Fargo Mini Marathon 2012 Review

Fargo Mini Marathon's Running Reformers

         This was the first year of the Fargo Mini Marathon, this race took place of the Oktoberfest run that had usually took place in mid-October. The race was moved to south Fargo and began and ended in the Scheel's arena. The race seemed well organized from the start & packet pick up was a breeze. The shirts are wonderful athletic shirts rather than cotton we got the same Asics bags that they use for the Fargo marathon in May.
     The race took off late due to massive amounts of problems with traffic and being able to get to the arena on time, I was thankful our hotel was super close to the arena making getting there a bit easier. There was three races: 5k, 10k, and a half marathon. There was also a kids race at noon. The half marathon began last. The course was interesting to say the least, some of the volunteers were phenomenal and some of the volunteers were less than helpful. The race was a little hard to figure out because it felt like we kept running through a ton of different housing communities, all which looked the same and were to a certain degree switchbacks. There was even a few times that we got on paths that felt like we were running through people's yards. It was good but interesting to say the least. The wind blew strong and hard as there is very little to block the wind out there.
      There were moments that I wish I had a camera with me because seriously there were arrows on the ground pointing in all three directions, thank God I run mid-pack and didn't have to try to figure out where I was going, I definitely would have gotten confused and turned around. I am not certain if I liked this year's route better than the old one, I know change is always hard, but this course felt so strange to say the least. Although I am sure I'll get use to it and as the neighborhoods develop a little that will help so then there is not construction workers and trucks everywhere. Despite the crazy route, I was happy to have set a new personal record. I am certain that for me any given race is about 75% mental game and 25% physical game. I have to keep overcoming the mentla game that sometimes gets the better of me.
     I always love getting the medal placed around my neck at the end of a race and the runner's high that follows. Ahhh how wonderful - gives me reason to run. Overall I was satisfied with the race. The Running Reformers ran well for sure, we came in with three personal records and a fourth good run. I am proud to be a running reformer. The post race food was slightly strange, it was cookies, chicken noodle soup, bread, and peanut/candy corn mix. I missed the bananas and Cass Clay chocolate milk. I love racing with friends for sure!!!!
     I am jazzed that this week is going to be a 2 medal week, this coming Saturday I get to earn my Crosslake Run series medal as well. I am running the Monster Dash 5k in Crosslake on Saturday, should be wonderful. This race also has me jazzed and re-excited about training for the Tinkerbell half marathon this January in Disneyland!

Crosslake Dam Run Review

Crosslake Dam Run 5k or 10k is race number 2 in the Crosslake Run series. I wore my run series shirt and was entered for extra prizes. One thing that I have loved so far about the 2 races that I have run in this series is that there are quite a few people but it isn't at the overwhelmingly large race size yet. I do enjoy some of the big races that I run, however there is something fabulous in the simplicity of some races too! The people who have organized these two races have been spot on and the details have fallen together wonderfully.
I will admit that I was a little confused when there was not an address given for where registration and the start of the race would be, it said it would be in the town square north of the business district, and I am not all that familiar with Crosslake. My fears were gone when I saw all the beautiful signs directing me where to go.
Before the race was chilly (which I prefer over the wicked hot weather we could have had) and I was slightly concerned about rain. I felt bad for the race organizers with about ten minutes to race time a ton of people showed up & were upset with them for having a line to pick up bibs. I am not certain why they thought they could show up at the last minute and still make the start on time.
Thankfully for the late comers the race organizers delayed the start about ten minutes for all these people. The start was about a half a block from the registration and finish line.
The race went well for me, there was a 5k and a 10k race, the races were well labeled and there were a few individuals standing at the splits to direct people. On the 5k race there was a water station about half way through, which was plenty.
I was happy with my time in the end which is good, I needed a good run. They do door prizes and prizes for those who come in the top of the age brackets. Part of the perk of running the race series is you get entered into a bonus prize pool with some decent prizes. I won a free car wash from the race series prizes, I would guess about half the people who were in the race series got a prize.

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