Grandma's Marathon

I signed up for Grandma's Marathon last December 31 -- the last day it was open before it reached capacity -- thinking I could better last year's time.  I knew Sarah had class the day of the marathon and it would only be me for the weekend (I had reserved a campsite at Gooseberry Falls State Park sometime in August, just in case).  Well...a lot of things changed...

Two days before I headed north, I got a text from Kristie (who runs with Sarah and Pam in the early am and is a mother to a friend of Lukie) wondering if I could drive her to Duluth.  Not a problem...and it ended up being Two Harbors, but I was heading that way anyway...

After picking up our race packets at the DECC, we figured we had to take a picture...

Yep...those signs pretty much summed up the weekend....

After arriving at the start line an hour early, the temperature was announced as 68 degrees (about 18 degrees warmer than last year, but it wasn't raining).  Then it went to 72...then 76...before the thing even started....rain would've been better...

Eventually though, it was time to start.  The weather condition flags were 'green' - meaning low risk.  That was going to change....quickly.  It was a long walk up to the starting line...

I remember thinking last year (as it was pouring rain) that the people who take the train up to the starting line had it easy....yes they do....

Being up there all by myself, I brought my phone along for the run...figured it'd be nice to know it was there if I needed to call someone...no idea who I'd call or how they'd help, but I had it --- plus I could take pictures...

Yes, I was the guy taking pictures running up to the finish line.  You can see me in my bright, orange shirt on the big screen...

I had a goal for finishing....I was 41 minutes slower than that goal, slower than last year...oh well.  Those weather flags, but mile 7 had jumped to 'black' -- meaning extremely high risk.  Yeah, it was tough....

Kristie bumped into me in the finish area and asked what I was going to do and I said "go sit in the lake."  She say no way...and I said watch me.  So she followed along...

I got right into it, waves riding right up my shorts...it was glorious...best part of the day.  Took Kristie about 10 minutes before she got in too...bet we sat there talking with a big group of people for at least thirty minutes.  Used to tell the boys to stay out of the water there....not anymore...swim away dudes...

Had to take a picture of the bridge too...I've got lots, not many with me in it though...