This was my first out of state marathon. I was so excited about it, but a little apprehensive about it to. My two running partners and I were going to be riding up to Duluth with another friend of ours that runs alot of marathon and two of her friends that are newbies.
We were staying at the UMD college in their suites . It had four single beds a kitchen, refrigerator, living room and bathroom. Only one person had to sleep on the floor and that wouldn't be me. I can't sleep on the floor. I've slept on the floor at my parents house and I don't get any sleep. Stephanie, said she could sleep anywhere,so that problem was solved.
Most of us girls met up Thursday night and got some of the bags packed, so we wouldn't have so much to pack when we met at the park and ride.
I got up at 4:30 on Friday, so I could make sure I had everything ready to go. Harrison was going to take me to the park and ride, because he had to get up anyway and get his heifer washed and fed. We all arrived on time at the park and ride. We got in the van and headed to Des Moines to pick one more rider. We picked up Lori and than we were off to Duluth, MN.
Going up we had to make quite a few potty stops, because we were all trying to hydrate for the marathon, so it took alittle longer to get there. Once we got there we found the UMD college, so we could unpack and get settled in. We all got freshened up and headed downtown to the DECC for the Expo. I was so excited, they were having alot of vendors that I've been stalking on the Internet. We had an awful time finding a parking space in the parking ramp, their were so many people.The Expo was great. I wasn't disappointed in the slightest. I came across these shirts at the Expo that felt so soft and smooth. Low and behold it was
Raw Threads.I had entered a bloggers giveaway for Raw Thread a couple of months ago.
Raw Threads clothes are :
-Anti-odor technology
-UPF 50+ Protection
-55% Organic Cotton/40% Viscose from Bamboo/5% Elastic
![]()
![]()
I love this shirt.
I also picked up this sweatshirt
 |
| We found this sweatshirt at the Expo. One of the girls took a picture and sent it to her husband . |
After we all got our feel of the Expo we headed to Grandma's Garden for some pasta. The weather was beautiful. After we all got our bellies full, we decided to head on back to the college. As we are walking we came across a Chocolate Factory. OK, we literally couldn't pass up chocolate. Tree and I split a homemade Carmel and let me tell you I savored every bite. I didn't want a lot of chocolate before the marathon, but we all new we would be coming back downtown to the Chocolate Factory after the marathon. We all figured we worked that hard, we deserve some chocolate.
 |
| Great Pasta |
We got back to the suite and we all hit the hay. We all woke up at different times to get ready for the marathon. I kept checking to make sure I wasn't forgetting anything. We found where the buses were loading, to get us all to the starting line. We get there and we all head straight to the kybos, because lines were starting to form. It's my turn for the kybo and all I can do is pee. WHH. Not more than 10 min after I used the kybo the first time, I look over at Tree an say I think I need to go wait in line again things are starting to work. Yahoo I new she would go with me because she always has to pee.Ha Ha.
It's 7:30 so we start to move over to the staring line. Tree and I were going with the 4:30 pacer and Rachelle, Stephanie and Amanda were going closer not sure what pace they ended up at. Tree and I leave Lori with the 5:30 pacer. Lori is a newbie. As were walking away Tree looks back at Lori and says Penny, Lori is tearing up. I felt awful, so we decided to stay with her till we started running to keep her from getting to anxious. This being her first marathon an all has to be scary.
 |
| Sea of people at the starting line |
When the race started it was humid and in the 60's already. Those first 7 mile were tough, I was already drenched in sweat by the first mile. Once we reached around 7 to 9 it started to get cloudy and the wind picked up alittle, but it was a tailwind thank goodness. It actually was starting to get a little chilly, but for running it was great weather. The spectators had sweatshirts and jeans on, some even were wrapped in blankets.
We stopped at every mile marker and took a picture with one of us in it. We were having so much fun. We are not fast, but on the last mile we passed this guy and he says, "Gee you two were even taking picture and your still passing me".
 |
| Penny, Tree and Lori |
 |
Amanda,Penny,Rachelle, Stephanie and Lori waiting for the race to start
|
 |
| How could we forget our signature pose |
After everyone got finished, we headed back to the UMD college to get showered and take a nap. After our nap we all got ready to go downtown for some meat. All of the girls I'm with are steak eater, but I on the other hand I'm not. I new we would be going to a steak place for supper. We ended up at Timber lodge Steakhouse. Like I said all the girls order steak. When it got to me, I of course order fries with ranch dressing please. They all looked at me like, "Your not eating any meat" Nope that would be right. I'm sticking with my fries. The fries were awesome to.
 |
| Now time to celebrate, bring on the meat |
After supper we headed off to find the Chocolate Factory, so we could get some chocolate. I got a bear cluster, I thought I had died and went to heaven it taste so good. Several of the other girls got chocolates to take home to their families. I think the girls were broke when they walked out of they that place, it was pretty pricey.
 |
| Penny and Amanda all done and on our way back to college |
 |
| Stephanie and Lori with Grandma |
 |
Great group of girls to run
a marathon with. We all finished. |
Don't forget to enter the Chike Energy + Protein shake giveaway.
Their will be 5 winners- ends 6/27
12:42 per mile (view kilometer pace) 
47percent (view time) 
5313 out of 5788 
2082 out of 2363 Females 
187 out of 213 Females in the F4549 Age Group 
