It's Mine

A Grandma's Marathon 2009 finisher's medal.

And I couldn't be happier. I didn't think it would happen. And I've never worked so hard for a finisher's medal. They say a picture is worth 1000 words. It just might take at least that to tell this story. But I'm not going to get a chance to post the whole story in one post tonight. There's just way too much to say.

A teaser: I finished in 4:54:37. This was my second slowest marathon ever after Boston last year which was a total disaster. I really, really wanted to finish, but not at the expense of my body in the form of serious injury. So ... my game plan was to run as far as I could, no matter how long or short that distance was. Then it became running as far as the first sag wagon and then from sag wagon to sag wagon (roughly 13 miles, 16, 19 and 22 or 23). By then I knew a finish was possible even though I felt like death warmed over. And I got there feeling woozy and couldn't even run across the finish line.

The day started with stepping out of the car at Fitger's to catch the shuttle bus and standing there in the parking lot was Joan Benoit Samuelson. (For my non-runner readers, she's a very famous American marathoner and won the first Olympic women's marathon in 1982.) She graciously agreed to a photo and then was whisked off in a Suburban to Two Harbors. (Hmmm...do you think she might be sponsored by Nike??)

After the race, I had lunch with the River Runners at Sir Benedict's Tavern and Bob Kovell who was sitting on my right asked me if I knew that the winner of the marathon, Chris Raabe, a St. Cloud River Runner was sitting on my left. Huh? Excuse me?? I was clueless, but sure enough. It was him. His dad Bill is on the left.

More, much more, on the intervening hours tomorrow. Meanwhile ...

Happy Father's Day to all you dads! Hope you enjoyed your day and were treated extra special by those you love and those that love you.

Until tomorrow, ciao.