We started out running really strong. Kim had had some IT band issues coming up to the race, so she'd been cross training the last three weeks. But her doctor had okayed her running today, so we were confident that it would be good. Unfortunately it started to twinge at mile eight and I felt SO bad for her. There is nothing worse than training for months for a race, only to have your body betray you on race day! So we extended the walk breaks a bit hoping that she could keep running, but by mile ten it was too painful. She kept saying "You don't have to wait for me" but like I said, I wouldn't have left her. After all, the reason I signed up for Grandmas was to run with my sister! We had run the same race in September when we both traveled (with our awesome husbands) to run the Disneyland Half Marathon, but hadn't run together. Since both Roy and Mike have officially retired from marathons, we decided to sign up for Grandma's and run together. The guys declined to run the half marathon because they wanted to support us. (How altruistic of them. Ha!)

My only concern was that I have lower back problems due to loose joints and some slight arthritis, and walking can cause problems. But I figured if it came to that I'd just run ahead a bit, then run back if I had to. I think I'm in good enough shape to handle some extra mileage and it would have been preferable to just leaving or the pain that walking might have caused.

Fortunately after a few medical tent stops, we found one just after the halfway point with a massage therapist. He worked on her leg, and at first she thought it made it worse. But at mile 14 she decided to give it a go and found that she could run again. Yay! I don't think either of us wanted to admit out loud how LONG it would take us if we had to walk 16 miles. It sure gives me an even GREATER appreciation for people who walk marathons! That's no mean feat!

We resumed 5:1s and continued that for most of the race, with a few longer walk breaks if the IT band commanded it. When she stopped to stretch, I would go ahead and run and then circle back. My back was just threatening to cause issues after about mile 16, so I was unsure about doing too much walking or stopping. That worked out well.

At mile 23 Roy and Mike met us to run us in. Unfortunately Roy wasn't able to keep up due to his knee problems. But Mike was able to run in with us and it is SO nice to have someone else to distract you at that point. I know we both REALLY appreciated it! WE also appreciated that they tried valiantly to get to us many places along the route. We did see them about mile 12 or so, but unfortunately they weren't able to get to us in the other areas. Both of them had made signs too, which was awesome.

The last two miles take you into Duluth and then into Canal Park. As always, I found myself getting emotional at the end. Every marathon is special, but running it with family made it even moreso. I was so thankful for this and for the fact that we had this gorgeous memorable day together.

Nothing, really. I was feeling really good for most of the marathon.

As soon as we hit the finish line, God blessed us with a drenching rain. No need to shower now! LOL! Since our legs were really tight, we'd agreed during the run to go and walk into the lake after the race. Since it's so large, it never really warms up and we heard it was about 43 degrees. So after grabbing some food (ice cream...man oh man that ice cream was good, for me and a bagel for her) we made our way to the beach and waded in. HOLY CRAP it was cold, but let me tell you. I think it made all the difference in the world! Honestly! My legs felt refreshened afterwards!

We went back to the hotel and showered and rested a bit before heading back into Duluth to eat dinner at Little Angies. Even there they welcomed runners, with eat wait person wearing a shirt that read, "I ran once. I was quite proud of myself."

Oh, one thing that was interesting...we got to keep our Champion Chip! So now I have two. One from Grandma's and one I chose to keep from NYC!


I would definitely give this race 4 stars, reserving 1 star because of the anti-MP3 stance they take. I could go on about how ridiculous I find it that someone tells me that I can't listen to my own music on a race that, on a good day, is going to take ME at least 4:45, but suffice to say I would not have registered if Kim hadn't wanted to run it. I'm so glad she did because Grandma's definitely ranks as one of my favorite marathons in the 12 I've run. It wasn't overwhelmingly big like NYC (and I loved NYC), nor was it lonely like Seattle. It's like Baby Bear's porridge...just right. The course support is amazing, and the community totally gets behind the runners. There were signs welcoming runners all over Duluth and Proctor. The newspapers had articles two days leading up to the race (big articles, too...not like the 25 word blurb I saw on the Seafair Marathon that I'll be running Sunday...thanks Seattle. You really know how to make runners feel valued.) The paper also had a HUGE section on the marathon with EVERY single finisher listed in it the day after the race. The hotels went out of their way to make us feel welcomed, which isn't always the case. We were even offered the opportunity to reserve a room for the following year. The transportation was outstanding to the beginning of the course (bus left right from our hotel). The festivities were well planned and organized. The restaurants the day before all catered to runners (I think I counted at LEAST four carbo-load "feeds" in the restaurants we walked past) both before and after.

You know what the BEST part of a marathon is, though? The people you meet on the route. More than once we'd pass people on the side of the road (over 200 didn't finish) and someone near us (or us) would ask if they were okay. At one point this happened and I said to Kim, "This is why I love marathons. People are always so GOOD to each other on marathons!" The lady who I was referring to agreed and we had a nice chat then, and again at mile 26 when she said to her husband (who was running her in) "If I mention doing Grandma's again next year, you have my permission to slap me...I can't take this heat!" I replied, "Oh you know you'll be talking about it within two months."

"Yeah, you're probably right...but this heat!"

I invited her to join us in Seattle where not only would she NOT run in heat, but she might get rain, wind, or even SNOW and LOTS of hills with zero cheering spectators!

Some of my favorite moments on the race:
1. The F-16s flying over. I love the sound of loud planes and I always find things like that very moving.
2. The kindness of the people in the medical tent, not just the volunteers but other runners who were consoling each other for having to drop out.
3. The homemade wrought iron dinosaurs in front of a house, one of which spewed flames. This family was busily setting up a water stop for the runners, so I got a chance to tell the guy who COOL I thought his dinos were!
4. The many MANY times people yelled my name on the route, especially the drunken frat boys chanting my name over and over again. I'm telling you, you gotta put your name on your shirt! It makes SUCH a difference when you're staring down the wall to hear someone say "You can do it, Tory!"
5. The line of trolls on the ground "for luck".
6. The yard filled with flamingo statues. What was THAT all about?
7. The many people with sprinklers, hoses, and even water guns!
8. Al Franken giving me a HUGE hug and a kiss on the route! I love Al Franken!
9. The wind coming off the water providing us with much needed heat relief!
10. Running with my sister. That was the best. We're going to have to do that more often! (Plus she "gets me" and doesn't think I'm insane at all with all this marathon stuff.)