Grandma’s Marathon Adventure

Grandma’s was an awesome marathon and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to run a scenic, fast marathon. I might be a little biased on my first grandmas because the conditions were optimal for running with 49 degree temperatures, a 13 mph NE wind, and overcast. The white flags, which are my favorite to see at a running event, were out that day. White flags mean there is a risk of hypothermia but for me it basically means that I won’t completely drowned in my own sweat. Grandmas marathon was the second marathon that I’ve done in my life time and second of the season. The Fargo Marathon is the only other marathon I personally, can compare Grandma’s to.
Ten days prior to Grandmas, I anxiously booted up my computer and checked the 10 day forecast on weather.com. The weekend prior I ran the Athletic Republic Half Marathon where temperatures climbed into the mid to upper 60’s, humidity was heavy, and there was hardly a cloud in the sky. Most people may think that it would be a great day for a run, but I’ve been spoiled and had only acclimated to training in temperatures in the low to mid 50’s. I was going to run with Wade during this run and was planning on running around a 1:40 half; boy, things went south fast. By mile 5 I just got the last little taste of the dust that lingered in the air from Wade’s trail. The sun was beating down on me and my body about had enough; I needed to slow my pace. In between mile 8 and 9, near the state hospital, I got to the point where I needed to walk a few paces after going through the water station and I had to walk another time near the high school. From there I pushed myself to the finish in 1:43. After crossing the finish line, my brother came over to me to congratulate me. I remember feeling terrible and thinking that I needed to keep walking and try to catch my breath and cool down but I don’t remember talking gibberish. He told me later that I was not making any sense when I was talking to him. Athletic Republic was a very tough half marathon, by far the toughest of the year and slowest as well. I finally gathered myself after the race and thought to myself, “How could I exert myself the hardest I had all season and run my slowest race of all”? I knew that higher humidity and higher temperatures affect running performance, but I had no idea of how a 10 degree temperature hike could affect me. I learned a valuable lesson from this race which was to not go out so fast when temperatures are higher than I am used to training in. I really started to think hard about the lesson that I had learned and my head started playing mind games with me about how prepared I really was to run Grandma’s two weeks down the road. As I pulled up the 10 day forecast a few days after this race, I saw that temperatures were going to be in the low 50’s for Grandmas with ENE winds. I was pretty excited to see this forecast and reconfirmed myself that I was going to go at the pace that I had trained for since February (8:24/mile).
Marathon weekend was finally here and Erin and I took off for Duluth at about 9:00 AM on Friday. We wanted to walk around the expo for a bit and listen to a couple guest speakers. Frank Shorter and Dick Beardsley were speaking that afternoon and I was excited to listen to them. We got to the DECC where the expo was taking place down in Canal Park and we stepped outside to really cool temperatures. What a difference a 3.5 hour drive can do to the temperature! The expo was very well organized and had everything a runner could dream of for equipment inside the array of booths. I was suckered into purchasing a couple more shirts that had deals pretty hard to pass up to add to my overfilled closet at home. The spaghetti feed area inside the expo, which we didn’t eat at, looked awesome. I would recommend eating there for lunch, afternoon snack, or dinner the evening before the marathon. I loved listening to Dick Beardsley that afternoon. He is such a great and humorous speaker and is also very motivational. He talked for about an hour and showed his video of the Duel in the Sun which he raced to the Finish against Alberto Salazar. That race was the closest race in Boston history and it was very exciting to watch.
We had to stay at Black Bear because we didn’t try to make reservations until this February and most of the hotels had booked up by then. The ones that weren’t booked were overpriced with rates between $250-$350/night I believe. If you want to run this marathon next year, I would suggest booking a hotel close to Canal Park such as the Holiday Inn, or Radisson as soon as you can this year. Dinner that night consisted of going back to the hotel at Black Bear Casino and eating at the pasta buffet where the mashed potatoes were abundant and delicious. Erin and I went back up to the room and got all my stuff ready for the run the next morning. I placed my gu’s, breakfast bagel, PowerAde, and banana in my bag I was brining with to the race, got all my clothes in line, and went to bed at about 10:00 pm.
Marathon morning came and I was feeling hydrated and energized. Erin dropped me off at a shuttle pick up area in Duluth and I was on my way up to Two Harbors. Man was I excited! The shuttle dropped us off next to the starting line and I found my 3:40 pace group. Moments later the gun shot off and I was starting my marathon. The pace leader was very talkative and started talking about all the other marathons he did during the run which I found very interesting. Miles were flying by and on mile six I was feeling as if I hadn’t even started to run yet. I made a decision that I was going to speed up the pace a bit. At mile 7 my right contact popped out. Bummer, huge bummer, I have to wear hard contacts and they are close to $200/each so this marathon all of a sudden got more expensive. On top of losing the contact, I was basically blind. I have terrible astigmatism to the point that the eye surgeon told me that I am not a qualified candidate for laser surgery because the diopters of my eyes are too great. I was also concerned that I was going to come down with a splitting headache due to the eye strain I was going to have to endure for the next 2.5 hours or so. I kept running and the legs and heart kept feeling strong. I passed the halfway point and saw Erin cheering me on and she handed me GU for some quick energy. I was still feeling great and started talking to a gentleman around my age that I had been running next to since I left the pace group. His name was Brian and he was part of an extreme running group called the marathon maniacs. Most of the people in this group are trying to achieve tasks like double digit marathons in a year, run at least 1 marathon in all 50 states, and even complete 100 mile ultra-marathons. He talked to me about his journey and some of his struggles along the way but he also talked about how much fun he had been having with the whole thing and how it has made him feel free. He was from Missouri and since jumping on a plane was not always the most economical, he made the drive to Duluth. Miles kept passing by and we were running a lot of our miles at a sub/8:00 pace. Erin met me again at mile 19-20 and asked if she could run with me for a bit. I thought I was still feeling pretty good but must have told her that she had run long enough with me because she tailed off not too long after she started running with me. Soon after that I noticed that my legs were starting to feel really heavy but I kept running. I was now in Duluth running past cheering groups. One of the groups was serving bacon to the runners and they had a big sign up that said “Bacon Station”. It was pretty cool to see. Duluth had an incredible amount of cheering and spectator support. It was awesome, except for the fact that I was beginning to hit a wall. I got on the long straightaway where I could see lemon drop hill way in the distance and the closer I got to it, the more my mind was telling me “boy that hill is looking difficult, I think you should walk”. It’s amazing what your mind can tell your body when you start fatiguing. I got to the water station just before the hill and I had to walk for a bit. As I hear a famous expression the other IRR (Ice Road Runners) talk about, “There was nothing really left in the tank.” I told myself that I would walk for about .2 miles and then I would run to the next water stop before I would walk again. This made it easier to run because I was now able to section the race into different segments and it took away some of the mind games that I was too tired to finish out the last 4 miles. Somewhere towards the end I heard a pitter patter of multiple feet creeping up behind me; I looked back and saw that it was the 3:40 group that had caught up with me again. I knew I had to stay with them to meet my goal but between mile 24 and 25 they separated from me. They sure were a strong consistent group and I give them props for their hard work. Mile 25 came and I saw that there was still a chance if I ran the last mile hard I could still achieve my goal of a 3:40 marathon. I felt that I gave it everything I had at the time and ran to a 3:39:52 finish. Boy I cut that close and man was I happy. Grandmas had awesome post-race drinks and food at the finish line and they were very organized with all kinds of different booths having different drinks and food. What a great Marathon and I will definitely sign up for it again next year. Hopefully the weather cooperates as I have heard that it is very unpredictable during that time of year in that area. I am now starting my training for the Philadelphia Marathon coming up November 20th and the training program starts already on Monday, July 4th. I have had such an awesome experience running this year and am very blessed to have met the IRR crew. It sure makes running more enjoyable to do it with a group. I am also so thankful that my wife Erin not only puts up with, but also supports all the time I have devoted towards my training. I’ll keep you posted on how the training season goes. My mile splits for Grandmas are below.

1. 8:22
2. 8:04
3. 8:05
4. 8:15
5. 8:14
6. 8:19
7. 8:18
8. 8:13
9. 8:07
10. 7:57
11. 7:57
12. 7:58
13. 7:46
14. 7:49
15. 7:53
16. 7:49
17. 7:59
18. 7:58
19. 7:59
20. 8:25
21. 8:31
22. 9:58
23. 9:40
24. 9:05
25. 9:17
26. 8:24
27. unsure

Why Do You Run?

Ken Heidorn runs to keep in shape for his "other job" as a soccer referee.

Garmin Forever

Garmin Forerunner 310XT after the Stockholm Marathon 2011

I like to consider myself a minimalist runner.  I don't listen to music while I run.  I prefer the sound of footsteps, nature, or conversation.  I don't use a heart rate monitor while running.  I like to run by feel.  I enjoy the commraderie of the running group.  Running is a simple activity, and I like to keep it simple. 

The aspect of running where my compulsive nature shines through is with my running log.  I record daily runs, weekly totals and annual distance.  With each run, I record my distance, pace, and running partners.  Using the weekly distances, I am able to determine when it is time for a new pair of shoes (300 to 400 miles).  Simply put, I like to quantify things.  Running is no different.

To determine distance and pace, I rely on my Garmin Forerunner 310XT.  My Garmin can provide maps of my running course with elevation changes.  It can provide my heart rate (if I was interested).  It even provides me with a virtural running partner to pace me during my runs.  Before Garmin became a part of my running experience, I would get in my car after a run, drive the running course as best I could, and approximate my distance using the car's odometer.

I have owned four Garmin Forerunner watches in the last several years (see photos below), including a Forerunner 101, 305, 310XT and 405.  Each was an excellent watch with the exception of the Garmin Forerunner 405.  This 405 model has a touch sensitive bevel around the face of the watch.  I found that the bevel was much too sensitive.  Rain and sweat droplets provided enough force to change settings.  The last time I wore the watch was when it unexpectedly turned off while running through a tunnel underneath the McCormick Convention Center midway through the Chicago Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in August 2009.  After this episode, I returned to the reliable Forerunner 305.

My current Garmin Forerunner 310XT is my favorite.  It is waterproof (and sweatproof).  It buzzes and vibrates loudly at split distances, informing the running group that another mile has passed.  I have used it while swimming triathlons, and it is compatible with the cadence monitor for my bike.  I have been very happy with this watch, and I highly recommend it to anyone with the compulsive need to quantify their runs. 

Beautiful Night For A Run

Kristi & Lisa after a run along Cascade Street.  Wade cross training after work.

Why Should I Cross-train?

I know! To diehard runners, cross-training can seem about as appealing as a splinter under a fingernail! However, maybe it's time to look at it differently. A large number of studies have actually shown that incorporating some cross-training can actually make you a better runner. It can increase running economy, boost stride power, elevate aerobic fitness, reduce injury risk and aid injury rehab. That is according to Matt Fitzgerald who is a triathlete and found cross-training made him a better runner. He has written a book called, "Brain Training for Runners" that I highly recommend. Three categories of cross-training are: Resistance training, Flexibility training and Non-impact cardiovascular training. So, give core conditioning, isometric drills, dynamic stretching, biking and swimming a try. Some elite runners spend almost as much time doing these activities as they do running. You might even learn to appreciate and enjoy them as I am while rehabbing from a running injury!

Pedal Power: Cross-Training for Runners

Dan Traiser, Dennis Gerold, Mike Norgard, Jim Andrews, Tom Larson, Wes Borowski

For the last six years, a group has been meeting on the Central Lakes Trail on Thursday mornings at 6:00 am during the Summer months. The group meets approximately 1.3 miles from the trail head, near the cul-de-sac at the end of Pebble Shores Drive. If it is raining, we may choose to sleep in.  

"The Training Summit"

Last week a meeting of running geeks was convened in a small conference room in the back of the cancer center in Fergus Falls.  The group poured over training programs and calendars to design a 20 week marathon training for the Philadelphia Marathon (on November 20th).  Training philosophies and running schedules were reviewed, including material from Matt Fitzgerald, Bart Yasso, McMillan, Hal Higdon and Jeff Galloway.  The group reminisced about past training programs as they ate a Philly Cheese Steak pizza from Dominos.

Dennis Gerold's Farewell Run

Fourth of July Races!

If you are interested in running a race on our Nation's Independence Day, there are at least two options to consider.  For a longer race, Twin Cities in Motion is sponsoring Red, White & Boom!  The half marathon race starts at 6:30 AM in Minneapolis.  For a shorter distance, MSUM is sponsoring a 5K and 10K on the Moorhead State beginning at 8:00 AM on campus.

Another option around Otter Tail Lake is an 8K race on July 2nd.  The Otter Tail Lake Chase 8K run and 5K walk is held at 6:30 pm.  The race begins on the West side of Otter Tail Lake.  Race day registration is available. 

Steve Swanson Tackles His Bucket List

When I first started running back in October 2007 the thought of running a marathon never crossed my mind. At that time I was lucky to survive 6 laps at the local YMCA much less 13.1 or 26.2 miles. So I started a program titled couch potato to 5 k in 10 weeks. Eventually I was able to run a mile at a time, then 2 miles. That seems like eons ago! Then I ran my first half marathon at Fargo 2008. My goal was to break 2 hours. But I fell short at 2 hours 3 minutes! I knew if I did some more training I would be able to get under 2 hours the next time. The next year I ran Fargo in 1 hour 54 minutes. At that point I was a little delusional and thought maybe I could do a full marathon. So I added it to my bucket list along with other grandiose thoughts. Last year while running with the Ice Road Runners, I discovered I was the only person not to run a full marathon, so I started my training program.

Finally the weekend of my full was here. My wife, Diane, and I drove to Duluth, picked up my race packet, and ate spaghetti with several thousand other runners. That’s when the reality hit me I was going to run a full marathon! The weather in Duluth was cold, rainy, and windy. I laid in bed, tossing and turning all night trying to plan the race strategy in my head. What pace would I do, how many layers of clothes if it was still raining, would I finish! I left the hotel Saturday at 5:00 AM. It was 48, heavy freezing rain, and windy. I thought, this is going to be a long day! The shuttle bus took us from Duluth to Two Harbors. The ride seemed like it took forever and I had to run all the way back! But once we arrived in Two Harbors the rain had stopped. It was still windy but to our backs and 48 degrees. Perfect conditions for running. I couldn’t have asked for any better conditions. My goal was 4 hours. So I started out with the 4 hour pace group and ran with them for about 3 miles. I was feeling great and thought maybe I could run a little faster. So I broke away and ran at 8:50/mile pace. After 20 miles I still felt good and my overall pace was at 8:50. But at 21 miles I could tell I was slowing down a little. At 22 miles I was still at 8:55/mile pace overall. Well enough to finish under 4 hours. But then I hit the wall everyone talks about. I was past the 23 mile mark when the 4 hour pace group caught me. I ran with them for about ¾ of a mile. During that time the pace leader told the groups we still had 40 seconds to spare to get under 4 hours. At mile 24 I hit another wall! I was nervous I may not finish. In my head I was trying to decide should I push it and maybe burn out short of the finish line or slow down and at least finish. I also thought to myself, why did I ever do this! I thought I will never do a full marathon again and limit my runs to halves’. Finally I decided finishing was more important than my time. I actually thought about walking for a while. But I told my wife I would finish in about 4 hours or less. If I started walking my time would go way over that and the stress might be too much for her. If the race didn’t kill me she would! So I kept running and finished with an empty take at 4hours 2 minutes 27 seconds.

After finishing I was completely exhausted. I got my water, chocolate milk, and a banana. It was still cold and windy so a grabbed a solar blanket and found my wife. I rested for a few minutes and then started walking to the car. Before long I was already getting texts from the rest of the Ice Road Racers! After a nice nap Diane and I went back to the finish area. I then realized how close I was to getting under 4 hours. With a little more training, like after my first half, I could break 4 hours. This is now my next goal, a sub 4 hour marathon. But my wife said I will need to do it with my other friends because it’s too stressful to sit and wait for me to finish.

by Steve Swanson

Law of Diminished Gain

Because endurance athletes run the gamut from recreational weekend warriors to fiercely competitive professional athletes, athletic outfitters produce equipment for all abilities and budgets. Generally, the more you’re willing to spend the more performance you can expect. However, with specialized running shoes topping out at $200 and bikes in excess of $20,000, an endurance athlete needs to determine what level of investment they’re willing to make. In most cases, a first-time cyclist isn’t going to spend $10,000 on a bike. However, if they’re willing to spend a little more than the typical newbie, they’ll find themselves riding circles around their frugal counterpart. This is because of the “Law of Diminished Gain”.

The Law of Diminished Gain suggests that a particular piece of equipment (i.e. bikes, shoes, X-country skis, etc) reaches a point where minuscule improvements start to cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. That’s why a $20,000 bike has only a slight edge over a $2000 bike. It’s because a $2000 bike is already so well designed that it costs literally $18,000 to shave a few hundred grams of weight and reduce wind resistance a tiny amount. Unless you’re a millionaire or a professional athlete, it’s hard to justify spending that kind of money on such minuscule gains. At the same time, the relatively measly $1800 difference between a $200 bike and $2000 bike represents a huge increase in performance. To prove this, I compared the average speed a cyclist could hold for 30 minutes on several different bikes ranging from $200 - $5000. The chart clearly indicates that there is a substantial boost in performance for every additional $100 spent until about $2000. This is what I like to call the “Sweet Spot”. It’s the point at which you get the most “bang for your buck.” While this example focuses specifically on bikes, the principle applies to all forms of equipment. Whether training for fun or for medals, an athlete should try to purchase as close to the “sweet spot” as their budget allows. In the same way, those who decide to spend more should carefully consider the return on their investment – it may not have the dramatic impact they’re hoping for.

by Dave Jensen

"The World Is Not A Better Place Because You Can Run A Faster Marathon!"

These words my wife shared with me during a time-intensive period of training for a marathon a couple years ago.  I appreciate the sentiment.  But I didn't at the time. 

She was frustrated by the amount of time I was spending training.  She was also frustrated with my Saturday morning runs.  She questioned the amount of time that was being spent on this running activity.

In the last 5 years, I have run 4 marathons and 22 half marathons.  That amounts to a lot of entry fees and a lot of hours of running.

With the amount of time and effort, I've put into this, maybe I should be participating in a race to "make the world a better place."

One organization that I have considered supporting is World Vision.  World Vision partners with a variety of races across the country each year.  Volunteers form teams or individually raise money for the organization.  I haven't committed to anything yet, but whenever I see someone running in an orange World Vision shirt, I think about it.

See Fergus Run

On January 8, I ran the Disneyworld Half Marathon in Orlando.  It was a fun race!  Many people ran in costume.  For many people, it was their first half marathon.  Looking through the results online, I was surprised to find that four other Fergus Falls residents had finished the race.

I became interested to learn where Fergus Falls residents run.  Specifically, where they run marathons.  Below is a graph of marathon participants from Fergus Falls at the three larger regional marathons over the last three years.  Of the three marathons, Fargo Marathon is the most popular among Fergus Falls residents, averaging 9 residents per year.  Twin Cities Marathon averaged 6 residents per year.  Grandma's Marathon averaged 4.6 residents per year.

Dennis Gerold. Medical Student. Ice Road Runner.

Dennis Gerold has been running and racing with the Ice Road Runners since October 2010.  He has been the runner in front of the pack, picking up the pace when everyone else was hoping for a leisurely run.  This month Dennis completed his first half marathon at the Athletic Republic Half Marathon.

Dennis has spent the last nine months in Fergus Falls, completing a third-year medical school rotation.  During his time in Fergus, he completed clinical rotations in pediatrics, family medicine, internal medicine, general surgery, and orthopedics. 

Originally from Pine City, Minnesota, Dennis graduated from the University of Minnesota.  He will be leaving Fergus this week to complete his final year of medical school at the Twin Cities campus.  He is planning to ultimately pursue a career in Family Practice.  Good luck Dennis!

 

Happy Father's Day

Congratulations Grandma's Marathon Finishers!

Josh Tysver          3:39:52  (PR)
Steve Swanson     4:02:27 (first marathon)

You guys had a great run!

Other Fergus Falls Runners
Dan Stueve           3:17:42
Daniel Stueve Jr    3:21:12
Nick Mariotti        3:42:54
Sara Kipp             4:23:54
Gregory Schmidt   4:43:18
Congratulations everyone!

Tracking Grandma's Marathon Runners

The technology to follow runners during marathons has evolved rapidly in the last few years.  Most larger marathons now provide live tracking of runners on the internet, text messaging at split times, and email updates of a runners progress.  This technology is helping to transform distance running into a spectator sport.  As I sit at my computer, refreshing the computer screen, waiting for an update, it reminds me of how Wes Borowski described this experience.  He said he "felt like a nervous parent anxiously waiting the next split time".   

Endurance Sports 101

Thursday evening at Cafe 116, Dave Jensen (winner of the 2011 Athletic Republic Half Marathon) gave a presentation about endurance sports.  He spoke of nutrition and various training philosophies.  At the conclusion of his talk, he circulated a list of contact information for local endurance sports groups.  A partial list of contacts is provided below:

Running:
Wednesday AM (7:00-7:45) @ Cafe 116
Contact David Jensen, david.jensen@minnesota.edu

Paddling:
Monthly.  Ottertail River Kayak/Canoe Club
Contact Jason Sannes-Venhuizen,  jmsanjen@gmail.com

Cycling- road:
Thursday 6:00 pm @ Central Lakes Cycles
Contact Clark Grotberg, clark@centrallakescycle.com

Cycling- off road
Weekly PM
Contact Dave Jensen, david.jensen@minnesota.edu

Grandma's Marathon Numbers in Decline

Grandma's Marathon is being held today along the North Shore of Lake Superior from Two Harbors to Duluth.  This year marks the 35th anniversary of the event.  The race is arguably the most prestigous marathon in the region.  Despite the tradition associated with the event, the number of runners competing in the event is in decline.  Traditionally, the race has filled to capacity.  The last three years it has not.

There are a number of theories for the decline in interest of the event.  Often cited as a reason for declining participation are the overpriced hotel rooms in Duluth on marathon weekend.  Also, the increasing popularity of the Twin Cities Marathon and growth of other regional marathons may be impacting this trend.

You Smell: The Mechanics of Permafunk

I was reading an article in a bicycling magazine a couple years ago.  It described a guy in a cycling group named Ralph, whom none of the other riders wanted to draft behind because of his perpetual odor.  The author used the term "permafunk" to describe the odor that occurs in technical clothing due to the tight weave of the microfiber wicking material.  Bacteria is able to get stuck in the tight weave of the material and typical laundry detergents are not effective in dislodging them.  Often after washing technical fabrics the odor will disappear, but then reappear within a few minutes of exercise.  The solution: a detergent with hydrogen peroxide, or adding hydrogen peroxide to the laundry.  To read the article click here.

Mick Bakker Escaped from Alcatraz!

Mick Bakker, formerly of Fergus Falls and currently of Anchorage, Alaska, completed the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon in San Francisco on June 5.

The race began with a 7:30 am plunge into the 55 degree waters and strong currents of San Francisco Bay . (The famous Alcatraz prison was placed on this island because prisoners wouldn't survive the 1.5 mile swim to freedom.)

The bicycling route was a hilly 18 mile route through the city.

The run consisted of a 8 mile run to the finish.  Mick finished in the top 14% of all finishers.  Congratulations Mick!

Congratulations Ben Schierer!

Ben Schierer completed the Liberty Triatholon Half Ironman in Independence, Minnesota on June 11, 2011.  The race included a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike ride, and 13.1 mile run.  Ben finished with an overall time of 5:52:28.  He finished the triathlon with a 1:53:03 half marathon.  A total of 230 participants completed the race.  Congratulations Ben on your first half Ironman!

Can't Be In Canal Park On Race Day?

If you are interested in following a runner (like Josh Tysver or Steve Swanson) in the Grandma's Marathon this weekend, and you can't be in Duluth for the event, consider tracking them electronically.  To track a runner on a map on your computer, click here.  To track a runner by email or text message, sign up now.

Jim Andrews Has Been Spotted!

In follow-up to a previous blog post about Jim Andrew's notable absence from recent group runs, several events have occurred.  New theories about his absence have developed and a few possible spottings have been reported.  A few of these reports are described below:

Jim has reportedly given up on a career in medicine, and decided to train as a Sherpa.  First stop: Eddie Bauer.  Second stop: Himalayas.

Jim has reportedly been spending time at the Wahpeton Zoo teaching the elephants to perform the KU "Rock Chalk Jayhawk" chant.

Jim has reportedly joined U.S. Army Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and is searching for rogue Taliban forces.

Jim is reportedly the newest, clean-shaven member of the Hell Angels.

There have been reports of Jim participating the KU Spirit Squad at Nationals last week.

None of these reports can be confirmed.

Good Weather Expected For Grandma's Marathon

Good weather is expected for the 35th running of the Grandma's Marathon in Two Harbors and Duluth this weekend.  The weather forecast predicts a low temperature of 50 degrees Friday night, and a high of 60 degrees on Saturday.  Josh Tysver and Steve Swanson will be participating in the event this year.  Good luck guys!

Where is Jim?

Jim Andrews, who has been featured on this blog in the past, has seemingly disappeared.  He was previously a regular participant in 6:00 AM Tuesday and Thursday morning runs at the YMCA.  Last weekend, he was a no-show at the Athletic Republic Run.  Since the race, he has not been participating in weekday runs.  If anyone has any information of Jim's whereabouts, please share with him this map to the YMCA.