I heard a strange beeping sound yesterday and I tried to figure out why my alarm clock had a “4†where the hour should be. Then I remembered. I was pre-registered to run the 11th Annual Minnesota Half Voyageur Trail Marathon. My wife muttered something like, “Run, Forrest, Run†as I got up to eat my pre-race oatmeal. I’ve run a few road marathons, but yesterday was my first trail marathon. As they say here in Minnesota, “That’s different.â€
Minnesota Half Voyageur Trail Marathon
FasterSkier · July 16, 2004
 gave the crowd our instructions at the start: “People don’t really get lost. The ribbons go one way and people go the other.†That’s a little nerve-wracking. I also noticed there wasn’t a lot of fidgeting and warming up prior to the start. Runners pretty much motionless, anticipating they’d need every calorie later. At 6 am sharp, we launched out of the Lake Superior Zoo parking lot in Duluth.<br />
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We spat out onto an abandoned railroad grade at the mouth of a disused tunnel and tip-toed across some plywood laid on top of an old trestle. Who needs coffee? Not me! I started feeling good due to that adrenaline and maybe my oatmeal. The group I was with was talking about how studly Thor Hushovd the Norwegian was doing in the Tour de France. I took off uphill and one of them said, “Wow!†I said, “You’ll probably see me again.†My mantra of the day was: I better run while I still can.
I don’t remember much except for little orange ribbons and trees for the next several hours. Reaching the aid stations and gulping water was nice, but the best part was talking to people! Human companionship! Something to think about besides the fact that my heart rate monitor must be lying. I can’t keep running this speed and be feeling okay. Something must be wrong. Ignore it! Talk to the feed station guy!
