Groundhog Marathon - Saturday, February 6, 2016 - Grand Rapids, Michigan

First before I talk about this race, I never would have picked Michigan for a marathon in the winter under normal weather conditions.  This winter has been especially mild in temps and very low on snow.  The Monday before the race I looked at the weather forecast for the upcoming weekend and it looked amazing, cold, yes only 32 degrees, but NO snow or rain in the forecast.  I wrote the race director to ask all about this Groundhog race.  I had about 7 questions.  The race director wrote me back in less than 5 minutes with all my questions answered and invited me to ask more questions.  He even said there were sweat shirts in my size still available and there would be plenty of finishing medals.  So I registered for the race and hoped for the best.

There was this awesome challenge called the Full Hog Challenge, this is where you run the course (which is a loop of 4.37 miles) once on Friday night, the 1/6th marathon and then run either the half or full the next morning.  I thought I'd try it.

The course was all snow and ice covered so I had to wear Yak Trak Pros over my shoes for grip for the entire race, that was hard.

I took off part of the day on Friday to travel to Michigan.  The roads were absolutely perfect.  This was February 6th and usually there is tons of snow on the ground and roads are bad, but from Iowa all the way to Grand Rapids, MI the roads were awesome, not one problem there or back.

I arrived about 2 hours before the race started and picked up my race numbers with the sweatshirt and hat.

I pretty much just sat in my car and waited for the race to start.  Below are tons of pictures.  Marathon #11 in State #11 done!

The start line on Friday night.  We were right next to a freeway.

Me right after finishing the 1/6th marathon on Friday night  Bill Murray even showed up.

This is how the trail was for 90% of the race.  It was very hard to keep going for 6 loops.

We ran next to a river and sometimes the path was clear.

The movie Groundhog day was playing on a big screen for all to enjoy after the race.

My time for my 1/6th marathon

A picture taken of me during the running.  I didn't look happy.  I was cold and wanted to be done running at 2 loops in.  I still had 4 loops of 4.37 miles each to go.  It really took everything in me to finish.

Both race bibs with both medals.

Up close my medal for my 11th marathon in my 11th state of Michigan!

Not my best marathon time, in fact it was my 3rd worst, but I finished and I still felt great.

Finished and done!!!!  Such a relief.  If you look closely, or double click on the picture you will see the Yak Trak pros on my shoes.

Front of the sweatshirt.

Happy to be done.  Sporting the medal!

Training for 2016 Week 4-8

Week 4:

Friday:  Sculpt class, walked .5 mile
Saturday:  Ran 3.12 in 5K race, Ran 3.14 outside, Ran 1.81 on treadmill = 8.07 miles, Swam 1200 Yards, Biked 37 minutes, walked .5 mile
Sunday: Rest
Monday:  Ran 3.42 miles, Sculpt class, walked .5 mile
Tuesday:  Ran 5 miles, Sculpt class, walked .5 mile
Wednesday:  Swam 2000 yards, Ran5.03 miles, Sculpt class, walked .5 mile
Thursday:Ran 10.04 miles, walked .5 mile

Totals for week 4
Ran 31:56
Swam 3200 yards
Sculpt classes 4
Biked indoors 37 minutes

Total for 2016
Ran: 119.47 miles
Biked: 89 minutes indoors
Swam:  16,100
Sculpt classes:  14 classes
Walking:  10 miles
Body Flow Classes:  4



Week 5:
Friday :  Ran 2.05 miles, Sculpt class, walked .5 mile
Saturday:  Ran 22.20 miles, Swam 1000 yards
Sunday : Walked .5 mile, Biked indoors 20 minutes
Monday : Swam 2000 Yards, Sculpt class, walked .5 mile
Tuesday :Ran 3 miles, Sculpt class, walked .5 mile
Wednesday:Sculpt class, Ran 3.15 miles, Swam 500 yards, walked .5
Thursday: Rest

Totals for week 5:
Ran 30.25
Sculpt classes 4
Walked 2.5
Swam 3500
Biked indoors 20 minutes

Total for 2016
Ran: 149.72 miles
Biked: 109 minutes indoors
Swam:  19,600
Sculpt classes:  18 classes
Walking:  12.5 miles
Body Flow Classes:  4

Week 6:
Friday: Ran 4.37 miles, Sculpt class, walked .5 miles
Saturday: Ran 26.40 miles
Sunday: Rest
Monday:Ran 2.13 miles, Sculpt class, Les Mills Body Flow class, Swam 700 Yards, walked .5 miles
Tuesday:  Sculpt, walked .5 miles
Wednesday:  Ran 1.6 miles, Swam 1250 yards, Sculpt, walked .5 miles
Thursday, Ran 2 miles, Biked indoors 28 minutes, walked .5 miles

Total for week 6:
Ran 36.5 miles
4 Sculpt classes
1 Les Mills Body Flow class
Swam 1950 Yards
Biked indoors 28 minutes
Walked 2.5 miles

Total for 2016
Ran: 186.22 miles
Biked: 137 minutes indoors
Swam:  21,550 Yards = 12.24 miles
Sculpt classes:  22 classes
Walking:  15 miles
Body Flow Classes:  5

Week 7:

Friday:  Ran 8 miles, swam 1000 yards, Sculpt class, walked .5 miles
Saturday:  Rowing machine 7 minutes, Spin class (indoor biking) 65 minutes, Ran 2 miles, swam 1000 yards
Sunday:  Ran 12 miles
Monday:  Ran 3.1 miles, Sculpt class, walked .5 miles
Tuesday :Ran 3.2 miles, Sculpt class, walked .5 miles
Wednesday :Ran 4 miles, Swam 1000 yards, biked 10 minutes, Rowed 10 minutes, Sculpt class, walked .5 miles
Thursday : Biked 30 minutes, walked .5 miles

Total for week 7:
Ran 32.30 miles
Swam 3000 yards
4 Sculpt classes
Rowing minutes:  17 minutes
Indoor biking 105 minutes
Walked 2.5 miles

Total for 2016
Ran: 218.52 miles
Biked: 242 minutes indoors
Swam:  24,550 Yards = 13.95 miles
Sculpt classes:  26 classes
Walking:  17.5 miles
Body Flow Classes:  5
Rowing machine 17 minutes


Week 8:
Friday : Sculpt, walked .5 miles
Saturday  Ran 4.20 miles
Sunday : Ran 1 miles, Swam 1000 yards
Monday:Les Mills Body Flow, Sculpt, Ran 3.1 miles, walked .5 miles
Tuesday :Ran 5.5 miles, Biked 13 minutes, Sculpt class, walked .5 miles
Wednesday:Sculpt class, Ran 3 miles, Swam 1000 yards, walked .5 miles
Thursday:  Ran 7.09 miles, Biked 38 minutes, walked .5 miles

Total for week 8:
Ran 23.89 miles
4 Sculpt classes
1 Body Flow class
Swam 2000 yards
Biked 51 minutes indoors
Walked 2.5 miles

Total for 2016
Ran: 242.41 miles
Biked: 293 minutes indoors
Swam:  26,550 Yards = 15.08 miles
Sculpt classes:  30 classes
Walking:  20 miles
Body Flow Classes:  6
Rowing machine 17 minutes