Sunny but cool temps greated the runners on the morning of Oct. 4th. It began for me with a 3 o'clock wake up to eat some breakfast and stretch. Then drive to St. Paul, park at Sears, but I got there so early, there was lots of street parking, so I said what the heck, I'll save 10 bucks.
Hopped the warm bus at the Kelly Inn to the Metrodome, and no turning back now. If I wanted to get back to my car, I had 26.2 miles to run.
Filed into the Dome, and began the long "hurry up and wait". Last year I saw my friend Maureen, who did ran her first marathon with me. She has since qualified for Boston at least 3 times. Finally it was time to head out, stand in line at the portable toilets, then drop the dry clothes bag, and walk to the start. Frantic runners all around me rushing to the starting gate, if they only knew we had lots of time. I started nearly in the back, and slowly walked for several minutes before crossing the start line mats.
The race itself pretty uneventful, I felt pretty good the whole way, tighted up a bit during the hills on the St. Paul side of the parkway, and actually found Summit to be a peaceful jog. Got the big payback rounding Cathedral hill, and viewing the finish line. TCM finish has to be one of the best marathon finishes anyone. Time: 4:27. Not a PR, but 5 weeks after IMC, I'll take it.
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