The Bayshore Marathon stands out as a race worth doing multiple times because the course is extremely scenic, I always get to see family and friends, and it’s a great excuse to visit Traverse City for a long weekend. Sometimes I’ve had other plans and sometimes the Memorial Day hotel prices have kept me away but this race continues to draw me back. I was in Traverse City for a day last September and enjoyed it so much that I decided right then that a five-year gap had been too long and I was due to run Bayshore again this year.

As much as I love this race, it doesn’t always go smoothly for me. When I ran the half in 2012, I learned about the importance of electrolytes after walking the last three miles due to a side cramp. I struggled through the marathon in 2016 when it was warm and humid. I finally found redemption with a decent half in 2019, but I struggled through the half again this year. Despite the struggles, it was still a pretty excellent weekend.

I took half a day off work on Friday to try to beat some of the “up north” Memorial Day weekend traffic. I went straight to downtown Traverse City to pick up treats from Grand Traverse Pie Company (a sandwich and mini pies) and Kilwin’s (salt water taffy) before heading to the expo. The last time I ran the race the expo had been at a school and this time it was at the civic center. The parking lot was pretty busy around 4:00 and there were a few long lines for the half marathon packet pickup but I only waited five minutes or so.

The expo had a lot of cool Bayshore-branded merch. I was especially excited that they had Brooks clothing items. I knew I wanted the tank top so maybe it’s for the best that the sweatshirts were too big because I couldn’t resist that cool logo otherwise.

From there I went to see my half-sister Karen, her husband Tom, and their daughter Katie. They have a condo a couple miles from the school where the race finishes and welcomed me to stay with them. I was glad to spend time with them and VERY thankful that they were saving me from paying the ridiculous hotel prices! Tom and Katie were going to run as well which made it extra fun.

Saturday, May 25 was race day and an early morning for Tom and me. Katie was running the 10K and got to leave later since she didn’t need to catch a bus to the start of the half before 6am like we did. With a 7:30 start, we had plenty of time to stand around at the edge of a tent in the field, then we ventured to the bathroom lines before they got crazy long.

I saw some people from Infinite Multisport Triathlon Club and chatted with them for a bit, plus I caught a handful of other friends before the start as well. Bayshore is a perfect weekend getaway for Michiganders so I know I will always see lots of running friends.

There was a little drizzle as we waited around but nothing significant and it was dry for the race. Tom and I dropped our warm clothes at gear check 20 minutes prior to the start then did a short warm up jog on a side street. Just over half a mile was enough to suddenly become more aware of the humidity. It was around 60° and I ended up running this race easy enough that I didn’t even think about the conditions beyond my warm up.

I really didn’t have a time goal for this race because I haven’t quite gotten my groove back yet following Boston. I knew I should be good for the distance but it’s been a gradual process of building back over the last six weeks. I’m usually in the best shape when I run six days a week and I’ve been running four lately. My only real goal going into the race was to enjoy the scenery!

I figured I should line up somewhere between the 1:40 and 1:50 pacers. I didn’t know if I’d even run a 1:50 but figured I could avoid some of the early congestion on the road by starting in that range.

We faced the only significant uphill stretch during the first mile of the race. It’s early enough for my legs to be fresh and it helps keep me from starting out too quickly. The second mile makes up for it with some nice downhills. I went from an 8:29 first mile to a 7:35 second mile! That second mile sure felt great as I allowed the downhill momentum to carry me. That was my only sub-8 mile of the race though.

Within the first few miles I found myself right next to my music/running buddy Ryan and chatted for a minute. It was fun to have someone I knew around for a bit even though we didn’t run together. That gave me a small distraction and I needed anything I could get because I didn’t feel great.

My stomach was bloated and felt uncomfortable from the time I woke up. It definitely wasn’t what I hoped for on race day. I hoped the feeling might fade as I started running. I always tell myself to “run the mile I’m in” because things can change. I managed alright for nearly half of the race but was fully aware of the discomfort the whole time. The scenery was gorgeous as we ran along the water down the peninsula and I tried to enjoy that the best I could. At the same time, I was constantly thinking about how bad I felt.

I probably would have been slouched in a chair cursing my body had this happened on any other day. Yet here I was, having to run through it for 13.1 miles. It was agonizing and I was mostly in survival mode. After I got through six miles, I told myself I “just” had an hour to go. I started to slow down a little by that point as I took it easy enough to manage the pain while also continuing on. On the plus side, at least my legs felt fine!

Aside from the pretty scenery, it was nice to have more of a distraction once the marathon runners came along on the other side of the road. I like looking for people I know then cheering them on. Later in the race I also got to see Karen spectating along the road which made me smile.

My pace was in the 8:30s for miles 8-11 but jumped to 8:51 for the twelfth mile. By that point my stomach didn’t just hurt, it was also sloshing around and I wondered if I’d have to make a stop. Slowing down was my best bet to get through it.

When I had half a mile or so left, my stomach settled enough for me to pick up the pace a bit. I still hurt but I was almost there and had enough freshness in my legs to give a final push. I came close but couldn’t quite get under 1:50.

I still didn’t feel great but at least I had finished. I realized I was going to get cold pretty quickly so I had to bypass the food line and maneuver under some tape to get to gear check first. Once I was able to stay warm, the first priority was to get in line for Moomers ice cream! The scenery is a pretty big perk at this race but getting Moomers at the end is right up there.

I collected a variety of other treats like a granola bar, chips, pretzels, trail mix, and chocolate milk then found my way back to Karen, Tom, and Katie.

Tom stuck around so he could be there for a friend running the marathon, so I went back to the condo with Karen and Katie before they went back out to cheer for one of Katie’s friends. After I started to eat a variety of snacks I felt a whole lot better. It figures!

That afternoon I went on a historic asylum tour with Karen and Tom. I’m usually not into spooky kinds of things but Karen had assured me that it was more of a historic and architectural kind of tour and she was right. It was pretty fascinating to learn about the history of the Traverse City State Hospital and how it’s been renovated and transformed in recent years.

We went out for dinner then I enjoyed a nice walk with Karen and Katie back out by the East Bay where we had run earlier.

Because I have a big triathlon coming up in a couple weeks and need to get some long bike rides in, I brought my bike with me for a Sunday morning ride on the TART Trails. I had done the same thing after the 2019 race and enjoyed the trail so much that I wanted to ride it again.

I hadn’t truly “raced” the half marathon so my legs felt fine. I knew I could get around 30 miles with an out-and-back route, and I added a little extra by riding toward Traverse City before heading up the trail to Suttons Bay.

The trail is gorgeous and I had a great ride. After a shower and lunch, I headed back home so I’d still have one day of the holiday weekend to get stuff done at home.

I had a great time visiting the family and it was another fun weekend in Traverse City. Although I wish I could have actually enjoyed the race more, even on a rough day it’s hard to beat the Bayshore experience.

– Janet

Follow me on Instagram @janetboltz

Sunday, May 12 was a gorgeous day to kick off another season of racing with Epic Races. It’s my second year of being an Epic ambassador (hit me up for 10% off any race!) and I plan to participate in or volunteer for a majority of Epic’s races this year.

I couldn’t resist the opportunity to run around beautiful Belle Isle on Mother’s Day with a bunch of other awesome women. The race is one of three in Epic’s Goddess Racing Series, which looks to inspire and celebrate women. Men can participate in the celebration too!

This race offered a 200m dash for kids, a 1-mile option, plus a 5K and 10K. Whenever a race is set up with different start times for the 5K and 10K, I often like to go for the extra challenge and double up. In this case, the 5K/10K double was called the “IRun Goddess” challenge and included a special hat for participants.

I’ve been cautious in my return to running following the Boston Marathon and this was my first race in a month. I took 10 days off after the marathon and started back by running a few times a week to make sure I recovered from the Achilles annoyance I had developed before the marathon. It seems to be okay now but I hadn’t done any kind of fast running in well over a month and the 9.3 miles of racing would be the longest I’d gone since Boston. I didn’t know what to expect and hoped the double wouldn’t be too ambitious!

I don’t go to Belle Isle often enough and when I do go, it’s usually for a race. It’s a good excuse for me to get out there and enjoy the pretty scenery. I got there an hour before the start so I could pick up my packet and jog a mile to warm up. I loved looking out over the Detroit River and seeing the Detroit skyline. I ran along a portion of the course and appreciated some of the motivational signs. I often refer to things as my adventures, so one sign made me smile.

We lucked out with a perfect day. With temps around 45-50° to start, I was cool first thing but fine by the time I finished my warm up mile. The start/finish line gave us an especially scenic view with the fountain up ahead.

The kids ran the 200m dash first, then the 5K started at 9:00.

There were a few pacers, including one aiming to run a 7:43 pace. I felt like that was a good place for me to line up. When I’m in peak shape I try to aim for a 7:00 pace. I knew I was in no condition to try that and wondered if I could run somewhere around 7:30.

I ended up lingering near that pacer longer than I wanted to and wasn’t so sure if 7:30 was within reach after all. My first mile was a 7:36 so I wasn’t sure why I wasn’t gaining more ground on her. Very gradually I got ahead and built a little distance.

Belle Isle is nice and flat which definitely helped. I didn’t feel like pushing to the point that I was dying, especially with a 10K still to come. I still pushed enough that it felt hard though and I’m not sure I had much more to give.

I ended up finishing under 24 minutes and was good with that. I was especially surprised to be the second female and overall female masters (40+) winner! I was a couple minutes off my PR but it was still good enough on this day.

It was also nice to see that I sped up as I went. That usually makes a race feel better than going all-out the whole time and barely hanging on.

I received my medal and a flower at the finish line then had about half an hour to go before the start of the 10K. I posed for a picture and went over to the fountain for a bit.

I went to check my results which is when I found out I was the masters winner. I received a backpack for my prize with “some goodies” inside. I was shocked when I opened it and found a mug, a coaster, an Epic Races hat, and a bracelet! Between all of that, post-race food, and free pictures, I’d say my registration fee was definitely worthwhile!

Soon enough it was time for the 10K. We lined up along one side of the corral to make sure remaining 5K finishers had space to come through. Then we were off!

A couple of guys and a couple of speedy women quickly took the lead and I trailed behind. I hoped I could actually hang on and finish among the top people!

I rave about the photographers every time I do one of Epic’s races because they get the best photos. Greg Sadler had the start and finish covered while Jason Paluchniak took photos along the course. I love how he was positioned in a spot to capture the RenCen behind us.

Eventually we made our way to the interior part of the island to add more distance and I was basically running on my own. I knew that a couple of women were just far enough back that it helped motivate me to keep it up.

The road along the north side of the island always provides great scenery. The views along with the flatness of the island keeps me coming back to race there.

A few other people were out walking, running, and riding around the island but it was a pretty quiet morning.

I was able to hang on, and like the 5K, I worked hard but maintained it without crashing.

An added little perk during the last mile of both races was the “Caramel Mile” where some kind volunteers gave us candy. One piece during the 5K, two during the 10K! Even though I was moving quickly, I managed the handoff both times and pocketed the treats for later.

Greg Sadler always gets a good smile out of me at the finish. I usually get a nice hand slap from him as well…as long as I’m not so spent that I miss, which I nearly did at the end of the 5K. I was determined to do better at the end of the 10K!

I wasn’t sure what I’d be capable of for the 10K and had it in my mind that hopefully I could run my goal marathon pace – an 8:00 pace. I didn’t manage to run that during my last marathon at all so I hoped I could at least do it for this 10K! I averaged a 7:51 pace so I was successful.

I was also successful because I finished as the female masters winner again! I know it all depends on who else shows up on any given day. I was 2-3 minutes off my PRs but still felt pretty great about the results!

I didn’t eat anything after the 5K but went right for the food after the 10K. Epic always has plenty of great choices. I bypassed the bananas, salad, and ice cream freezer this time, but enjoyed an egg and cheese wrap, blueberry crepe, and cookie. Mimidae Beverage Company had a tent and provided free zero-proof “MOMosas” which were really good.

It was nice getting to catch up with a few of the other Epic ambassadors throughout the morning. One was racing, one was pacing, and one was volunteering. There were great people all around and many who were inspirational. There were some mother and daughter teams out running and walking together. I saw a post afterward about a woman who is 93 years old and walked the mile. She stays active walking every day at her assisted living facility. I love that!

Even though I’d like to rebuild some speed, I’m glad my body cooperated and I had such a good day. 10.3 total miles for the day leaves me feeling better about having a half marathon to run in a couple weeks. It’s funny how I get in such great shape for a marathon but lose so much fitness afterward as I recover. It will come back though, and in the meantime, I’m glad I can enjoy the racing environment no matter what my pace may be.

– Janet

Follow me on Instagram @janetboltz