garry bjorklund half marathon recap

Last Saturday, on a beautiful Saturday morning, I woke up entirely WAY TOO EARLY in order to run the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota. It really wasn't a perfect morning - hot and humid at 6:00AM on the shores of Lake Superior, a rarity.

Tony and I at 5:00AM catching the shuttle to the start

I really wasn't happy at this point...it was just a facade. Mile 11 I think.

After the swim...I mean run. So hot! The last three miles of the race all I could think about was jumping in the lake! Actually, I think at mile 7ish I told Tony if anyone was offering up their pool along the route, I was going to quit and jump in!

(Thank you Leah for the photos!)

All in all, it was an okay race I guess. I did not achieve my goal time of under 2 hours, but the conditions were not favorable for that (at least that is what I will continue to tell myself!) I ended up with a time of 2:04.25 (9:43 pace - the last mile did me in!), which landed me an overall place of 2172, 543rd in my division, and 894th female finisher.

Here are all the guesses...

Pat - 2:08

Geoff - 2:06.30

Danika - 2:03

CKE - 1:55.15

Doug - 1:56

Maddie - 1:59

Nancy - 1:58.58

Leah - 2:02

Laura - 2:03.12

Laura Wins! Only 1 minute and 13 seconds off. Way to go Laura! $10 will be donated to the charity of your choosing...just let me know!

As a gift to myself for not dying...I stopped by my favorite Sivertson Gallery and picked up this print by the talented Rick Allen.

'First Tick'

I absolutely love it! Now if only I could commission someone to make me a frame out of old hardwood floors... :)

best.run.ever

Tonight I had the best run of my life. Really people...you won't believe it. I set out on a 3 mile run, short yes, but remember - I am running a half marathon on Saturday, so this weeks runs are weak sauce (thanks Brenna..!). The weather was just stunning. 88 degrees, about 90% humidity. Man, I felt like a new person on this run! Perfect running conditions - ahh the wise words of my high school cross country coach, Mr. Timm. Always true those words are. Back to the actual run. 3 miles right? 27 minutes or less for the time was my goal. Just a nice relaxing run. Stretch the muscles, loosen the limbs...feeling good. Time - 7 minutes 21 seconds. That's right, you heard it here first! 7 minutes 21 seconds for a three mile run. "World Record Set in Iowa" is what all the headlines will be proclaiming tomorrow. Okay fine. It really wasn't a three mile run. And the running conditions were no where near perfect (sorry Mr. Timm!). The air was heavy and was depleted of oxygen. 7 minute 21 seconds, yes - for a .95 mile run. Not even 1 mile. I thought about rounding up to a mile just to look good, but no. I couldn't even run 1 stinkin' mile tonight. How the heck am I going to run 13.1 on Saturday?? lol

Well, back in the days when I could run more than 1 mile (13.1 in fact) I did so with the following times:

Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon 2001 - 2:04.08

Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon 2004 - 2:16.14

Med City Half Marathon 2009 - 2:06.29

So there you go...if you don't have enough information to guess my Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon 2009 time, I just don't know. SO GUESS ALREADY! :)

garry bjorklund half marathon

So I am tackling another half marathon this weekend - the Garry Bjorklund half marathon in Duluth. After my run today, I am not so sure I am ready...but so long as it is not humid as all get out, I think (hope) I'll survive.

Nic decided to be too good for this race and is ditching me for work. So, I am going to have tons more fun spending the weekend with Maddie and Christian! Our plans: get sandwiches at Sir Benedicts, get ice cream at the old gas station, walk on the boardwalk, sleep, run, repeat (minus the lame running part).

Leah, Tony and Isaac are also going to be there so we get to spend some time with them as well...if they want to be a part of our sandwich/ice cream focused plan. Tony is running the half as well. My original plan was to try to keep up with him, but he just informed me today that he hasn't run for a few weeks (music to my ears!), so I guess I might have a chance at actually keeping up. lol

I am still working on getting Maddie to run the race illegally with us...she is supposed to run 9 miles that day anyway. Don't you think Maddie should be a good sister and run with me?!

Anywho...the point of this post. GUESS HOW FAST I AM GOING TO RUN THIS HALF MARATHON! Now, Emily and Sam, remember that a half marathon is 13.1 miles. I will only accept your first guess! :) Whomever is the closest will win...will win, $10 towards the charity of your choice! Just because I am in a saving the planet, eradicate cancer, world peace now!, type of mood.

Help! Create a playlist for me!

I am in dire need of some awesome tunes to get on my iPod before the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon.  What do you like to listen to while you run?  I need some upbeat, loud, 'finish this damn half-marathon in less than 2 hours' music!  

Comment away people!

Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon

Only 17 days to go until my next half marathon.  The Garry Bjorklund half marathon in Duluth was my first half marathon ever.  I have run it twice already (although that was years ago!)  And I think we need to start another "guess Kier's half marathon time" game again.  So let's hear it people...how fast/slow will I run this one?  

I'll give you a few hints this time:  I plan to run with Tony (if I can keep up!), Tony ran the Stillwater half marathon a few weeks ago with a time of 2 hours 1 minute,  this route is not as hilly as the Med-City route was, my Med-City half marathon time was 2 hours 6 minutes 29 seconds.

Maddie and I at the 2...er, 12 mile mark - Med-City Half Marathon
Looking Good!