by milesflyby

Toledo Mini Half Marathon Recap

I haven’t raced since the beginning of December (when I did a 5K) and have been deep in training mode for the last several months as I prepare for the Boston Marathon on April 20. It’s never easy to train through the winter but it feels like this has been an especially annoying one. Still, I’ve been running more than ever, often running seven days a week rather than my usual six. Last year was the first time I ran three marathons in a year and I realized how maintaining a consistent high-level base made me a stronger runner. I’ve been feeling good about my training and a month out from Boston is usually a good time to run a half marathon to test my fitness. I usually run the Rock CF half marathon but decided to change things up this year and race in Toledo instead. My friend Lisa had plans to run the Toledo Mini half marathon (in addition to the Rock CF 15K the next day!) which made me look into the race. I ran the Muddy Mini half marathon in Toledo in 2019 and really enjoyed it. Most of the course was pretty similar (and flat) so when one of the price jump emails came along, I finally committed and Saturday, March 21 would be the big day.

I read through my recap from the Muddy Mini which reminded me that I would need to leave the house at 4:30am on race morning because it takes an hour and a half for me to drive to Toledo. That inspired me to look at hotels and when I realized I had enough points to get a free room a few miles from the start, I decided to take advantage of it. That meant I could also hit packet pickup at Dave’s Running the day before the race.

It made me smile when I was assigned to room 420 at my hotel since 4/20 is drilled into my head as the date of the Boston Marathon this year. A good sign for my Toledo race? I got my typical pre-race meal at a Panera right by the hotel and relaxed in the room for a few hours before going to bed early enough to get eight hours of sleep…if I had actually slept through the night. It seems like there’s no way to close doors quietly at hotels so I kept hearing those, the temperature wasn’t quite right, and I probably had some race anxiety too. I screwed around trying to find a white noise app on my phone to drown out the noise, then still woke up for a bit at 2:00.

At least I didn’t have to worry about tightening up during a long drive the morning of the race. I left the hotel just before 6am and was able to park easily at Glass City Metropark. I went into the building to look for Lisa and found my friend Jason instead. As we walked to catch a shuttle bus to the start line, we found Lisa and headed out together.

We got to hang out inside Union Elementary School while we waited for the 8:00 start. It was a cold morning so it helped to have a warm place where we could sit, pack stuff up for gear check, and use restrooms. I didn’t spend much time in the school because I wanted to add a few extra warm up miles to get to a total of 16 for the day. Jason and I both headed out just after 7:00 but ran separately because he’s much speedier! I had scoped out a path along the Maumee River that I wanted to check out and it was just getting light enough.

*A cloudy morning along the Maumee River*

It had been a little tricky figuring out how to dress with temps in the 30s. The real-feel would be at the low end of the 30s so I worried that shorts could be too cold, but fortunately I went with them anyway. A long sleeve base layer with a t-shirt over it plus gloves worked well, and after warming up, it confirmed that I could shed my bonus layers and be fine for the race.

I ran a mile out and turned around shortly after hitting a trail that would have taken me to Side Cut Metropark had I gone further. I came across Jason who told me where to find a porta potty along the path which saved me from any worries about finding long lines for the restrooms when I got back to the school.

*A trail that headed toward Side Cut Metropark*

I went back inside the school to pack up my warm clothes then finished off a little more distance in downtown Maumee before lining up to start.

*With Jason – two Infinite Multisport “bees” before the start*

*Thanks to the race for sharing free photos*

Because I’ve been running so well lately, I was hoping I could aim for a PR. Right as I was thinking about that the day before the race I saw a post from running coach Greg McMillan that talked about how hard you should run a tune up race. Perfect timing! There are several approaches people can take and one of them is to race all-out and use that time to calculate a prediction for the goal race. My Garmin provides predictions and I’ve been a bit skeptical as the times keep getting faster as my fitness improves. My half marathon PR going into this race was just under 1:39:00. Going under 1:35:00 seemed especially ambitious. Even if I was a few minutes slower than the prediction it would still be a PR. Maybe I could do it?

*Garmin’s predictions prior to this race*

A lot of the time I approach a race by starting a little slower and gradually speed up as I go. It’s a more comfortable approach and it’s fun to feel strong at the end as I pick up the speed. However, I had read my blog about my Rock CF race where I ran my half PR and I basically aimed to run race pace fairly evenly the whole time. I know that can get uncomfortable trying to hang on by the end, but it seemed like that was the best bet for running a fast time. If I wanted to aim for 1:38:00, I had determined that I would need to average 7:28 per mile. That felt a bit scary and I figured I should probably plan to run in the 7:30s for much of the race. My first mile came in at 7:26 as I got caught up in the rhythm of the crowd! I didn’t feel like I was working too hard but also knew I should probably slow down a bit and settled in the 7:30s for the next few miles.

We started out with a loop around Maumee before heading out on River Road for a good chunk of the race. I caught glimpses of the water between houses here and there. It was overcast the whole time and there weren’t many spectators, but it was a great course for aiming for a fast time. By the fifth mile I was back to the 7:20s and not paying a ton of attention to scenery anyway – I was really working.

Within the early miles some people passed me and I passed others. I could get in a rhythm with a few people and the pace still felt comfortable, but eventually I ended up on my own for much of the race. I may have been 30 seconds to a minute behind a couple of guys. At least I could see them well enough to know where the course was going up ahead, and I could hear some people talking a little ways behind me. Somehow I managed to lock into a pace and hold steady without having others to work off of.

There was a little climb about halfway through the race, and when I’m going that fast, any little change feels major. There were a few little downhills too though where I could really milk my momentum to pick up the pace. Although half of the scenery wasn’t all that exciting, I recognized when we ran past the zoo, then I also realized that we ran through an area where I had gone to a concert along the water a few years ago. I knew that my friend Mary (Jason’s wife) would be spectating somewhere, and I saw her within the last couple miles somewhere around the downtown Toledo stretch. It was great to see her out there!

I’d been shocked that 7:20s-7:30s felt so easy early on but knew it wouldn’t stay that way the whole time. I was working pretty hard and combined with the cool temps and a little wind, I often had tears rolling down my cheeks. I still tried to smile for photos though!

When I saw that I hit 7:13 for the tenth mile, I was pretty shocked. I was also a little concerned because I knew that I still had 5K to go! As the miles ticked down, I kept trying to do the math. “Even if I run 8:00 miles for the rest, I’ll still have a PR!” I didn’t have to worry though – I didn’t blow up and I didn’t drop to an 8:00 pace. Mile 11 – 7:24. Mile 12 – 7:24. How was I doing this?? I had run some half mile intervals a few days prior in the 7:00-7:10 range that felt hard. I couldn’t have imagined that I was ready to hang on to 7:20s for nearly 13 miles! By the end I may have half looked like I was smiling as I was really cringing my way through. The watery eyes seemed to get worse the harder I worked!

When I take the approach of speeding up as I go, sometimes it can feel amazing to come blazing in to the finish. Somehow I still managed to drop my pace down to 7:07 for the last full mile, but it felt HARD. It didn’t help that there was one more little climb in the last mile or two. I was super excited though because I knew I was definitely going to get that PR. Fortunately we got a slight downhill into the finish which really helped me finish strong.

*Hitting the finish line under 1:38:00!*

*My official results*. *A day later I noticed they rounded up to an official time of 1:37:36.*

On the record, I finished in 1:37:36 with an average pace of 7:27! I was in shock that I pulled that off. My prior PR of 1:38:53 had felt unattainable for quite a while and I bettered it by well over a minute! I got my medal and took a minute or two to walk it off, then wanted to go watch for Lisa. When I come to a sudden stop, it doesn’t take long for me to get cold so I started to jog back alongside the course and cheered for people as I looked for her. Thankfully I saw her!

Once I found Lisa I told her I had to get inside because I was getting pretty cold and my fingers were going numb. I had to stop on the way though when I saw a PR bell!

We got inside and found gear check so I could start layering up and get warm. I looked up my results and saw that I was third in my age group so I stopped at the awards table to collect that.

We saw Jason and I was glad he was still around because he had finished nearly 20 minutes before me! He also PR’ed by over a minute. His time was good for sixth overall and he was the first masters runner so we took a picture with our awards.

*Jason and I both went home with awards*

I really liked the indoor space at Glass City Metropark where we got to celebrate – The Garden. Lots of space, tables, and a place for food.

*A great spot for the post-race celebration*

We had a food ticket on our bib that got us a piece of pizza, chips, and a drink. It was pretty cool that we got pizza made right on the spot!

As we got ready to head out I was glad that I spotted Reagan and her mom Angela – two true speedsters. I know them thanks to Epic Races and they had won awards for running awesome times as well so we grabbed a photo together.

When I got home, I thought about how Greg McMillan said the race time could be used to calculate what to aim for in the marathon. I pulled up his McRun app to type in my new time and it calculated that I could run a 3:25 marathon! My PR is 3:28:55 and I’m not sure I quite believe I could get down to 3:25, especially on Boston’s course. Maybe I can use the logic based on Garmin’s prediction coming into this race that even if I was a few minutes off, it could still be a PR. I always seem to aim for 3:30 as my goal time in the marathon and have only gotten there once. Even if I’m almost five minutes off that prediction, maybe I CAN get down to 3:30?

*The McRun app thinks I can run a 3:25 marathon based on this half marathon time*

One thing is for sure – all of the hard work I’ve been putting in is paying off. I always work very hard for Boston, but maybe avoiding injury so far (knock on wood) plus just a little extra mileage and getting successful bits of speedwork in are giving me an extra boost this time around. I keep thinking about a book I have called Run Less Run Faster. I got it in my early days of running and it promotes cross-training some days rather than running all the time. It definitely served a purpose for me at a time, and it could probably be a more ideal approach to take in triathlon season. However, what I’ve been finding is that when I run MORE I run faster. There’s a reason the elite athletes run something like 120 miles per week. I think I’ve pretty much always peaked in the 60s for up to three weeks during marathon training, and this time around I’ve already made it above 70 miles for a week or two. The consistency has been huge for me and it’s nice to have some tangible results now. Lisa has been inspiring me because she’s been good about her speedwork and has racked up a bunch of PRs in the last year. It’s good to know that at 46 years old I can still keep improving if I put in the work. At some point age will catch up with me, but it hasn’t yet so I’m going to have fun seeing what I’m capable of while I still can!

Many thanks to Run Toledo/Dave’s Racing for a great race day experience. I’ve done several of their races and they’ve always been great. I really should make the trip to Toledo more often because I’ve enjoyed myself so much each time. Thanks again to Lisa as well for getting me down there for this race! She’s a part of Dave’s Racing Team now so she’ll be doing a lot of their races. I just may have to join her for some more.

I’m heading into my last really big week of training for Boston before things start to gradually taper down. Weather can always be a factor in Boston and I always have to hope my body cooperates and feels good on race day. Aside from those potential factors, I’m feeling really good about my prep. The results of this race gives a huge boost to my confidence. I’m hoping for great things in Boston next month!

– Janet

Follow me on Instagram @janetboltz

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

12.07.25

by milesflyby

Run Elf Run 5K

After working so hard most of the year, I finally took some time to back off following the Detroit Free Press Marathon in October. I’ve still been running plenty and like to maintain half marathon fitness, but I won’t get back to a structured training plan until the end of December. At times I feel a bit aimless without that kind of agenda yet I also know I should enjoy this time when my schedule is more flexible. I’ve been to a lot of concerts lately and it’s been nice to miss a day or two of running along the way without the pressure of trying to juggle training.

I haven’t felt motivated to race which has been strange after racing so much this year. I suppose I was due for a break but it’s like I’ve been in limbo the last 6-7 weeks without any goals to aim for. Maybe I’ve snapped out of that after getting back to it with a last-minute decision to do the Run Elf Run 5K on December 6.

This past week I went to an Infinite Multisport Triathlon Club meeting and heard people talking about the races they’d be doing over the weekend. Some were even going for a trifecta on Saturday by doing three separate races in one day! It sounded like a fun adventure and finally got me thinking that I ought to get out there and do something. I had friends who were going to do the Holiday Hustle Half Marathon in Dexter and although I enjoyed it the last two years, I just didn’t feel motivated to race a half marathon. I wondered if I should consider one of the many 5Ks that would be taking place.

I talked to my friend Jeff on Friday who reminded me that he’d be doing the Run Elf Run 5K in Pontiac the next morning. I didn’t know anything about the race so I looked it up and started to get drawn in. I had just been in that exact area for a concert the night before and knew how easy the drive and logistics should be. When I saw that the route would be a straightforward out and back without any real turns, I thought that could make it a quick course. It would also be nice to see Jeff and our friend Don, so I decided to go for it and registered the afternoon before the race.

The race started at 8:00 on Saturday morning and I parked several blocks away just before 7:00 which gave me plenty of spare time. I went to pick up my bib and was grateful that I was also able to get a shirt in my size despite my last-minute registration. I went back to the car and got everything ready for racing. I had so much extra time that I went back to the packet pickup building and hung out inside to stretch and stay warm. Since Santa was there, I decided to get a photo.

I decided to be a little festive with my Holiday Hustle hat plus a shirt that I got at Thursday night’s Sister Hazel concert that took place right across the street. It was the perfect time to wear the “All For Yule” shirt, which is a play on their hit “All For You.”

Eventually I headed out to do a warm up run of about a mile. I found that my toes were a bit numb thanks to temps that hovered just below freezing. When it got to be around 7:45-7:50 and I didn’t see many people near the starting line, I started to question if the start was truly at 8:00. I looked it up to confirm and figured maybe people weren’t in any rush to stand around in the cold. Plus, it was a smaller race with less than 200 finishers.

The crowd began to grow minutes before the start and Miss Oakland County sang the anthem. I spotted my friend Don right before we started and learned that Jeff was sick and hadn’t made it – bummer. We only chatted briefly because it was time to start!

*Waiting to start with Miss Oakland County about to sing The National Anthem*

With a parade due to take place on the same streets several hours later, our route was closed to traffic and easy to follow with one spot where we veered to the left. We didn’t have any true turns and just kept going until we hit the turnaround point and headed back. There was a slight incline to start but the course was relatively flat. Although it was chilly, at least it wasn’t as cold as it had been a day or two before the race and we didn’t have to worry about any snow on the roads.

It was a nice distraction to see some of the floats parked along the side of the road. Once the leaders hit the turnaround point it gave me some people to watch and I counted how many women were ahead of me. The winners of the race would win a pair of shoes but unfortunately there were enough faster women that I knew that was out of reach. I was the fourth woman and I wondered if I’d be able to catch anyone. My pace got faster as I went and I passed some people, but none of the leading women. I was thankful for the slight decline at the end and did my best to fly through the end even though I didn’t have anyone close by to chase.

I had suspected the course was going to be a little short and I came up with 3.03 miles instead of 3.1, the same as a guy I talked to in the finishing area. I’ve run plenty of extra distance at many of my recent races so I guess it’s only fair for one to pop up where I was a little under instead of way over! That meant my speedy time of 21:29 was a little deceiving. My Garmin had me averaging 7:07 per mile vs. the 6:56 that showed in the results.

Sure enough, I was the fourth woman overall and I placed second in my age group. There were awards for people who topped their age groups so I just missed that.

It was interesting to check out my splits afterward and realize that I got 10 seconds faster with each mile. Other than running a few quick bursts of speed, like 30 seconds to a minute at a time in recent weeks, I haven’t done anything this fast and was pleasantly surprised to see what I had in me.

I hung out at the finish and caught Don as he crossed the line behind several people who were dressed for the occasion.

*The finish with plenty of festive outfits*

I had to take advantage of the post-race photo opportunity and posed with Santa again, joined by the Grinch this time.

*A post-race shot with Santa…and the Grinch*

For celebratory treats we were directed to go to Fillmore 13 Brewery where we could get free pretzels and a beer. Those soft pretzels were really good!

Don and I hung out and chatted for a while. I had run a really solid race without training for that kind of speed, and once again, it leaves me wondering what I could be capable of doing if I get more disciplined about doing the speedwork that I know I ought to do. My friend Lisa has been getting PRs in basically every distance lately thanks to her dedication to speedwork. I know it makes a big difference, I just need to DO it. Maybe this race will inspire me.

I was pretty shocked when I looked at my Garmin stats and found that I didn’t spend ANY time in the red zone during this race. I usually hit zone 5 during many of my regular training runs and I didn’t during the race?! I swear I was breathing pretty heavily but apparently I could have been pushing a lot harder! I know I have more potential in the 5K and need to work on trying to reach it.

I’m really glad I chose to hop in this race at the last minute. Even though I’ve kind of been in maintenance mode with my running, I found that I was more ready to race than I realized. I think this will shake away that lack of motivation to race that I’ve been feeling lately. I certainly needed a little break, and I’m not sure how much racing I’ll do in the next few months as we go through winter. I’m very wary about racing if there’s potential for slick surfaces so I won’t commit to anything until the last minute. Maybe I’ll be more likely to hop in other races now if the conditions are favorable enough.

– Janet

Follow me on Instagram @janetboltz

10.27.25

by milesflyby

Detroit Free Press Marathon Recap

*My Freep Marathon weekend consisted of a total of 30.3 miles*

I did my first marathon in 2013 and have had a guilty feeling sort of haunting me for a while because it took this long to finally run the big “hometown” marathon. The Detroit Free Press Marathon is understandably a big one for people who live in the metro Detroit area. Now I understand why.

I actually signed up to run the race in 2024 but something else came up that same weekend plus I had my big Disney Challenge on the horizon so I opted to defer to this year. Still…what took me this long? I don’t know if I really have a good answer. Part of it is that there are so many marathons that I’d like to do and I just happened to get to some of the others first. Also, I’d heard plenty of people complain about the tunnel being muggy and gross plus I knew my Garmin tracking would probably get messed up there. There was also the fear that if I had some kind of hydration belt it could leave me open to getting stopped and checked by the border guards. Now that I’ve run the race, those seem like silly reasons because none of them were issues. What matters most is that I finally did it and enjoyed it!

Since I did the Dopey Challenge (5K, 10K, half, marathon) at Disney World in January, I knew I should be able to handle the Supreme Challenge (1 mile, 5K, marathon) in Detroit. Offer up the challenge to add even more distance and it can tempt me! That meant I needed to make the 40-minute drive down to Detroit and back three days in a row. I started with a trip to the expo on Friday afternoon after work, parking in a deck right by the Huntington Place convention center.

This was a proper expo with lots of official merch from Brooks, merch from other brands, and plenty of stuff to browse.

*Lots of official race gear from Brooks*

I was worried that I’d be tempted to buy too much cool stuff and was pretty proud of myself for just walking away with a hoodie that was half off (only $35!) and a hat.

Of course I came away with official swag in my race packet as well, including a long sleeve shirt, a neck gaiter, and a very nice jacket for doing one of the challenges.

I also had a bib for each of my three races, two of which would take place back-to-back on Saturday morning.

There’s a Detroit Free Press Marathon Runners group on Facebook that has been extremely helpful throughout this journey. People gave plenty of tips for things like parking and I learned that I could park in the River East deck for free right near the starting line for Saturday’s events. The mile was due to start at 8:25 and I arrived by 7:00 just to play it extra safe. That gave me time to take photos as I wandered the riverfront and enjoyed the sunrise.

*A clear morning on Detroit’s riverfront*

I walked out a little less than a mile then jogged my way back for a warm up. I stashed some clothes at the gear check tent, used the bathroom, and took in more scenery before I went to line up.

*A gorgeous view before the start of the mile*

When I saw some of the people gathering near the starting line I realized I better get up toward the front. I didn’t plan to break any records, but I could gauge that some of the people might not be especially speedy and I didn’t want to get stuck behind them. The announcer also made a point of mentioning that faster people should move up front and slower people should move back.

*Near the front for the start of the mile*

I have only run a mile road race once and it was back in 2014. I had no idea how to pace myself and ran 6:25. Although I’d be curious to see if I could do better, I really don’t enjoy the short, fast stuff, and this was not the time to go all-out. The marathon was a much more important goal and I didn’t need to tweak something the day before! Still, I couldn’t help but give it SOME effort.

The super speedy pace that comes at the beginning and can’t be maintained was brought back under control almost immediately. A quick turn around a corner took us to a short climb up a hill. My first thought was that this was clearly not a PR kind of course. My next thought was that I really am a marathoner and not a miler! I do so much better when I’ve already been running for a while then roll into a faster pace to finish strong. I don’t do so well when I get out there and have to go full-blast right from the start. Still, I got a good enough rhythm going eventually without getting too out of control.

*Smiling even while I’m catching air in the mile. Thanks to the race for providing some free photos!*

I was hoping to go sub-7 and I did, so while I’m sure I could do better, this was a good result for the day and the situation. Then I was shocked to see how well I actually placed!

I didn’t expect any kind of award for my mile time! I checked the website to see if they gave age group awards or anything. I got the impression that it gets sorted out after the fact so maybe I’ll receive a surprise in the mail one day!

***Update*** A month or so after the race I actually received a check in the mail. I won $40 in prize money for my placement in the mile. Woohoo!

*Posing with my first medal along the riverfront*

With the mile starting at 8:25 and the 5K at 8:50, I thought I had some time to kill and took more pictures along the riverfront. For some reason I thought I had until 8:55, then I heard an announcement that the start was three minutes away and I wasn’t even in the corral. I scrambled and found fencing blocked off any entrance to the corral until I made my way nearly to the back. I tried to move up some but it was packed in pretty tight with over 2,000 participants. Big mistake on my part. I told myself that it would help keep me under control, but staying disciplined with my pace and avoiding tripping over walkers are two different things!

Sure enough, the start was a total cluster for me. When I saw someone with a walker in front of me I knew I was in trouble. I started out in the totally wrong spot for my kind of pace! I did the best I could to weave around people at the right edge of the road but that didn’t always work. The hill that I dreaded at the beginning of the mile was probably helpful this time around because it helped weed people out a little as they slowed down. That didn’t help me get around them, but when I finally got a break, at least I had a bit more of an opening. It actually only took about half a mile to get enough space for me to run freely.

Once I could get moving I had to remind myself to settle down. I probably shouldn’t go much faster than my goal marathon pace of 8:00 miles. It can be really difficult to stay disciplined in a race environment but I worked too hard to prepare for the marathon and kept reminding myself that it was the ultimate goal.

The course was nice and flat other than the initial hill. We ran along the riverfront a couple times and mixed in locations like the Atwater Brewery and an amphitheater along the way.

*Running by the Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre*

We had such a perfect day for racing – it was beautiful and around 60° at the start of the 5K. Finishing along the riverfront was especially great.

I was successful in keeping my pace under control. A 5K that I truly raced a few months ago was several minutes faster so I certainly didn’t push it to the max this time. I still did pretty good too!

Day one of racing was complete with 4.1 of my 30.3 miles done.

I collected a bottle of water and was glad they had chocolate milk so I could have something with protein, but the post-race treats were a major disappointment. They had bananas and that was about it. No granola bars or anything else. That’s why I’ve learned to throw one of my protein Picky Bars in my bag so I always know I’ll have something.

I took in more of the scenery and admired how pretty the course was from a couple perspectives.

*5K runners with views of the Windsor and Detroit riverfronts*

They did have a few food trucks available but I passed on those and just headed out.

The weather forecast did not look so good for marathon day so I opted to take in all of the good photo opportunities on this beautiful morning.

*Posing with the RenCen in the background*

*Both of my medals with 5K runners and scenic views in the background*

It may have been a little questionable to do a bunch of extra walking, but I was glad I stopped by the Spirit of Detroit and Hart Plaza since I probably wouldn’t visit either the next day.

I rested for most of the day and even tried to nap for a hour but I usually don’t have much success trying to nap. I went out to dinner and a concert with a friend which was another questionable choice, but at least it was a seated venue that was 15 minutes from home and I was home by 10:30. It was probably good to have the distraction because the forecast had me feeling a little anxious.

*An email we received about race day conditions*

There had been plenty of talk about the rain and wind in the Facebook group leading up to the race. I read through recaps of other rainy races I’ve run to assure myself it would be fine. The one good thing was that it would be on the warmer side so at least I wouldn’t have to worry about being cold. No need for arm sleeves or gloves if it would be at least 60°. Minimal, tight clothing, a hat, and plenty of Aquaphor/Body Glide was all I really needed.

Once again, I followed the advice of some people in the Facebook group and decided to park at the MGM Grand Casino. It was far enough removed from the course that I didn’t have to worry about road closures plus it was free. I got there at 5:30 and made the walk with plenty of other runners over to Campus Martius which may have taken about 15 minutes. I dropped a bag of warm clothes at gear check then ventured off to find RunDetroit’s VIP area.

I bought shoes at RunDetroit this spring which gave me entry to their Freep VIP gathering. They had a nice big area inside with their own gear check, tables, snacks, and real bathrooms. I was only there briefly and used a foam roller and hit the bathroom before venturing back out into the rain.

Since this was my first time doing the race I didn’t know how congested or tricky it may be trying to get to my corral. I entered from the south side and went all the way up to corral B without any issue about 20 minutes before the start. I had a “throwaway” raincoat from the Salvation Army which served me well for a while, then I shed it five minutes before the start.

I made it up to the very front of my corral because that’s where a 1:50 half marathon pacer was standing. Since I was aiming for a 3:30ish marathon, I should have been near a 1:45 pacer. Some slower pace groups were actually in front of us! I debated stepping over the rope into the A corral so I could get to the appropriate pace group but decided I could stay where I was.

We took off around 7:00 into the dark, rainy streets of Detroit. Unlike the congested start of the 5K the day before, I was among people doing a similar pace at the start and was able to run 8:06 and 8:07 for the first two miles. We got to the Ambassador Bridge by that point and there were plenty of border guards making sure everyone had a visible race bib. The fact that this race is international is definitely a major draw. It’s pretty unique getting to run over the bridge to Canada then come back through the tunnel!

I’ve seen plenty of pictures and heard people talk about how cool it is to see the sunrise from the bridge. Not this year! I think I actually got up there a little too early to have seen it anyway. It was still cool to see the view from the bridge but by the time I got to the peak, I was more concerned with the pelting rain hurting my face and the strength of the wind.

*Lovely conditions on the Ambassador Bridge*

Although there was a big climb, it really didn’t feel that significant to me. Maybe it was gradual enough. Either way, that’s when congestion became an issue for me. I got stuck behind a pace group that had people running a little slower than I wanted to go. I couldn’t seem to find an opening to get around people and got kind of frustrated. I slowed to an 8:26 mile there and it wasn’t due to the climb. However, a big climb up means a nice drop down, and eventually I got around people and could milk the momentum on the way down. A 7:34 mile helped balance things out!

There was an announcer where we exited the bridge who made me laugh because he was wearing a swim cap. Once we hit the streets of Windsor, the course was nice and flat.

*Another view of Windsor after crossing the bridge. A special thanks to the photographers who had to capture us in those conditions!*

It was pretty cool getting to see the Detroit skyline from the other side of the river. Of course it would have been more scenic minus the rain. The rain seemed to die down by the time I was 3-4 miles into the race which was a relief.

There had been enough rain to soak the spectators’ signs and I totally cracked up when a guy in front of me whacked a “power up” sign really hard and it completely tore apart. I haven’t seen that in a race before!

The crowd support was great along certain stretches in Windsor and I was really drawn to a Golden Retriever who was intently staring up at its owner, still as a statue. It all made sense when I passed by and saw the person holding a box of Timbits from Tim Hortons.

We spent about three miles in Windsor before it was time to run the “underwater mile” through the tunnel. It was a pretty cool experience going through the entry lanes where the signs had messages specific to us!

*A nice greeting* *and a timing mat ahead to track our underwater mile*

I felt a little slickness off to the right side early on and decided it would be wise to move to the center of the road for better traction.

*I realized the damp areas at the edges could be a little slick*

As people had joked, at least the tunnel would be one spot safe from the rain and wind! It was especially fun to see the halfway point.

A lot of people complain that the tunnel is hot and muggy. It really didn’t bother me much. It WAS refreshing when I exited to some cooler air though.

*Returning to the streets of Detroit after exiting the tunnel*

The map shows that my Garmin strayed from the path of the tunnel a little bit, but it did pretty good and I think the distance was still fairly accurate. I guess I didn’t have to worry so much about it screwing up my data.

*How my Garmin tracked me through the tunnel*

There was a lot of energy from the crowd once we left the tunnel and plenty of spectators lined Jefferson. We ran past Joe Louis’ “fist” and toward the expo center.

*Running by “The Fist” – a monument for Joe Louis*

It was also energizing getting to run up Woodward past one of my favorite spots. That’s an area I tend to frequent because I go to many concerts at The Fillmore, plus we went by The Fox and Comerica Park.

*Running up Woodward by the Fox Theatre*

We spent a number of miles getting to and running through some neighborhoods. There were occasional gusts of wind but the rain had died down and I actually found myself pouring water on my neck a couple times at aid stations when I got warm. Maybe a little more rain wouldn’t be so bad!

*One of the neighborhoods looking beautiful this time of year*

By the time I was 12-13 miles into the race my legs got a little tired and I hoped I hadn’t been too ambitious with some miles under an 8:00 pace. Despite hints of fatigue, I still kept rolling along consistently though!

There were some students cheering as we ran past Wayne State’s campus, and I saw some people I knew around 15.5 miles in which was a pleasant surprise and made me smile.

I knew Bruce, an Infinite Multisport Triathlon Club teammate, would be stationed around 16 miles so I got to say hi to him. Shortly after, more members of the club were stationed at an aid station and I got some cheers.

*Captured by an Infinite Multisport Triathlon Club teammate at an aid station*

We ran through the Eastern Market area and to the Dequindre Cut, a nice paved path. I had done an 18-mile training run a month earlier that was hosted by RunDetroit and it covered a good chunk of the course. It was nice to be so familiar with most of it because of that.

There was a bit of a climb on the way out from the Dequindre Cut, but I told myself it was good to change things up for my muscles for a minute. The course remained flat after that.

It took a while to run the straightway that took us to the Indian Village neighborhood so at least the fastest runners on the other side of the road provided some distraction, not to mention we had some nice fall colors.

*Running the long stretch out toward Indian Village*

Indian Village is definitely one of the prettiest spots of the course, with nice houses and gorgeous trees.

*Indian Village was one of the more scenic spots*

After I looped through Indian Village the wind picked up. A couple of spectators’ hats blew across the road in front of me! The rain started to pick up once again as well. I only had about three miles left, but it was going to be a long three miles into that wind.

*A map of the course. It shows what a long stretch we had from mile 23 (at the bottom right) to the finish*

The course became a grind by this point. No more screwing around with my phone for photos or videos! It was tricky trying to wipe rain off my lens when all of my clothes were wet, and I wasn’t willing to give any extra effort to anything other than finishing the run.

It was cool getting to run through part of Greektown, but I was in “just finish” mode by then. I thought I’d use the last mile or two to pick up the pace on that straightaway, but the rain and wind did not make things any easier. I reached the point when I knew I just had to round a corner to get to the finish line, then an especially strong gust hit me. It was a combination of swearing and laughing from the ridiculousness.

I assume the finishing banner was removed due to the wind, so when I approached the finish, I almost questioned it. It felt very uneventful going by some scaffolding that didn’t even mark the finish. Still, I made it!

*My official results. It looks like I placed in my age group!*

***Update*** A few weeks into January I received a surprise in the mail – awards for my placement in both the mile and the marathon! I hadn’t expected that at all and it was a real treat that the race sent something personalized.

I may always aim for the big goal of a 3:30 marathon, but I was thrilled to run 3:32:53. It was my second fastest marathon! Not bad in some challenging conditions!

As usual, if I ran closer to 26.2 miles rather than coming up with 26.6 miles, I could have shaved a few minutes from my time. Oh well, it was still pretty great!

It’s pretty cool to look back at my splits and see just how strong and consistent I was with the exception of my slowdown on the bridge and the last few miles. Even though the end felt like a grind, I wouldn’t say I hit any kind of wall…except maybe a wall of wind!

As I went through the finishing area, my friend Angie said hi from the half marathon side. We just happened to walk through at the same time!

*With Angie right after we each finished*

It always feels pretty rough coming to a dead stop after running for that long. Still, I managed to put on a big smile for a photo!

The rain was steady by that point and once I stopped to get my Supreme Challenge medal, my sole mission was to get to gear check. I had to wander a little bit after the finish to finally get there and I was extremely anxious to get some warm, dry clothes. Once I did that I could take more photos and figure out what to do about food.

*My Brooks shoes (and shorts and sports bra) served me well so I had to pose here*

I wasn’t happy that a banana was the only food option after the mile and 5K, and I wasn’t happy with the few options they gave us at the end of this race either. I was thankful for chocolate milk again, but after burning 2,500 calories, I hoped for more than a few snack size things.

*I look forward to eating after a marathon but this selection didn’t excite me very much*

So many local 5Ks even load up on bagels, muffins, cookies, bags of chips, granola bars, etc. I know they had a lot of racers to move through and a bag of snacks makes it flow, but still. I ate another one of my protein Picky Bars – I’m always prepared. I decided I needed some kind of substantial treat so I stopped at the Cinnabon food truck.

*At least there was a Cinnabon food truck so I could treat myself to something more exciting*

The rain was so steady that I gripped my wet Cinnabon box as I made the trek back to the casino where I could enjoy the treat in a dry place. I didn’t hang out to celebrate because I was too cold and wet to stay out in the rain and wind any longer. I felt much better once I got the heat going in my car!

I felt so accomplished and proud afterward. I enjoy the journey of the training and wouldn’t feel like it had been a waste if things didn’t go well on race day, but it’s so much sweeter when all of that work pays off with the results I hope for. PLUS, it’s a major Boston-qualifier for me! The qualifying times could always get adjusted by 2027, but right now I need 3:45 to qualify. Even if it drops to 3:40 I have a nice buffer.

This was my 16th marathon and it was the first time I ran three in a year. Typically, I aim to run one in the spring and one in the fall. I had a headache the morning after because I didn’t hydrate enough after the race, but soreness was very minimal. I think I’m learning that the more I run, the more my body has grown accustomed to this.

I had a really great experience throughout the whole Freep weekend and would definitely return to this one, whether I try the marathon again, the international half, or even the shorter distances. It may have taken a while for me to get to it, but now I understand why so many friends love it.

*My full collection of medals for completing the Supreme Challenge*

– 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

09.25.25

by milesflyby

Fox Valley Marathon Fall Final 20 Recap

*A successful 20-mile run at the Fox Valley Marathon*

Sometimes things fall into place perfectly and that’s what happened with the Fox Valley Marathon. When I started planning a trip to one of Chicago’s western suburbs for a wedding, I knew it would give me a chance to find a cool place to do my long run the next morning. I scoped out the wedding venue in Geneva, IL and saw that it was along the Fox River. I typically start my hunt for running locations by looking for green areas on the map that might indicate a park or by looking for bodies of water that may have a path by them. Sure enough, the Fox River Trail was right in the area where I’d be. As I looked into it more, I discovered there would actually be a race taking place that Sunday morning (September 21) that would use the trail. With the Detroit Free Press Marathon a month away, I’d be due to run 18-20 miles. It was just my luck that the Chicago Marathon would be three weeks away and many people would be running their last 20-miler that weekend. In addition to the 5K, half marathon, and marathon, the Fox Valley Marathon Races actually included the Fall Final 20 specifically for people getting ready to run fall marathons. The race would start and finish in St. Charles which was the area where most people were going to stay for the wedding. Everything about this race seemed ideal for me and I was excited to add it to the weekend’s activities.

I left for the Chicago area the morning of the wedding and the drive from the Detroit area took just under six hours thanks to a few patches of construction that created numerous frustrating delays. I went to packet pickup first which was held at the Kane County Fairgrounds. It was interesting to drive around the fairgrounds where nothing else was happening and try to figure out where I was supposed to go. I was amused to find that everything took place in the rabbits shed!

*Fox Valley Marathon Races included a 5K, half marathon, 20 mile run, and marathon*

There was some merch available from Dick Pond Athletics and some event-specific clothing as well. I basically went in to collect my bib and shirt, then went to my hotel in St. Charles since I had about an hour until I needed to head out to the wedding. Everything worked out really well – the expo was 10-15 minutes from my hotel, the wedding was about 10 minutes from the hotel, and the start of the race was as well.

I didn’t see much of it, but Geneva seemed to have a very nice downtown. The wedding was beautiful and had a nice view of the Fox River out the windows. I stuck around until just before 10:00 and ended up with about six hours of sleep that night.

It rained overnight and during the early morning which left some fog and plenty of humidity for race day. It was in the mid-60s so it wasn’t especially hot but the air was really thick. The race was due to start at 7:00 and I parked on the north end of downtown St. Charles around 6:15 and walked 10 minutes or so to the start. Lots of people were trying to park near the race site and the traffic was pretty congested there so I was happy with my approach.

*We had 98% humidity first thing in the morning*

Everything was based out of Mount Saint Mary Park which was a really nice spot with paths, flowers, and sculptures. There was a gear check area which I used so I would have some dry clothes available afterward and bathroom lines didn’t take too long around 6:30. I had time for a warm up mile and ran around the paths within the park. I lined up in the corral 15-20 minutes before the start and had plenty of space even with the half, the marathon, and the 20-miler all starting at the same time. Over 1,800 people participated in those races with over 300 more in the 5K that started 10 minutes later.

*Pace groups helped me figure out where I should line up to start*

Aside from the initial congestion getting out of the park, things flowed smoothly because we spent the first 5.5 miles on the roads where we had plenty of space.

My marathon training plan would have had me run 6-8 miles at marathon pace at the end of the day’s long run. I also had a 16-mile run coming up the next week with 10-12 miles at marathon pace. Since that’s hard for me to pull off on a Thursday evening when I’m already tired from work I decided I should probably keep my pace under control for the first 10 miles of this race then aim for marathon pace for the second half. It’s a whole lot easier to pull off the faster pace in a race than it is during a solo weeknight run.

This was not my goal race and I didn’t want to push so hard that it might set me back for my upcoming marathon. Staying “under control” in a race environment can be tricky because running feels so much easier in a pack of fast people. I thought maybe I should aim for 8:20-8:30 pace for the first half. I ran 8:19 for the first mile but ran 8:07 and 8:09 for miles three and four. I slowed down to 8:24 for mile five but ended up at 8:04 for mile six. That back and forth pacing continued for the first half and I hoped it wouldn’t hurt me later on.

The course was very pretty and I loved running on the path alongside the river. It definitely looked like fall! Plenty of leaves were on the ground and I was a bit cautious because they were wet. Thankfully I didn’t have any issues with traction and spent much of the run enjoying the scenery.

We crossed bridges a few times during the run and cut through some of the towns briefly as well.

*A nice view of the river while running across a bridge*

Most of the course was pretty flat but I could feel the added effort of some rolling hills that came 12 miles into the race. I had picked up the pace by then which made any climbs feel harder, plus it was around that point that a couple of guys I’d been running behind broke off to greet family/supporters. It had been nice to use them to help pace myself for a few miles but then I was on my own.

*The guys in the black shirts had a steady pace so I tried to stay behind them for a bit*

The half marathon runners had split in another direction seven miles into the race, then the marathoners split after 14 miles.

*The course was well-marked for the different distances*

I felt like I was mostly on my own for a while until I started to catch up to some walkers, who I assume were around the tail end of the half marathon racers. As I kept going I started to catch up to some who were moving a little faster, but aside from one guy I caught in the last couple miles, it didn’t seem like there was anyone within sight ahead of me who might be going fast enough to be doing the 20. I had to keep pushing on my own and somehow I was successful!

*There weren’t many people ahead of me for a while after the marathoners split*

From the beginning of the race it felt like I had to constantly wipe sweat off my face. The humidity was tough but it didn’t seem to wear me down. I fueled as I normally do with Skratch electrolyte mix in my own bottle plus water from aid stations. I ate Clif Shot Bloks every couple miles or so after six miles with a salt tablet now and then as well. From mile 12 on I ran at a pace of 7:55 or faster. It definitely got a bit more labored in the later miles yet I was able to keep it going. I continued to enjoy the scenery, including a windmill in one town, and the Geneva Dam that I had admired from the opposite side of the river at the wedding the night before. It was pretty fun that I got to run back through that same area.

*Riverside Receptions, the site of the wedding, before I hit 18 miles*

My Garmin (which I don’t know if I can trust) had me at a total of 20.2 miles when I finished. That averaged out to 8:01 per mile which meant I essentially averaged goal marathon pace for 20 miles.

The official results had me averaging 8:06 pace which is typically around the faster end of where my marathon pace actually falls when I have a good race. So either way, it was a really solid run!

I finished in 2:41:56 which was good for second in my age group. The top two male and female overall runners received awards – they didn’t go into age groups for the 20-mile race. I was given a generic-looking medal at the finish line because there had been a shipping delay that prevented the “real” medals from making it on time. 20 miles isn’t a common race distance so that’s why my medal was especially generic while the other racers got medals that actually listed their distances. We would get the official medals sometime later in the mail.

(Update: it took quite a while, but several months later the actual medal came in the mail)

I chatted with the guy I had passed in the last couple miles who ended up finishing shortly after me and we took pictures for each other by the finish line. I’m glad we did because I didn’t end up with any official photos from this race! I found a couple shots of me along the path that could have been nice if they hadn’t been focused on the trees behind me. Another runner had a speedy finishing kick as I ran across the finish line so it was a little congested there and I didn’t get a finishing photo. All of those times I have raved about Greg Sadler Photography’s great job for Epic Races is truly genuine. There are a lot of races that are a huge disappointment in the photography category after being spoiled by the great Epic Races shots!

The race really was a great experience all around, but another disappointment was the food. I passed on a banana, leaving me only with a bag of chips, Mini Chips Ahoy, and Mini Nilla Wafers. There’s no protein there and although the salt from the chips was helpful, these weren’t very substantial treats at the end of such a long run. This is why I always make sure to bring along a protein Picky Bar!

*I enjoyed these snacks but I was definitely hungry for more after 20 miles*

I was pretty drenched from the humidity by the end of this race so I was really glad I brought a fresh shirt, shorts, and hat to change into for the 6-hour drive back home. Some of my family who had gone to the wedding were hanging out at a coffee shop that was along the way back to my car so I stopped to chat with them for a few minutes before heading out. I knew the drive could be trouble because I’d surely stiffen up. I drove for a few hours before stopping at Sweetwater’s Donut Mill in Kalamazoo. It’s always on my radar when I drive through the area and it seemed like it was a very necessary stop this time after the lack of post-race food. It was a good excuse to stretch, and as expected, I felt pretty rough when I stood up.

I made it the rest of the way without stopping and was very thankful that the drive home went more smoothly than the drive out. I’m glad everything came together so well between the wedding and the race because this was another fun adventure.

– Janet

Follow me on Instagram @janetboltz

09.19.25

by milesflyby

Crim 10-mile Race Recap

*The medal for the 48th running of Crim*

Saturday, August 23 was my eighth time running the Crim 10 Mile race in Flint, MI and it’s taken me about a month to write my recap. I raced enough this summer that I’ve written a bunch of recaps and haven’t been motivated to write another while work, marathon training, and life in general have kept me so busy. I also wasn’t super inspired because this race has become pretty routine for me. Still, it was a great day so it’s worth remembering!

I followed the same method that has worked for so many years – I arrived somewhere around 5:30-5:45 and parked in a lot that’s a good half mile north of the race site. I rack up a couple extra miles on race day just going back and forth but it’s probably a good way to warm up/cool down. I was a little earlier than last year when I actually had to wait in line at packet pickup. That wasn’t an issue at all this time and I was able to use an actual bathroom in the building with a minimal wait as well. That line always grows exponentially as the morning goes on!

I went back to the car to drop off my shirt and get my bib and everything ready to race, then I jogged down to the race site for part of my warm up. I made another bathroom stop just to play it safe but the porta potty lines are always long. I still had a good 40 minutes until the race started so I was still okay with a wait of at least 15 minutes. They really don’t have enough porta potties though because the lines get LONG and I’d guess people after me had to wait at least 20-30 minutes. It only gets worse as we approach the 7:00 start. I know now that I have to be extra early at this race to avoid that added stress since I was in line until minutes before the start last year.

I jogged around a bit more to get to an even mile, then I headed to the starting corral. I saw Andy, who I know through Infinite Multisport Triathlon Club and we chatted while we waited. Then we saw our friend Joe who pretty much knows everyone. He said he starts at the front of the corrals and works his way back so he can say hi to all of his friends!

As usual, I wasn’t really sure what kind of pace I could expect to run. It was in the 60s which felt pretty reasonable after such a warm summer. Still, after a mile of warming up I could tell that it was humid and I got warm pretty quickly. I know that I can typically start somewhere between the 7:30 and 8:00 pacers though.

Over 4,000 people ran the 10-mile race so runners go off in waves.

*A mob of people waiting to start, photo courtesy of Crim. I see myself at the top just left of the 7:30 sign in a yellow shirt and my head down with the white hat!*

Even with the congestion of the start, I managed to run 7:42 for the first mile. That was a pretty quick start! I usually run the race by feel and glance at my watch now and then to get an idea of what I’m doing. I dropped to 7:31 for the second mile which seemed a little ambitious so early on, but I fluctuated around the 7:30s and 7:40s for much of the race and seemed to be okay with it so I kept rolling.

*Following the blue line. Photo courtesy of Mark Corcoran*

Three or four miles into the race I came across Carlo, a guy I know from my days working at GM. We were both a part of the Chevy Running Club and it seems like we often run the same pace and usually end up near each other during Crim and Corporate Cup races. It’s funny how we still find each other in a crowd that large. We chatted for a little while until one of my mile splits popped up in the low 7:30s. That typically isn’t “conversational pace” for me and I thought trying to talk while running that fast might get more difficult or I’d pay for it later so maybe we’d chat more after the race.

Even though I run hills around home, the Bradley Hills are always a challenge and seem steeper and longer than anything I run during training. I kept grinding and although I hit my slowest split after that segment, 7:51 wasn’t too bad and I sped up again for the last half of the race.

*Climbing the Bradley Hills. Photo courtesy of Jeff Grossklaus*.

The community always shows up for this race and I was glad to see some of the regular characters. I never grab anything other than water along the course so I didn’t stop at the “rum water” or beer stops, but the options were available!

*This woman is always out bouncing on her trampoline for Crim!*

Another thing I can count on pretty much every year is coming across my buddy Lee along the course. People who have participated in Crim 30 or more years get an early start and many of them have something on their shirts that says what number Crim it is for them. Lee said he would have a “38” on the back of his shirt so I had been on the lookout the whole time. I think I saw him around the Bradley Hills last year, so eventually when I hadn’t seen him yet I figured I missed him in the crowd. In the last mile or so I finally saw him up ahead! Seeing him so late into the race meant he was having a really strong race so I made sure to cheer him on as I passed.

After running 7:38 and 7:40 for miles seven and eight, I found an extra gear and finished miles nine and ten in 7:24 and 7:04. Once again, I’m amazed that a 7:04 mile can be a big struggle to hit on any random day, but once I’ve “warmed up” with a long race, I can pull that off at the end.

*Thanks to RunMichigan.com for a finishing photo*

I knew that I was RIGHT on the edge of hitting 1:16:00 and didn’t quite do it – I made it two seconds over. I made it under 1:14:00 one year, and this was actually my fourth best Crim out of eight. That’s okay – it was a solid race and earned me a pretty high slot in my age group! That age group placement was especially important because Stellantis, GM, and Ford form teams to compete against each other in a “Corporate Challenge” at this race. Even a month later I’m not sure how the results panned out yet, but I did my share for my Stellantis team! I believe I will get an award in the mail for my age group but that hasn’t come yet either.

**Update** – About a month after the race my age group award came in the mail. It attaches to the ribbon of the medal.

*Attached to my medal in the Crim section of my medal hanger*

Soon after I finished I found Carlo and had to grab a picture with him.

I also came across Susy, a woman I met at Stony Creek Metropark this winter when we were both training for Boston. I got a picture with her, then she gathered a bunch of people she knew (who I didn’t!) for another photo.

One of my favorite parts of Crim is seeing SO many friends. For a race that has been going for 48 years, it’s a pretty long-standing tradition for many area runners. Lindsay is one of those friends I see nearly every year.

Don is another friend I can always count on seeing at Crim. I usually run into him in the starting corral and was bummed when I didn’t this year, so I’m glad we saw each other in the celebration area afterward.

I had a granola bar, chocolate milk, and a slice of pizza as I chatted with friends. Another was Ron, the captain of our Stellantis running team.

Last year I decided to change things up and go big with the half marathon challenge by adding the 5K race after running the 10-miler. However, I had an hour and a half in between races, I stiffened up, and I landed myself in physical therapy for months afterward when my hip became a problem following the race. I had a great run but I also may have pushed too much for the one day. I opted not to try that again this year!

It was another fun year of running the Crim and it’s likely that I’ll be back for my ninth time next year!

– 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

07.10.25

by milesflyby

Volksläufe Half Marathon Recap

*A special medal to celebrate the 50th running of Volksläufe*

When staying local for the Fourth of July, a fun way to celebrate is to head north (about an hour and 20 minutes for me) to the Bavarian town of Frankenmuth for Volksläufe – “The People’s Race.” This was actually just my second time running the race which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year.

My friend Kristine would be in town for the holiday and I was trying to think of a touristy thing to do with her. Since she studied German in school I thought Frankenmuth might be a fun place for her to see. I knew the race would be taking place so of course that was on my mind too. When I went to the town’s website I saw that Frankenmuth Brewery was offering a rooftop dinner buffet with live music and a view of the fireworks over Cass River the night before the race. I checked with Kristine to see if she would be okay with me heading out early the next morning for the race. I’d basically be done running by the time she would get up so the timing would work out fine. I got tickets for the brewery party, found a hotel across the street, and registered for the race a couple weeks beforehand. I was excited that we had some fun plans in place.

*Posing by the bridge with the Volksläufe* *banner*

There were a few “up north” traffic slowdowns but the drive wasn’t too bad in the early afternoon on the third and we got to Frankenmuth by 2:30. We went by the wooden bridge that I would cross toward the end of the race and went to explore some of the shops. I got ice cream from Zak & Mac’s and decided to hold off on other treats until we were on our way out of town the next day. It was very hot and I didn’t need cupcakes or fudge to melt before I could get to them!

*I couldn’t resist getting some ice cream*

After walking around town for a bit we checked into our hotel and relaxed until we drove over to packet pickup, which opened at 5:00. There was a bit of a line but it moved quickly, and as I suspected, I found people I knew. Joe and Scott are fellow members of Infinite Multisport Triathlon Club and it was nice to catch up with them.

*I had a hunch I’d see someone I knew! With Joe and Scott.*

There was the typical race expo merch plus bounce houses and other activities outside.

After browsing briefly, Kristine and I headed back to the hotel to rest a little more before heading across the street to Frankenmuth Brewery.

It was a perfect night to sit on the rooftop, enjoy dinner while a trio of musicians played, and have an ideal view of the fireworks over the river. The convenience of being able to walk back across the street to our hotel by 10:30 was especially nice too.

*On the rooftop of Frankenmuth Brewery, overlooking Cass River*

The next morning I headed out just after sunrise and did a mile-long warm up jog to the starting area. I saw Joe again and found bathrooms near the finish area that weren’t as busy as some of the other areas.

*Before things got busy around the finish line*

The 10K was the first race to start at 7:00 so I watched them and lingered around until the announcer welcomed the half marathon runners to line up next.

We took off at 7:15 and started on the grass then transitioned to a dirt path that lead us out to the roads. I’m glad the race started so early because although it was around 60° to start, it was sunny and definitely warmed up. After the first mile we spent the majority of the race running on flat, straight stretches of road past farmland. It was nice and peaceful and definitely not lined with spectators! I DID get to see the Hanson brothers, owners of the metro Detroit area Hansons Running Shops, in the opening stretch.

The roads were somewhat uneven with little potholes and patches to watch for. Seven miles into the race we came to a smooth road which felt amazing after the rougher stretch we’d run prior to that. By that point of the race I was basically on my own for a bit. I had passed some people while those ahead were well off in the distance.

The long, flat roads allowed for some fast running but it only took a few miles for me to feel pretty warm. I was thankful anytime I felt a little breeze or we came to a stretch in the shade, which was a rarity. It wasn’t as hot as it has been for some of my recent runs but it still got steamy and sweaty. I managed to run consistently in the 7:40s for nearly the whole race so I held up well enough.

The race had offered a 20K in the past – 12.4 miles. There are even permanent street signs that mark 1K increments of the 20K along the route. When they switched to 13.1 miles they had to add a little extra distance which explains the short detour around a neighborhood that is nearly the perfect length. That was one spot where I got to see runners heading the opposite direction as I ran in and out of the neighborhood loop.

By the time I made it 9-10 miles into the run the course went from completely flat roads to some hills that slowed me down a little. The eleventh mile was my slowest, then I really started to grind for the last couple miles and dropped just below a 7:30 pace. A bunch of turns kept things interesting as I got back to town after so many miles of straightaways. It was especially cool getting to run through the covered bridge.

*Coming through the bridge on the way toward the finish*

From that point there was probably just over half a mile to go. As I ran up the street toward the finish I yelled out to my friend Joe who would be lining up soon for his 5K walk. I went past the corral for the 5K runners who were about to start and it was nice to hear cheers from some of them. There was a short stretch on a dirt path then a quick turn on the grass to the finish.

I finished the race in 1:41:42 which was a solid time. It was about a minute and 20 seconds slower than my Dexter-Ann Arbor race a month earlier which had been a nice and cool morning. Considering how warm I got during this run, I was pretty happy. I was thankful for a wet towel to wipe my face and wrap around my neck after finishing. I collected a granola bar, water, and some chocolate milk as well.

When I entered the pavilion area I ran into Bruce, another member of Infinite Multisport Triathlon Club. He had run the 10K and we chatted about our races. He looked up my results and it showed that I was second in my age group which meant I would get a stein for an award.

When I ran the race in 2021 I had to hang out for an extra hour or more for a full-blown awards ceremony. I was relieved to find people waiting in a line to pick up awards at their leisure this time. I had been hoping I might have time to get back to the hotel to shower before checkout time and that wouldn’t have worked if there had been a ceremony. Once I made it to the front of the line I learned that they were only giving out 10K awards at that point. They still didn’t have official results for the half so I hung out for a bit and chatted with people.

In the meantime, the results changed and I found that I was actually first in my age group! I guess it’s good that they waited for official results. The higher the placement the larger the stein. They had a few that I could choose from and one looked like the prize I had collected in 2021 so it was nice that I got to pick a different one. The steins are such unique and intricate awards which is definitely one of the appealing parts of this race. On top of that, I only paid $50 to register for the race a couple weeks beforehand. Most half marathons cost twice as much!

When I was able to collect my stein I headed out immediately to get back to the hotel. It was fun to see the 5K runners go past Bavarian Inn’s water park on their way to the finish.

*The finishing stretch took us past the water park*

I had about an hour to spare at the hotel and was relieved I could get cleaned up before we ventured out for lunch. We ended up at the Bavarian Inn where I started refueling with a chicken pot pie. Then it was time to get a bunch of treats. We went back to SugarHigh Bakery for some cupcakes to go. We also got some fudge at Frankenmuth Fudge Kitchen to take home. I needed some kind of dessert to eat before heading home though and chose a nice big cookie from the bakery below Bavarian Inn’s restaurant.

*By the bridge once again to pose with my medal*

*So many great options at SugarHigh Bakery*

*Michigan Pothole was one of my selections*

*A large chocolate chip cookie from the bakery under the Bavarian Inn Restaurant*

It was nice to actually stay in Frankenmuth this time and enjoy more of the activities and food the town had to offer. Volksläufe is a great race and one that I may have to do more often. There’s no guarantee I will always be speedy enough to place in my age group, but it sure is fun to see friends like Joe share pictures of a large collection of steins from multiple years. It’s something that’s especially cool to display on the bookshelf of awards!

– Janet

Follow me on Instagram @janetboltz

06.30.25

by milesflyby

Tri Goddess Tri Recap

At first it looked like I might only do a couple triathlons this season – Island Lake Triathlon at the beginning of June and the Battle of Waterloo at the end of July. I didn’t feel super motivated going into Island Lake because I’ve been on such a roll with my running lately that I didn’t want to disrupt that momentum by trying to add biking to the mix. I had a feeling that once I got back to the race environment I’d come around. Sure enough, once my first tri of the season was over I decided immediately that I should sign up for Tri Goddess Tri which would take place a few weeks later on Saturday, June 28. I’m especially partial to Epic Races because they make the whole race day experience so enjoyable. I had raced the Olympic distance with them at Tri Goddess Tri last year and signed up for the same distance again this year.

*A bike jersey for doing this year’s race*

I’ve really loved the races that are a part of Epic’s Goddess Racing Series because the events really focus on celebrating and empowering women. The races can still be plenty competitive if that’s what people are looking for, but there’s also an extra friendly and welcoming vibe. I knew a bunch of women who were going to be there doing the mini-sprint, sprint, and Olympic distances. There’s something for everyone!

Tri Goddess Tri takes place at the Portage Lake Unit of Waterloo State Recreation Area in Grass Lake. It’s an hour and a half away from me so at least the sun rises early enough this time of year that I had daylight for a good portion of my drive. I got to the park around 6:00 and took my stuff right into the transition area where I was able to grab a spot at the end of a rack for Olympic athletes. I was early enough to check in quickly at packet pickup then I had to go catch the sunrise just before the sun broke over the trees.

*Catching the sunrise is always a major perk of early race days*

When I got back to the transition area my friend Angie (who I met thanks to Epic Races) was there so we got to chat as we set up. I didn’t really have any nerves – I just kind of felt “fine” about the day.

*Getting my stuff organized in transition. I always like having some extra room when I can get a spot at the end of a rack.*

*A great drone shot of the transition area courtesy of Greg Sadler Photography. I see me at the bottom right!*

The pre-race meeting on the beach was due to start at 7:15 and I got into the lake to warm up a few minutes before that. Thanks to our recent heat wave the water was 83° – no wetsuits for this one! That’s actually the same as it was last year, although the heat wave continued on race day. We were extremely fortunate for a little break in the heat and humidity on race morning this year. The air was 67° at the start so I actually wanted to stay warm in the water as long as I could.

*No shock to the system getting in water that warm!*

*The pre-race meeting. All race photos thanks to Epic and Greg Sadler and his team of photographers.*

During the meeting I got to see my friend Mary, who I also know thanks to Epic Races. She was doing the sprint distance and because she was camping at the park, she would hang around and I’d get to see her afterward even though I would finish long after she was done. Sweet Stella sang the national anthem and when she forgot some of the words, everyone jumped in and sang the rest of the song together. It was just another example of the supportive vibe that surrounds this race. When it was time to kick things off with the Olympic race, random women gave each other high-fives along with messages of encouragement. I loved it.

*Race director Eva Solomon standing next to Stella*

Just like last year, when it was time to line up for the swim, no one wanted to take the lead. I KNOW there were some speedy women who belonged up there! When it happened last year, I ended up near the front only to have people pass me immediately. Because of that I tried to hang back a little and ended up starting around the fifth wave with two of us starting together every few seconds. I was near a woman or two for the first few minutes, but eventually I found myself on my own so I think I started in the appropriate spot.

*A great drone shot of the Olympic athletes lined up at the start*

One really nice thing about this swim course is that we were able to swim without looking into the sun! So often we swim toward the sun at some point and it can be really difficult to spot buoys. This was one race where I could finally see all of the buoys without any issues. The Olympic distance had two loops to swim and after the last Olympic athlete started the second loop, the sprint athletes started their race. Sometimes the speedy sprinters will catch up to me before I can finish but it didn’t happen this time.

*I love that Jason, one of the photographers, gets right in the water for some great shots.*

*Kind of trying to smile for photos while still moving along*

*Looking up to make sure I’m on track with the next buoy*

There were 20-some Olympic athletes and it was really nice and kind of weird to swim without anyone around me for the majority of the swim. By the time I was halfway through the first loop, the speedy women were WAY ahead of me, and if people were behind me, I didn’t notice. Earlier in the week I did a frustrating lake swim where I had to pause because kayakers were drifting through the swim area and I had to dodge people playing in the water. I told myself that this was exactly what I wanted from an open water swim – a relaxing experience without anyone getting too close! I didn’t have to look up to sight quite as often either because I didn’t have anyone to run into. Later into the second lap I felt like my cheeks were probably pink from the warm water, but it wasn’t that bad and I really enjoyed the swim. There was a brief little patch of seaweed approaching the shore and it was all calm and clear otherwise.

I don’t always know where the transition starts and when to end the swim segment on my watch, but the official results had me down for 28:07. My watch had me at 1,667 yards. According to the results, I had the second fastest swim?! I realize now that’s because at least one or two of the speedy women must have done the aquabike race (with no run) rather than the Olympic race. I didn’t even know what my time was because I was preoccupied with making the long run up the hill to get to the transition area.

Again, because I didn’t know where the official transition timing was placed, my watch and the official results have two different times. I counted the run up the hill as part of my swim and didn’t start the transition until I got to the actual transition area. In that case, I only took 1:27 according to my watch which is super speedy for me. Not having a wetsuit makes it a whole lot faster! Officially, I was down for a 2:58 transition.

Like everything in the Olympic race, I had two loops of the bike course next, and like the swim, I was on my own…at least for a while. It wasn’t until I approached the turnaround for the first Olympic loop that I finally saw the leaders riding the opposite direction. I was pretty surprised to realize I was in third place at that point. Considering how I’m not much of a cyclist, I figured it was only a matter of time before people caught me.

*When the sun hit me right, I noticed the shadow of my helmet sticker hanging loose and just took it off. The numbers identify us but the adhesive wasn’t so great!*

For the Olympic race we rode an extra mile or two past the main turnaround just for the first loop so we could add extra distance. Unfortunately, that section of road is the worst. It’s pothole central. Sometimes I could go around patches when the road was deserted enough but sometimes there was no avoiding the bumps. I had to brake in one section because a truck went by on my left which forced me right into an awful patch. I’ve been doing races from this park for years and it seems like it’s a given that we’ll hit some rough patches. I wish they would fix the darn roads already!

Once I made it back to the main turnaround, I finally had other people around. Plenty of sprint athletes were getting to that point so I had both people ahead of me, and plenty to watch on the opposite side of the road still on their way out. I feel like at least one woman passed me who must have been an Olympic athlete but then it was hard to tell if people were a part of the sprint or even the mini-sprint. After that turnaround I was on the lookout for friends and spotted a couple. I tried to smile and cheer for a majority of the women whenever I crossed paths with anyone and so many others did the same. Most were good about announcing when they were going to pass as well. There’s always an exception or two, but the percentage of courteous people was so much higher than it is at most other triathlons. Parts of the course are a bit challenging with some rolling hills and having so many friendly women around brought a really great vibe. It reached a point when we basically took over most of one road with a steady stream of people on both sides. At one point I even had to slow down because I was caught behind a truck that couldn’t pass the bikers.

*A shot that shows how busy the roads got*

I made it back to the park and turned around to head out for my second loop. There were still some people out there, it just wasn’t quite as busy as the later part of the first loop. I was getting ready to eat a Picky Bar a couple miles into the second loop when I realized the photographer was there. I figured it was a good chance for a photo op as a Picky Bars AmBADASSador!

*Ready to eat my Smooth Caffeinator Picky Bar!*

I continued to root for people along the ride and spreading positivity made my own ride more enjoyable. I had my moments of having to work hard and thinking about how it would probably help if I actually trained on the bike more, but I did about the same as I ever do anyway. I ended up with 24.4 miles in 1:27:38 according to my Garmin which says I averaged 16.7 mph. Obviously a few people caught me on the ride because I ended up 7th out of 24 for the ride. That’s way better than I usually fare!

After a quick 33 seconds in transition, I took off for my run with a groan. It simply never feels good to run right after a long ride. I felt one of my hamstrings as I ran up a grass hill and luckily that faded once things leveled out.

A slightly uphill segment heading out of the park is always a bit rough. Like last year, Olympic athletes added some extra distance to the first loop by doing an out-and-back segment on a rolling dirt road. When I headed out of the park, one of the volunteers said he thought I was the first Olympic runner! If that was the case, it definitely meant that some of the speedy women on the bike had done the aquabike, duathlon, or something else! When I hit the turnaround point on the dirt road, I saw several women running toward me. A couple of them looked pretty fast so I figured it was only a matter of time before they caught me.

*A map of the whole course for the day, with the run in blue*

I ate a couple of Clif Bloks during the run and drank some Skratch from my own bottle rather than grab anything from the aid stations. After running along the main road, the rest of the loop was on a single-track trail. Despite rain the night before, it really wasn’t sloppy. There was one quick downhill that I realized I should slow down for, followed by a quick uphill that was steep and muddy enough that I realized I better “hike” it. Aside from those spots, there was some general rolling through the woods with stretches where I could gain momentum and some that slowed me down. Since it was through the woods, it helped keep things a bit cooler too. Fortunately heat really wasn’t an issue for me.

I passed a number of people out on the run course and had no idea if they were doing the sprint or Olympic. I was just surprised that no one had passed me yet. I went out for my second loop through the woods and looked back a couple times as I ran “scared” figuring that someone had to be on the verge of catching me. Still no one! That changed when I came out of the woods and was a couple minutes from the finish. Then I realized someone was just behind me and I tried to pick up my pace to finish strong. She did too. She clearly had a kick that I couldn’t match and I told her she was doing a great job as she passed. As we got to the finish, she was just seconds ahead of me and we had an exciting one-two finish. It was so exciting that I only heard a little bit of what the announcer said, which included how the last name of Boltz was fitting. I’ve gotten that a lot from race announcers and think it’s kind of fun.

*It looks like she was hurting for that win!*

*Maybe I should have been hurting more rather than strolling in with a smile!*

After hunching over to catch my breath while a volunteer removed the timing chip from my ankle, I had to congratulate the woman who is named Kelly. I told her that she had an awesome kick and we gave each other a high-five. I’m so thankful that photographer Greg Sadler captured that moment because it perfectly captures the whole supportive vibe that I felt throughout this entire race.

We didn’t know each other, yet we shared that great moment. We were asked to do it again for more pictures which just made us smile even bigger.

I finished the run in 55:13, and my Garmin recorded 6.49 miles with an average pace of 8:31. Official results show that my pace was slower, but I believe it was calculated based on 6.2 miles.

It was great to be greeted by friends Mary, Jason, Dawn, and Angela at the end. I’ll keep saying it, but Epic Races is the best and I know all of these awesome people thanks to Epic.

*Celebrating with Mary who did the sprint*

*Celebrating with Dawn and Mary. Dawn did the mini-sprint just a week after racing a hot and tough half Ironman!*

After catching up a little bit, I went to get the usual treats – egg and cheese wraps, pancakes, and a cookie. I got an ice cream sandwich a bit later too. Eventually I went to the results table and got a printout that confirmed my second place finish. I was also first in my age group. I was still pretty surprised because I don’t usually place that high overall! It just depends on who shows up, plus I had a solid day.

For this race, Epic had some nice towels for awards. Something different to add to my collection!

It wasn’t until I got home and got to analyze the results in more detail that I realized Kelly had actually won by 29 seconds. I hadn’t even thought about the factor of the chip time and that she may have started the swim behind me. I was even more relieved that she had that great finishing kick because she deserved to get that proper win. It would have been a bummer had I finished ahead of her and it seemed like I was first when I really wasn’t.

*It was still close, but Kelly had much more buffer than those few seconds racing to the finish*

I continued to hang out with Mary, determined to catch Angie when she finished. She’d had a rough time at a race recently and hopefully this one would be a better experience. As time went by I felt anxious for her and hoped she wasn’t miserable out there. We gave her some big cheers when she did come through and we learned that she’d had a flat tire that delayed her by 40 minutes! What a bummer. Of course it was on the same rough patch that I disliked so much. Another woman went flat before her and at least they ended up coping together. I was relieved that she was in good spirits and had a great day otherwise. I’m glad I got a chance to catch up with her and share stories about the day.

*With Mary again as well as Angie who did the Olympic, and with Angela who plays a big role in making Epic Races so wonderful!*

I did more analyzing at home and compared my results from this year to last year’s. Last year was extra hot so that definitely was a factor. It’s also hard to compare races because the distances tend to vary a bit, especially with the swim. Still, I finished 10 minutes faster this time! It looks like the swim was a bit longer last year, but my average pace was still better this time. The bike distance was the same and I was a couple minutes faster, even with my lack of training. The run was about a tenth of a mile longer this year but my pace was faster. Aside from the weather factor, the distances kind of balanced out and I either felt better or actually did improve a little bit. That’s always a good feeling!

I went into the race without any real expectations and told myself that no matter what, it’s always a good training day for whatever is next. The Battle of Waterloo is next and I’ll be back at the same park in a month. That race takes me about double the time of this one so today was definitely some good training. I felt good enough the day after this race to do a swim/run/swim/run workout for BOW prep as I already look forward to the next one. That one will be a fun adventure itself and I know I can look forward to having a great experience with Epic again. For now, I want to savor and remember just how supportive, friendly, and welcoming this race was and know that I should definitely register to do it again in the future.

– Janet

Follow me @janetboltz on Instagram

Miles Fly By

Janet's training, racing & other stuff

Tag Archives: running

Toledo Mini Half Marathon Recap

2025 Recap

Run Elf Run 5K

Detroit Free Press Marathon Recap

Ann Arbor Half Marathon Recap

Fox Valley Marathon Fall Final 20 Recap

Crim 10-mile Race Recap

Bridge to Brew Half Marathon Recap

Volksläufe Half Marathon Recap

Tri Goddess Tri Recap