Well, Michigan was an interesting run. Tons of people thought the course was a lot tougher than they expected. I hung out with the 5:30 pace group for awhile and met a woman who was 47 years old and her goal was to run a marathon before she turned 50! It was her first one so I hung out with her for the first 13 miles and learned about her and her family - they were all from Michigan, she currently lived there and was a Spartan in college (we were in Ann Arbor so that was where the Wolverines were). Her husband and kids were going to the Tigers game later that day while she was running. It was great to get to meet someone new and hopefully encourage them along. She was very nice and highly educated as well as a fellow believer. It was a pleasant 13 miles... I always wish I could see every one through to the finish and be there to cheer them on!
The course was a lot of out and backs and Michigan has a lot more trees than I thought... though of course my only previous Michigan experience had been the streets and factories of Detroit... haha. That was back when I was going to all the baseball stadiums... before I was doing marathons in every state. So I suppose it was not the fullest Michigan experience. With all the out and backs, I think I ended up cheering for every single person who ran the inaugural Ann Arbor marathon... haha.
I sped up a little at the halfway point and started catching people and hopefully encouraged them also. I came across another girl who was not happy about the hills in Ann Arbor around mile 15 or 16 (there were a ton of turn arounds) and was not shy about voicing how much she disliked marathons and that she would not do another one. I ran along side her for awhile and tried to also encourage her. We were on and off jogging/walking for a few miles together before she fell behind only to catch back up at mile 19-20. At mile 20 I started running a little faster. I had done the first 13.1 in 2:56:49 and finished the last 10k in 73 minutes. Running around the mall was definitely not the most fun thing I have done in the world and I was still getting tired. The humidity at least was getting better by the time I hit the mall since it was spitting a little and eventually sprinkled during the last 2 miles I was running.
We ran past the University of Michigan's football field and down ... and back on Main street and ended on a field on campus I believe. Wow, there were TONS of out and backs. I prefer straight runs or a big circle (not the 2 loops or what not) so that I can't always see everyone who's in front of me... hehe. (Though it was pretty fun cheering for people!).
Overall I finished pretty strong though the humidity had overheated me a bit in the beginning, the cooler rain... and the thought that if lightening started they may cancel the run sped me up quite a bit! I was the last to cross the starting line and I finished in just under 5:40 at 5:39:58. I sometimes wonder what my times would be like if I trained... or cared in the beginning and paced instead of hung out with people and talked... but that's not nearly as fun as getting to know people! :)
Now I'm back in Knoxville, TN... life is moving quickly and we just got a dog on Sunday (we named him Blitz) so I need to get back home and walk him. Tonight I'll run a lap or two with him to tire him out before bed.
Time to get training. I know I've said that before, but this is it. I only have 11 months and 8 days before I turn 30 and I want to qualify for Boston before that! God, please help me and give me the drive and determination to get back in shape and glorify You through my running. Thank you for keeping me safe through the past 33 long distance runs in 31 states + DC.
-run for life
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