Fargo recap

A big gap between posts. I decided to jump back into the blog after reading several local elite blogs and learning a bunch about them and their training. I find them very interesting. I figured I would recap the fargo marathon and go from there to the present which right now can't be that interesting.

Fargo 2009. 3 weeks past.

My thoughts leading up to fargo.

1. Get back into that form that I had near Chicago 06. By this I mean not necessarily run that fast but get close.

2. Win the race. More on this later.

3. Have a positive experience.

My fitness leading up to Fargo.

1. I changed up my training this year. Following to some extent, Brad Hudson's marathon program. This also got me closer to what I was doing in 06.

2. The three races I ran prior to the marathon were very up and down.

3. I had more long runs 22+ than ever before.

4. My marathon pace runs were very consistant and more prevalent even reaching 16 miles.


Things were looking up prior to Fargo. I thought I was in 2:22 to 2:25 shape on a good day with some help. We drove up late thursday in order to relax all day friday prerace. Friday am I ran a short shake out around the dome which was a stones throw from our hotel (thank you Mark). 20 minutes around the dome. Weather was cool and a bit windy but not bad. Packet pick up was next. There was some confusion about which race some of the Kenyans would enter. I attempted to steal a peak at the list without much success. I figured there would be more Kenyans in the half than the full and my main competition would be a kenyan and a few guys such as Eric Sondag from last year. I ran into Eric who co owns a running store in downtown fargo. He informed me about the press leading up to the race and the what I like to call the Kenyan awe. At this point the rage was starting to build. A few more comments and I was burning inside. How dare they come up there with all the forces to take our race. Eric told me last years winner was pretty pissed as well. It seems the americans are ready to take on the africans head to head.

Race morning came with slight winds and frost on the ground. My thoughts were to go out with the Kenyans. Be it a sub 1:10 pace for half or not. I would however not go out slower than 5:30 pace. A short warmup and another talk with a pissed off american and I was ready to go. There were about 5-6 kenyans at the start and a quick scan lead me to think I was going to have some company. I saw only one half bib. I knew however that they didn't want to run hard to pick up THERE check. First mile 5:28 with a pack of 4 kenyans behind. I sped up a bit to catch a group of 3-4 guys running 5:30s. After 2 miles 11:00 I knew we weren't going to run sub 2:22. The Kenyans were a ways back and not really gaining. Seemed to be slowing. I had a pretty tight right calf so I was content in our little group to run 5:30s. The course was great. Flat but I wouldn't call it lightning fast. Like Chicago. The road was very narrow at times and the water stops were a mess. We reached mile 6 right on 5:30 pace. I was concerned about my calf but the kenyans were not in sight. I thought I was in 2nd for the marathon guys. Eric last years winner had to be about 30 seconds ahead. I just knew it. As we reached mile 8 I could feel the pack starting to break. Some of the guys were struggling a bit and the wind was in our faces as we headed back north. My calf loosened enough and I decided to make an attempt to catch Eric. He had enough in him to keep me about 15 seconds back. Once we approached the turn around for the marathoners and the finish for the half marathoners I realized this wasn't Eric ahead of me and I was in the lead for the marathon. I crossed the half timing mat at just under 1:12 feeling very controlled and relaxed. As I approached a hard right turn just after the halfway point I saw the group of Kenyans. I figured I had about a 3 minute lead. I wasn't that worried at this point. I was more interested in keeping a good pace and staying out of trouble doubling back on the half marathoners and the remaining fullers. Mile 14 5:22. Most of the second half was filled with maintaining the pace and staying out of trouble coming up to the water stops. I didn't take any water the whole race so atleast I wasn't hasseled with that. I had 4 bikers and a few motorcycles leading to part the way. Mile 20 was 5:21 and my thoughts started to turn to when and if the Kenyans could catch me. I knew with a three minute lead at half and with some low 5:20s mixed in, they would have to run 5:10s or under to catch me. Mile 24 was the only bad point in the race for me. A bit of dizzyness and nausea lasted about 30 seconds. I righted the ship for a 5:38 and ran full of energy and strength towards the fargo dome. The finish was great. As I came down the tunnel the dome was rocking and I made one last push feeling very strong towards the finishing tape. I was a bit taken back by this and it is one of those moments I won't soon forget. 2:24:33. I am very satisfied with this as I ran the last 17+ miles alone. My mile spread was a low of 5:21 and a high of 5:39. Not bad for all alone.

The whole experience ranks right up there for me. The fans the course the race director the whole thing. I will be back some day. Maybe 2010.