by milesflyby

Detroit Free Press Marathon Weekend Recap

*My collection of medals after the completion of the Wonder Challenge*

Somehow I didn’t get in on the fun of the Detroit Free Press Marathon weekend until last year. It’s fair to say it lived up to all of the hype and now I’m hooked. I went big for my first Freep experience, completing the Supreme Challenge by running the mile, 5K, and marathon. I plan to run the California International Marathon in December for my (late) fall marathon, so I opted to sign up for the Wonder Challenge this time, swapping the marathon for the international half marathon.

Participating last year made things easy this year because I was already comfortable with all of the logistics. Because I opted to do one of the challenges again, it meant driving down to Detroit three days in a row. I’m about 30 miles north of the city so it was a lot of driving, but other than battling traffic on the way to the expo on Friday afternoon, it wasn’t too bad. I got to the expo at Huntington Place (formerly Cobo) by 4:00 and had used an app to reserve parking in a deck right across the street. I went straight to the back to pick up my packet with help from some great volunteers.

*This year’s Freep weekend took place October 17-18*

*An area specifically for the challenge runners*

Brooks had a large area with some awesome official merchandise but I was determined to limit myself to a hat. I already have way too much stuff and my packet came with a long sleeve race shirt plus a challenge jacket. I continued to browse the rest of the expo and chatted with a few friends I know through Infinite Multisport Triathlon Club. I was just about to leave when a sweatshirt at the ASICS booth caught my attention. The design was a clever play on the logo for Buddy’s Pizza, which is well-known in the area for their Detroit-style pizza. ASICS had a bunch of iron-on designs that they could add to any of their shirts or jackets. They had a really nice jacket that I knew I could use so I broke down and bought that too.

*I had planned on buying a hat at the expo*

*I didn’t plan on buying a jacket but I couldn’t resist*

*A closer look at the Buddy’s-style design*

*The front and back of this year’s long sleeve shirt*

*A “Detroit Challenge Series” jacket that I received for signing up to do the Wonder Challenge*

*The full collection of things I brought home from the expo*

I picked up pre-race sandwiches to enjoy with my mom, then I had to get home and actually organize all of my stuff so I’d be ready to race the next morning.

Things went smoothly enough last year that I followed the same routine for the Saturday morning races down by the Detroit riverfront. There’s a deck right by the start that’s probably the busiest spot because parking is free that morning. I got there at 7:00 with lots of time to spare before the mile race started at 8:25. It was a clear morning around 40° but it felt like the 30s so I wore several layers when I headed out. I made a bathroom stop then ran a couple miles along the beautiful riverfront to warm up.

*A view of the RenCen and Ambassador Bridge*

*Such pretty views first thing in the morning*

My legs felt warmed up enough to try to run fast and my body stayed warm enough to leave my stuff at gear check and go line up in the starting corral for the mile. I was able to get up to the front without any problem.

Earlier that morning I had studied the course maps and realized that both races would make the first turn a block sooner than last year. That meant we’d avoid climbing a quick, steep hill just after the start which felt brutal last year. I was SO thankful for that change! The mile was more of a rectangular route this year with longer straightaways that were ideal for trying to run a fast time.

With a marathon on the line last year, I tried to stay disciplined and not push too hard for the mile or 5K because I didn’t want to risk doing something that could possibly screw up my marathon. I placed pretty well last year despite that and wondered how I might do if I truly ran hard. Since I would “just” be running a half marathon this time, I thought I’d go for it during the shorter races. However, it was only going to be the third time I’d ever raced a mile and I really don’t know how to pace myself for something so short. At least I did a few interval sessions of faster running leading up to this race, but I certainly hadn’t done anything specific to prepare for the mile.

I started really fast as I was swept up in the crowd and was thrown off for a second when I had to quickly dodge a woman who was WALKING. Although we were assigned starting corrals based on our paces for the 5K, we didn’t have that for the mile. If there were any announcements suggesting that slower people should start further back I missed it. That would have been extremely helpful guidance for people who may not have known any better!

After the quick start I settled down for the first long stretch, going fast but not killing myself. After I turned and hit the long straightaway to the finish, I picked it up and gave everything I had. By that point the cold got to me and my nose was so stuffed up that it made it more challenging to breathe. It was way colder than any temps I’ve run in this season! I hung on and kept pushing, finishing in 6:36.

*Working hard during the mile*. *Thanks to the race for providing free photos!*

Last year I finished in 6:54 when I gave it some effort but didn’t push myself all-out. I knew I should end up quite a bit faster this time yet still questioned if I REALLY went all-out. My heart rate probably should have been higher and maybe I could have suffered a bit more. I think I probably have more potential but don’t really know how to pace myself for something that short. I went hard but don’t love pushing myself to that red line. I didn’t really have a goal time in mind and my main thought was that I had won $40 last year for placing as the third female masters runner when I didn’t even “try.” What could I do if I really tried? The lead women in my category ran 5:55 and 6:27 and I placed third in the female masters category again! It took about a month to receive that surprise prize money check last year so now I’m anxious to see if I get one again. It would cover the cost of the new hat I bought at the expo!

Aside from getting rid of that hill, another nice thing about the course changes this year is that the start and finish were in the same spot. Last year the finish line for the mile was just a short walk away but I didn’t really think about how I ought to get into the 5K corral early. I lined up too late and was stuck way too far back in the crowd for the pace I was going to run. I knew better this time around and just stayed right there until the announcer told us to line up. With an 8:25 start for the mile and 8:50 for the 5K, I had about 18 minutes to kill in between. Some of that was spent catching my breath, stretching, and posing with my medal.

I had packed a heat sheet in my running belt and wrapped that around myself to stay warm as I waited. I was very grateful that people were assigned to corrals based on pace for the 5K. That really would have helped me last year and made a big difference this year. I was in the first corral and started amongst other people who planned to run fast.

It was around 40° and still cold, but I don’t think the congestion hit my nose as bad as it did during the mile. I’m sure it helped that my pace was a little slower. I enjoyed the course which gave us a chunk of time running along the Detroit River and several long straightaways.

I even managed to run a negative split, getting faster as I went! My fastest 5Ks have been somewhere in the 21-minute range, so I was very happy with a sub-22 finish. The brand new pair of Brooks Hyperion Elite 6 shoes that I got from Hanson’s Running Shop earlier in the week served me well, and I decided that I’d definitely use them for the half the next day as well.

*I didn’t take pictures during the mile but captured a few during the 5K*

*The woman behind me did a better job of smiling for the photographer, and also kindly cheered me on as I passed, saying, “Get it girl!”*

*It’s always nice to get faster throughout the race*

*My second medal of the day…and my silly shirt*

I wandered over to a backdrop to get pictures with my medals when I noticed a woman with an Infinite Multisport hat. We started to chat and I got a picture with Laurie and Bill so we could share it with our Infinite teammates.

*With Laurie and Bill, who were also doing the Wonder Challenge*

I walked the riverfront a bit before heading out, and as expected, it took a little time to get out of parking deck because it was the main place everyone used. When I got home I relaxed and had a quiet day as I prepared my stuff to go out and race again the next day.

Once again, my race-day routine had worked well enough last year to do the same thing on Sunday this year. Many people recommend parking in the MGM Casino parking deck because it’s large, free, and a fairly reasonable walk to the starting line. The half and full marathons started at 7:00 so I got to MGM at 5:30. It only took me a couple minutes of creeping along through traffic to get in. However, traffic increased a lot after that. It helped justify my early arrival which was stress-free! I heard plenty of stories later about really bad backups.

While I had walked all the way to the finish area last year to drop a bag at gear check, this time I went straight to a building near the starting corrals where RUNdetroit had a VIP area. I had earned a VIP pass by making a large purchase at the store back in the spring. It’s all the more reason to shop local. When we support the local businesses, they can give back to the community! Owner Justin Craig and other awesome people from the store made it a great experience. They had a really large space with tables and chairs, our own gear check, foam rollers and mats for stretching, and real bathrooms.

*It was a nice touch to have mats and foam rollers* *available to the runners*

I hung out for a good half hour or 45 minutes and happened to run into Jon, my friend Kristin’s husband. It was nice to chat with him for a few minutes as he got ready to run the marathon.

It was another cold morning hovering around 40° at start time and I opted to wear long sleeves for both days of racing. I’d be done with the half before 9:00 and it still wouldn’t be very warm by that point. I had a “throwaway” sweatshirt that I honestly could have saved because once I jogged a mile to warm up, I was fine as I waited to start. Like the previous day, I was in the first corral and had no problem getting where I wanted to be, even 10 minutes before the start! I was worried that I pushed it a little too close with my timing but it all worked out. I saw a pace group for a 1:40 half, and since I’ve run that time for a couple races in the past month, I figured it was a good place to line up.

*Near the 1:40 pacer in the starting corral*

It was still dark when we got going right at 7:00. At first I got a little impatient because I felt too locked in as I was surrounded by runners and I wanted to get moving a little bit faster. Yet the 1:40 pace group started to drift away even though I ran a 7:37 mile and their goal was 7:38. This is why it’s always so hard for me to actually stick with pace groups!

*It was going to be a climb to get up that bridge!*

It took about two miles to get to the ramp up to the Ambassador Bridge. I couldn’t help but look up as we ran under and realized that we had quite a climb to get up there! By that point we got some nice color as the sun began to rise.

I thought about how it didn’t really matter what time I ran because I was just grateful that I got to do something so cool. Both that I am physically capable of it, and that we are given this unique opportunity to run in two countries. It’s the only time pedestrians get to cross that bridge between Detroit and Canada, and to do so with a big group of like-minded people during a beautiful sunrise? It was definitely something special and I enjoyed taking it all in, even as I slowed down during the climb. Last year it was windy and I got pelted by rain, so this year’s experience on the bridge was MUCH more enjoyable. We passed plenty of border guards along the way who were watching everyone to make sure their race bibs were visible. Some runners thanked them, and some guards cheered us on.

*Running across the bridge was one of my favorite parts of the race*

While my pace had been in the 7:30s for the first couple miles, I slowed down to 7:57 during the climb up the bridge. When the bridge went DOWN, my pace balanced out as I flew through a 7:19 mile. I love milking that downhill momentum!

I enjoyed our stretch of running along the riverfront in Windsor which was lined with lots of spectators who had some great signs. Once again, I was grateful for the beautiful day as I continued to admire the sunrise with the Detroit skyline off in the distance.

*A view of the Detroit skyline across the Detroit River*

As we got close to the tunnel, someone behind me said, “Go Bees!” A guy in an Infinite Multisport shirt ran past me and I rooted for him too. It’s fun when people from the team wear some kind of gear so we can recognize and cheer for each other.

*I feel proud when I see myself hanging with a pack of fit guys!*

I know some people complain about the tunnel because it can get warm, but I think it’s a cool experience. There’s no other time when people get to run through there for the “underwater mile.” A DJ from 89X was just inside the entrance with a megaphone to psych us up as we entered. We had a nice downhill stretch to start, and eventually I got pretty sweaty. I told myself it was only for a mile. There was a climb on the way out and I was ready to be done with the tunnel. I looked forward to the cool air when we’d exit. My Garmin map shows that the tracking was a bit off, but I think it still tracked the distance fairly accurately.

*Crossing from Canada back to the United States*

It was energizing when we came out of the tunnel and were welcomed back to Detroit by plenty of spectators.

*A loud stretch thanks to lots of spectators*

My coworker Cam was one of the official photographers and told me he’d be located just outside of the tunnel. I kept scanning the road and eventually I saw photographers who were bundled up on each side of the road. I finally determined that Cam was on the opposite side so I ran over there and yelled, “Cam! Hey!” He captured the moment perfectly, slapped my hand, and I was off. It made me so happy to see him out there.

We ran past the statue of the Joe Louis fist, Hart Plaza, and headed toward the expo center.

*Approaching an aid station and the statue of Joe Louis’ fist*

We made a turn there that sent us up a hill that definitely slowed me down and reminded me that as flat as the course may be, it’s not ALL flat. We headed toward the part of downtown that I’m most familiar with as we ran past the Fillmore, the Fox, and Comerica Park on Woodward. We saw a few of the half marathon leaders heading back on the opposite side of the road by that point.

*Some of the half marathon leaders heading the opposite direction*

*Enjoying my time on the streets of Detroit*

Shortly after that I hit the 10-mile mark and knew it was probably time to pick it up for the last 5K. I managed to do so pretty successfully, dropping from a 7:43 mile to 7:22 for mile 11. I glanced at my watch when that mile split popped up and laughed when I saw that I was at 1:23:45. At that point we had split off from the full marathon runners and turned back south. I felt like I was on the straightaway to the finish. Not exactly though, because I had two miles to go and we had a few short turns to make. Still, I was motivated to keep pushing. When we got back to Woodward, there was a continuous flow of runners to watch on the other side of the road on their way out.

I dropped to 7:06 for the 12th mile which made me feel really strong. I slowed down a slight bit for the final mile because I couldn’t quite maintain that but I gave it everything I had. Cheering spectators lined the street on the way into the finish, where we had a bit of a straightaway before hitting a final turn with the finish line just around the corner.

*Around the corner into the finishing chute*

I could see that the 1:40 pacer had finished and the race clock was just over 1:40, but my chip time was 1:39:38, so I was very happy to sneak under 1:40. Out of four half marathons in the past four weeks, this was my fastest and only one under 1:40.

I enjoyed running the full marathon last year and it was one of my fastest marathons, but it sure was nice to run the international half this time around. I feel like it covered nearly all of the best parts of the course and obviously it didn’t beat me up as much as the marathon.

I funneled through the post-race area, collecting my medal, a heat sheet, chocolate milk, and a bag of food, which I think just consisted of a bag of pretzels and a couple Oreos. Pretty much the same options we’d had the day before for the shorter races. There was some fruit plus water and Gatorade along the way as well. When I exited that area I saw a sign for the post-race celebration and went that way. There was a line of food trucks, a tent with race merchandise, and a few places for photos. There was also a tent for Stone House Bread where they handed out warm slices of buttered sourdough bread.

I browsed around quickly before heading back to RUNdetroit’s VIP area. I was so thankful that I could get out of the cold because while it was great for running, I got cold pretty fast once I stopped. There was a pop-up changing area where I swapped to a dry shirt, plus there was a massage therapist and compression boots for recovery. Justin from RUNdetroit even brought homemade chili and other food. He really made sure we had a great experience!

I hung out for a bit as I ate and tried to warm up, then I got a text from my friend Lisa who came downtown to support some friends running the marathon. I went back to the celebration area to catch up with her for a few minutes before she went off to spectate.

I wanted to take some photos by the Spirit of Detroit but quickly realized it was so close to the finish that the roads were lined with gates and I couldn’t get there easily. I was ready to give up and started to head back toward the casino when my friend Susy spotted me. She had also run the half and it was fun that we happened to cross paths. She was trying to find someone on the marathon course and I explained how she’d have to find an opening to get around the gates. We made it far enough down the course to find a point where we could cross the road, and helping her get back there would get me to the Spirit of Detroit after all.

I had several Infinite Multisport friends in my tracker and it looked like some were nearing the end of the half and I was able to cheer for them on my way back to the car. It’s always fun to see and root for each other out there.

It was a little slow to get out of the area by the casino because it was such a popular parking spot. As I drove away I realized that the MotorCity Casino was pretty close and had no backups, so that could be a good alternative.

After participating in the fun of the Freep weekend two years in a row, I totally understand why so many of my local friends return year after year. I got to spend the weekend doing what I love and it felt extra special doing so in my territory where everything is so familiar. Even though I’m from the suburbs, there’s still a sense of pride when I get to see the hometown city shine. The marathon has been voted the best in the country in a USA TODAY survey two years in a row for good reason. This isn’t just our local race – it’s a big deal and it’s done extremely well. I love that people come from all over while also getting to share it with SO many friends and familiar faces.

I typically plan races a year ahead and have been questioning what I want to do for a fall marathon next year. I already have plenty of travel plans in the first half of the year so I’m thinking maybe I ought to watch the spending and stay local rather than travel for a fall race. Freep will celebrate 50 years of races next year which will be a big deal. I had so much fun the past couple years that I will strongly consider running the full marathon a second time next year.

– Janet

Follow me on Instagram @janetboltz

*Just thinking about that much running made Rusty feel tired*

01.03.26

by milesflyby

2025 Recap

It’s that time once again when I like to look back at the past year of racing and 2025 sure was a great one for me. I covered quite a range of distances! I (very reluctantly) ran 800m on the track twice in one day, raced the mile for only my second time ever, did five 5Ks, one 10K, one 10-miler, six half marathons, one 20-miler, three marathons, one 5K swim, and three triathlons – two Olympic-distance and one that was a 10-part adventure race. My schedule below shows how all of that played out.

As a result of all of that racing, I had my biggest year of running ever with a total of 2,233 miles. 2,184 miles had been my previous best in 2021. While I’ve cut it close trying to “Run the Year” the past couple years, I far exceeded the goal this time. In the past I’ve only run two marathons in a year, so training for and running three in 2025 helped boost my running mileage.

*No problem running 2025 miles this year!*

As my running mileage grew, my swimming and biking mileage dropped. While I swam 144 miles in 2024, I was down to just under 87 miles in 2025. Biking is where I really dropped off. I went down from 1,339 miles in 2024 to 442 in 2025. That was enough to get me through the few triathlons I did, and without any half-iron races on my schedule, I didn’t feel the pressure to ride quite as much. It’s nice to change things up year-to-year and have different goals so I don’t really get too caught up in the numbers – it’s just interesting to see how it all adds up.

*My swimming, biking, and running stats from the year*

One of my biggest and most exciting accomplishments last year was doing the Dopey Challenge at Disney World in January. It was something I had wanted to try for quite some time and it lived up to everything I could have hoped for. Four consecutive days of racing between the 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathon made up the biggest challenge I’ve undertaken. I was thrilled that everything came together so successfully and it was a really great experience.

*My collection of medals from the Dopey Challenge*

I was fortunate to run the Boston Marathon for the fifth time last year. The challenge of getting in then making sure I train hard enough to be prepared for the tough course keeps drawing me back. Not to mention all of the activities and events that surround it. This time I was only 10 seconds slower than my previous best at Boston which was fast enough to get me in again this April!

I only did three triathlons last year but one of them was the Battle of Waterloo. The 10-part adventure run-bike-swim-run-swim-run-swim-run-bike-run race is always a very difficult but very rewarding experience that’s a highlight of the season.

*Battle of Waterloo is always an epic adventure*

I’m glad I finally did the Detroit Free Press Marathon which I probably should have done sooner, seeing as how it’s the big hometown race. I decided to go big for my first time by doing the Supreme Challenge: 1 mile, 5K, and marathon. After completing the Disney challenge so successfully I was looking forward to doing something along the same lines and it was another fun adventure. As an added bonus, I was pretty shocked to receive $40 in prize money for my mile a month after the race!

*30.3 miles completed in Detroit for the Supreme Challenge*

It’s fun to look back at the medals that represent each racing experience from the past year.

I still keep piling up way more shirts than I can ever wear – six alone from the Disney challenge! I collected quite a few cool ones in 2025.

I have plenty more fun things ahead in 2026. I just started 16 weeks of training for my sixth Boston Marathon so that will keep me working hard through the winter. Between the snow, ice, and cold I’ve already coped with, I hope this isn’t an extra tough winter of training.

I’m trying to get around to some of the races that have been on my “to-do” list and decided this will be the year I finally go to Duluth in June for Grandma’s Marathon. I’ve heard many great things about that race and I’m looking forward to it.

I was still debating what to do the second half of the year until I heard Des Linden and Kara Goucher talk about CIM (California International Marathon) on their “Nobody Asked Us” podcast. It reminded me that it’s been on my list and it might be the perfect one to add to my schedule in December. Just like that, I signed up. I don’t really do the New Year’s resolution thing but I DO find it to be the perfect time to sign up for races to give me some big goals to work toward. I enjoyed my Freep experience enough that I decided I wanted to do something there again this October. This time I’ll do the Wonder Challenge, which consists of the 1 mile, 5K, and international half marathon. As if all of that isn’t enough, I’m still wondering if it could be the year that I finally try the New York City Marathon. NYC is a bit overwhelming to me but I visited a couple times this fall and decided I might be ready to try it. I don’t know if I’ll get in through the lottery system though. If not, I’ll have to debate if I should try to pay my way in through a race travel company. Three marathons in one year might already be enough, but I’ve been on a roll…could I attempt to go for four this year? I guess I’ll see what happens!

With so much running on the agenda yet again, I’m not sure what triathlon season may look like. I know very well that when I’m training for a marathon I like to “save my legs” for running and I don’t bike very much. I probably won’t commit to anything quite yet and see how much I think I can juggle as it gets closer to summer.

As usual, I will hope my body cooperates for all of these ambitious plans and that 2026 is another good year of athletic adventures!

– Janet

Follow me on Instagram @janetboltz

10.16.25

by milesflyby

Ann Arbor Half Marathon Recap

*This year’s medal for the Ann Arbor Marathon*

I debated whether it would be a good idea to run the Ann Arbor Half Marathon this year since it fell a week before the Detroit Free Press Marathon – my goal race this fall. My training schedule called for a 12-mile run with half of it at marathon pace that day anyway. It would just be an extra mile and I’d aim to be smart and not “race” it. Yeah right. I decided to sign up after I received a discount code from Epic Races for participating in one of their other races. I knew I really wanted to do it since I’ll take any excuse to get back to the land of the University of Michigan and because I’ve enjoyed the race so much the last three years in a row.

I basically cancelled out the discount by opting to pay a fee to have my bib and shirt mailed to me. The half marathon requires people to do that or to attend the expo the day before the race. I was able to make it to the expo last year because I had plans to catch a concert in town and stay overnight. Otherwise, it really doesn’t make sense for me to drive an hour out to Ann Arbor then an hour back home on Saturday, then do it all over again on Sunday. I’m thankful I had the option to have my packet mailed to me.

Just like last year, I went to a concert the night before the race. This time it was in Detroit rather than Ann Arbor so I drove home afterward and probably got around 4.5 hours of sleep since I left the house by 6:00 the morning of the race. It’s the sacrifice I’m willing to make when I love both music and running and want to do it all!

One bonus for having the race on a Sunday is that street parking is free. I got to town an hour before the race started and was able to find a spot a couple blocks away. I made a bathroom stop, did a half mile jog to warm up, then dropped warm clothes at gear check about 20 minutes before the 8:00 start. It was in the high 40s and I was concerned I might be cold standing around in a t-shirt while I waited, but between my jog and the anticipation of the race, I was fine. I lined up in the corral early enough to situate myself right by the pace group I hoped to follow. Last year I hit gear check later and faced a line, then it was hard to get where I wanted to be in the corral and I started farther back than I should have. I learned my lesson for this year.

I knew I should be disciplined with my pace since I was in taper mode for the marathon. My goal marathon pace is around 8:00/mile so I figured I could stay behind the 1:45:00 pacer for at least half of the race and maybe go ahead after that if I felt good.

We started in small waves every few minutes to help ease congestion and I went off near the front of the second wave. The wave start was especially helpful for coping with a tight spot around road construction in the first mile.

*If you look closely enough you can spot me, always smiling for photographer Greg Sadler!*

I’ve only had success sticking with a pace group a couple of times but this wasn’t one of those times. Despite being a couple people behind the pacer in the corral, I lost him immediately in the bustle of the start. I was able to get moving at my ideal pace fairly easily and ran the first mile in 7:51 yet I still couldn’t catch the pacer.

Last year we started an hour earlier in the dark which I believe was due to a request from the city so the roads could open up earlier. It also rained during that race so I didn’t take photos along the course. I made up for that this year by taking tons of photos of the scenic route. Fog kept us from seeing much of a sunrise but it was still pretty running past the Michigan and State Theatres through downtown Ann Arbor.

Prior to the start, race director Eva Solomon made an announcement about a narrow spot due to construction. Unfortunately I didn’t realize that until later because the guys next to me in the corral were talking so loudly I couldn’t hear anything she said. As we ran down State Street, we shifted to the sidewalk to get around the torn-up portion of the street. It didn’t get too clogged thanks to the wave start staggering runners every few minutes.

*The course narrowed for a brief stretch on State Street*

The inconvenience was fairly brief. We crossed over by the art museum and soon enough we were back out on the road running past the scenic law quad.

*Another perspective of the law quad, thanks to Greg Sadler Photography*

One of the perks of this race is getting to run around the campus of the University of Michigan, my alma mater. The only running I did during my time there was around the indoor track at the gym so I enjoy getting to run around a little chunk of campus now that I’m a “real” runner.

*Running past a building that didn’t exist when I went to school there!*

After a couple miles we worked our way out to Geddes Ave. which has some rolling hills. One of my fastest miles of the race was the fourth mile when I gained a lot of momentum running downhill. Each time I run that stretch I think about how I ought to get out there when I’m training for the Boston Marathon because it can help simulate the quad-pounding downhills of that race.

*Rounding a corner on Geddes, about to head down a hill*

*The map and elevation, which shows the drop a few miles into the race*

The foggy scenery was kind of nice as we ran past a golf course.

We ran along Huron River Dr. for a stretch before heading down to a path that runs along the river.

I have run this race four times and have experienced a slightly different course each time. The core of it has been the same but there have been tweaks every year – probably because of construction in a different spot each time. We didn’t run on as much of the Border to Border (B2B) trail last year so I was thankful this stretch was a part of the course again this year because it’s especially scenic.

*A little taste of fall colors along the B2B trail*

I was halfway through the race when I finally caught up to the pace group. Does it mean I was technically disciplined since I didn’t pass the 8:01 pace group until halfway through the race as planned…even though my watch said I was averaging 7:45/mile at that point? Early on I heard some guys speculate that the pacer might be going out fast to help bank time for the hilly section that would come later. When the course ended up running extra long for me, I realized it was necessary to go faster than 8:01 to actually hit that 1:45:00 time successfully.

*I couldn’t resist taking a bunch of pictures here*

By the time I was halfway through the race the fog had broken and it turned into a pretty day. Thankfully it was in the low 50s which felt perfect to me.

I know things get tough when we approach the hospital 10 miles into the race. There’s a good uphill climb at that point. I had actually been there a couple weeks earlier because my niece Zoe was born there!

A major change to the course this year came when we got to the Arboretum – aka “the Arb” segment. We entered the Arb where we usually exit. Once again, thanks to construction! It got a little congested at this point because the marathon and half marathon runners started to share the course with people doing the 10K.

*Another perspective of the entrance to the Arb*

Taking a set of stairs down to the trail was something new this year. I’m thankful that Epic Races keeps finding ways to adapt each year so we can keep running the race even as construction pops up all over. I’m sure it creates challenges with mapping out the course.

*A blurry action shot flying down the stairs*

The Arb is such a gorgeous part of the race. It was nice to run along a trail through the woods for a bit. The Arb hill is known as the toughest part of the race. Even though we ran a completely different route through the Arb, we definitely still got a hill! It wasn’t one steep climb like we’ve had in the past but rather a longer climb that just kept going. I ran 8:26 for the eleventh mile which was 30 seconds slower than my second slowest mile. It sure was pretty though!

*It was a pretty day for some trail running*

*The climbing helped space people out and I was on my own for a brief moment*

Once I came out of the Arb I had a couple miles to go and got my pace back to where it had been prior to that mile. I had to do a little more weaving around some of the 10K people, and as I got closer to the finish, some 5K people as well.

*Thanks to Greg Sadler’s team for some great photos!*

During the last couple miles I also saw some of the fastest marathon runners going out for a second loop of the course.

*Heading toward the finish on one side of the road as marathoners went back out on the other*

The inconvenience of the construction on State Street was more noticeable on the way back simply because people running each of the races were on the same narrow stretch of sidewalk with a variety of paces. I was able to get by on the left well enough and it didn’t seem to slow me down.

Things opened back up soon enough and I knew I’d get a nice long stretch along Liberty to let loose with a downhill segment helping me out by the end.

*It’s so cool getting to run through this town*

I managed to run a 7:01 pace for the thirteenth mile, then instead of having .1 left, I still had .43 more according to my watch. That was nearly half a mile at a 6:40 pace. So much for being disciplined and taking it “easy.”

*Around the corner to the final stretch*

My official time was 1:43:21 which averaged out to 7:53/mile. Since my watch claims I did quite a bit more, it had me down for a 7:42 pace.

I know well enough that it’s rare for me to actually run the shortest possible distance on a race course even when I aim to run the tangents. My watch is not always reliable either and it showed me running through buildings rather than on the street when we were downtown. It’s typical for me to end up with 13.2 miles in a race rather than 13.1, but going over 13.4 was a bit more extreme. I’m sure construction along the course and a different route through the Arb could have contributed to some of that. It’s just nice to know that I would have been even closer to 1:40:00 minus some of the extra distance.

Mile six is when I found myself actually by the pace group and when I kept it the most under control. I’d been in a rhythm of going faster though, so when someone else broke around them on the left to pass, I took that chance to follow. I was actually fairly consistent for most of the race. That just meant I was consistently faster than I had intended to be on this day! I felt good and it can be hard to hold back.

*A closer look at the medal, which came with a little charm that can be detached*

I went to the post-race celebration area and saw my friend Angie who was helping Epic Races at the merch tent and talked to her for a few minutes. Standing around there only tempted me to buy something, of course.

*I didn’t really NEED another hoodie but couldn’t resist this cozy one in UofM’s colors*

Then it was time to get my warmer clothes from gear check and walk through the food line. I got some of my favorites that Epic always has to offer – pancakes, an egg and cheese wrap, and a cookie.

*Another place to pose – after I got some warm clothes*

I stopped by the awards table and found that I was first in my age group! I could pick a coaster or a keychain and opted for the keychain.

I thought about going to treat myself to some donuts from Washtenaw Dairy and sent a text to my friend Beth to see if she was around. She lives right by the dairy and I stopped to visit her after the race the first year I did it. I lucked out and was able to see her and her family for a little bit before their day got busy.

*Running a half marathon is a perfect excuse to enjoy some donuts from Washtenaw Dairy*

I walked back by the finish line on my way out, thinking about how the marathon finishers at that point were probably around the pace that I would run for the marathon. Now I’ll see how that pans out for me on October 19 when I get my shot. I ran easy the day after the race and felt fine so I don’t think I beat myself up too much. Between the 20-miler at the Fox Valley Marathon at the end of September, this solid half marathon, and some good training, I should be in good shape and will hope everything comes together on race day.

– Janet

Follow me on Instagram @janetboltz

08.12.25

by milesflyby

Bridge to Brew Half Marathon Recap

It looks like this August’s race schedule is going to play out exactly like 2023’s – the Bridge to Brew half marathon this past weekend, the Swim to the Moon 5K this upcoming weekend, and the 10-mile race at Crim the following weekend. Just like 2023, I signed up for Bridge to Brew a couple days before the race. I originally had other plans for the weekend so the race was not on my radar this year. I caught up with my friend Amy during a run earlier in the week and when she mentioned that she had registered for it, I realized I was actually free because my plans had changed. I hesitated to register because I knew it would be warm and humid and it could be a tough day for racing. I still had to run 18 miles for marathon training either way and it would be very helpful to have water stops every couple miles at the race. I enjoyed the scenery while running through Port Huron a couple years ago and knew it would be nice to hang out with Amy too so I finally went for it. It certainly helped that it only cost $50, even at the last minute. That’s a bargain compared to most half marathons.

My routine in 2023 worked so well that I basically did the same thing this year. The race took place at 7am on Sunday, August 10 and I arrived in Port Huron at 5:30 to allow myself time to run five miles before the race. I wore my headlamp and light-up vest because I started in the dark. I wasn’t the only one out by the water that early though – plenty of people had their fishing rods set up already.

*The sun starting to rise by the Blue Water Bridge*

I was a bit early for the full-blown sunrise but still got to see some nice colors and enjoyed the view as I ran up past the Blue Water Bridge.

These views were part of my motivation for signing up for the race. It also made it much more tolerable to add five extra miles beforehand.

It’s pretty cool to run under one of the major crossings between the U.S. and Canada.

*A view that makes it worth waking up early*

Although I enjoyed the views, I knew I couldn’t stay there to observe very long because I still had to pick up my packet and get ready for the race with about half an hour to spare.

Like the first year I ran this race, I came back to find a ridiculously long line for the few porta potties they had. There were four together and one slightly further down the road. Based on the line, they really ought to add a few more. Fortunately there was no line for packet pickup so I got my bib and shirt easily.

Since it was already extremely gross with the humidity nearly maxed out and temps around 70°, I changed into a fresh hat and shirt following my warm up and swapped a bottle of water for a fresh bottle with my Skratch electrolyte drink. I also ate half of a Picky Bar figuring I needed something after running five miles while also not eating too much 20 minutes before the race.

Because I had scoped out some other porta potties during my pre-race run, I knew that I could jog out to one by the water about a quarter mile away that wouldn’t have a line. That also allowed me to get one more glimpse of the sunrise over the St. Clair River.

I still had a good 10 minutes to spare by the time I got back to the starting line. I lingered a little bit behind the arch because I didn’t plan on being one of the leaders!

Eventually people were encouraged to move closer. I stayed where I was and hoped the truly speedy people would fill in the gap.

*I left some space in hopes that the fastest people would move up front*

The half marathon had 225 finishers so I still had plenty of people behind me!

The race started with a loop through the downtown area before we worked our way toward the water. The best parts of the race were the gorgeous views along the St. Clair River. I caught a few gnats on my face and neck during my warm up and during the race, but fortunately it wasn’t very buggy out there. Sunglasses were smart for trying to keep them out of my eyes though!

I took a couple photos as I approached the Blue Water Bridge then kept my phone away for the rest of the race. It didn’t take long before I was dripping with sweat, my shorts were drenched, and I didn’t need to screw around with trying to defog my camera lenses!

We caught a little glimpse of the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse and ran on sidewalks by some really nice waterfront homes. We turned away from the water for several miles and ran past a cemetery, Port Huron Northern High School, a golf course, then did a loop in a neighborhood. Since it was an out-and-back course it was fun to see the leaders of the race going by in the opposite direction. I was on the lookout for Amy and we gave each other a big high-five when we passed each other. I was able to gauge that I was probably among the top 10 or 11 women by the turnaround.

Because it was such a warm and gross morning I didn’t have big ambitions to run one of my faster times. My main goal was to see if I could aim for marathon pace – somewhere around an 8:00 average. I’m about 10 weeks out from the Detroit Free Press Marathon so if I could pull that off it would be a great training run for me. I started a little fast during the downtown stretch with a 7:49 first mile then settled into a good rhythm and consistently ran just above or below an 8:00 pace. I was thankful for the water stops every couple miles and grabbed a cup of water at nearly every one. After a couple sips I dumped the rest on my neck in hopes of cooling myself down a little bit. I ate a couple Clif Bloks during the run as well as a couple salt chews.

By the time I got back to the bridge and had a couple of miles to go, it was definitely getting harder to maintain my pace. I passed a woman somewhere around that point but then it seemed like there was a huge gap between me and other half marathon runners. It was hard not having anyone to chase or keep me in a rhythm. I often get some great race photos with a big smile but I couldn’t even fake that in the late miles of this race!

*I had to force my smile at this point!*

The 12th mile was my slowest of the race at an 8:12 pace. I did manage to drop below 8:00 for the rest of the race though. I passed a few 5K runners/walkers in the last mile or two, then gave what I had left at the finish. I thought I might manage to run 1:45:00 but I was a little over since I ended up running an extra tenth of a mile according to my Garmin. My official time was 1:45:38 which was good for first in my age group! I was especially happy when I saw that I managed to do so in a 10-year age group category rather than the more typical 5-year age groups.

There was a sprinkler after the finish line as well as bottles of water and Gatorade in a pool filled with ice. They knew people would be hot after this race so things like that were helpful. Although I had dumped some water on my neck, my shorts were completely drenched from the sweat, not from the cups of water. It was a warm and challenging day for running and I’m glad I held up so well.

Amy told me her goal pace for the day so I had a general idea when to watch for her. I was able to cheer her in by the finish.

Getting to hang out with Amy after the race was a major bonus!

Based on the first time I did this race I knew the post-race snacks might not be real substantial so I had a protein Picky Bar in the car. I also ate a couple of the granola bars, some fruit snacks, and a slice of watermelon provided by the race. There was also a place where people could purchase beer, thus the Bridge to Brew name of the race.

The awards ceremony for the half marathon runners took place an hour after I finished so I was glad to have Amy there as we waited. She was kind enough to take a little video and some photos as I collected my age group win – a hat from On Running and a Bridge to Brew glass.

Amy said she likes to take the scenic route home and make stops along the way so she inspired me. When I looked at the map to figure out what to aim for I saw Palmer Park and Boardwalk in St. Clair, about 20 minutes south. That sounded promising so I drove there and looked around for a few minutes. It was a beautiful spot!

By then I was ready to get home and get out of my shorts that were still soaking wet. It had been a pretty gross day for running but that’s been the case for a good chunk of this summer and I still need to get my runs in regardless. Even though the humidity is usually at its worst first thing in the morning it helped that the race started early enough to avoid some of the heat of the day – it climbed into the 90s later. I always seem to find some reason to neglect the speedwork in my marathon training plans and the heat has been my main excuse this summer. At least doing this race helped me pick up the pace so I can see that I’m already in shape enough to run half of a marathon at my goal pace. It gave me a nice change of scenery with a flat course plus an excuse to hang out with Amy at yet another race. It sure was a better option than slogging my way through a long run somewhere around home. I find that doing a bunch of races in the summer really helps me work on speed and gets me through those long run days. I have plans for several more as I keep working my way toward my next marathon in October!

– Janet

Follow me on Instagram @janetboltz

05.12.25

by milesflyby

Pittsburgh Half Marathon Recap

The Pittsburgh Marathon wasn’t really on my radar as a race I should do until a year ago. I was in town the first weekend of May for a Matt Nathanson concert and visited my cousin Heather and her husband John for lunch the day of the show. They mentioned that it was marathon weekend and since the concert was in that area of downtown, I decided I’d check out the expo at the convention center prior to the show. Of course doing that just made me feel like I was missing out and nearly tempted me into sticking around the full weekend. I couldn’t pull that off last year but I decided then and there that I should sign up for the 2025 half marathon. Last year’s race fell three weeks after I ran the Boston Marathon and I figured maybe it would be just enough time for me to recover and get through it.

Fast forward a year to the spring of 2025. At some point I realized that because of Boston’s timing this year, I only had TWO weeks between the races. Oops. That felt a little ambitious considering how I usually take some time off post-marathon to recover then start a slow build back. I figured I’d have to play it by ear and if the choice seemed too questionable, maybe I’d just have to bail.

My run in Boston went really well this year and I was surprised how good I felt in the days following the race. I had a little stiffness and soreness for a few days but I never struggled with the stairs, which is usually a given after most of my marathons. I only took three days off after the race and ran four miles on both the Friday and Sunday following the race. I seemed to feel okay and when I ran seven miles later the next week at a good pace so I was hopeful that I could get through the half marathon.

The drive to Pittsburgh usually takes somewhere around 4.5 hours with no stops. I made a stop or two and had to cope with rain for much of the drive, but I had left early enough on Saturday morning to get to the expo by noon.

Like last year, I was impressed by the size and the variety of vendors at the expo. I believe Adidas has exclusive rights at the Boston expo now and it hasn’t been the same since I was there in 2019. Pittsburgh’s expo is more along the lines of what I hope for. They had a ton of merchandise and plenty of interesting booths to check out. Brooks Running was there and I picked up a sticker and a little bag. I managed to restrain myself from making any purchases, especially after having just bought a bunch of stuff in Boston.

The rain continued all day on Saturday so it seemed like a perfect time to check out the Heinz History Center. I’d been curious about it and had never been. There was quite a variety of stuff to browse and I especially enjoyed some of the sports displays, a Mister Rogers exhibit, and a bunch of Heinz items.

I was lucky that Heather and John were in town and I didn’t want to hassle them with my very early race morning wake-up, so I got a hotel a couple miles down the road from them. We met up and went out to dinner and it was really nice to catch up with them. They are great athletes themselves so we always have plenty to talk about!

I left the hotel just after 5:00 the next morning and made it downtown by 5:30. Although I basically had zero expectations for the race other than enjoying the scenery and getting through the distance, I still had some nerves. My biggest logistical concerns were finding a good place to park, wondering if it would rain, and battling bathroom lines.

John gave me some tips about where to park and I ended up in a garage for $10 near the baseball park on the North Shore. I had plenty of time to spare before the 7:00 start and took a nice walk across one of the bridges that looked extra pretty while lit up.

One stressful factor was eliminated, and another when it seemed like the rain was going to hold off. I’m okay with some rain while running but it’s less ideal while waiting around for the start of a race. After I crossed the bridge I came upon the road where we’d branch off to enter the corrals and saw plenty of porta potties with lines. I figured if I got farther away from the start the lines would lessen…and I was right. I made my way to the gear check area to drop my bag of clothes for after the race. They had several trucks with no lines and tons of porta potties with no wait at all.

It was around 60 degrees so I kept a heat sheet with me in case I got chilly before the start. After doing a warm up mile around Point State Park, the humidity really hit me and I didn’t have to worry about being cold. Now I was hoping the humidity wouldn’t get to me too much during the race.

It was nice having access to the porta potties with no lines by gear check, but then I had to battle my way through the very congested street to get up to my corral. With around 12,300 half marathon runners and 3,700 marathoners, this was a pretty large race. I was thankful that I was in the “A” corral and made it there with enough time to spare before the 7:00 start. Now that everything else was done, I “just” had to run!

As usual, the first mile or two was pretty congested. I saw the 1:50 pacer up ahead and thought that might be a good pace to aim for but I couldn’t work my way through people to get to them. Even with the crowd, I managed to run 8:00 for the first mile and 7:56 for the second. It’s probably good that it was congested so I didn’t get too out of control and go even faster. It’s easy to get into the rhythm of everyone around me while I’m fresh and running feels easy, but that can come back to bite me in the later miles.

While it had seemed like rain could be a concern, we actually ended up with sun and blue skies during the early miles of the race. The roads were wet so I had to be cautious around any painted lines on the roads because they were extra slick. I also kept wondering if the humidity would impact my race. I wasn’t acclimated to it at all and knew it could wear me down. I started to feel a little tired 5-6 miles into the race and questioned if I’d be able to maintain my pace. Although I started out feeling faster than I had expected, that post-marathon fatigue might be catching up with me. I noticed that I ran the sixth mile in 7:36 so maybe THAT was why things felt a little more challenging! I had figured an 8:00 average might be the most I could aim for if I felt good so that faster mile was pushing it a bit. The course was rolling though, so I may have hit a stretch with some downhills that helped speed me up some too.

One of my main goals for the race was to enjoy the scenery and I definitely did. It was fun to run through the streets of downtown Pittsburgh. We ran past the baseball park and football stadium. We ran past the Duquesne Incline, and we got some great views of the Pittsburgh skyline. I loved running across multiple bridges. Sometimes that meant a bit of a hill to climb as we started to cross over, but none of them were too taxing. Plus, any incline at the start of the bridge meant we’d get a nice decline at the end!

Somehow I managed to keep hovering somewhere around an 8:00 pace consistently through the race. I was thankful that I wasn’t too beat up from Boston and able to run a solid race. Whenever I mentioned my plans to run in Pittsburgh, the first response from people was, “It’s going to be hilly, isn’t it?” I can’t speak for the marathon course but the half really wasn’t too bad. I knew that I could expect a climb around 11-12 miles and that was my slowest part of the race. Still, I ran an 8:14 mile there so it didn’t bother me too much! It took a bit more work, and somewhere around that point I came across and passed the 1:45 pacer. That meant I was on track to come in under an 8:00 average!

Although a climb late in the race can be challenging, it was literally all downhill after that. I rolled with that momentum and flew through the 13th mile in 7:16. That helped make up for going a little slower during the previous mile and it made me feel extra strong through the end. I ended up breaking 1:45 with an official time of 1:44:36.

I worked my way through the finish line area and collected my medal, a heat sheet, food, and made a couple stops for photos.

I got my stuff from gear check and walked over to the celebration area at Point State Park. There were a bunch of booths and a tent with merch. I had resisted buying anything at the expo but I loved the race so much that I ended up caving. I got a Brooks Canopy Jacket which is one of my favorites to wear in the rain. I liked getting something that had the bridge design on it to help me remember the fun of running over a bunch of them. I also spotted a water bottle that doubles as a foam roller which I’d never seen before. It seemed like a genius idea that would be great for me while traveling so I had to get one of those too.

I had put in a hard enough effort that my stomach was pretty angry afterward. Sometimes it seems like my stomach takes a bigger beating than my legs lately. That’s not great when I still had to drive home. I had thoughts of stopping at Primanti Bros. to treat myself to a monster sandwich but that wasn’t going to work. Instead, I settled for a smoothie and muffin at a service center in Ohio. The drive home was manageable enough, but then the rain started again, I got stuck behind two separate flipped semi incidents within a mile of each other, and time just dragged. Still, the trip was definitely worthwhile.

I’ve been starting to question if I’ve reached a point where maintaining such a consistent and solid running base has allowed me to recover more easily. I haven’t felt too beat up after doing the 4-day Disney combo in January followed by Boston in April and this half a couple weeks later. I’ve always wondered how some people manage to run marathons so frequently. I never felt like my body was at a point where I could handle that until recently. It’s tricky finding a balance between pushing to another level and making sure I don’t get injured. I believe I’ll back off a bit until I start to prepare for a marathon in October. I’ll mix in at least a couple triathlons this summer. I’m heading into that training reluctantly right now because I just want to keep pushing my running! It’s probably wise to change things up a bit after going so hard for half a year though. I’m glad I committed to the Pittsburgh half and followed through with it. Everything worked out and I really loved this race. I might have to scope out the elevation before I’d consider the marathon there, but it was such a great experience that I’d definitely be interested in going back.

– Janet

Follow me on Instagram @janetboltz

Miles Fly By

Janet's training, racing & other stuff

Tag Archives: half marathon

Detroit Free Press Marathon Weekend Recap

2025 Recap

Ann Arbor Half Marathon Recap

Bridge to Brew Half Marathon Recap

Pittsburgh Half Marathon Recap