First, let me start by saying that marathons are NOT easy for me.  In fact, they are damn super hard.  You won’t catch me signing up for Marathon Maniacs anytime in this century.  However, if you are a member of a “I hate marathons but run them anyway” group, then let me know cuz I’m sure I’d qualify for that one!

Why do I run marathons?  Not sure.  Let’s come back to that next week, ok?  After the swelling has subsided and Alexis has worked out my hip “issue” and the blisters on my toes have fully drained and I can walk without a hobble. Next week.  We’ll talk next week.

For now, let’s break down the 2013 Lansing Marathon, the only way that I know how via “The Good, The Bad & The Ugly” method. 

The Good

• Nice, scenic downtown venue with restaurants and entertainment within walking distance of hotel.  

• Free parking for expo and race.
• Amazing Volunteers
• Lively spectators.
• Fully stocked aid stations with water, electrolyte drink, various snacks (oranges, m&m’s, pretzels)
• Bathrooms scattered throughout the course
• Start & Finish location next to the Lansing Center which allowed us to wait inside until just minutes before the start.
• Well marked course, mile marker signs, police & volunteers to direct & protect runners.
• Variety of race distances:  5K, Half Marathon, Marathon Relay & Full Marathon
• Smaller race, good for PRs.  363 full finishers, 1187 half finishers.
• Officials left the course open for as long as it took for everyone to finish all events.
• Race Officials & National Guard (or some type of military crew), lined the finish shoot and gave the very last runner a standing ovation.  Nice touch.

• Great friends, F’N Runners & a nice Chicago crew were on location to run Lansing!  F’N Runners left, most of the Chicago crew right.

The Bad

• Original course had flooded so they had to reroute the course at the last minute.  Therefore, the scenic river trail running was mostly cut out and we were shuffled thru town, along highways, across train tracks & thru residential neighborhoods.  Not real exciting.
• Broken up roads from winter weather, had to watch footing.
• Hills.  Nothing insane but it wasn’t flat.  Lots of up and down rollers.  One long climb that wasn’t steep, just longish.
• Expo was very light.  Not a lot of vendors, more of a packet pickup.
• Race shirts were unisex and oversized.  Nice color, design and logo, just too big for most of us.

• Double loop course (due to it being rerouted).  Rough seeing the mile marker signs for the second half while hitting that first loop.  Rough knowing the first loop was tough and we had to tackle it again.
• Train.  Many of us were stopped by a train; however, race officials have offered to adjust times accordingly.  If you were stopped, check the Lansing Marathon Facebook page HERE for details as to how you might get your time adjusted.

The Ugly

• My race.  Hips started burning/hurting at Mile 8 and they still hurt 2 days post race.
• Passing the finish line party as the half way mark of my already “ugly” race.
• Knowing my friends were waiting on me for a long time.
• Having to resort to run/walk to just keep moving.
• Getting to Mile 20 slower than in any other of my previous 4 marathons.

• Lonely second half of the race at the back of the pack.
• Had to send an SOS message to my F’N Runners and have them come back to help/distract me.
• Having a bad race on a perfect weather day. 
• Blistered feet/toes & bruised ego.

But none of that really mattered when I finally crossed the finish line.

Official time is currently 4:48:59.  However, there is speculation that the time will be adjusted for the train that stopped the majority of us runners. If that is the case, and if they take off the 4 minutes that we waited, then my time will be 4:44, which ironically is also my bib number for the race.  Poetic.

Weather the time is adjusted or not, I really don’t care either way.  It won’t affect my real life in any way shape or form.  I do this for fun …..  even if I have yet to have a “fun” marathon.  I like the training.  I like that it pushes my limits.  I like that it takes me beyond my comfort zone.  And I like most of all, that it gives me a foundation for which I can work from moving forward.  I’m not at all deterred that I had a rough race, just more determined to make the next one better.

All in all, I’d definitely recommend the Lansing Marathon.  It’s a great race and ran very well.  Most of the items listed in the “bad” section were either out of control of race officials  (hello, flooding!!!)  or things which they are attempting to rectify.  Good race.  Good management.  Good people who care about you and your race experience.  I’d go back.

Lastly, let me shout out to my F’N Runners who ran so very, very well in Lansing.  Susan M won her age group and qualified for Boston (after running her first 50 miler just 2 weeks previous)!!!  Joe D hit a big PR for the half & took 5th in his age group, then came back to run almost all of us into the finish.  He may have registered for the half but he ran over 18 miles before it was all said and done by helping us.   April W smashed her previous half marathon PR by over 17 minutes!!  Kim B ran an amazing race and rallied the troops to come back to help me when I sent the SOS!  Keith G runs a marathon almost every weekend and he still managed to go sub 3:45!    Amazing runners.  Amazing people.  I am so happy to have shared the Lansing journey with all of them!

And thanks to all of you for your well wishes, happy thoughts and words of encouragement.  Good times.  Good friends. 

** Keep Running, At Whatever Pace YOU Can Manage ** Amanda – TooTallFritz