Fargo Marathon

Kathie and I made our annual trek to Fargo for the marathon events a few weeks ago.  This year, we were registered for the Friday Night 5K and the 10K Saturday am.  We were walkers this year.  Most of our usuals were there as well.

This is my view from the starting line of the 10K Saturday am.  It was raining, and in the mid 50s with just a hint of a breeze.  Darn near perfect running weather.  The 10K route meanders through north Fargo.  We walked by Longfellow School, where I did one of my clinicals with Fargo Schools.  Lots of nice fancy houses!  There were not as many people along the 10 K route as there are for the half and full marathons, but there were a few music spots.  We ran the first 2 miles, then walked until we hit the 6 mile mark and ran the rest.   We finished in 1:23.

 Mom and I at the start of the 5K Friday night.  We finished in 53 minutes.  They did not have chip timing for the 5K walkers for some reason, so this is the time per Mom's watch.

 Kathie and I at the beginning of the 5K.  Kathie's game when walking these events is to pick a 'pacer' that is within reach and pass them.  We each took turns picking our target.  The first person Kathie picked was an adolescent/teen aged kid with a bright green shirt and slightly wild hair.  We didn't have too much trouble getting past him.  Admittedly, I did not pay much attention to him.  We passed him just before the first mile marker.  Right around the mile 3 marker, he passed us back!  It was then that we noticed that he had cerebral palsy.  This is why we love the Fargo Marathon.  All different shapes, sizes, ages, and abilities participate in all the events.

 We are getting ready to cross the start line of the 5K!  There were nearly 10,000 participants in the race.

The gal in the blue jacket is Val.  This is her first year participating in the Fargo race.   She came along with Kellie from Dickinson, and  ran the 10K.  The reason I took this picture was not to get a picture of Val, but to have an excuse to snap a photo of the man in the black shirt standing to the right of Val.  His name (as Kathie and Kellie and I refer to him) is Dr. Super Starr.  Kellie (a PA in orthopedics)  gave him that name the eve of Mar 28th, 2012.  He is the doctor I saw at the walk in clinic the night I broke my foot 4 miles in to a 6 mile run with Kathie.  Kathie and I knew my foot was broken.  He did not agree.  He also thinks highly of podiatrists for treatment of foot issues.  Twice since that fateful night, Dr. Super Starr has been behind me picking up a race packet (the other was the Kroll's 5K).  And....now I end up lining up near him at the start of the 10K.

3 more medals for the collection.  This was our 3rd year doing the Go Far Challenge. 

I love the Bible verse from Hebrews on all of the medals.  Such a great verse, and so fitting.