OK, I’m lame. Two weeks for a race review? I’ve already given myself 20 lashings with a wet noodle to compensate for my lack of writing. Without further ado…here it is.
For a smaller city race, Fargo knows how to put a race together. With the Fargodome serving as a staging area for all the race participants, the nearing inclement weather wasn’t a problem pre-race. Thousands of runners were allowed full access to stretch, warm up and dress accordingly with the safe confines of the North Dakota State Bison football field (as a huge fan, this was pretty cool).
I do have to admit that this was the first race I’ve ever participated in where the shorter distances went out first. The 10K starting things off, followed by the half and then full marathons. Each course was a little different but I have to imagine that the faster marathoners had to have run into some slower half marathoner traffic that probably wasn’t welcome.
Anyway, just as the 10K set off, a light rain started. With temperatures in the high 50º’s/low 60º’s, the start was a little cold. Knowing that after the first mile that I’d warm up, it didn’t change into my long sleeve shirt – and I’m glad I didn’t. The rain was awesome once we got started. Besides the pools of water that were stepped in I would have been grateful if we would have had it with us the whole way. High temperatures were initially predicted and this was just what the doctor ordered!!!
With over 6,000 half marathoners, the start wasn’t bad as I thought it was going to be. There were no timing corrals but everything was orderly and my sister and I only need about 2 1/2 minutes to cross the starting line. While neither of us was expecting to really put any real speed into the day, it was obvious after a mile and a half that I was feeling really good. My sister coming off a cold and hampered training, had told me from the onset that if I wanted to go…GO!!! In other words…Run Mother F’er Run!!! So after 1 1/2 miles, I stepped up my pace to around 8:00/mi. to see what would happen.
If you’ve never been to Fargo, it’s really quite quaint. I never really realized it growing up there but the older established neighborhoods with their circa 1940′s architecture and tree canopied streets makes for a great race route. Winding thru north Fargo streets, the half marathon route found it’s way to the 1st avenue bridge that leads across the Red River over to Moorhead, Minnesota. The bridge isn’t that steep so it made for a fairly scenic point in the race. At least the Red wasn’t flooding the route this year…but the rain was. After making a loop thru Moorhead we exited onto the Main Ave. Bridge (that’s a painting of it on the medal). I hadn’t been on that bridge since the 9/11 memorial and it really is eye pleasing. I actually read the pillars as I passed.
As we continued south, we started entering my “neck of the woods.” I grew up on these same streets and many of our family and friends lived/used to live on these same streets. South 8th and 9th Streets were easily the highlight of my race. While I was fairly zoned in, the amount of people that lined these streets was awesome. Even in the trying weather, thousands turned out cheering on the runners, young and old alike. These two streets are completed canopied with trees. It’s like looking down the nave of an immense church that stretches for as long as the eye can see.
My family staked their roots in downtown Fargo (where the route passed twice). My dad, always in character, had his duck call (yes duck call) in full force. If that wasn’t enough to help me target them, having my 6′-9″ cousin as a landmark was the nail in the coffin. Sorry, but your not going to miss “Big Dave.”
By the time I passed them for the final time around mile 10, my pace was starting to take it’s toll. I had my training interrupted by a late injury and didn’t get to pace out a longer run at 8:30/mi. With only 3 miles left and a 2 minute cushion to set a PR, I knew I’d have to gut this one out. I walked the water station and crest of a hill and then pulled on the boot straps for my final push.
The crowds around the Fargodome for the finish were great. You literally ran thru a 1/4 mile of people 5 deep on either side. Of course my family had found their way to the dome and were positioned right at the turn towards the entrance to the finish. Words of encouragement? Heck no!!! There was my dad yelling at me to get my ass moving!!! By now, I was 2 1/2 minutes under my 2 hour PR. While I knew that, they had no idea.
Entering the Fargodome for the finish was exhilarating. All of those runners and family members before me had filled the stands and it seemed to be one consistent roar from the crowds. With another gear now in place, I looked towards the finish to see the official time reading 1:59:42. There’s something to be said for a clock because there was no way I was going to let that clock hit 2 hours before I crossed the finish line.
Now I don’t know if the dome interfered with my Garmin or if some supernatural thing happened that overcast morning in Fargo but I took off. I know I’ve never run that fast in my life but I nearly hit 15 m.p.h. on that home stretch and crossed the finish line at exactly 1:59:59. If you look at the photo closely below, I’m actually cheering (freakin’ dork). I’ve honestly never had that look on my face crossing a finish line…EVER!!!
My chip time was 1:57:25. A PR by over 3 minutes. Go Far…Go Fast…Go Fargo!!!
I may be a little biased and I’d love to hear from other runners what they thought of the race but this was by far my best race experience (with running thru Angel Stadium a close second). While it’s quite a ways to travel for a race, I’m pretty confident that this will become an annual race for my family and I. Next time though it will be the full marathon for sure!!!
RMFR
