My fourth running of the Boston Marathon also happened to be my thirteenth marathon. Based on how things went, it didn’t feel like it was a “lucky” number 13. It was my slowest marathon yet and one of my most difficult. It was a good reminder that the marathon is a daunting distance and anything can happen over 26 miles. Despite a tough race, it was another incredible Boston Marathon weekend filled with fun.

The weekend started super early with a 6am flight out of Detroit on Friday. That would give me three full days to enjoy Boston before race day. Despite four days of rest from running, my left Achilles bothered me as I walked through the airport. It wasn’t the most reassuring feeling with a marathon to run in a few days but I was hopeful that I’d still get through it somehow.

I was extremely grateful for my friend Kristine who was free on Friday and offered to pick me up from the airport. With a rainy first day in town she made the great suggestion of going to visit an art museum. I didn’t know anything about the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum going in. I learned about a major art theft incident that happened there, enjoyed browsing the variety of art she had collected, and really appreciated the cool architecture of the building.

We grabbed lunch afterward then Kristine dropped me off at my hotel by early afternoon so I would have enough time to get to the expo.

On my way to the expo I stopped at Marathon Sports to browse their race merchandise. Sometimes I wait several months to buy the official Adidas jacket because it gets marked down, but I liked the colors enough this year that I didn’t want to run the risk of not getting my size. I’m not sure I really NEED a fourth jacket, but how can I resist? I have bought a hat each year as well, and I bought both at the running store to avoid the madness of the Adidas area at the expo.

I typically like to go places first thing in the morning to avoid crowds but apparently many runners take the same approach. The last couple years I’ve gone to the expo right as it opened on Friday and found the line wrapped around the outside of the building just to get inside. I returned to the expo for a quick stop later in the day last year and realized that was a MUCH better time to go. When I got there after 3:00 this year, it was a relief to find that I walked right in and didn’t have to wait in lines anywhere.

I collected my bib, walked through the merch area, then quickly browsed the expo booths. The 2019 expo was wonderful and had gear from all of the running brands, but the expo has been a disappointment since then.

I got a free hat and rain poncho from the Marathon Tours booth but didn’t see anything else worth stopping for. That was okay because I wanted to get a good seat to see Meb Keflezighi speak at 4:00. He is one of my running idols and I’ve been lucky enough to see him each year I’ve been to Boston.

The 2014 Boston winner is a huge inspiration and I loved listening to him speak once again. I got in line to get a picture with him, and since I was holding my bib, he offered to sign it. How incredibly cool! I knew having his signature with me during the race would remind me to push through the hard parts and keep a positive mindset.

I went to Newbury Street next to browse through the various “pop-up shops” where brands had some cool Boston gear. I was kind of bummed that Brooks Running didn’t have their own location this year, but they did have a section in a Marathon Sports pop-up. I visited Asics, Rabbit, Tracksmith, and more. They had some cool stuff but I decided I didn’t really NEED more beyond the shirt, jacket, and hat I already got.

I went to the finish line next because I had heard that past champions would show up for selfies. I hoped to catch Des Linden there but she wasn’t a part of it. However, I heard someone behind me greeting Meb and saw that he was on the street behind me! Not many people seemed to notice that he was there so we had time for a nice chat. He is such a genuinely kind person who takes time to meet with anyone who wants to talk to him. As he said during his talk at the expo, he tries to hold himself with dignity and grace, and he is grateful for the position that he is in. Once the champions were officially introduced up on a platform, he suddenly became a big draw. I couldn’t resist asking for one more photo because a selfie taken by Meb seemed like a cool thing to have.

It was an action-packed first day in Boston so I settled at the hotel for the evening to get some rest before another day of fun on Saturday.

I would normally go for a short run on Saturday but decided it might be wise to hold off in hopes of helping my Achilles heal more. Instead, I walked to the Fan Fest area to scope it out. There were some photo opportunities, a few games, a band playing, and a beer tent.

I walked through Boston Common and the Public Garden and enjoyed the nice weather before meeting up with Kristine in the early afternoon.

It has been a tradition for me to go to a Red Sox game every time I’m in town and Saturday was a good day for that. I had to miss some runner panels that took place at the same time but I can’t do it all. I’ve seen plenty of runners speak in the three other years I’ve run the race. I decided that I can change it up from year to year and that friends come first. I’m thankful that I have some friends in the Boston area. I don’t see them often enough and wanted to take advantage of whatever time I could spend with them.

Kristine and I grabbed some food nearby and met up with our friends Mandy and Pat at the game. It was great to catch up with everyone and we got a fun Red Sox win as well.

By Sunday I had taken a full week off of running to help my Achilles and I was anxious to test it prior to the race. Most of all, I was wary about having lethargic legs since I was out of my routine. I had signed up for a shakeout run at the ASICS house because they teamed up with Believe in the Run who was going to hand out a cool hat. I jogged a mile on my way there and my Achilles seemed okay. When I got to Newbury Street I quickly realized that pretty much every running group or brand was hosting a run out there. The scene in front of the ASICS house was especially insane. People had mobbed the sidewalk as well as half of the street.

I realized that it didn’t matter that I had signed up in advance – I had to get there extra early to actually get a hat. I was overwhelmed by the crowd so I opted to do my own thing rather than join the group run. Since EVERYONE was out running that morning, I was always near someone. I went up to the Charles River Path briefly and added one more mile to my run.

I only ran two miles which reassured me that my legs still worked, but I could tell that the Achilles soreness was still lingering. It was tolerable enough to run through so I’d just have to hope I wouldn’t irritate it too much with the marathon.

Next, I met up with some members of the Picky Bars AmBADASSadors group that I am a part of. Like everything else, that took place on Newbury Street! It was fun to meet fellow Picky Bars lovers. Susie, the associate marketing manager, had us film a few quick videos and pose for some fun photos. As a bonus, I walked away with a stash of bars to help replenish what I had already eaten throughout the weekend! Thanks to Susie for the great shots.

My next (and most important) mission of the day was to head to Boston Common for a massive golden retriever meet up. It was definitely one of the most joyous things I saw the whole weekend. 

Spencer the golden retriever became famous for holding a Boston Strong flag in his mouth along the marathon course. Thankfully I got to see him in 2022. The next year I was bummed to learn that I had missed a massive golden meet up the day before the race to honor the memories of both Spencer and his sister Penny who had passed away. Fortunately I heard about the meet up this year and it was AMAZING. There were smiling goldens everywhere. They investigated each other, welcomed attention from people like me, took a couple of massive group shots, and had a parade around the park. Basically, it was pure heaven and I took plenty of photos and videos in between petting dogs. It was some great pre-race therapy!

By early afternoon it was time to relax at the hotel and not go back out other than to get dinner. There was a Panera a block away from my hotel and I made many stops there over the weekend for bagels, sandwiches, and smoothies. It was a good way to carb load with food that I knew should work for me.

I spent plenty of time meticulously planning for race day, making sure I had all of my gear for running, to take with me on the bus, and to drop at the bag drop.

I made it to bed by 9:30 and woke up at 5:00 the next morning. I also woke up several times in between, which is why they say you should get quality sleep a couple nights before the race.

It’s hard to plan how to eat on a morning with nearly five hours of time between leaving the hotel and actually starting the race. I had a protein Picky Bar with water to start just before I left the hotel after 6am then planned to eat Picky Bars around 8:00 and 9:30 as well as I waited for the 10:50 start.

I dropped post-race clothing at gear check and continued my long walk down Boylston. The chartered bus that I had signed up for through Bauman’s, a Michigan running store, collected us near the convention center area. We took off around 7:00 and it was fun that the man himself, Mark Bauman, was sitting at the front of my bus. At 74 years old, he would complete his 55th consecutive Boston Marathon that day which is the longest active streak. Amazing.

The chartered bus is a wonderful luxury because we don’t get dumped off the bus to wait for hours at Athletes’ Village like most everyone else. The weather was nice this year, but it’s always good to know that we can stay warm and dry on the bus up until the moment we’re ready to head to the start. All of the chartered buses also had access to a separate area of porta potties with no wait.

Since the runners on the Bauman’s buses are from Michigan, it’s fun to chat with people from the area. I shared a seat with a woman named Nancy and we had a great conversation. I learned that she has run over 170 marathons! What an inspiration. I love meeting other runners because everyone has their own stories to share. Nancy had some great ones and I really enjoyed spending a couple hours of the long wait chatting with her.

With close to four hours to kill between getting on the bus and starting the race, I was thankful for so many wonderful friends and family members who checked in and sent me good vibes. They made me smile and laugh. I was blown away by how much support I received for this crazy hobby of mine.

I cut through Athletes’ Village briefly on my way to the start, where I was finally allowed to head at 10:15. It was a long, slow walk in the large mass of people.

I decided to ditch my warm “throwaway clothes” from the Salvation Army just before I left Athletes’ Village. I wore a sleeveless shirt and would normally expect to shiver prior to starting the race. Instead, I could feel the sun cooking my back during the long walk which was a bit concerning. It was around 60 degrees by the time I started at 10:50. If I was already warm just walking, what would that mean for the run?

With nearly 30,000 people signed up for the race, it’s necessary to break people into waves, and then eight different corrals within those waves to keep things organized. Although it takes a bit for the mob of people to disperse, it all works out. I only stood in the corral for a few minutes before my wave started. A few minutes later I finally got to the starting line myself!

From experience I knew that there would be some frustrating congestion for the first few miles. It gets drilled into our heads that we shouldn’t go flying down the hills in the early miles too fast or it will leave our legs beat up during the later miles. Out of four times doing this race, not once has that been a concern for me. It’s always so crowded that I’m usually more concerned about weaving around people so I don’t trip over them. The first mile of the race actually was my fastest, but with a goal pace of 8:00 miles, my 8:05 mile still wasn’t too aggressive.

My time was a little slow around the 5K mark, but I told myself it was better to be disciplined early and then I’d have more energy left at the end. At least that’s how it’s SUPPOSED to work.

When I finally got a little more space, I felt pretty comfortable for a bit although I was still going slower than my goal marathon pace. The sun was beating down on us and other than a very brief moment or two, it didn’t seem to hide behind the clouds at all. There was very little shade along the course and by the time I’d made it through seven miles I started to feel drained. With 26 miles to cover, feeling beat up after seven miles was NOT a good sign.

My “A” goal for the race was to see if I could improve on my best time at Boston which was in 2022 when I ran 3:35:35. I knew that I should have multiple goals though, especially since my Achilles had been an issue coming into the race. I was lucky that it didn’t bother me too much, but I still had to adjust my goals anyway. I’ve determined that a goal I should always have at this race is to enjoy the experience. That means keeping a positive mindset even if it gets tough. And on this day, it got TOUGH.

I was thankful for the spectators who lined the majority of the course. They really gave me a boost and they’re one of the main reasons this race feels so special.

When I reached the halfway point of the race, of course Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” ran through my head. “Oh, we’re halfway there. Whoa, livin’ on a prayer.” That was all too true. It was going to take a prayer to get through 13 more miles based on how wrecked I already felt. My hopes of running an 8:00 pace were long gone as I’d started to hit some 9:00+ miles.

It’s not a great sign when one of my main goals became “avoid medical.” I heard at least a couple people stop to throw up behind me within the first half of the race. It’s not good at any point during a race, but it’s a little more expected during the late miles. It was happening way too early. I also noticed people walking much sooner than I would have expected. I told myself that there was going to be carnage in this race and I didn’t want to be a part of it.

The temps climbed into the low 70s. That’s warmer than most runners prefer but doesn’t seem like it should be THAT bad. If the race took place in August, it probably would have been fine. The problem is that so many of us had been training on dreary, cold days and were not acclimated to these conditions. A few weeks before the race I ran on some days where I was still bundled up in layers because of the weather. I hadn’t built up any tolerance for the heat.

I had to find ways to keep myself going. I joked to myself that going slower meant I’d get to enjoy the experience longer. A friend’s accountant husband had calculated how much I paid per mile to run this thing and said I should make it count. I was just out there getting my money’s worth! I thought about how Meb’s signature was on my bib and how he looks at things with such a positive mindset. I thought about a friend who said that she misses running and would give anything to be able to still do it. She was on my mind a lot during this race. Some people work for years trying to qualify and get into this race. I knew they would trade with me in a second, even through the suffering. I was extremely fortunate to have this opportunity and I was going to remain thankful no matter how hard it felt. I GET to do this and I am grateful that I can.

By the time I was 15 miles into the race I decided I better start walking through the aid stations. I started to grab two cups of water – one to dump on myself and one for drinking every drop I could. I typically like to keep running the whole time if I can, but this was not a typical day. I realized that the brief breaks made me feel better and I needed to do whatever I could to help myself.

I was thankful that so many people showed interest in tracking me through the race but I was also very aware of how bad my progression must have looked. I kept slowing down more and more and I wanted to be able to communicate that I’d be okay. I had my phone on me and pulled it out a couple times for some quick voice-to-text messages during a couple walk breaks. My mom and a couple friends were at the top of my recent messages, so I’d recite a message then copy it to send to a couple others.

On the plus side, my Achilles didn’t seem to hold me back. I didn’t have any cramps. My stomach held up. I was getting through this alright. I was really thankful for a couple of kids who sprayed hoses into the crowd. I also grabbed a wet cloth from someone that I used on my neck and face for a few minutes to try to cool down. My legs were shot though.

I looked forward to certain landmarks. When I made it to the top of Heartbreak Hill, I knew one tough part was done. I was already slow enough at that point that I’m not sure the hills really bothered me all that much. I was trudging along when I got a glimpse of the Citgo sign and I knew we were getting closer to the end. At some point it felt like my right ankle randomly gave out on me. For a moment I was terrified that I had twisted it. I came to a total stop to try to stretch it out. I’m not sure if I had cramped or what, but I was able to keep going. Again, spectators were SO extremely supportive as they rooted for me.

I managed to pick up the pace a little bit for the final right on Hereford and left on Boylston. The energy on Boylston is incredible and I knew I was nearly there.

Then, the moment of victory…

I finished in 4:05:01. I had questioned if I could at least keep my time under four hours but I was struggling enough that I knew it was slipping away and accepted that I was doing all that I could on this day. I was living from one water stop to the next and knew that forcing myself to keep running rather than taking walk breaks to drink was not worth it. It didn’t feel like I had an extra gear that I was neglecting – I just had to make it though.

Sometimes I get emotional at the end of a marathon, and this time the tears held back. Maybe I was too drained. However, as I walked past a volunteer who congratulated me, it finally got to me for a moment. She told me that I’m part of the 1% (of the population who has done a marathon) and that made me tear up. I had pushed myself through something extremely difficult and it was quite an accomplishment.

Previously, the 2019 Boston Marathon had been my slowest marathon I’d done in 3:52:15. It was in the 60s and humid that day and I didn’t tolerate those conditions very well either. Although this was the first time it took me over four hours to run a marathon, I didn’t feel disappointed or let down. Fighting through the struggles and finding a way to finish felt like a major accomplishment.

I made my way to the Public Garden and found that it was a popular place for people to settle after the race. I sat on a bench and took some time to answer a whole bunch of texts. I was overwhelmed by the thought of so many people actually getting invested in tracking me and I wanted to update them and thank them. I let them know how they all helped pull me through.

I finally made my way back to Panera (yet again!) for a couple of bagels and a muffin to start replenishing the calories. Eventually I finally got in the shower and got myself out the door because I still had one mission left – to go see Kara Goucher and Des Linden at the Mile 27 Post-Race Party. It took place where Fan Fest had been held and walking there was a good way to keep myself from stiffening up. I was determined to make it to the party in hopes of having both Kara and Des sign my books. Meb was one running hero I had hoped to see this weekend, and they were the other two on the top of my list.

Kara and Des host a podcast together and were standing next to each other behind a gate with barely any line so it was a breeze to get to them. Kara had run the 5K on Saturday with the goal of beating her son’s current PR, and she was successful by seven seconds. It’s been a fun story to follow so I congratulated her on that and thanked her for the important book she wrote (she spoke out about abuse and cheating in Nike’s running program). Des lives close to the park where I do a lot of my training and I crossed paths with her a couple days in the weeks before Boston. I thanked her for her good luck wishes and asked how her marathon had gone. She is so awesome for giving up so much of her time when she had done a marathon herself!

I was excited to complete my mission of catching them before I left Boston and was happy to hear them announce that they’ll be back to host the party again next year.

I got some pizza and cookies at Quincy Market before finally heading back to the hotel.

This race was a good reminder that marathons are HARD. You can put in months of successful training and sometimes it all comes together smoothly. Other times it doesn’t. Part of the draw is pushing myself to see what I’m capable of achieving. A race that felt so brutal might prove more to me about my grit than a race that goes seamlessly. Really, there’s no need to compare and deem one better than another in my mind though. Each marathon is an adventure and accomplishment of its own. Still – I want redemption! The race that I ran in September gave me a qualifying time for Boston in 2025 and I plan to return. Hopefully I’ll have a day that isn’t filled with SO much struggling. Either way, after four times running this race, the entire weekend has been magical every time and that’s why I continue to return.

– Janet

Follow me on Instagram @janetboltz

Whenever I know I’m going to travel I try to figure out if there are any good places to run, or better yet, any races to run. I typically wouldn’t run a race the week before the Boston Marathon but I came across an opportunity I couldn’t resist with the 10 mile race at Goldy’s Run. I absolutely adore the band Semisonic and their live shows are few and far between. More often than not, I need to travel to Minnesota for their hometown shows if I want to see them live. One of those rare shows happened to get scheduled the weekend before I head to Boston. I questioned if I really ought to try that, but the show was scheduled on a Saturday, I wouldn’t have to use any vacation time, and I REALLY wanted to see them.

A quick search of Minneapolis running races came up with Goldy’s Run. I could tell that it would be a big race because it would finish on University of Minnesota’s football field. It fell on Sunday, April 7 which was the day after the concert. I conveniently had 12 miles on my training schedule for that day. How could I resist? I found a hotel on campus less than half a mile from the start and I signed up. It was helpful that they gave the option to mail the shirt and bib since I couldn’t make it to any of the packet pickup events.

Two weeks out from Boston my left Achilles became problematic and it was sore enough that I knew I ought to take some time off. I had a total of four rest days in the week leading up to Goldy’s Run. I didn’t want to do anything dumb and potentially mess things up for Boston, but I was convinced that I could still do this race.

With a super early flight into Minnesota on Saturday morning, gaining an extra hour of time, and being out late at the concert, I was up for 23 hours straight. That combined with standing all night at the show didn’t seem like I was setting myself up for success. I’ve gone to concerts the night before other races and pulled those off somehow so I figured it would work out. Staying close to the race site helped a lot too because I ran out of the hotel 25 minutes before the start which helped me get a little extra sleep.

The forecast didn’t look great. It showed that the wind could hit 30 mph and we’d get plenty of rain. This is why I train in the rain – so I’m prepared for those conditions on race day. It might not be ideal but I just had to dress appropriately.

There was some light rain as I left the hotel but nothing significant. Then it seemed to stop! Despite the forecast, we actually lucked out and didn’t get much more than a few drops of rain throughout the race. There was a little wind and it was tricky running into it at times, but we also got it at our backs other times.

I planned to run a mile to warm up and left the hotel late enough that I finished just after the 5K race started at 8:00. The 10 mile was due to start 20 minutes later so I lingered in the road outside of Huntington Bank Stadium and waited for the large group of 5K people to clear out. I had fun watching the antics of Goldy, the Golden Gophers’ mascot.

Soon enough it was time to start and I aimed to keep myself under control and not truly “race” this one. My PR for 10 miles is just under 1:14:00 and I decided I could aim for marathon pace but no faster. That would put me at a pace of 8:00 miles and a time of 1:20:00. I was pretty disciplined, running in the 7:50s for the first few miles and hovering close to that 8:00 pace.

We started on campus and got out to the road that runs along the Mississippi River by the end of the first mile. That’s where most of the race occurred and it was a nice course with a few hills to help me feel like I’m getting practice for Boston. There were some good uphills followed by downhill momentum to make up for the slowdowns.

I have run the Twin Cities Marathon and the Red, White and Boom Half Marathon around Minneapolis, so this was my third race in the area. Minneapolis is an awesome place for active people. There is a vast system of paths all over the city and beyond which seems like a dream for runners and cyclists. While we ran on the road for this race, I admired the paths right next to us that also followed the river.

I was aware of my Achilles soreness pretty much from the start. I don’t know if it faded after a bit or if I just got distracted, but I realized that it didn’t consume my thoughts the whole time. That was a huge relief because I assume I will still be battling this issue in Boston where I hope it doesn’t pull my mind away from fully taking in the amazing experience. An out-and-back stretch was one good distraction when I got to watch runners going the opposite direction for a little bit.

I was still high on the experience of the Semisonic show from the night before which kept my mind busy too. I was thrilled that the band had played “Beautiful Sky” which is one of my favorites. That song in particular ran through my head for a majority of the race.

“It’s a beautiful sky, at times I thought it would fall. Just to be here alive and to let that be all. Let’s make this one last.”

I can get pretty reflective when I run and that song really resonated with me as I ran. It reminds me to be grateful and to truly appreciate these experiences. “Let’s make this one last” became a kind of mantra for the whole race. There were moments when I was working hard and I’d start to count down how much distance I had left. Yet at the same time, I really tried to recognize how I love the feeling of strength and being able to do these things in these gorgeous places. It may not have been a “beautiful sky” per se, but running along the river road by the great paths and around a gorgeous campus still felt pretty special.

As we climbed a pretty steep hill with about a mile left in the race I told myself that this is what I’ll be doing in Boston too and it’s just preparing me. I felt pretty good once I got past the hill and may have gotten some wind at my back because I got a little burst of speed. I tried to keep it up but it felt tough as I ran around the exterior of the stadium and right into the wind. It seemed to take forever to finally come to the spot that took us into the stadium. Toledo’s Glass City Marathon finishes on a football field as well so I was familiar with the atmosphere of running down a ramp on the way to the field turf. Finishing on the 50-yard line in a huge stadium is a pretty cool experience.

Although I picked up the pace a bit during the last mile, I wasn’t too wiped out at the end for a change. That helped reassure me that I’d been disciplined about not pushing harder than I should have.

The rain held off for the most part but there was a pretty good breeze so I knew I’d have to keep the celebration brief and get back to the hotel before I got too cold. Not to mention it was 9:45 and I was supposed to check out at 11:00! I had to take in the stadium experience a little bit though.

Water and sports drinks were available along with Ensure, bananas, granola bars, and chips. I took a few things and semi-jogged back to the hotel, both for warmth and because I knew I needed to hurry up.

Achilles soreness came on again after the race which tells me I’ll need to take more days off in the final stretch before Boston. At least this race and the prior weekend’s long run reassured me that despite some discomfort, I can run through this issue and should be able to get through Boston. After that I better be serious about recovery so I can shake this issue.

I really lucked out that I happened to be in town at the right time and came across this race because it was a good one. The Twin Cities Marathon was one of my favorite races and I’m tempted to do again at some point. I definitely feel inspired to do more races in Minnesota. It’s a pretty great place!

– Janet

Follow me on Instagram @janetboltz

After taking a break from racing through the winter, it was nice to get back to it and kick off another year of racing with the Rock CF Half Marathon. This year the race fell on March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day. I had been aware of that but wasn’t thinking about it when I planned what to wear for the race. Plenty of other people DID think about it, so there were some festive outfits to appreciate.

This is the fourth time I’ve run the course and I’ve gotten into a pretty good routine. Each time I’ve run this race I’ve also been in prep mode for the Boston Marathon. It’s a great way to test my fitness a month before the big race. It also means I typically add some extra miles to my day because a long run at this point in my training plan is usually around 16-18 miles. To allow time for some pre-race mileage, I usually arrive almost an hour and a half before the 8am start time.

Part of that early arrival ensures that I will be able to park at the high school and make a 5-minute trek over to the middle school for a bathroom stop, packet pickup, and to drop warm clothes for after the race, then head back to my car.

I was aiming to run three miles before the race and set out with my headlamp and LED vest since it was still dark. The pre-race run helped me feel more secure with my clothing choices for the race since it was in the mid-30s and I was debating between shorts or tights. I warmed up enough after a couple miles to stick with shorts, although a few snow flurries made that seem a little questionable!

I finished warming up 15 minutes before the start of the race and headed to the starting corral where I lined up by the 1:40 pacer. It can be hard to gauge what pace to aim for in a half marathon when I haven’t been training for that pace. I’ve run some faster workouts at my 5K pace and I’ve done some longer runs at marathon pace, but nothing in between. Last year I ran 1:47 in this race when I was battling some tweaky spots and had missed several weeks of long runs. Training has gone smoothly this time around and I’ve felt good about my fitness. 1:40 seemed to be a time I could reasonably aim for since I’ve run a number of past half marathons in that time. I’d start with that goal and see how it played out!

I stuck by the pace group for a mile or so before I fell back a few steps because I didn’t want to go too fast. A slight downhill stretch helped me regain momentum and I found myself back with the pack through around four miles.

The race starts on the east side of the island which provides some nice scenery as the sun rises over the Detroit River.

Snow flurries returned in full force when I was about three miles into the race. Nothing accumulated but flakes blew right toward my face for several minutes. I thought about how I was glad that the bill of my hat provided a little protection and wondered about a couple of guys who chose to wear their hats backwards. Right as that thought crossed my mind, one of them must have had the realization that flipping it around would keep some of the flakes out of his face. When people wonder what I think about since I don’t run with music, these are the kinds of thoughts that run through my mind and keep me occupied!

We spent about a mile cutting from the east side of the island to the west side. There was some wind but fortunately not enough to bother me very much. I got a little impatient grinding through the four miles that seemed to drag on while I was on the west side though. The distance between me and the pace group began to grow by 10-20 seconds. That left me running mostly on my own and thinking about the gap that had formed. To run a 1:40 I figured I should run around a 7:35 pace, and it seemed like I was mostly right around that. I thought maybe the group could be going a little fast and maybe I’d have a burst of speed at the end and catch up. Maybe I’d be a little slower and just accept that I would run whatever I was capable of that day.

As the miles dragged on I kept looking forward to the tenth mile when I knew we’d get to run by the airport. As we approached it I was excited to see that we’d run through the hangar – something we did in the past but not during last year’s race.

It’s a fun and unique experience getting to run past planes in a hangar.

I think the combination of people cheering along the runway plus watching runners going in the opposite direction for an out and back stretch gave me some extra energy. My pace picked up a little bit and that segment ended up being my fastest mile of the race.

From there I knew I “just” had to get through another 5K. I was working hard but was still maintaining a pace somewhere around 7:35. My attempts at doing math told me that I might still be on track to run 1:40.

The course is relatively flat but even minor hills are very apparent when I’m trying to run fast. I knew one of those hills would come near the end which wouldn’t make things any easier, yet I was pushing hard enough that it didn’t make me fall off of my pace and I finished strong.

When I glanced at my watch a minute later I saw 1:39:59. I knew very well that the official time could be different if I hadn’t hit my watch right as I crossed the timing mat at the start or finish. ONE second under 1:40? I hoped that would hold! I actually didn’t confirm that until much later when I was about to leave the gym. I saw an awards table and realized I hadn’t even checked my results yet. No award for me, but 1:39:59 was official!

As is often the case, I ran a little long (a tenth of a mile long) so even though my watch told me I was running an average pace around 7:35, it worked out to be slightly slower for my official time.

I was pretty satisfied when I examined my splits and saw how consistent I had been. In the past I’ve often taken the approach of starting slower and I speed up gradually as I go. I usually end up feeling strong at the end of those races. Sometimes I speed up SO much I wonder if I should have pushed more earlier. Trying to consistently hold a fast pace the entire race usually feels a whole lot harder, yet that’s when I’ve run my fastest races.

Even when I was trailing behind, following the pace group helped me stay steady and resulted in my third sub-1:40 half marathon and third fastest time. I ran my PR on this course in 2022 and was only about a minute off that time. I was definitely happy with these results.

I collected my medal, a bottle of water, and posed for a photo, then headed out for a cool down run. Coming to a sudden stop after such a hard effort often causes me to cough, yet if I start running again, it calms me down. I’m not sure how that makes sense but it works! I ran back out to the road along the river and added an extra mile of distance to reach a total of 17 miles for the day. It was a leisurely run with a number of stops for photos.

I went into the gym to get some post-race treats and saw my friend Lisa right away. We had been hoping to catch up and chatted for quite a while as I enjoyed a cookie and a cinnamon crunch bagel from Panera – yum!

Eventually we parted ways, agreeing to try to meet up again in a couple weeks to catch up more.

It was my fourth time enjoying the Rock CF race experience which is why I continue to sign up for it each year as soon as registration opens. Although it was pretty cold last year and we got a few minutes of snow flurries this year, the race is typically the first post-winter half marathon road race around the area so I always see plenty of friends who are also anxious to get back to longer races. I always seem to question how I intend to run a fast half marathon pace when I haven’t been doing it in training, yet it all seems to come together successfully. The race falls right between my two hardest weeks of Boston training and it’s clear that the high mileage has gotten me in shape. I still need to keep up the hard work and stay healthy for a few more weeks. The results of this race have me feeling confident that I could have a solid race ahead of me in Boston.

– Janet

Follow me on Instagram @janetboltz

2023 was another solid year for me in terms of racing and staying active. Even though races are the big events where I get to apply my training and celebrate the hard work I’ve done, the daily training is probably even more significant overall. It’s become a way of life for me and I can barely go a day or two without doing something or I will feel “off.” Exercise brings so much positivity, confidence, and empowerment to my life that it makes perfect sense that I crave the constant movement. I kept moving quite a bit with 17 races on my schedule in 2023.

I favor the longer distances and only ran two 5Ks and one 10K last year. I did two 10-milers, and the half marathon continues to be my sweet spot – I ran five of those. I also ran two marathons, did four triathlons, a 5K swim, and ran a looped course enough times to rack up close to 25 miles. I had some pretty good variety in 2023. No real PRs other than completing a new distance, but still plenty of significant accomplishments.

One big goal for the year was to complete the “Run the Year” challenge. I ran over 2,100 miles in 2022 so I figured it was very doable. I usually don’t aim for mileage goals simply because I know injuries can pop up and I don’t want that goal in the back of my mind pushing me to do more when I should rest. Several friends created a team for the challenge and asked me to be a part of it so I agreed. It was a lot of fun to follow along with everyone’s activities and to encourage each other along the way. However, once December came along I was a bit concerned that I might not get all of those miles. I had put in a lot of miles throughout the year, but I also had a couple of tweaky spots that made me back off at times. I was relieved to get over 2,023 miles with just two days to spare. That cut it closer than I would have liked, but I did it! Thanks to encouragement (or peer pressure!) from friends, I signed up for the 2024 challenge as well.

With a couple days left to run after achieving my goal, I actually ran a total of 2,044 miles. When I looked at my training log a week before the end of the year, I realized I was close to hitting a big number for swimming as well. I was at 195 miles for the year at that point. I like the nice round numbers so I couldn’t resist doing a couple more big swims to get past 200 miles for the year. Biking is typically one of my lower priorities and I came in with 1,025 miles for the year.

Another big moment was running the Boston Marathon for my third time. Although I’ve run it a few times, the excitement that surrounds that race has not grown old. It motivated me to work extremely hard throughout the winter to prepare myself for the race. Hamstring issues that had lingered since the previous October finally lead me to physical therapy just weeks before the race. I was a little wary about how I might hold up, but I had a solid race. I was especially happy to BQ at Boston for my second time with a 3:37:18. My qualifying time is 3:40:00 so I made it by 2:42.

Although there had been no cutoff time for a couple years and everyone who had qualified actually made it into the race, I still felt a little wary about whether that would be enough of a buffer. I usually feel more comfortable if I have at least five minutes to spare. Because I’ve enjoyed running Boston SO much, I wanted to try to improve my qualifying time at a fall marathon. I had originally signed up for the Holland Haven half marathon in early September, then realized the race fell on the final weekend before the Boston-qualifying window would close for the 2024 race. I decided I better switch to the full marathon and give it a shot there. Good thing I did – I ran 3:34:19 which gave me a buffer of 5:41. I figured that was safe and didn’t realize until several weeks later that even a buffer that big would barely be enough. After sorting through all of the applicants, it was determined that people had to run 5:29 faster than their qualifying time to make the cutoff for 2024. I only made it by TWELVE seconds. I’m very thankful that I ran such a good race at Holland Haven, and I’m very thankful that I have the opportunity to run Boston again in 2024. I probably don’t need to go every year, but I’ve loved it so much each time I’ve gone that I still feel like if they’ll let me in, I’ll go!

Once again, Boston will keep me motivated to train extremely hard throughout the winter. I decided to go for it and commit to a fall marathon too – the Detroit Free Press Marathon. Registration opened on January 1 and I had decided a couple months ago that this should be the year that I FINALLY run the hometown race. It almost feels wrong to be a marathoner living in the Detroit area without having done that race. When I realized that there were several “challenges” available to sign up for, I couldn’t resist. I went all-in and signed up for “The Supreme,” which involves running the 1-mile race followed by the 5K on Saturday morning, then the full marathon on Sunday. I was inspired by my desire to make it to Disney World sometime soon where I’d love to run one of their crazy challenges. They offer the Goofy Challenge (half marathon and full marathon on back-to-back days) and the Dopey Challenge (5K, 10K, half, full). Running “The Supreme” in Detroit will give me a little taste of what that could be like.

Another fun thing about the past year was getting to be an ambassador for both Picky Bars and Epic Races. An ambassador (or “amBADASSador” in the case of Picky Bars!) basically shares the love and encourages others to get in on the fun. I swear by Picky Bars and eat them before running, during biking, after swimming, and any random time when I have a craving. It’s been fun to be an ambassador for them for a few years now.

It was my first time representing Epic Races which was a lot of fun too. I’ve done so many Epic Races in the past and have loved them so it was fitting to share my enthusiasm as an ambassador. I covered the Olympic distance at their Island Lake and Ann Arbor Triathlons. I did the Swim to the Moon 5K, I ran the Ann Arbor Half Marathon, and I loved doing the crazy 10-part Battle of Waterloo adventure triathlon once again. I worked really hard to prepare for Swim to the Moon and my fourth time doing the race was a good one. I’m thrilled that the Battle of Waterloo is back again in 2024 since it used to take place every other year. I’ve already committed to that and Swim to the Moon this year!

While talking about triathlons, probably the most significant accomplishment last year was doing my first 70.3/half Iron-distance race in Grand Rapids. I’ve told myself for years that I could do it and finally proved it to myself. It took me right around six hours to complete as I guessed it might, but I didn’t guess just how hard that run would be. I knew 56 miles on the bike would feel like forever and obviously it would slow me down for the run, but that half marathon was HARD. So what did I do? I went ahead and signed up for the race again this June! I also decided to try my first officially branded half Ironman in Sandusky, Ohio in July. Always pushing myself!

My closet and medal racks are practically overflowing after all of this racing. Here are 2023’s additions:

As always, one challenge heading into 2024 is to avoid or minimize injuries and random tweaks. I’m not real happy that I’ve slacked off a bit on strength training lately and need to make a point of doing more. I know it’s necessary to avoid developing weaknesses so I need to be more disciplined. I will see if putting TWO 70.3 races on my schedule makes me spend more time on the bike. Between those two races, the Boston and Detroit marathons, Swim to the Moon, and the Battle of Waterloo, I have a lot to look forward to and to help keep me motivated. There are a few other races already on my schedule too, and many more to come, I’m sure! 2023 was a solid year so I will hope for more of the same (or even better) in 2024.

– Janet

Follow me on Instagram @janetboltz and Twitter/X @reidphotography

The Holiday Hustle Half Marathon is a race that I looked into last year but it sold out before I committed to it. When I talked to my friend Amy at the end of October this year, she told me that she had signed up for it and reminded me that it could sell out. I’m often wary about signing up for races too far in advance when winter weather can be a factor, and I knew it could be on December 2, but I decided to go for it and signed up a month before the race. There were several options for race swag and I chose to get a cute beanie rather than collect another shirt. I was excited to see that there was also an option to add on a post-race meal from Sunset Ridge BBQ. The hat, lunch, and knowing I’d get to hang out with Amy got me even more excited about the race.

The race took place in Dexter, MI which is a little northwest of Ann Arbor. Although I’ve thought about it, I have never run the Dexter-Ann Arbor Half Marathon and had never visited Dexter prior to this race. I always enjoy taking the opportunity to check out a new area. The 11am start was especially nice because even with a drive of an hour and 15 minutes, I didn’t leave the house until 8:30.

The race started and finished outside of Erratic Ale Co. Rather than park in the dirt/mud lots by the brewery, I found plenty of paved parking a couple blocks away. I walked over to collect my hat and bib number, which happened to be number one. I’m not quite sure how I ended up with that. No pressure or anything! I knew it wasn’t likely that I’d live up to those expectations.

Because I got there so early, I had plenty of time to run a couple of miles to warm up. I ran through part of downtown Dexter to the path along the Huron River that would be a part of our race route. I came across some boardwalks that concerned me a little bit. It wasn’t raining anymore, but it had rained earlier and the boardwalks were a little wet. I’m thankful that temperature was in the high 30s. Had it been any colder those surfaces could have been dicey! I found that I was able to run on the boardwalks without slipping so it reassured me that I would be okay during the race.

After warming up for a couple miles I headed back to the brewery to line up for the the start of the race. I saw someone with a 1:45 pace sign and stood near them. I figured I should be able to run faster than an 8:00 pace but would start there and speed up. Because there is limited space on the path, it was nice to hear that the race would have a staggered start so it wouldn’t get too congested. The first wave started at 11:00 and the crowd was cut off at the 1:45 pacer, so we went off in the second wave.

Apparently plenty of other people who lined up near me planned to run faster than 1:45 as well because it was a fast start and I found myself caught up in the flow of the people around me. My first mile was a 7:37. I didn’t intend to start that fast and it probably wasn’t the smartest move. We ran through a little bit of mud as we ran away from the brewery, and the boardwalk suddenly felt a little more slick when I was running faster. I still didn’t have any issues with actually slipping but I was wary. Fortunately the path was mostly paved after the first mile. We ran somewhere around 4.5 miles along the Border to Border Trail which took us to Hudson Mills Metropark.

After my fast start, I slowed down a little bit but could feel that I was still pushing pretty hard. I kept myself distracted for nearly the whole race by making an effort to run the tangents. It seemed like the path was constantly winding so I tried to visualize a straight line from one curve to the next to help myself from adding extra distance to my race. I can often end up with a tenth of a mile extra distance by the end of a half marathon. I did my best to try to run the shortest path I could while also hoping I didn’t annoy people around me as I’d cut from one side of the path to the other!

We had a 3-mile loop to run once we got to Hudson Mills Metropark. I ran a turkey trot there years ago but it had been long enough that I didn’t remember much and the scenery felt new to me. There were a few spots there that had a bunch of spectators while there were very few along the rest of the course. It was also busier at the park because people who ran the relay made their exchange there.

After running that loop it was time to head back the same way we came. It was nice to be distracted by runners headed the opposite direction for a little bit, but then it was back to attempting to run tangents when I could and just trying to survive. The course had some rolling hills and although there weren’t any major climbs, the constant rolling made things pretty challenging.

It probably felt extra challenging to me because I started faster than I should have. I haven’t really been training to maintain that kind of pace for that long and eventually it caught up with me. I managed to stay under an 8:00 pace for the first half of the race, but a few miles in the 8:00s crept in during the second half. No more 7:40s like the first half – I was in the 7:50s or slower. That was still a pretty good pace but it was tough to maintain it and I could really feel myself working. When I got back to the boardwalk stretch, somehow it felt even more slick than it had on the way out. That didn’t help my pace any since I was so cautious about the lack of traction. It’s a good thing I didn’t wear my best racing shoes because those really don’t have any traction and it would have been trouble!

I didn’t have a fast finish at this race because I was pretty spent, and even after getting past the boardwalks, the race ended in the dirt/mud outside of the brewery. That didn’t exactly allow for a solid sprint even if I had it in me.

I finished in 1:42:19 and realized later that it was actually my fastest half marathon out of the five that I ran this year. Maybe my number one bib was representative of something after all!

Looking back at my splits, it seems like I took the WRONG approach to this race. It usually isn’t a good thing when my first mile is the fastest mile of the race. I ran a positive split too – the second half was definitely slower than the first half. Maybe some of that could be attributed to the rolling course and slick boardwalks, but for the most part, it’s likely that I started too fast and couldn’t maintain it. Racing feels a whole lot better when I start slower and speed up as I go. In the end it all worked out since I ran my best time of the year. It just didn’t feel great the way I did it!

Since it was around 40 degrees I knew I better get back to my car quickly for more clothes. I couldn’t resist posing for a festive photo when I saw a wreath along the way.

Even with the extra layers I could only stand the cold for so long before I had to head into the brewery. I enjoyed the soft pretzel treat that I received at the finish line. That was something different from the usual post-race options and I loved it!

Amy and I finally caught up with each other in the brewery and eventually we went out to the food truck to collect the meals we had signed up for. By then the brewery was too full so we had to sit outside. Luckily the heat lamps worked well enough! The BBQ sampler plate was so good that half of it was gone before I even thought to take a picture. It was a great environment for a post-race celebration and we enjoyed hanging out for a bit before heading home.

This wasn’t one of my smoother races but I’m glad I did it. It was nice to check out another section of the Border to Border Trail and to do a lap around Hudson Mills Metropark. I might have to keep this route in mind for a future run or bike ride. I may be a little iffy about signing up early for this race knowing that any snow or cold temps could make the boardwalks more risky than I like. It’s a chance you take with this race since it has sold out in advance two years in a row. I can understand why – it was a nice, challenging course with a fun party included. Even though I may have been a little ambitious with my pacing and went through some suffering, it was nice that my fifth (and last) half marathon of the year ended up being my fastest.  

– Janet

Follow me on Instagram @janetboltz and Twitter/X @reidphotography

Since there are so many racing opportunities available on Thanksgiving, the last few years I’ve decided that it almost feels almost like a must for me to run some kind of turkey trot. I chose to run the Mighty Gobbler 5K in Troy, Michigan for the second year in a row. Running the same course would be a good way to compare my results and see if I improved. Most of all, the convenience factor was my deciding choice. The race takes place a couple miles away from my mom’s house which makes it really easy to head over there afterward.

The race takes place just west of Somerset Mall near the old Kmart headquarters. The headquarters have been empty since 2006, and demolition finally began just a week before the race. That provided an interesting apocalyptic backdrop!

Packet pickup took place at Luthern Church of the Master which is right next to the massive parking lot where the race was based. I chose to get my stuff the morning of the race over an hour before it began. That gave me plenty of time to check in with Greg Sadler, my favorite race photographer, as he set up his gear by the finish line. I usually see him at events hosted by Epic Races, but I lucked out because he ended up shooting this non-Epic race too! I didn’t have very good finish line photos last year and knew I could count on Greg to do an excellent job.

It was in the 30s which was a bit chilly and I knew I definitely needed to do a warm up jog before the race. There was a mile race that started at 8:30, so most of those people had finished by the time I headed out 15 minutes later. I jogged for a mile and tried to pick up the pace a few times because I remembered how much the cold had bothered me last year when I tried to run fast. I am definitely much more of a long-distance, endurance kind of runner and don’t especially enjoy the all-out pace of a 5K. Temps in the 30s wouldn’t be a problem for a longer distance race, but huffing and puffing as fast as I could for the 5K last year led to pain around my diaphragm. I hoped I could avoid that discomfort this year!

There was a large crowd for the 5K – over 900 people.

As I warmed up 10 minutes before the race, I was kind of shocked to see that a bunch of cars were still pulling into the parking lot. Arriving that late would stress me out SO MUCH! It was a reminder that turkey trots tend to draw a different crowd than many of the races I usually run. Thanksgiving is the most popular day for running a road race and it’s cool to see how many families come out to run together. A lot of people don’t seem to really know where they ought to line up based on pace though, which can make the starting mile a little messy. I know that kids like to take off really fast so I should stand behind them, but I was fairly close to the starting line otherwise. At 9:00 we were off!

I try to be patient knowing that I may have to weave around people at the beginning of a race like this. I had wrongly assumed that a group of kids in front of me would be much faster than I would be. I heard them joke about how they ought to form a line, inferring that no one could get around them if they did that. I know they were being silly and having fun, but they were so bunched together that it made it difficult for me find a break in the the crowd so I could get around them. I kept telling myself that a lot of people are just there for fun, to be patient, and once I got away from the start I’d be able to settle into my own pace.

I had to do a bit more weaving throughout the first mile as I caught up with people who probably started faster than they could maintain for the whole race. Eventually I got into a better rhythm when I made it into the neighborhood where the majority of the race took place.

The race is nice and flat and a few people were scattered throughout the neighborhood to cheer for the runners. I was thankful that I didn’t have any diaphragm pain this year. However, I have been dealing with a cold and the congestion added an extra level of annoyance while breathing so hard!

Now and then I like to push myself and realize that I have some speed in me that I don’t tap into very often. I usually end up surprising myself by going faster than I expect during a 5K. Last year I didn’t do any speedwork to prepare for the race and still did pretty well. This year I did a few speed sessions in the weeks leading up to the race and was curious to see if it would help. Maybe I needed more than a few sessions to make progress, maybe the cold made it challenging for me, and maybe being sick made it a little more difficult. I didn’t end up going any faster, but I still ran a decent race.

My official time was 22:44 – nine seconds slower than last year. I didn’t improve like I had hoped to, but I was satisfied with getting so close to what I had done last time.

I got my picture taken with one of the turkeys that lined the finishing stretch after I got my medal.

When I finished the race, both the cold air and the cold I was suffering from really hit. I’ve been okay while running lately, but a coughing fit often hits as soon as I stop. It was especially bad after having run so fast. I collected water and a Clif bar that I took back to my car as I tried to take deep breaths. I don’t do cool down jogs after racing very often like I probably ought to, and I suspected it could be a wise thing to do this time. Trying to run while I was struggling to breathe might seem like the WRONG thing to do, but once I calmed down enough, doing an easy jog helped me settle down. Coming to a complete stop after running really hard doesn’t feel great. Easing into the end of my running for the morning was definitely helpful and the coughing was minimal after that.

I hung out for the awards ceremony since I had placed third in my age group. That was good for a glass and a pair of gloves with the Mighty Gobbler logo on them!

I headed out to my mom’s after the awards and it was especially nice to get there just a few minutes later. It’s pretty rare to have a race take place so close to home!

I still feel like I have a lot of untapped potential in the 5K. I need to do speedwork more often if I want to see what I’m capable of. I don’t know what the ideal conditions are for me but it would probably help if it was 10-20° warmer! It was good for me to get out there and try to run fast to give me a little motivation to attempt doing that more often. It was also nice to be a part of the Thanksgiving tradition of running a turkey trot. I’ll get back to my comfort zone next weekend when I’ll run a half marathon!

– Janet

Follow me on Instagram @janetboltz and Twitter/X @reidphotography

The Grand Rapids Half Marathon is a race that I spontaneously added to my schedule two and a half weeks before the Sunday, October 15 race day. I knew I should be due for some downtime after I finished the Holland Haven Marathon in September yet I still chose to run the Ann Arbor Half Marathon a few weeks later. When my first week back to running after Holland Haven seemed to go smoothly I figured I could manage to add one more race. Maybe after THAT I’d really take a break!

When I did the Grand Rapids Triathlon this summer, I talked to Don Kern, the race director for the Grand Rapids Marathon. I mentioned that his marathon had been my first 10 years ago and he told me they’d be celebrating 20 years this fall. He said that I should come, but I was skeptical because I knew it wouldn’t be a great idea for me to try to run a second fall marathon when I typically only run a couple a year. I started to question if I ought to consider the half though…

Don Kern is very inspirational and also very influential, and I blame (and thank) him for putting the idea in my head. His book, and the adventure continues, is filled with great stories of a self-proclaimed ordinary guy doing extraordinary things. He has run hundreds of marathons and I’d love to reach a level of fitness at some point where I can do that without battling injuries. Don truly is an inspiration to me. I couldn’t resist the idea of marking the tenth anniversary of my first marathon back where I started.

I had run the half and full marathon in Grand Rapids one time each. The half marathon in 2017 was especially memorable because it took place in the pouring rain. What a relief that the rain came the day before the race this year and cleared out by race day!

I drove a couple hours to Grand Rapids the day before the race and resisted buying anything at the expo. Even as I left I kept thinking about how I really wanted a jacket. The Brooks Canopy jacket is my favorite when it’s wet outside. I thought about how often I’ve wished I had another while my two have been sitting in the dirty laundry basket. I decided that I would pick one up after running the race.

I spent some time at a mall then made the same stops I did before the Grand Rapids Triathlon – Noodles & Company for dinner, then treats from Detroit Cookie Company to enjoy after the race. Maybe I snuck one for dessert that night too though.

A number of “velocity-challenged” people started the race an hour early at 7:00 but 8:00 was the official starting time. Arriving at 6:45 was just right for parking and I watched the remaining spots in my lot fill just minutes later. 

I am very appreciative of the great YMCA facility that hosts the expo and opens its doors to the runners before and after the race. It was a chilly morning in the 40s and even with a little bit of a line, I was glad I could wait inside where it was warm to use a real bathroom.

I stayed warm outside by running just under a mile before parting with my warm clothes at the bag drop. Once I got to the starting corral I was able to use the sidewalk to work my way around the crowded street until I found the appropriate place to line up based on my pace. 

One thing I love about this race is the use of celebrity pace teams. Paces are based on the finishing times of celebrities who have run marathons. On this day I hoped that I would run a little faster than an 8:00 pace so I lined up just in front of Gordon Ramsay’s Bleeping Pace Team.

We hit the streets of downtown Grand Rapids and ran through some residential areas and past some businesses for a few miles. I enjoyed running across a bridge about three miles into the run that took us more into the heart of downtown and past places like the DeVos Place convention center. The crowds really lined the street there and made it a fun stretch of the race. 

Spectators that caught my attention included a person with a cat on a leash and a guy with an acoustic guitar who played the “Seven Nation Army” riff from the White Stripes. Both definitely made me smile.

After 2-3 more miles we got to Butterworth Park. It’s out in the open and since it was a cloudy and cool morning, I had no concerns about the sun beating down.

I remembered that the half marathon would break off to the left at some point and turn onto some trails. I spent a mile or two thinking that turn would come sooner than it actually did. There were a few slight hills to climb before that but nothing too taxing or difficult.

The turn finally came somewhere between miles eight and nine and the half runners split from the marathoners. I had remained pretty consistent with a pace in the 7:40s-7:50s the whole time. I was hopeful that I’d be able to run faster than the 8:08 pace I had averaged a couple weeks prior in Ann Arbor so things were going well. The Grand Rapids course is flatter and the weather was cooler, but I still didn’t know what to expect from my fitness level. I haven’t been running anything faster than an 8:00 pace lately and wondered how I had managed to keep it going for that long. Somehow being in a crowd of people made it feel easier.

Once I made it through 10 miles I figured I could give a little more effort for the last 5K. Since I still felt okay at that point I hoped I wasn’t likely to crash by the end. The flat trails provided some nice scenery with the beginnings of some fall colors in spots.

We turned back into Butterworth Park and I was disoriented for a few seconds when I saw people running the opposite direction. I realized where we were and that some people were on their way out. It was a nice distraction watching some of the other runners/walkers.

When I made it back to the streets for the final mile or so I tried to push as much as I could. I heard someone playing “Hurts So Good” by John Mellencamp which seemed especially appropriate. I realized the person was dressed as the Grim Reaper with a sign that said, “The end is near.” That was a good way to make me smile even as I was really feeling my effort. My left hamstring that has been problematic for the past year tightened up during the last couple miles but I still managed to keep pushing. I thought about how I may as well give it all I had since it might be my last race for a little bit.

The final straightaway was kind of long and I could see the white finishing banner off in the distance. That motivated me enough to drop down close to a 7:00 pace for the last quarter mile or more. I knew I had been averaging somewhere around a 7:47 pace by the later miles, but once I started pushing I didn’t look at my watch. I didn’t play my usual game of trying to calculate what my finishing time might be. When I finally checked my results a few minutes after crossing the finish line, I was pretty excited to see that my time was 1:42:32. I had run 1:46 in Ann Arbor and kind of hoped I’d run a 1:45 or better at this race. I was very happy with 1:42! That was about a minute faster than my 2017 rainy run on the course.

It took a couple minutes to catch my breath then I went over to Don Kern who greets every one of the finishers. He really adds a great personal touch to this race.

A few minutes later I thought about how I wanted to get a selfie with him since he was the whole reason I had shown up for this race. I waited for enough of a break in the finishers so I wouldn’t interrupt him from congratulating others. You can tell from my grin that I was happy that he humored my request.

Then it was time to work my way through the tables of food. This race does it the right way! Chocolate milk, bagels, fruit, fruit chews, string cheese, yogurt, chips, Culver’s frozen custard – anything you could want! THAT’S what I like to see at the end of a big race! They also had a tent with New Holland Beer and hot dogs by that tent. I had so much food that I needed to find a place to set it all down and get situated! 

My next mission was to get to the gear check area as soon as I could. I was sweaty and got cold quickly in the 40-50° temps. Even with my warm clothes I was still shivering. Eating frozen custard at that point probably didn’t help! 

Again, I was thankful for the YMCA. It probably would have been wise to bring stuff to shower there since they allowed it. I noticed that some people took bags into the locker room first thing in the morning so it would be there waiting for them after the race. At least I was able to warm my hands under hot water for several minutes until I got the color back in my fingers and the numbness faded. That’s always a big problem for me when I cool down too much after running. I put my gloves on and felt fine for my walk back to the car so I could head home.

It may have been a questionable choice to run two half marathons within five weeks of running a marathon but fortunately it all worked out. After running a couple of hill repeats during the week leading up to this race, I felt a strain in my quad. I was lucky that taking three days off of running seemed to fix it and I was able to do this race without worrying too much. Still – as much as I’d love to be one of those runners who can do a bunch of marathons a year, I also know that I have to be careful and make sure my body has time to heal. I have raced a lot this year which has been a blast, but I think I should back off for a little bit. At least until it’s time for some turkey trotting!

– Janet

Follow me on Instagram @janetboltz and Twitter/X @reidphotography

After years of thinking that I should really try running the Ann Arbor Marathon, I finally got around to doing the half marathon for my first time last year. I enjoyed it so much that I decided I should make a point of fitting it into my race schedule whenever I can. Even though I knew I would be running the Holland Haven Marathon three weeks before the race, I was hopeful that I’d recover enough to be able to try the half again. If not, I could always consider switching down to the 5K or 10K instead.

I took a week off following my marathon and had a surprisingly smooth return to running. I still didn’t want to push my luck too much and knew I wouldn’t attempt to “race” it, but at least I felt like I should be able to get through the distance. I made the very questionable choice of attending a concert the night before the race where I stood in one spot for several hours then only got a few hours of sleep. Although it didn’t seem like I was doing the right things to set myself up for a great race, somehow everything worked out.

The race took place on Sunday, October 1, and it was a bit rough getting up that morning to leave by 5:45. It was a beautiful morning though and a great day for a race. While I had parked by Michigan Stadium last year, I ended up in the Kerrytown area this year because the start and finish of the race moved into the heart of downtown Ann Arbor. I loved that change! I walked 4-5 blocks to the race area where I got my shirt and bib, made a bathroom stop, then I headed out to warm up.

The sun was just starting to rise and I headed east so I could enjoy the view. I thought I’d run out half a mile and back so I’d just do a mile to warm up. Once I got to the main part of campus I couldn’t help but extend my run. It kind of blows my mind that it’s been over 20 years since I graduated from the University of Michigan, and every time I get back on campus I love it SO much. I ended up covering a couple miles during my warm up. It was around 50 degrees and I truly did warm up enough that it felt perfect for running.

My only real goal for the day was to enjoy the experience. I guessed that I could finish somewhere in the 1:45-1:50 range but I truly didn’t have a time goal. I saw one of the official pacers who would be aiming for an 8:35 pace in the starting corral and lined up a bit behind him. I figured I shouldn’t start much faster than that but ended up running 8:15 for my first mile. Oops. Obviously I felt better than I had expected to!

While we had started the race on the southern side of town last year, starting half a mile north of that provided a whole other level of excitement and scenery. We ran past shops and restaurants at the very beginning, then went by landmark after landmark – the Michigan Theater, the State Theatre, Angell Hall, the art museum, and the law quad. I LOVED it! 

Since my whole plan was to just enjoy the race day atmosphere, I had already planned to take some pictures along the course. My shorts have a pocket where I keep my phone and it was easy to grab it and take some quick shots while on the move. When I saw how pretty the sky looked, the photographer side of me felt giddy. The sea of runners, the scenery, and the early sun behind the clouds made everything look so picturesque. Combining my passions of running and photography provided a really energizing start to the run.

We did a little bit of climbing in the first mile or so. After a couple miles around campus we went out to Geddes Ave. and Huron River Drive for several miles where we had a few downhill stretches that helped me build some good momentum. Despite plans of “running easy,” I suppose that’s how I ended up running 8:02 then 7:54 for miles three and four.

Next we ran a few miles along the scenic Border to Border (B2B) Trail by the Huron River. I went out there to run once during the summer, plus I had run there during the race last year so there was a level of comfort that came with that familiarity. I enjoyed more scenery which included a few little spots of fall colors starting to appear.

We ran past a field where a soccer game was in progress, then out to Fuller Road which took us toward the hospital. I knew that’s where the course would get more difficult! There’s a bit of a climb going up Medical Center Drive, then things level out for a bit heading into Nichols Arboretum. That’s where I started to see some of the people in the 10K race, which had started half an hour after the full and half marathon.

It was nice to change things up and get a little trail running in, but it also meant we had to climb “the Arb hill” – one of the harder parts of the course. It’s really not THAT bad, but I definitely felt it since I’d run 11 miles by that point. After getting past that hill, there’s a little stretch of false hope where it gets easier followed by one last climb toward Observatory Street.

Climbing toward the medical center, then the Arb, then toward Observatory all within a mile or so clearly affected my pace, taking it from 8:10 for the eleventh mile to 8:31 for the twelfth. Things flatten out around campus though and it was easy for me to pick up the pace knowing that the end was near. The last mile followed the same route as the first mile of the race and I saw some of the faster marathon runners who were headed back out for a second loop of the course. It was fun to run through town again and I felt like I was flying pretty easily as I headed up State Street, down Liberty, then just a quick turn to the finish line. My pace dropped to 7:35 for the last mile – my fastest of the day. There was a bit of a downhill finish that definitely helped!

I have done so many Epic Races this year and will always rave about getting to see my favorite photographer Greg Sadler at the finish. I think I was working too hard to give a real big smile, but he still got some nice shots of me and greeted me with a celebratory hand slap as I ran by.

I finished in 1:46:34 which was within my estimated range of 1:45-1:50. I was about six minutes slower than last year but I was also in peak shape about to run a marathon at that point while I was in marathon recovery mode this time. It’s still probably a little faster than I needed to go, but at least I clearly backed off a little?

I enjoyed the usual great Epic post-race treats of a breakfast burrito, pancakes, and a chocolate chip cookie, then followed up with an ice cream sandwich.

I noticed the tent for Probility Physical Therapy had open tables where therapists were working on people. Nothing felt too problematic after this race but my left side is never really “normal” so I signed up. I mentioned my hamstring that has been an issue for the last year and the therapist worked on that along with identifying problem spots around my hip and glute as well. All of my usual issues! I figured it couldn’t hurt to get worked on a little bit before I started to tighten up.

I scanned the QR code on my bib to find my results and saw that someone who did the 10K had the same number as me. Her results showed but mine didn’t. While I was walking around I happened to see Eva Solomon, the wonderful race director, and stopped her to ask who I could talk to about my results. She told me that a number of bibs had been duplicated and it was a known issue they would have to work out. I knew I hadn’t placed in my age group and was in no rush to get the results, and it was all sorted out by the next day. 

After getting a picture by the podium backdrop, I ventured out to enjoy more time around campus and racked up several more miles by walking so much. Whenever I see that there’s a Detroit Cookie Company close by I try to take advantage of it. I got a few cookies and an awesome cinnamon roll. It was a perfect day to wander around and I spent more time thinking about how much I love that school and town.

Having a great experience two years in a row really confirmed how much I enjoy this race. It felt a little risky and ambitious for me to run a half a few weeks after my marathon but I’m glad I still went for it. A little bit of post-race soreness tells me that I should back off a bit to make sure I recover properly, but crazy me has also signed up for the half at the Grand Rapids Marathon meaning I’ll be back at it in just a couple weeks. Maybe after THAT race I’ll rest a bit more!

– Janet

Follow me on Instagram @janetboltz and Twitter @reidphotography

When I registered for the Holland Haven Marathon last November I signed up for the half marathon. It was a race that had been on my to-do list for a while and I decided to make an early commitment to the 2023 race to make sure I would finally do it. By Memorial Day weekend I decided to transfer up to the full marathon and make it my twelfth marathon.

The main motivation for making the swap was due to my concern about getting accepted for the 2024 Boston Marathon. The qualifying time for my age group is 3:40:00. After running 3:37:18 in Boston this past April, I began to question if a 2:42 buffer would be enough. 

In 2022 and 2023, all qualifiers who submitted times for the race were accepted. I wondered if that was partially due to fewer people traveling to the race following COVID-19 or fewer people having run marathons during pandemic times that allowed them to qualify. In 2019, runners needed a time that was 4:52 faster than the standard in order to be accepted because so many people had applied. The qualifying times were adjusted to be five minutes faster after that race so maybe that leveled things out more.

I’ve run Boston three times and have had a blast each time. I don’t know if I’ll feel the need to run it every year, but for now, if I get accepted and am able to go, I will probably jump at the opportunity. Holland Haven took place days before the 2023 qualifying window would close so it would be my last chance to try to improve my time.

I struggled through a bunch of warm and humid runs this summer and questioned if I was really prepared to run a faster time. In the days leading up to the race I had to remind myself that it’s rare that I follow a training plan perfectly and things usually work out just fine. Things came together in the final month as I ran a couple of solid races, then my last 20-mile training run was especially strong. I was still acclimated to the heat and humidity and it looked like cool temperatures were going to hit just in time for the race. I was hopeful that this was going to be a good one.

The race took place on Sunday, September 10, and I made the three-hour drive out to Holland the day before. My first destination was Holland State Park so I could check out the beach. It was a beautiful day along Lake Michigan. 

I went to downtown Holland next to check out some of the stores before packet pickup started at 3:00. When I got to Gazelle Sports it was hopping! I picked up my bib and shirt, browsed a little, then drove to my hotel that was about 10 minutes away. I wanted to do more sightseeing but also knew I should be smart and rest my legs. I got some buttered noodles with chicken for dinner at Noodles and Company and was disciplined enough to relax at the hotel after that. 

I left the hotel by 5:30 on race morning after getting some fairly decent sleep. I parked in a lot near Gazelle again and walked a quarter mile up the road to the finishing area by CrossFit Holland. I stood around in the dark for 10-15 minutes until busses came at 5:45 and I was the first one on. After missing a chartered bus when I ran Boston in ‘22, I’ve made a point of being extra early so I don’t run that risk again! This was a point-to-point race meaning we’d start in Grand Haven and run south back down to Holland. The bus was not packed and I realized that a bunch of people probably had family or friends drive them to the start so they didn’t need the bus. That was confirmed later in the morning as the parking lots and roads around Rosy Mound Elementary filled up.

Just before the bus dropped me off to wait outside the school, I began to feel tightness in my chest from anxiety. I race constantly so I don’t know why I still get worked up. Even though this would be my twelfth marathon the distance is still very intimidating. When we got to the school I sat on a curb and read a book on my phone which helped keep me distracted and reduced some of the anxiety. 

I saw a few people tucking their arms into their t-shirts to stay warm and was especially glad that I had layered up. It was in the 50s and I literally had cold feet. As we got closer to the start of the race at 7:30 I ran just over half a mile to try to warm up. I took my warm clothes to gear check then went to line up. 

I was aware that the race would take place on a six-foot path, but when I realized we would all start the race on that path and not out on the road I worried about the congestion factor. The marathon had just under 400 participants, making it the smallest crowd I’ve had for a marathon. Quite a difference from the 30,000 people at my last marathon! Still – get that many people on one path and it gets crowded! I positioned myself fairly close to the front and it all worked out.

The race director Eddie Kline held up the huge medal before we started and told us it was the carrot we were chasing. We’d have to get through the whole thing because he knew we wanted that medal! 

The start was very low-key. No announcements, music, or anything. Suddenly it was time to start and I realized my sunglasses were still in my fuel belt. I fumbled with them as I started to run and felt totally unprepared! 

At least I seemed to start in the right spot. A few people ran past me but I really didn’t have to battle any congestion. Sometimes my first mile of a race is on the slow side as I work through the crowd and warm up. That clearly wasn’t an issue for me this time. I ran the first mile in 7:52 despite telling myself I shouldn’t go below an 8:00 pace. I knew I could get myself into trouble later in the race by starting too fast so I tried to slow down. I ran the second mile in 7:59 then stayed above 8:00 after that.

After running in warm temps all summer, it felt amazing to start the race in the 50s. My hands were actually cold for the first few miles! The sun had just begun to rise but the path had trees that kept us in the shade for the majority of the run.

We spent 17 miles of the marathon running along Lakeshore Ave. It’s the main road that runs close to Lake Michigan but we didn’t get many glimpses of the water. We mostly had a view of fancy homes that DO have that waterfront view.

I didn’t think there would be many spectators but the nice part about running so much of the race down one road was that it made it easy for people to drive along the course. They were able to pull off on the shoulders or side roads, wait for their people to come by, then continue down the road to catch them in another spot. I was thankful for people who cheered for me or lifted my spirits by blaring stuff like Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” from their cars. I loved when one group hung out of the car windows as they enthusiastically sang along to Tag Team’s “Whoomp! There It Is.”

My spirits were also lifted early in the race when I got to the first aid station and was greeted by my Instagram friend Brandi. She lives in Grand Haven so when she saw that I’d be running the race, she said she hoped to cheer me on. She would be at an aid station with her running club. She saw me coming and ran up to me with a cup of water and yelled “Janet!!” She made me smile then I felt guilty just taking the water and continuing my run! It would have been nice to stop and actually talk but I was on a mission and she had more water to hand out. Still, it made me smile for a bit and I was so glad to see her.

The crowd and the excitement at the half marathon mark must have psyched me up too because that was the one other time I dropped below an 8:00 pace. I ran the next mile in 7:58. So far I have managed to run one marathon around that pace, but I wasn’t convinced I’d put in enough successful speedwork during this training segment to aim for my usual goal pace of 8:00. Leading up to the race I told myself I ought to run around 8:10-8:15 pace. That might be more reasonable and I could push harder at the end if I had it in me. However…it was nice and cool. My Garmin estimated that I could run a 3:30 marathon. Maybe I was doubting myself more than I needed to and could actually pull it off? I knew going for it could be a little risky, but sometimes you don’t reach your potential if you don’t try.

My pace fluctuated a little bit throughout the first 20 miles but I was pretty consistent. I’d run somewhere around 8:09-8:13 for a mile, then drop back down to 8:03-8:04 for the next few miles. The course was relatively flat with what I’d consider a few kind of sidewalk “humps” that created a quick incline followed by a quick decline. There were a few little hills along the way but nothing too bad. Each time I came to one I told myself that it was good to use some different muscles for a little bit.

As I got further into the race, it turned into a countdown. 10 miles left? Less than an hour and a half to go. 19 miles? Maybe only an hour more! I kept talking my way through it. I’d picture certain distances along my usual running routes and tell myself it was just like running from a certain point back to home and I could totally do that. I ran 8:09 for mile 20, but the slowdown became a little more obvious after that. I stayed in the 8:10s for the next few miles, then ran an 8:36 for mile 24 and an 8:41 for mile 25. I really dragged through several long runs this summer and although it felt miserable at the time, it also helped make me stronger. When I slowed down to the 8:30s and 8:40s I was able to tell myself that I was still running faster than some of those long runs. I wasn’t dragging THAT much and I was doing fine.

I thought about my friend Jan who had walked 17 miles on Friday and 12 miles on Saturday for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day in Chicago. I thought about my friend Kurt who had just completed a 100K that weekend! Their feats helped reassure me that I could keep pushing. I saw a woman spectating on crutches multiple times throughout the race. For all I knew she might be an injured runner who wished she could be out there participating. That made me think of a Toad the Wet Sprocket song I had listened to days before the race – “I Will Not Take These Things For Granted.” I am fortunate that I am able to do this and took time to recognize that.

Going into the race I suspected I might be capable of running a 3:34 marathon. It seems to be a sweet spot for me since that’s been my time in several races. I had it in my head to keep pushing in hopes of getting that 3:34. As I made the final turn toward the finish line, I knew I had done it. I was thrilled when I saw my friend Amy in the road cheering me on! Her friend Carmen was out there doing the same and it made me so happy.

I finished in 3:34:19 and was SO excited. The goal of the race was to improve my 3:37 time and I had done it by three minutes! I had nearly a six-minute buffer for my Boston-qualifying time and that should be enough to ensure I would get in! 

I may not have approached race the smartest way but I still got it done. It was risky going a little faster than I suspected I should and I kind of paid for it with a few tough miles at the end. Sometimes you’ve just gotta go for it though and I achieved my goal for the day!

I definitely paid for it when I came to a sudden stop after crossing the finish line. That always feels brutal after moving for 3.5 hours. A volunteer told me it was okay for me to sit on top of one of the water coolers so I did. I called out to Amy who was just outside of the finishing corral and told her I was fine but had to sit for a moment. I got up after a couple minutes and made my way to her and Carmen and celebrated excitedly. I knew I still had to be a little cautious though because I didn’t feel great. I leaned against a wall and felt like I needed oxygen or something. I told Amy and Carmen that it might be smart for me to go to medical just in case. At the very least I knew I better sit because I didn’t want to be walking around if I felt short of breath. I sat on a cot in the medical tent and the woman there was great. I didn’t even know Carmen yet and she was so helpful, finding something that allowed me to make an ice wrap that I could put on my neck and head.

Amy was great about getting food and trying to get me to eat. I tried a fruit chew but my mouth was so dry it was hard to eat. Everyone was kind about getting water for me to make sure I rehydrated and eventually that helped me eat a pretzel or two at least. I was so thankful for their help and patience while I tried to feel a bit more normal. After 10 minutes or so I felt good enough to get up and check out some of the post-race activities.

I was able to eat a bag of Ruffles which helped me get some sodium at least. I very rarely eat hot dogs anymore so those weren’t appealing, and Amy did not recommend the other option of the chicken sausage that she had. A look at it confirmed that for me! My stomach was pretty wrecked from the race so I wasn’t taking any risks at that point. 

There was a “Paws-athon” presented by the Harbor Humane Society and we were so excited to visit with the three puppies that were there and available for adoption. Puppies should be a part of every race celebration area as far as I’m concerned!

Amy checked the results and notified me that I was the female masters winner. What?! I never place in a marathon! I guess that was a bonus for doing a small race. The female winner was in my age group so she placed in the overall category. I was next in line for the 40-44 age group and since I topped all of the women 40+, that got me the masters win! Amy had placed third in her age group for the half marathon and Carmen placed second in her age group for the 8K, so we all went to collect pins.

I got my stuff from gear check and Amy was kind enough to give me a couple of stickers!

Then we went to the merch area and I bought a jacket that I had eyed the day before at Gazelle.

We took advantage of ALL of the photo opportunities next.

It was so nice to hang out with Amy and Carmen after the race and I knew they had been there much longer than me. Amy had finished her race an hour before me! After making sure I was okay, we parted ways. I had hoped to look for some good treats in downtown Holland but my stomach kept giving me problems. At least I ate a protein bar, but just when I thought I was ready to start the drive home, I had to make another stop. The three-hour drive back home seemed a little dicey! Eventually I headed out and drove for about half an hour but decided I better make a stop in Grand Rapids. I went to Panera and had a nice chocolate croissant, and since I knew Detroit Cookie Company was close by, I stopped for a box of cookies to take home. I made another stop an hour later to eat a bagel and snacked on some pretzel crisps while I drove. Thankfully I held up well enough for the rest of the drive.

Now I’m due for a little downtime. I DO have the Ann Arbor half marathon on my schedule which falls three weeks after this marathon. I’ll see how I feel as that gets closer. I certainly won’t have any goals and will just try to enjoy it if I feel up for it. No more heavy training for me though until the end of December when I will start working toward Boston, assuming I get accepted. It’s kind of nice that I’ve completed my fall marathon so early in the season. I usually don’t race until October or November!

Another major bonus about the timing of this race is that as the qualifying window for Boston 2024 was about to close, it was already open for 2025. That means I am able to use my time from this race for both years! The pressure to run a fast marathon is off for next year. That leaves me open to be more flexible with my racing plans. Rather than doing a fall marathon in 2024, I might try doing a 50K or something else.

It’s kind of funny to think about how I spent months and months training and working so hard, and just like that, it’s over in 3.5 hours. I almost don’t know what to do with myself when I finally have a break from my routine. I know it’s important to rest and recover, but I know I won’t be able to resist getting back to it soon.

– Janet

Follow me on Instagram @janetboltz and Twitter @reidphotography

The Crim Festival of Races has become a staple in my running schedule and I ran the 10-mile race for my sixth time on Saturday, August 26. It’s gotten to the point where I can’t remember how many times I’ve done it anymore and have to go back to check! I’m still a long way off from reaching the 30-year club, of which there are many members. I think that speaks to the popularity of the race. I continue to return because it’s a challenging course, a well-run race, and I see so many familiar faces.

I had forgotten that the race used to start at 8:00 in the past and appreciated the 7:00 start. Of course that makes it an early morning, but most of the time it’s best to get out as early as possible during the summer to beat the heat. The humidity, on the other hand, is often a factor we just have to cope with and that was the case again this year.

I arrived at 6:00, walked down to packet pickup, made a bathroom stop, then jogged back to the car. By the time I jogged back down to the start I had a gotten a mile in to warm up.

The wheeler/hand cyclists started at 6:45 followed five minutes later by people who have done the race 30 or more years, then the mass start went off at 7:00.

I was happy to see my friend Don in the starting corral and we chatted until we decided it was time to line up in the appropriate spots. I saw a sign for the 7:30 pacer and since I figured I might aim for a 7:45 pace, I stood a little bit behind that group. Within 25 seconds of the start, I made it across the starting line and was off.

During the first mile it’s always a matter of the crowd working out where they should be. Some slower people start too close to the front and people have to weave around them. Some faster people start too far back and go flying around people. Despite some weaving, it wasn’t too congested for me and I managed to run the first mile in 7:52.

Although it’s always fun to aim for a new PR and really push myself, I knew it wouldn’t be ideal with the humidity plus it was more important to be disciplined this year. With a marathon two weeks after Crim, it was not time to go all-out. The Holland Haven Marathon is my big goal at this point and I didn’t want to risk injuring myself. Training has been challenging at times this summer and I haven’t done as much speedwork as I would have liked so I knew I really couldn’t expect to PR anyway. I successfully ran an 8:00 pace for a half marathon a couple weeks before Crim so at least I knew I could do that. My pace was in the 7:20s for Crim last year, so I wondered if a 7:45 pace might be ideal.

I ran what felt like a comfortable and sustainable pace and it happened to fall in the 7:40s for most of the race. Although it felt like I was sort of guessing what might work, I suppose by now I’ve developed a good feel for what I’m capable of so it was a pretty educated guess!

After doing the race so many times it felt pretty routine. However, some of the spectators I’ve come to look forward to weren’t there. Both the woman who jumps on a mini trampoline and the guy who does karaoke at the end of a driveway were missing and I was kind of bummed about that. There were plenty of other enthusiastic people out there, including people offering Jell-O shots and beer, plus the aid stations had great energy.

I knew one of my Instagram running friends Lee would be on the course and he said to look out for a 36 (the number of times he’s done Crim) and “Running Architect” on the back of his shirt. Watching out for him helped keep me occupied as I passed some of the 30-year runners who got a head start. I knew he’d run a pretty good pace so I wouldn’t see him too early though. About halfway through the race I was relieved that I happened to be on the same side of the road and spotted him. I was happy to say hi and wish him good luck. It’s always fun to see friends out along the Crim course.

I saw the sign for Bradley Ave. and there was the harsh reminder that the “Bradley hills” start basically as soon as you turn onto the road. I talked my way through them by telling myself that I have hills like those that I’ve been training on and they weren’t any worse. I only slowed down to a 7:49 pace for that mile so they didn’t beat me up too much.

The nice thing about a 10-mile race is that I get used to running half marathons so it seems easier when the end comes several miles sooner! Although I told myself I wasn’t going to go all-out, my effort still felt challenging enough and the humidity contributed to that. I was just relieved to stay steady and strong throughout the race. Sometimes I try to pick up my pace for the last few miles but this time I held off until the last mile. It was a nice touch seeing Flint police vehicles lit up in blue and lining the street right before we made the final turn. THEN I allowed myself to go all-out for the final stretch and the finish along the brick road.

I dropped my pace from 7:40 for the ninth mile down to 7:21 for the final mile. I really picked it up at the end when my watch said I ran a 6:15 pace for the last 30 seconds. In the final stretch I spotted Dave from RunMichigan.com who was taking photos. Despite pushing with everything I had left, seeing him made me smile a genuine smile – something the other photographers didn’t catch!

After that last push, I was pretty spent for a couple minutes after I crossed the finish line.

My official time of 1:17:21 put me at an average pace of 7:44, so I was right on track with where I wanted to be. It was a ways off from last year’s PR of 1:13:54 and it was my second slowest Crim, but I was totally satisfied with how I ran the race.

I collected some water, chocolate milk, a granola bar, and a Clif Bar before going to the celebration area where I got a slice of pizza as well.

I saw more people I knew and chatted a bit until I started to cool off enough to get a little chilly. I figured it was time to head back to the car for a jacket and just take off for home.

I got a solid workout in with this race and apparently my approach was wise because I wasn’t too spent the next day. That’s when I wanted to run my final 20-miler to prep for my marathon. I ran it at a great pace without any soreness which was a big relief. It gave me hope that despite some struggles with training throughout the summer, things seem to be coming together just in time before the race.

COVID led to a hiatus for several years, but the Team Challenge finally made its return this year. While I had run for GM in the past, this was my first time contributing to the Stellantis team at Crim. 17 teams participated and I did well enough to help my Dodge Chargers team come in second place, so that was a bonus!

I always enjoy the Crim experience and expect to keep making it a yearly thing on my race schedule. Only 24 more years to go until I make that 30-year club! 😆

– Janet

Follow me on Instagram @janetboltz and Twitter @reidphotography