Marathon #1:Twin Cities Marathon October 2008 (4:27:17)

• Training plan:  Low Heart Rate, with one tempo a week
• Weather:  49 degrees and very heavy rain for first 8 miles, then temps/cloud cover ok, but I was frozen and injured.
• Goal:  BQ (3:45).  Felt that I was trained for it, but didn’t have the mental confidence to push through pain.
• Issues:  Right foot to thigh issue about mile  7.  Walked on and off through finish.
• What I Learned:  That I CAN finish a marathon.
• F-bombs:  On and off from mile 7 til Summit; Constant from Summit til finish.

Marathon #2: Grandma’s Marathon June 2009 (4:17:15)

• Training plan:  Daniels A 18 week/65 mile max
• Weather:  HOT (mid-60′s start – 80′s finish) and full sun
• Goal:  BQ (3:45).  On pace through about mile 14, but sun/heat killed me; I knew it would, but I wanted to try to hang on as long as I could.
• Issues:  Developedright IT band issue about mile 15.5.  Ended up walking a ton between mile 17 and end.
• What I Learned:  That I’m not a quitter.
• F-Bombs:  Pretty much constant, increasing as the temps rose!

Marathon #3: Twin Cities Marathon October 2009 (3:56:49)

• Training plan:  Started Pfitz 12/70.  After two weeks jumped into Daniels A 65 mile max
• Weather:  Pretty much ideal.  42 and partly cloudy at start.  Clouds throughout.
• Goal:  BQ (3:45).  On pace through about mile 17.  Then calves cramped up.
• Issues:  BOTH calves cramped up at mile 19.  I think I didn’t fuel properly and was dehydrated.  Calves and IT bands on both legs hurt for remainder.
• What I Learned:  That I need to fuel properly and stay hydrated throughout the entire marathon.
• F-Bombs:  From mile 17 til end, constant.  So demoralized!

Marathon # 4: Illinois Marathon April 2010 (3:59:28)

• Training Plan:  Pfitz 18/55 (modified to add an extra run; started it 17 weeks out)
• Weather:  Uggg.  HOT again!  Low 60′s at start, mid-70′s and full sun at end.
• Goal:  BQ (3:45).  On pace through about mile 18, then started feeling the weather and slowing down, so backed off to a comfortable pace (I was planning on doing Grandma’s Marathon in 8 weeks, so wanted to save myself).
• Issues:  No real issues, finally!  Just wasn’t happening because of the heat.
• What I Learned:  Sometimes its smarter to back off the pace and save the legs for a better day.
• F-Bombs:  Just a few sprinkled in randomly in the last few miles, from general marathon pain.

Marathon #5: Twin Cities Marathon October 2010 (3:49:41) (BQ for 2012!)

• Training Plan:  Pfitz 12/55 (modified to add an extra run)
• Weather:  Pretty much ideal.  40 at start, high 50 something at finish.
• Goal:  BQ (3:45 for 2011 or 3:50, since i would be 40 in 2012).  On pace through about 20, then slowly started falling apart.  Miles 21 -23 were way too slow.  Realized at 23.5 that I could still qualify for 2012 so found a magic gear and kicked it in for last few miles.  So fun!
• Issues:  None, just tired and so slowed about mile 21 (plus there is evil hill mile 21 – 23)
• What I Learned:  That there really is a magical gear that kicks in when it’s needed.
• F-Bombs:  None!

Marathon #6  Little Rock Marathon 2011 (4:08:56)

• Training Plan:  Pfitz 12/55 (modified to add an extra run; and with an extra week of training);  Did hills each week too.
• Weather:  A tiny bit chilly, but pretty ideal.  37 at start, mid 40’s at finish.
• Goal:  10 mintues faster than BQ, so 3:40.  On my scheduled pace (which was to run slower for first 16) til about 17, then fell apart.
• Issues:  Right inner, upper thigh/groin area felt tweaked on long steady downwhill at 17.  Did me in for rest of race.  Walked, cried and swore most miles til the end.  Grrrr.
• What I Learned:  That I HATE downhills.  I hate what they do to me and I haven’t figured out how to run them correctly.  So frustrating.
• F-Bombs:  Nonstop from mile 17 – end.

Marathon #7 Grandma’s Marathon 2011 (4:14:42)

• Training Plan:  Advanced Marathon Training Plan from Grandma’s website (loved it!); peak mileage 72 miles a week and LOTS of quality.
• Weather:  ideal.  50 at start, 48 at finish.  Overcast.  10 mph tailwind.
• Goal:  3:40 (10 minutes faster than BQ)
• Issues:  right thigh/groin issue at mile 12  – end of race.  Had to stop every mile or mile and a half to stretch.  During mile 25 right IT band issue that made running pretty much impossible so I had to shuffle/walk it in.  Ugggg.
• What I learned:  That even when you fall off your goals, a marathon can be fun (at least until you are REALLY hurt, which then really really sucks)
• F-bombs:  only 5 (surprising, given my time!)

Marathon #9 Lansing Marathon 2012 (3:52:18)

• Training Plan:  Coached by Coach MB at Lifetime, but mostly on my own, not with group because of life craziness.
• Weather:  crazy windy!  33 at start, 46 at finish.  But very windy (20 – 25mph).
• Goal:  3:35 (10 minutes faster than BQ)
• Issues:  The wind was challenging and then I fell apart mentally.  Right thigh felt off on the down hills, but I think that was just me looking for excuse to give up.
• What I learned:  That running in wind, when there is no one to block it, sucks.
• F-bombs:  about a dozen, from mile 20 through the end.

Marathon #10: Chicago Marathon 2012 (4:01:54)

• Training Plan: Coached by Coach MB at Lifetime, with modifications to increase max mileage to about 63, speedy stuff 2 times a week.
• Weather:  Perfect!  38 at start, 45 at finish.
• Goal: 3:25 (20 minutes faster than BQ)
• What I Learned:  Achieving a goal time isn’t everything.  Sometimes just finishing is enough.
• F-Bombs: 10

Marathon #11: Phoenix Marathon 2013 (3:54:25)

• Training Plan: Coached with different type of training than I’ve done.  More miles (65 max), more intensity, different type of intensity and LOTS of slow miles for all the non-quality miles.
• Weather: 50ish at the start, 70 at end.  A bit too warm.
• Goal: 3:25 – 3:30.
• What I Learned: Sometimes the training is there, but it’s just not your day so it’s smarter to save yourself for bigger and better things.
• F-Bombs: About half a dozen – mostly at traffic cops and cars.

Marathon #12 Boston Marathon 2013 (4:11:57)

• Training Plan:  Loosely followed Pfitz weeks between marathons plan
• Weather: 48 – 52ish throughout.  Felt hot in the middle miles.  Headwind later.
• Goal:  have fun
• What I Learned: Sometimes running instead of racing is the way to go.
• F-Bombs: zero!

Marathon #13: Twin Cities Marathon 2014 (4:05:50)

• Training Plan:  loosely followed LifeTime Run Club program; ease back in to running after tibial stress fractures
• Weather: 37 – 48ish though out.  Perfect.
• Goal: Run another marathon.
• What I Learned: To be grateful. For running, love, family and friends.
• F-Bombs: zero!

Marathon #14:  Blue Ridge Marathon 2016 (4:51:26)

• Training Plan: Pfitz 16 week, with cycling mixed in
• Weather: 41 at start, upper 50’s at finish; Sun; Perfect
• Goal: Enjoy it. After taking time off from marathons due to sfx, I just wanted to enjoy it and be challenged
• What I Learned: I can run hills (mountains)! Walking helps me finish strong.
• F-Bombs: zero!

Marathon #15 – Twin Cities Marathon 2016 (4:22:13)

• Training Plan: Pfitz 16 week up to 55 miles
• Weather: 38 at start, upper 50’s finish; Sun; Perfect
• Goal: negative split and end up around 4:05.  FAIL.
• What I Learned: If I’m going to have a specific time goal, I need to run solo or be firm that I’m doing my own pacing; I ran with someone and didn’t stick to plan
• F-bombs: zero!

Marathon #16 – Minocqua Marathon 2018 (3:56:23)

• Training Plan: Pfitz 16 week up to 55 miles; Also did yoga 2 – 3 times a week
• Weather: 47 at start, 61 at finish; Perfect
• Goal: 3:51:00 (4 under BQ, so I could actually get in). Missed it.
• What I Learned: That positive self-talk and mantras actually DO help. I used them a lot and while I didn’t hit my goal, they got me through some tough parts.
• F-Bombs: one, when a bee stung me at mile 14.