Fargo Half Marathon Review

2012 Fargo Half Marathon Finishers Medal

IT IS FINISHED, more importantly I FINISHED!

This past weekend (Saturday) I ran the Fargo half marathon and I finished with my fasted time for a half marathon. It wasn't quite the time that I was hoping for but it was faster than I have ever run a half, with plenty of room to improve. I hate to admit it but I have sort of fallen in love with race day and the feeling I have afterwards even if my legs are exhausted. [2 days later my quads are still sore] There is a crew from Wartburg Theological Seminary who have claimed the name "Running Reformers" and have sort of made it a tradition to meet in Fargo every May and October to participate in the race weekends. I love this group of running folk and am proud to be a part of the Running Reformers, we were down a few members this time due to injury, hopefully in October we'll have our full group back together.

This is my second Fargo Half Marathon and it seems to me that they are very well organized for the 10k, half marathon, and full marathon. I didn't run the 5k Friday night but watched a few friends run it, and after seeing the chaos of it all I am kind of glad I didn't, there was a TON of people and it was ridiculously hot.

The course for the half marathon is great, there are plenty of water and gatorade stations throughout the course (I would guess about every mile), and there were bands scattered all throughout with nearly every type of music (Elvis impersonators, bagpipes, country, rock, high school pep bands, garage bands, etc), and there were people all along the trail cheering. The course was very well labeled and staffed and there really are not that many hills (REJOICE).

I did run with my ipod because I wanted to have my music the whole time. The funny moment was as I was coming toward the dome on my ipod shuffle came the song "People are crazy" by Billy Currington. While it really isn't a quick beat or an amazing running song it was funny to be ending a half marathon with the lyrics "God is great, beer is good, and people are crazy." Seemed all too appropriate.

Notes to self:

• keep running you love it and it is good for you
• as soon as the pain in your quads goes away get back at it - the October half will come much faster than you anticipate
• find some 5ks and 10ks between now and October. Register for them.
• update your ipod shuffle your music on there got boring and some is way too slow
• you will never come in first and never last you race only yourself - be proud you finished with a personal best
• keep eating healthy and taking care of yourself - your body is a gift and it is your job to take care of it