A marathon is never easy. Or, a marathon is never easy for me. But some races are easier than others, and the Fargo Marathon falls right smack in the middle of my marathon experience. It wasn’t the hardest (that award goes to Windermere last year) and it wasn’t the easiest by far (that award goes to my first marathon, which was really the only marathon I’ve done on fully tapered legs). The course was… Fine (I’ll get to that in a second). But in terms of local excitement and support – this was by far the best race I’ve ever done. The entire course was packed with supporters – live bands every mile, and awesome fueling and aid stations. A race that overall, I both recommend and will do next year.
I had some anxiety coming into race day because of the END-Sure DNF (at the 50-mile mark). Although this was a totally different beast, I still had some DNF anxiety, and that was a big part of why I kept Fargo on my schedule, despite not being completely back at peak fitness and with a 50-miler in June. I treated it as a training run, and ran a 20-miler last week, but I decided to do it instead of training run because I needed to get my confidence back.
And I finished. My time was 4:17 (although there are differences from my chip time online, but since I pushed start on my phone when I crossed the start and finish, I’ll take my time). As I mentioned above, the amazing atmosphere of the marathon was by far the best part of the race. The marathon takes over the town, and it’s fun to be a part of it.
The night before the race, I was feeling a bit annoyed with myself that I signed up for the race (and even more annoyed when I woke up at 4 am the next morning). In fact, I was in a downright bad mood, which in retrospect, I think was more reflective of my fears about my fitness level and readiness for the marathon. I left my apartment in Grand Forks later than I wanted to (having being warned of the traffic levels), but arrived at the course with time to spare and my mood was totally boosted once I found Sarah at the start (she ran the 10k). As we got ready to run, I remember thinking that I was having too much fun and should be nervous for the race – but I wasn’t.
The 10k and marathon spent the first 2 miles together, so Sarah and I ran for a bit and then the course split. I was a bad blogger, and didn’t really take pictures during the course. Since this was a training run, I walked through each re-hydrate and re-fuel, but my splits were strong. In fact, the first 20 miles of the race literally flew by. At point, I even wondered when things were going to get hard.
Silly me. They did get hard around mile 21. One of my race course pet peeves is when the last miles of a race are uphill. For the majority of the course, it was pretty flat, but starting around mile 20, it was a gradual increase. Gradual enough that it would have been nothing at the beginning of the race, but with the wind and some steeper hills in parts, the last six miles were the toughest part of this course. I slowed way down and you can see that in my splits – they were from an average of 9 a 9:15 to 10, and I started to feel the heat too. But I finished, and finished strong.
Lessons learned:
1. I had experimented with a few things this race to see how they worked, and one of them was not eating a big meal pre-race and then eating from the first mile. Not my best idea; I think part of the crash at mile 21 was the dreaded “wall.”
2. I didn’t drink enough water before the race, in part because I was running late and didn’t have time to drink before I left and fill up my water bottles, but also because it was way hotter than I expected it to be. I drank at every aid stations (sometimes taking two cups) but I was still wicked dehydrated at the end of the race.
3. Dress for the temps an hour into the race instead of the start. It’s crazy to say this in NoDak, but I got so hot during this race. I had planned on rain and 30-degree temperatures, but it was clear and sunny at the start. I’d only worn my long-sleeved shirt with a sports bra underneath and didn’t feel comfortable letting it all hang out if I took the shirt off, so I kept it on. That definitely made the dehydration a bigger problem too.
4. I love talking to people along the course. Maybe I need to re-think my solo runner/racer paradigm.
Bottom line: great race. And I’m back!
ultrarungal 
Way to get back on that horse Laura!! I was surprised how nice it turned out that day- my cheeks were on fire later in the afternoon. Turns out my pasty white winter skin got a bit of a sunburn! I did not prepare for the 1/2 like I should have …and as I continue to hobble around the house 2 days later, I’m hoping the pain is a reminder to me about the importance of nutrition and consistency in my running! 🙂
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I have a strange neck and forehead sunburn too (must be the only places uncovered) – but I’m so proud of you for doing the half! Such a beautiful day and race!
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SO PROUD OF AND HAPPY FOR YOU! And dude, not a bad time at all! I am just so, so happy that you were able to do it, and that you felt ok physically (structurally, at least!). I was thinking about you all day. And I love the backpack–actually a pretty one for once! GOOD JOB
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Thank you so much – it was a huge relief, and I feel confidence in my running again, which is the most important part for me!
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Wow how cool is your bag! I’m really happy for you and that you were able to get back and run after everything that happened. I cannot imagine running a full marathon not on tapered legs but I’m not an ultra runner either LOL.
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Awesome bag, right? This marathon really went above and beyond in every way. Such a cool experience! It definitely was a tough race, and I’m really looking forward to what I can do on rested legs!
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I have never been a “race chatter” but always have wondered if i’d feel better talking to people! So glad to hear you finished strong even with that uphill, that is very impressive at such a tough point.
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You know, I wasn’t either until my first ultra last year – and it really carried me through that year. I think it’ll just depend on the race and distance. I can’t see myself ever chatting at a half-marathon because I feel like I have to focus so much on pace! Maybe that’s a sign I need focus more during marathons!
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Yay, well done! It sounds like a lot of fun – especially having live bands dotted all over the place!
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It was. Such an amazing and well-organized race! I think it would have even been fun to walk it (and I’ve never said that about a race, ever)!
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Congrats on the strong finish. You look so cute in that picture! I am one who does better on a bigger breakfast and less fuel during a run. My pre-marathon meal is a bagel and a half scooped out with cream cheese. Most other runners would think that seems nuts but that seems to be what I need. On the flip side, I only need a few bites near mile 15 and I tend to be good to go. I think it is great that you are able to sit back and learn so many things about yourself and your running from these events. Great work!
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Thank you! I’m wondering if I done need both – a breakfast and fuel from the start? Guess I have more experimenting to do… 🙂
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Actually that is a great point too. My husband pointed out that when you wake up early for a race and eat you then wait about another 2 hours before the start of the race so he always has a granola bar or something else right before the start because when we run we tend to eat, wait to digest and then go.
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That’s a really good point – I think I forget how much time is between breakfast and the commute to the start!
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Congrats on finishing! I love the feeling of miles flying by like your first 20.
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Thank you! And me too – it’s crazy to have a thought (for me, at least) around mile 19 to think “when is this going to get hard??” And then it does, of course, but still a fun first 2/3’s of the race!
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Congrats! Sounds like you did great!
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Thank you! It was a very positive experience!
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Cool! I’m so happy for you, Laura!! Brava!!
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Thank you! It is almost a relief, and now I feel like I can begin training in earnest again!
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Congrats and love the logo bag!
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Thank you!
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Yayyyyy!!! I was thinking about you on Saturday and wondered how it went!! I’m so happy you did so well 🙂 A full marathon where the first 20 miles fly sounds pretty amazing haha. I agree with you about not liking races that end on a hill too (usually…Pittsburgh is the only course where that’s ok with me). My legs are usually shot at that point, and it just seems cruel ha. That confidence of yours should be way up now for your 50 miler 🙂
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Thank you so much! I realize now that all courses do that nowadays (unless you know of an exception, in which case PLEASE let me know) – but during the race, I was just cursing it! It felt like it was just rubbing the pain of the last six miles in! I’m feeling much better now and definitely looking forward to the 50-milers!
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Congratulations!!! I’m so glad you were able to finish…not that I ever doubted you! But I know how good it must feel to get that much-needed confidence boost. Enjoy–you deserve it! 🙂
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Thank you so much! I did and now I feel like I’ve got some mojo back!
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Congratulations, Laura! I am so glad your nerves didn’t get the better of you and that you were able to run without pain! I’m happy for you 🙂
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Thank you so much – and me too!
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Congrats on a great race! Im glad you had a good race to ease your DNF anxiety:)
Its always good to look back on race and think about what to do differently next time. It sounds like the weather was tricky. I know its not easy to run in the warm weather after training in the cold!
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Thank you! I agree – it is hard to do a race that is do different from training, and I alway like to learn from each race so I never feel like it was wasted!
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Congrats, Laura – I was so thrilled and proud when I saw that not only did you finish but you did great! Way to erase those fears!
I think that every race can and should teach us something, we just need to listen 🙂
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Thank you – I was too! And I completely agree!
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You killed it!! Way to rock this race. I have to agree, I HATE when races end on an uphill.
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Thank you! And I think the uphill endings are just cruel!
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Congrats on a great finish!
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Thank you!
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So impressive! From injury to marathon…you’re on a roll! I love races with support throughout! Pittsburgh’s marathon has so many people supporting and bands, too! Love that!
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Thank you! I do love it – and it’s such a great feeling to feel like the entire community is supporting you!
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WELL DONE!!!! great news xx
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Thank you! 🙂
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Great recap! Such a good time! 🙂
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Thank you! It was a very well- organized race and experience!
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Great recap.
I’ve wondered about not eating a big meal pre-race, just to avoid the possibility of feeling heavy during the race. I guess for a marathon it would be difficult to be properly fueled without a big meal the night before. Good to read about your experience and glad you were able to experiment before your goal marathon coming up.
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I am glad too – it’s important for me to do some trial runs on a few things I’ve been thinking about!
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