One of the perks of completing my quest of running a marathon in each state is that I can now go around a second time and run some of the really great marathons I didn’t run on the first go around. Twin Cities Marathon (TCM) which claims to be “the most beautiful urban marathon in the country” was one of those. I cannot dispute their claim, it is a beautiful marathon. It is also one on the best organized and runner friendly marathons I have run. The expo was very nice, the pasta dinner was as nice as any pasta dinner I have attended and that includes the Space Coast Marathon pasta dinner at the Radisson. Marathon organizers took care of the big things as well as the many small things. The Finisher Shirts were excellent as was the medal. Race results were posted early, left over expo mechandise was sold at the l
finish line area, after giving you a mylar blanket they placed an adhesive tab to help keep the blanket closed. Plenty of food at the finish line, fruit, chips, pretzels, pizza, soup, chicken and more. Everyone’s name was announced as they crossed the finsh line. They even had a tent for runners to change clothes. Too bad they didn’t have a sign so runners would know which was the mens and womens tent.

We initially planned to run the TCM 5K at the Capital Building in St Paul Saturday morning. The 5K is an out and back loop that traverses the last 1.5 miles of the marathon. However, we decided to sleep in and run along the Mississippi River about a half mile from our hotel. There was also a Family Mile, Kids Half Mile, a Diaper Dash and Toddler Trot at the Capitol Building/finish line area. We did drive the course Saturday morning and toured the Capital Building and the grounds where the finish line and post marathon festivities were going to be held.

The weather projection for Sunday was a low of 68 and a high of 78 degrees and 65% humidity. The projection wasn’t far off and with overcast skies, about a 10 mile an hour wind and a very shaded tree lined course, I don’t think it reached the low 70’s until sometime after noon. Due to the recent warm weather the trees were just starting to turn color. The start of the race was at the Metrodome in downtown Minneapolis. Not to much to see over the first three miles, but we did hit the first of several hills on the course, an 80 foot climb over a half mile starting just short of the 2 mile mark. At about mile 3.5 we get to the most scenic portion of the course, a 4 mile trek along side Lake of the Isles, Lake Calhoun and Lake Harriet. I ran Lake Calhoun twice before. Once coming back from the University of Okiboji Marathon and again after the Fargo Marathon this past May. The next 4 miles (7.5 to 11.5) took us to Lake Nokomis. It’s a 2 mile run around the lake taking us through the half marathon mark. Mile 13.5 through 15.5 is a straight run to the west bank of the Mississippi River with the next 3.5 miles paralleling the Mississippi River along walking/biking trails through parks and some roads. We cross the Mississippi into St Paul at mile 19. This is the first time I crossed the Mississippi during a marathon. We run along the east bank for 2 miles where we turn east and run the last 5 miles on Summit Ave to the Capital Building. Summit is very similar to the rest of the course, heavily tree lined, packed with spectators but it does include a 130 foot climb from mile 21.5 to 23.5. The last half mile is down hill with a beautiful view of the finish line and the Capital Building in the back ground.

Before giving you my splits I should remark on the one area that needs to be improved. Although the mile markers were big, about 2 by 3 foot, they were difficult to find due to the number of spectators along the course with many of them blocking the signs. The mile markers need to be raised off of the ground or maybe balloons tied to them. Joan Benoit-Smauelson who ran the TCM in 2:46 qualifying for the Olympic Trails, commented she missed several mile markers as well as did Sarah Guttery and Ernie Diaz, Oh, I also need to mention that I still have an inflamed achilles tendon. This limited my training leading up to TCM and was a factor during the marathon also. With that, my splits were 17:02 (mile 1 and 2), 8:13, 8:55, 8:32, 8:53, 8:57, 26:13 (8, 9, 10), 8:38, 8:56, 8:43 (1:54:00 half marathon split, projected 3:48:00 marathon), 17:51 (14 nd 15), 17:54 (16 and 17), 9:12, 9:04, 9:15, 9:10, 9:58 (hill and wall), 9:47, 9:22, 9:30, 11:35 (1,2). Finishing time was 3:55:45 chip and 3:56:10 gun. I placed 1,984 out of 7,758 finishers and 10 out of 110 in my age group. Sarah Guttery ran 3:21:29 chip, 3:21:47 gun, placed 552 overall, 87th female and 13 out of 484 in her age group. Ernie Diaz ran 3:31:34 chip, 3:32:06 (PR), placed 836 over all, 189 out of 858 in his age group. Sarah and Ernie also had limited training going into this marathon due to injuries and medical issues. According to the the race director, both overall men's and women's finishing times were the second slowest on record, both about 10 minutes slower then expected, Problem: the weather.

As great and scenic as Crater Rim Marathon was, it was a no frills marathon with no expo, no pasta diner, no race headquarters, minimal crowd support, very difficult course (expected slow time), then TCM was the compliment. TCM may not be rated as a fast course but if you like running well organized scenic courses with excellent spectator support then TCM is a must do.

64 marathons with 6 states and Washington DC completed on the second go around of all 50 states and WDC. Next stop, the new Las Vegas Marathon on December 4.

Rest if you must, just don’t quit,
Marty