Grandma's Marathon

June 18th is Grandma's Marathon--and my 30th birthday. If all goes well, I'll put 26.2 miles behind me before sitting down by Lake Superior and eating a slice (or two) of triple berry pie from New Scenic Cafe.

2011 Team Circuit

It's finally beginning to thaw in Minnesota. The snow banks outside my apartment are just two feet high now.

These first signs of spring have me looking forward to CSA boxes, Sea Salt, outdoor concerts, Open Field at the Walker, Pizza Farm, Tour de Farm, biking to work, and, oh yes, the 2011 Team Circuit. Here's the line-up. Very predictable, USATF.

March 20 - The Human Race 8 km - USATF Minnesota Championship

April 30 - Get In Gear 10 km - USATF Minnesota Championship

May 12 - TC 1 Mile - USATF Minnesota Championship

May 30 - Brian Kraft Memorial 5 km

June 18 - Grandma's Marathon - USATF Minnesota Championship

July 20 - Life Time Fitness Torchlight 5 km - USATF Minnesota Championship

August 14 - MDRA 15 km - USATF Minnesota Championship

September 11 - City of Lakes 25 km - USATF Minnesota Championship

October 2 - TC 10 Mile - USATF Minnesota Championship

And yet: predictability has been a good thing this winter. Kelsey Barale and I have been running all winter 3-4 days during the week at 6:15 AM, with a few weekend long runs. During the week, I leave my house around 6:10 and at the crest of the Franklin Bridge, Kelsey and I meet and decide which city we're going to tromp through first.

This does not mean I'm entering the 2011 season particularly fit or fast. The cold and dark of this particularly severe winter has truly required that I undertake a fierce regimen of beer drinking and TV watching. I've discovered a lot of beer that I really like. November - December: Trippel (New Belgium). January: Knot Stock (Furthermore) February: Hopslam (Bell's). March: Furious (Surly) and Margaritas in Mexico. All of this while watching Mad Men ("The Suitcase" episode in Season 4; so good!), Breaking Bad (whatever lack of adrenaline I had in my life without racing, Walt made sure I had something rattling my nerves), and Seinfeld (Tim Whatley, so harmless compared to Walt). But, runners, the fumes of my college fitness have been gone for years, and as I approach my 30th year, this sedentary life/beer habit of mine is not making running any easier.

So, I've made some circuit resolutions: strength training (any amount will do!), long runs on Saturday, one workout per week, yoga on Sundays. I will need someone to push me out of my winter shuffle. And to pick up what is left of me after this first race on Sunday.

2010 Human Race

Human Race 8K
Sunday, March 28, 2010

1. Brenna Anderson, 32:28 (31st female, 176th overall, 6:32 pace)
2. Kelsey Barale, 32:35 (33rd, 181st, 6:33 pace)
3. Jessica Deutsch, 34:14 (49th, 233rd, 6:53 pace)
4. Shauna Overgaard, 37:39 (82nd, 344th; 7:34 pace)
5. Christina Knudson, 38:32 (92nd, 369th, 7:45 pace)

2008 Brian Kraft

Brian Kraft 5K on Lake Nokomis
Minneapolis, MN

17. Kelsey Barale, 19:32 (6:17)
33. Eva (Kate) Taylor, 20:47 (6:41)
36. Jessica Deutsch, 20:59 (6:45)
43. Louise Miltich, 21:25 (6:53)
80. Sarah Margoes, 24:30 (7:53)
130. Esther Porter, 29:08 (9:22)

2008 USATF Road Racing Circuit

Team meeting on Monday, February 11 at my place.

Sun. March 16th, St. Patrick’s Day Human Race 8k (St. Paul)
USATF MN Championship Race

Sat. April 19th, Earth Day Half Marathon (St. Cloud)
USATF MN Championship Race

Sat. April 26th, Get in Gear 10k (Minneapolis)
SATF MN Championship Race

Thurs. May 8th, TC 1 Mile (Minneapolis)
USATF MN Championship Race

Mon. May 26th, Brian Kraft 5k (Minneapolis)
USATF MN Championship Race

Sun. June 8th, USATF MN Open & Masters Track & Field
Champs 5K (Hamline University, St. Paul)

Sun. August 3rd, Hennepin Lake Classic 5k/10k Double Header (Minneapolis)
USATF MN Championship Race

Sun. August 10th, MDRA 15k (Edina)
USATF MN Championship Race

Sun. September 7th, City of Lakes 25k (Minneapolis)
USATF MN Championship Race

"Begin at the beginning and go on until you come to the end: then stop."

It's been far too long since my last post. For now, here are the stats from June through September:

Grandma's Marathon
June 16, 2007

981/176. Betsy Flanagan, 3:37:42 (8:23)
3675/1079. Sarah Margoles, 4:28:27 (10:25)

USATF Women's Team Results
1. Run 'N Fun, 8:40:15
2. Gear, 8:59:37
3. Northwoods, 9:09:39
4. Prairie Striders, 10:08:28
5. Team Ortho, 10:09:30
6. Club Run, 13:25:01
7. MDRA, 14:26:37

Sarah and Alison reunite.


After every good race, a shot of Knob Creek.



Rice Street Mile
July 28, 2007

101/7. Kelsey Barale, 5:32
118/10. Jessica Deutsch, 5:50
147/20. Kate Taylor, 6:28
148/21. Sarah Margoles, 6:32

USATF Women's Team Results
1. Gear, 29:27

MDRA 15K
August 11, 2007

14. Melissa Grunst, 1:04:52 (6:58)
15. Andrea Grunst, 1:04:52 (6:58)
18. Eva Taylor, 1:06:07 (7:06)
20. Jessica Deutsch, 1:06:54 (7:11)
41. Sarah Margoles, 1:21:44 (8:46)

USATF Women's Team Results
1. Gear, 4:56:01
2. Run 'N Fun, 5:05:28
3. Mississippi River Road Runners, 5:44:29

City of Lakes
September 9, 2007

17. Jessica Deutsch, 1:48:08 (6:58)
26. Andrea Grunst, 1:52:24 (7:14)
27. Melissa Grunst, 1:52:25 (7:14)

USATF Women's Team results
1. Run 'N Fun, 4:58:17
2. Gear, 5:00:27
3. Mississippi River Road Runners, 5:32:57
4. Prairie Striders, 5:52:32

Brian Kraft 5K

I wasn't memorializing, and I surely wasn't running. In fact, many of the MR Road Runners took a hiatus from racing and/or were out of town for this fast 5K.

But one lone Road Runner, Kate (Eva) Taylor, made it to the start line, then the finish line, placing 26th overall for women, in 19:28 (6:16). Nice!

You're miles from where anyone will find you . . .

New Prague Half-Marathon FULL RESULTS
Saturday, May 12, 2007

And it went like this . . .

Overall/Female
139/20 Jessica Deutsch (1:31:47, 7:00 pace)
182/25 Elizabeth Flanagan (1:34:56, 7:15 pace)
225/32 Eva Taylor (1:37:38, 7:27 pace)
539/148 Sarah Margoles (1:55:04, 8:47 pace)

Good job, Mississippi River Road Runners! While USATF uses our actual times for results, I am posting chip times here. I started too far back from the starting line, wove my way through the crowd the first mile, and settled in by mile two with the typical 45-year old man who runs with me for the about 2/3 of the race. One annoying young fellow insisted on sprinting about five feet in front of us every time we were about to pass him. On a hill, we dropped him, his blaring iPod, and gratuitious mailbox bashing. Around mile nine, I left my running friend. At mile twelve, I stopped, walked, accepted a LifeSaver that one of the spectators was handing out, and did what I could that last stretch.

A 2-minute personal best for me. In Brooklyn, with the company of the enthusiastic Hector (also a 40-something) and three glasses of Sangria the night before, I ran 1:34:19 on a mostly flat course. No complaints here. I'm taking it easy for awhile now, since I do not have to do that silly half-marathon in Duluth.

Next race: Brian Kraft 5K on Memorial Day.

Get in Gear 10K

I like running. But yesterday was one of those races . . . that I will forget in order to maintain the statement, "I like running." My sense is that it was hard for most, given the warm temperatures and blinding sun.

I started out at 6:45 pace for the first two miles, and then had a 7 minute plus third and fourth mile, followed by 7-ish fifth and six miles.

286. Andrea Grunst (42:15, 6:48)
289. Melissa Grunst (42:16, 6:48)
356. Jessica Deutsch (43:26, 7:00)
362. Kate (Eva) Taylor (43:31, 7:01)
413. Betsy Flanagan (44:16, 7:08)
903. Sarah Margoles (49:28, 7:58)

Next race is New Prague Half Marathon on May 12th.

Open Season

Human Race 8K Results

168. Andrea Grunst, 31:47 (6:24)
169. Melissa Grunst, 31:47 (6:24)
229. Jessica Deutsch, 33:22 (6:43)
449. Sarah Margoles, 39:03 (7:52)

Complete race photos

Mississippi River Road Runners

Thus far, our star-studded roster consists of the following fine ladies:

Sarah Margoles
Betsy Flanagan
Jessica Deutsch
Andrea Grunst
Melissa Grunst
Jessica Salvatore
Katie Donald
Kelsey Barale
Kate Taylor
Katie Visco

MN Team Circuit competition commences on Sunday, March 18 at the Human Race in St. Paul on Summit Avenue at 1:20 PM.