces of flotsam and jetsam and some interesting relics, but I didn’t spend much time perusing the vast collection of artifacts.

During the Idaho marathon, another runner convinced my wife to sign up and run Saturday’s Utah marathon in Laketown, UT in addition to Wyoming to complete the trifecta and compete for the fastest overall time.  She, too, also completed Top of Utah, but I guess accepting the challenge was just too tempting.

I was surprised by the text that she was tackling Utah and I was glad she took up the challenge.  Since Utah is already in the books for me, I was perfectly content with a rest day.  Because my wife needed to prepare for another marathon, our day was cut short for some much needed rest.

At the ID/UT state line boundary monument

Yes, the Idaho marathon was small and probably laid out on a whim with no official USATF measurement other than a vehicle’s odometer reading, but I found this marathon to large in life.  It wasn’t surprising to me that the course ran short and with the race director and his volunteers looking frazzled and stressed out. I hoped that my next marathon in Wyoming would serve me with some better results.  However, it being on Sunday, who knows what could happen.

Very few spectators lined the mostly gravelly road out and back course.  With the small number of runners, it could be a lonely time for some.  I enjoyed the peace and serenity, but when I started on the final six miles across Bear Lake, the heat and sun really took a toll.  When all is told, I did enjoy my experience in Idaho even though it was small and low key, i.e., like one of those “fake marathons”.  I would not doubt course layouts will change in subsequent years until a certified route is nailed down through the process of trial and error.  I have to give kudos to the race director and his “staff” for their unrelenting dedication to make these marathons possible.  See you in Wyoming!

 

 

 

 

 

 

State Number 32 - Fargo Marathon

State Number 32 – Fargo Marathon

Fargo, ND

 

20 May 2017

I don’t know how far you’ll go, but I’ll go all the way to North Dakota to run 26.2 miles and to complete my 32^nd state.  That’s how far – uff da!

The 1996 movie Fargo is a homespun murder story that supposedly took place in the frigid hinterlands near Fargo, but in reality, took place in Brainerd, MN.  Hey, not far from the Run for the Lakes Marathon (State No. 15).

I have always been intrigued with languages and the associated variations of linguistics and dialects.  The film’s depictions of Minnesota nice and the distinct accents made a lasting impression on me.  I found the Fargo accent and the tag lines, “Yah, you betcha” or “dun-chya-no?” are quite similar to the Norse and the Swedes.  Personally, I believe some of the actor’s accents were exaggerated for dramatic effects and to poke fun of the regional tonal inflections.  As I walked around Fargo, the accents were not extravagant as the film’s portrayal, but I did hear some accents characteristic to the Minnesota/Fargo area.

We boarded our non-stop red-eye Delta flight to Minneapolis (MSP) shortly after midnight and was not something I was too delighted about.  I am surprised how busy LAX can be during the late hours of the day and how many passengers boarded red-eyes.  At least we didn’t experience any of the LAX terminal relocation issues that were predicted, except for a paltry gate change.  Our only annoyance was the exorbitant traffic into the terminal area.

The 0630 CDT arrival in MSP allowed for plenty of time to navigate our way through Minneapolis freeways (in time for morning rush, by the way) and drive the wearisome and uninteresting stretch of I-94 across southern Minnesota up ‘nort’ into Fargo before the expo.

It may be late spring, but ‘ifa-guywazta’ drive in and around the state of Minnesota, let alone Minneapolis, what does that mean?  Annoyances, frustrations and aggravations on the state’s highways and byways.  Yes, it’s construction season!  Our last experience with Minneapolis traffic on I-494 was certainly less than idyllic and was definitely on my mind.  Construction, traffic, lane closures and more construction.  This time, we definitely got a “brake”, so to speak – no construction related traffic messes!  The construction on I-494 we witnessed during our 2015 Minnesota visit was now complete.  The freeway in all its glory looked completely different showcasing additional lanes allowing for increased ADTs.  Ok, on with my tome.

Welcome

What makes the Fargo Marathon worth running?  Besides the chance to challenge both one’s physical and mental limits, the Fargo Marathon consists of a great course complete with a wide range of scenic views, hordes of volunteers, musicians (a shout-out to the Kringen Accordion Band and their great polka music – reminded me of my Scandinavian midsummer festival days) and enthusiastic fans lining Fargo’s tree-lined streets and pedestrian walkways throughout the city’s park lands.  All of this certainly adds value to making this marathon a great event – all culminating in the friendly confines of the Fargodome.

In addition to all the benefits running and the associated training brings to the body, running provides me with a sort of confidence I can do the impossible.  Perhaps I can inspire others to take up running, but marathoning the states affords me an opportunity to meet new people, travel to new places and to explore new cities in a way few people, even locals, may do.

I managed about five minutes of sleep on our overnight flight.  Surprisingly, after 30 hours I wasn’t as fatigued as I thought I would feel as we took to the highway.  The nearly four-hour drive to Fargo included a half-hour rest stop off I-94 mid-way between Minneapolis and Fargo for a short nap – at least a well-intended nap.  I found it hard to sleep in a reclined car seat with a head rest that felt like an out-of-place rock supporting my head, but I felt like I managed to squeak in a few minutes at least.

After resupplying my system with a 20-ounce bottle of Diet Coke laced with a little caffeine, I was set to go.  I began my driving shift across the flat prairie lands of western Minnesota, with its topography reminiscent of my hometown, and across the Red River of the North to our destination hotel in West Fargo. 

The West Fargo area appears to be a rapidly developing part of metropolitan Fargo.  New apartment complexes, residential subdivision tracts, a new multi-story hospital, multiple hotels and business centers abound with no signs of stopping.  I wondered if the growth was a direct influence of the oil industry and the Dakota Pipeline project as well as the lower cost of living.

It was a cool cloudy day, temperatures in the upper 40s with a stiff northeasterly wind out of Canada.  I knew I would enjoy the marathon with that kind of weather.  We both paid attention to the Weather Bug app and the local news forecasts.  Each one called for rain to hold off until after 1200, but overcast skies and chilly temperatures would prevail – perfect!

We took a little snooze in our room (on the third floor FURTHEST from the elevator as one can get) before we headed to the Fargodome for the expo and packet pick up.  The last thing we needed was a repeat performance of Rhode Island.

The main building where it all begins and ends

After a delicious corned beef sandwich at Firehouse Subs, it was off to the Fargodome.  Our itinerary included attending the lectures from the three guest speakers headlining the expo, with the first one, GP Pearlberg, at 1400 hours.  Unfortunately, we arrived near the end of Mr. Pearlberg’s appearance who lectured on inspiration, coaching techniques and running biomechanics.  I’m a science kind of guy and I wish I could have heard his insightful words of knowledge.

“You are an ironman (or marathoner)!” as the case may be.  These are the famous words thousands of endurance runners have heard from Mike Reilly, the “Voice of the Ironman”, and the second speaker of the day.  Mike has announced numerous famous marathons and is the featured announcer at Ironman Hawaii (Kona).  With his years of endurance running experience, he provided all in attendance with very inspirational stories.  This year, Mike was the “Voice of Fargo” as runners crossing the finish line in the Fargodome heard his iconic words.

I know

However, nothing may be more motivational and inspirational than the third and keynote speaker, Dave McGillivray, the race director for the Boston Marathon.  His discourse wasn’t just about running, but what’s possible if people only believed in themselves and their own abilities to do what’s seemingly overwhelming, challenging and impossible.  He chronicled his life’s ups and downs, amazing journeys and endurance accomplishments like running from Medford, OR to his home in Medford, MA in eighty days and running for noteworthy charities.  From a time he dreamed of becoming a Celtic point guard, a Patriot quarterback or an infielder for the Red Sox, he found his calling in life by taking up running (especially for those who can’t) and directing many major running and charity events.  Some of the stories of the amazing people Dave has met during his life undoubtedly brought tears to the eyes of everyone in the room.

Each and every year as Boston’s race director, after all the participants and spectators have left, Dave toes the marathon start line in Hopkinton.  With a motorcycle escort guiding the way, he runs the marathon course, saluting his beloved grandfather along the way and crossing the finish line on Boylston Street during the nighttime hours.

Following the speeches, I left feeling optimistic about my abilities and I realized that one day I won’t be able to run, but 20 May was not that day.  I feel grateful I can run, even though I may be slow and my days of a sub four-hour marathon may have passed.  I learned that life may be hard, but I don’t have it nearly as hard as some.  For that, I am thankful.

Expo

With a newfound look on life and running, we hopped on the escalator down to the Fargodome’s floor/arena level to browse the expo and pick up our swag bag.  Nothing special except for the cinch sack and the event shirt.

The cool event shirt featured a tri-blend hoodie with a guitar imprinted on the back side exemplifying the Fargo Rocks theme.  I believe this comfortable hoodie will become one of my favorites and I am pleased to wear it.

It was past 1800 hours and we were getting hungry.  What’s our meal staple before a marathon?  Pizza!  What better than Pizza Ranch?  We stuffed our crops and headed back to the hotel for some much needed rest for our 0700 start time.  It was a long day to say the least.

We left the hotel quite early.  The thought of heavy traffic into the Fargodome venue was on my mind and I was not looking for a repeat performance of the Garmin Marathon traffic debacle.  As we traveled northbound I-29, traffic was beginning to stack up a mile or so from the 19^th Avenue exit.

The exit at 19^th Avenue (as well as 19^th Avenue itself) comprised of two eastbound lanes, so, I managed to pull off a stunt similar to Garmin and used the lane less traveled (the No. 1 lane) and cut in as we approached the Fargodome.  I was amazed how very few people employed that sneaky technique.  Parking was a breeze and we arrived in plenty of time to use the second floor restrooms, with no lines.  We practically had them to ourselves.  Strange no one would think of going upstairs.  I guess they like waiting in lines to use the main level’s restrooms.

The inside atmosphere of the Fargodome was nice and warm and was a treat for everyone who didn’t have to stand outside freezing while waiting for the start gun to sound.  The starting wave wound around the arena floor while everyone jostled for their positions according to their anticipated pace time.  We, however, positioned ourselves not far from the front so we didn’t have to move around and compete with the slower runners as we left the building, up the loading ramp, through the parking lot and out onto the streets of Fargo. 

Because of Fargo’s close proximity to Manitoba, as well as a sizable contingent of runners, the first National Anthem to play was “O Canada”, sung by a female vocalist.  However, instead of a vocal performance of “The Star Spangled Banner”, a local rock musician played the tune on his electric guitar similar to Jimi Hendrix’s solo rendition.  At least it wasn’t comparable to his controversial Woodstock version.  I admit the guitarist was good, but my personal preference is to hear someone sing our anthem.

The race began with a large bang echoing throughout the arena a few moments after the national hymns.  Starting near the front of the line has its price.  We needed to keep a faster pace to keep up with everyone else, but as the queue thinned out, I eased up on my pace a bit while my wife continued on.

The inside warm air was nice, but as runners left the building, a blast of cold air was right there to greet them.  I felt cold and refreshed, but I knew I would heat up and begin sweating within a half mile.

Shortly after exiting the Fargodome, my running shorts began sagging with every step, giving all those plumbers some publicity to folks behind me.  The mass and momentum of the car key fob bouncing around in my back zipper pocket was just enough to lower my shorts with each step.  I momentarily left the platoon, tied the draw strings and, voila, fixed.  No more plumbing shows.

The first 10 km of the marathon trekked along the elm-lined residential streets of North Fargo, basically following the 10K course.  Going out, my strategy was to pace myself for a 2:05 half marathon split time with a projected 4:30 finish time.

Right from the outset, bundled up spectators braving the cold weather were out in force welcoming the participants.  It was evident that the city and the event organizers are proud to showcase their annual marathon and all the week’s prior events leading up to this ultimate event.  I overheard a runner say (must have been a Fargo alum) that during warmer weather, many more spectators line the streets, but I will gladly trade nice cool weather for a few less spectators. 

I crossed the 5K and 10K splits in 29:20 and 57:47; respectively, just ahead of my planned half split pace.

The course was super flat with only one small hill coming after Marathon Mile 7 as the course entered the Red River Designated Floodway and the serenity of the open parklands and bike/pedestrian trails.  I approached a spectator telling runners to “enjoy the descent off Mt. Fargo, because there won’t be any more hills.”  I thought, if that short downgradient was any indication, this marathon will be a piece of cake (as a function of difficulty, of course).

For the next two miles, the course meandered through floodway’s open area alongside the Red River crossing a small suspended pedestrian bridge intersecting the state line leading into Moorhead, MN.

I enjoyed the area’s greenbelt and vegetative setting.  Around marathon Mile 10, four construction workers donning their Class II reflective safety vests and hardhats passed by me.  I’m mostly an office worker, but at times, I must wear a hardhat and vest during my job, and the thought of running with a hardhat blows my mind.  I bet my hairline would be forever altered resulting from the constant movement of the hat.

Within a mile, I noticed the standing guys off the side of the path joining in with other bagpipers also outfitted in their construction attire as well.  I was impressed with that group of construction workers playing the bagpipes.

The Cobbers

Shortly after passing under the Veterans Memorial Bridge, runners began a three-mile section of an out-and-back loop to meet the Cobbers of Concordia College, and the Dragons of Minnesota State Moorhead. 

Concordia College was very picturesque complete with manicured lawns, trees, shrubs and flower gardens.  Dozens of students wearing their corn cob hats were on hand to greet runners making their way through their impressive campus.  Wanna shuck?

The Dragons

If that college wasn’t enough, Minnesota State Moorhead was next on the agenda just a few short steps from Concordia.  Many banners and flags fluttering in the wind provided notice that runners were in Dragon country.  The students let everyone know that the Dragons were there to turn the Cobbers into popcorn.

As I came out of the college’s common area, I crossed the half marathon split in a time of 2:04:18 (9:29 pace), slightly ahead of my planned goal time.

It was back towards North Dakota, but first a trip around the vertices of Daily Park.

Yes, it was small

Daily Park’s claim to fame is Moorhead’s smallest park.  I can believe it.  I estimated its triangular shape to be in the neighborhood of 500 square feet, more or less.  Its five signs, a tiny patch of lawn with a flower bed in the middle are its only amenities, leaving possibly only room to jump rope, practice yoga or keeping ones fingers dirty by pulling weeds out of the flowers.

The Veterans Memorial Bridge spanning the Red River was just around the corner at Marathon Mile 14.5.  I decided to walk across the landmark bridge connecting Moorhead and Fargo in remembrance of the fallen as well as a needed rest break before heading into the “quiet zone”.

The quiet zone was a three-mile portion of pedestrian/bike trail running through the Red River’s floodway.  The trail was void of bands with only sounds of the river’s rapids, birds, footsteps and the occasional spectator.  Many signs scattered along the trail educated runners with some trivial facts of the Fargo area.  I never realized that the average January high temperature in Fargo is 14°F (I knew it was cold, but not that cold) and that the Red River is one of a few in the world that flows due north.  It was very interesting reading all the signs and a great way to pass the time in the quiet zone.

Once back on to the city streets the quiet was no more.  The music of the many bands and DJs resonated through the neighborhood.  For the next four miles, the tree-lined streets through the southern part of Fargo were once again a part of the landscape.  It was up Seventh Street, down Eighth Street then back up Ninth Street into downtown crossing the 20-mile mark in 3:22:31.

Downtown Fargo was “just around the corner” and I looked forward running past the iconic Fargo Theater in its art deco grandeur.  My pace was becoming noticeably slower due to my usual inner thigh and heel discomfort. 

Upon leaving Fargo’s southern residential area, I began to develop some calf cramps coming into the downtown environs.  I consumed four quick dissolving anti-cramping lozenges I had in my pocket with the hopes they would ease the cramping discomfort.  With only four miles remaining, the Fargo Theater came into view as I made the left turn onto Broadway with its famous sign resembling the neck and head of a guitar hanging from its façade. 

Once out of the short section of downtown, it was again back into the tree-lined residential streets with old Fargo charm.

The last couple of miles seemed to fly by, likely because I was feeling good, but I was anxious to see the Fargodome and conclude this marathon in a memorable way.  As I made the left turn onto 11^th Avenue North, I recognized Levi’s Hope Last Mile charity banner spanning the street signifying one mile to go.  Wow, ten minutes left to go in this amazing race.

Marathon summary

Everyone experiences some sort of loss and hardship in their lives; but it’s about getting up, dusting yourself off and get on with it.  All of the charity’s supporters were so excited for the runners, and through osmosis, their excitement drove me to crank up the pace.  I recognized that the 4:30 goal time was out the window, but a 4:35 marathon was a real possibility – until my calf began to cramp.  I was rather disappointed, but I plugged on the best I could.  I was able to keep up a good pace, but not as fast as I wanted to, but just enough to avoid cramping.  I had the energy, but the pain was the governing factor.  The lozenges worked to some extent, but not completely.

At last, the Fargodome was in full view.  I was focused while monitoring my watch, but when it showed 4:35 as I approached the loading ramp, I said, “Oh well, it’ll be close enough for government work!”  If I hadn’t walked across that bridge.  If my calf didn’t cramp.  If only I tied my draw string before the race, I would have fulfilled my goal.  No excuses.  Woulda, coulda, shoulda.  I suddenly remembered Dave McGillivray’s lecture about running for those who can’t and how fortunate we are.  That made me feel much better.

I ran down the loading ramp into the Fargodome with a blast of warm air hitting me in the face.  I was already hot and didn’t need that extra heat, but it was sure pleasant as I was inside.  Usually, my wet clothes gives me the chills as I cool down, but not this time.  No wind, no cold, just a balmy 70° or so.

I crossed the finish line in a time of 4:36:38 (10:34 pace), satisfied with my performance.

Age graded score: 51.46%

Age graded time: 4:06:29

 

I rocked it!  Now, for my next bling.

Awaiting the runners were an assortment of food items.  Bananas, bagels, pizza (hot and delicious), orange wedges and an unusual item, chocolate chip cookie dough lined the tables.

I wolfed down a couple slices of pepperoni pizza, bananas and a two scoops of cookie dough.  I love cookie dough and it really hit the spot.  Salmonella did cross my mind once, but it quickly faded after eating the first scoop.

We left the Fargodome about an hour after finishing this great race.  By then, most people had left the parking lot, so traffic out of the Fargodome was not an issue.

Since we were in Fargo to have a good time, we planned to have some post-marathon fun by partaking in the annual 27^th Mile Pub Crawl.

Famous pub crawl medal

The pub crawl CAN be an enjoyable way to experience some of the great establishments of downtown – and earn another MEDAL!  (Emphasis added).  The five participants included the Pickled Parrot, Rooters, Ft. Noks, the Sports Bar, and the Old Broadway.

We drove to the hotel to clean up and take a load off before the “pubathon” experience.  The cold rain began to fall not long after we left the Fargodome.  The weather forecasters were right with their precipitation predictions.  All I can say is that it would have been miserable running in the wind and cold rain.

Since I was the designated driver, I abstained from the alcohol portion of the “course”; well, at least 60 percent of it. 

It was raining much heavier as we arrived at our first stop, the Pickled Parrot.  We purchased our 20-ounce mug that we were to carry to all the establishments and obtained our “passport” needed to claim our finisher’s medal.  Unfortunately, the bouncer had only one passport left, so I had to wait until the next stop to acquire mine and come back for their stamp of approval.  Do I really appear to be younger than 21? 30?  Well, apparently, the bouncer asked to see our IDs!  I took it as a compliment.

Refreshments!

I made it a point to order a Grain Belt Premium beer (since I was in the Minnesota area).  But before, I made sure that purchase would qualify for a passport stamp, even though I did not fill my mug.

I was able to acquire my passport at our second stop, Rooters, where I ordered a Diet Coke in lieu of a beer.  The place was packed with people and very noisy.  A popcorn popper was located at the rear of the pub, where we helped ourselves to some warm buttery popcorn.  It was very addicting.  Before leaving for Pub No. 3, we had the Rooters bouncer stamp my passport on behalf of the Pickled Parrot.

Not a lot of time was spent at the third and fourth stops, Ft. Noks and the Sports Bar.   With my second and final beer, a Grain Belt Nordeast, we obtained our next two passport stamps. 

The final push ended at the Old Broadway and the largest of the five pubs.  The pub was crammed with runners and other patrons enjoying their food, libations and conversations I’m sure some probably didn’t remember the next day.  Besides the workers, I was probably the only sober one.  I ordered my Diet Coke, got my stamp and proceeded to obtain my finisher’s medal – nice extra bling!

I sat on the edge of their stage listening to the music enjoying myself while watching the ND State/Oklahoma NCAA softball tournament game on their mounted 108-inch HD TV just as a heavy light fixture fell off a speaker.  I saw the fixture in my peripheral vision as it hit a woman on the head, ricocheted off her and onto my patella.  OUCH!

She was bleeding from her head when employees rushed over to tend to her injury.  With a towel full of ice placed over her wound, she appeared ok and mostly shrugged it off.  She said it was a glancing blow and not a direct hit.  I believe if it was a direct hit, her injury would likely be more serious.  I was a little sore, but nothing to write home about. 

My conjecture is that the vibrations of the speaker slowly moved the light fixture to the edge of the speaker and gravity took over.  I felt bad for her and she, undoubtedly, likely sported a large knot on her head in the days following.




After a successful pub crawl, we headed back to our hotel for a little nap.  Hunger soon crept upon us so we opted for a burrito meal at Qdoba Mexican Grill to fill our stomachs.  The barbacoa meat burrito topped with hot sauce hit the spot!

On Sunday, we happily slept in.  It was a cold, windy and rainy morning and was nice to stay indoors.  Sunday was also a travel day back to Minneapolis, in the meantime, stopping at Moorhead’s Hjemkomst Center to visit a replica of a real-life Viking ship.  Of course, with our luck, the center opened at 1200 hours and it was just before 1100 hours when we arrived.  It wasn’t important enough to wait so we had breakfast/lunch at Taco John’s before our trip down I-94.

The drive on I-94 was just as wearisome as the drive to Fargo.  It rained off and on all the way to Minneapolis.  Traffic in the twin cities area was light and free flowing all the way to our hotel, Mystic Lake Hotel and Casino south of Minneapolis.

Sporting my new and favorite race shirt.

Why do I gamble only to lose?

Ready to golf

Situated on their 18-hole golf course, the view from our VIP suite on the 9^th floor was spectacular.  Yes, we were considered VIP status by the hotel for some reason.  I wasn’t about to argue.  Give us the luxuries, baby!

That afternoon while at the pool/hot tub facility for some relaxation time, I developed stomach issues which caused me to spend an inordinate amount of time in the restroom.  Let’s just say, I was quite sick throughout the night and into Monday as well.  Was it the burrito from Taco John’s?  My guess is that it was.  Ugh, I didn’t need that!  I’ll call it my “burrito diet.”

I “woke up” Monday morning feeling pretty good.  It was a beautiful day for “a cow to have a calf”, with a few wispy clouds in the sky – a far cry from the record rainfall the previous two days brought to Minneapolis.  We had a 1200 checkout so I was able to relax and restore my stomach as much as possible.  I was hungry and wanted to eat, but was afraid fearing I would need to make some unscheduled visits to the restroom.

Our flight back to LAX departed MSP at 1930 hours.  In an effort to consume part of the day, we spent some time visiting Minneapolis’ Minnehaha Park enjoying the beautiful day walking the trails and enjoying Minnehaha Falls.  Runners, walkers and cyclists were out and about in droves.  How could one pass up an opportunity to enjoy such a pleasant springtime day?

Lake Nokomis, situated on the road back to the airport, was the backdrop of our next stop.  We spent some time sitting and relaxing on the dock near the lake’s beach area taking in the peacefulness of the locale while watching MSP’s departing aircraft as they flew over the lake.

Lake Nokomis

Minneapolis tender boats

Besides watching the aircraft and a fisherman catching some fish, our afternoon entertainment also consisted of observing a couple prepare and stock their sailboat for some kind of day or overnight excursion. 

My stomach was feeling pretty good and I was definitely hungry (I actually wanted a Juicy Lucy), but I was still unenthusiastic about eating anything.  I wanted to make sure I had an empty stomach on our three-hour flight.  I guess one can use their imagination what could happen if I had to constantly annoy adjacent passengers when I had to use the restroom, if the “fasten seat belt” symbol wasn’t illuminated.

After a slight mishap driving into the wrong airport terminal, we made our flight back to LAX without incident, albeit a little late due to the flight attendant crew’s late arrival and the usual aircraft traffic back-ups.

Cheers to all

I found everyone in Fargo very welcoming and it was obvious they were there to have a good time.  The week was chock full of various races, activities and events with spectators out in force for the marathon and half.  The flat course layout makes this a valuable, enjoyable and worthwhile event.

The weather was perfect for running, and we definitely lucked out as the rain and nasty weather held off until after we finished.  All the musical acts, mobile DJs, the two Elvis impressionists and local radio stations provided wonderful entertainment throughout the whole course (except within the quiet zone) and I especially enjoyed the polka music from the Norwegian Kringen Accordion Band, complete with all those small ground mounted Norwegian flags highlighting their presence.

A runner doesn’t need to run a high-priced Rock ‘n Roll marathon for great entertainment or motivation to push yourself to the finish – Fargo fits that bill and definitely exceeded my expectations.  Make sure to enjoy the 27^th Mile Pub Crawl for some great social entertainment or to unwind with some adult libations after a long run.

That’s how far I’ll go.  Rock on and I’ll see you on the roads…