Category Archives: races

Instagram a Marathon #tcmarathon

Leave a reply

Last Sunday was a beautiful day for running a 10 mile race or Marathon.  After the 10 mile I didn’t go back out to watch the marathon, but I did find some amazing pictures via Instagram’s hashtag #tcmarathon.  I can’t figure out a way to search via the computer so I can’t create a link, but there were over 2,000 pictures posted throughout the day!!

I didn’t look at all of them, but here are a few of the best that I saw:

Finish Line:

Cheer Signs:

Runners:

Cups:

Local photographer Ben Garvin captured some amazing finish line shots that have been making the rounds.

Explore Minnesota Race Series

Leave a reply

The new Explore Minnesota Challenge Race Series begins this coming weekend with the Securian Winter Run (my 2009 race review) festivities. Athletes who participate in 8 qualifying events (including one from each region) will receive a commemorative medal (including commemorative pins for each race).  Registration for the Series is $50 and appears to be open until December 1, 2012 according to the registration page.  The registration fee doesn’t include event registration for each of the 8 required races, though it does come with some cool perks:

  • One Year Membership to Minnesota Distance Running Association ($25 value)
  • Commemorative Drawstring Backpack
  • Commemorative Lapel Pin (1 per person per region) for each of the 4 regions.
  • EM Challenge Winter Hat
  • Commemorative Lanyard
  • EM Challenge Finisher’s Shirt
  • State of Minnesota Medal upon completion of an event in all 4 regions.
  • Special discounts at various stores throughout the year.
  • Special Drawings for Hotel, Store and Race Entries throughout 2012.

The Challenge has divided up the state into 4 regions: Metro, Northern, Southern, and Central. At least two races from each region are part of the series. It appears all of the races are managed by Anderson Race Management the creator of the Explore Challenge in partnership with Explore Minnesota aka the Minnesota Tourism Board.

The 2012 races are:

Race Date Race Name Race City Race Region
28-Jan Securian Winter Run St Paul Metro
24-Mar Return of the Robin Rochester Southern
1-Apr  Fools Five Road Race Lewiston Southern
22-Apr Minneapolis Recycle Run Minneapolis Metro
5-May Special Olympics Half and 5K Buffalo Central
20-May Get Your Rear in Gear Edina Metro
26-May Skyline 25K Duluth Northern
23-Jun Get Your Rear in Gear Rochester Southern
24-Jun Twin Cities Pride Rainbow Run Minneapolis Metro
28-Jul Run for Blood 1/4 Marathon and 5K Minneapolis Metro
28-Jul Dr. Nancy English Memorial 5K Duluth Northern
8-Sep Bolder Dash Runs Minneapolis Metro
15-Sep Walk of Hope Rochester Southern
15-Sep Dash for Dads St Cloud Central
22-Sep Dave Ryan 5K and 10K for Special Olympics Minneapolis Metro
23-Sep One Last Tri, Scandia Northern
6-Oct Lupus Walk of Hope Duluth Northern
14-Oct Scenic Byway Half Marathon and 5K Belle Plaine Southern
20-Oct Warrior Waddle Winona Southern

What do you think are you up for the challenge?

Twitter Encouragement

Leave a reply

You may recall that the 2010 Get in Gear was held on a rainy (and stormy) morning.  I saw some of my friends on Twitter saying how they were having issues with the rain and running the race.  I wished Jennifer good luck and she asked if I was running.  You can see my response below, but it was in Joe’s response after the race that you can truly see the power of Twitter.  This happens all across the Twitter-sphere with people encouraging each other.  The crazy thing, I’ve never met Joe or Jennifer in real life!

They both completed the race! Jennifer ran a 33:13 and Joe finished in 49:51.

Do you have a story about when Twitter provided the extra bit of encouragement you needed to do something?  Follow me and I’ll try to offer encouragement! And you can offer me some!

Enhanced by Zemanta

Twin Cities Marathon Weekend

Leave a reply

It is still 3 months away but it is never to early to plan for race weekend.  For 11,000 runners the Twin Cities Marathon will be the culmination of many miles of pavement (and dirt) pounded throughout the summer.

The 26.2 mile race begins at 8am on Sunday, October 4th.  Earlier that morning at 7:05am 6,500 runners will take the “shortcut to the capitol” by running the TC 10 Mile.   Registration for this “shortcut” is via a lottery system that is currently open.  Registration for the 10 Mile lottery goes from Monday, July 6 to Wednesday July 15 at 10pm.  1,000 lucky runners of May’s TC 1 Mile event (including me) won a guarenteed entry into the 10 Mile.  I obviously chose not to use it. This is the 11th annual 10 mile race and is again the USA 10 Mile Championship event.

New this year to race weekend is a 10k event.  Held on Saturday, October 3 at 7:30am this will be an out and back along the last 3 miles of the marathon course (starting and finishing at the marathon finish area).  It appears that there is no limit to the number of 10k participants and offers race day entry.  This also is the first event of the 2009 race weekend.

The TC 5k is on Saturday as well  starting at 9am.  It is an out and back course along the last 1.5 miles of the marathon course, finishing at the marathon finish.  It too appears to have no limit to race entries and offers race morning entry.  Both the 10k and 5k events will be run on USATF certified courses and are chip timed.

Other family friendly events are scheduled throughout the day on Saturday.  All events offer pre- and race day registration. They include:
  • Diana Pierce Family Mile which starts at 10m and is an out and back course finishing on the marathon finish line.
  • Half Mile which starts at 10:30 am and is an out and back course finishing at the marathon finish line.
  • Diaper Dash starts at 11am. Participants crawl from an inner circle to an outer circle, it seems obvious this is for the littlest of “runners” in the family. It doesn’t sound like this one finishes on the marathon finish line but does take place in the same area.
  • Harry & Shelly’s Mascot Invitational starts at 11:15am and is a race amongst your favorite mascots.  I’m not sure which ones will be there, but I’m sure Brutus the Buckeye won’t be.   Harry and Shelly are the TCM mascots (in case you were wondering).
  • Toddler Trot starts at 11:30 and is a 50 yard dash on the capital lawn.

Race fees start at $7 for the Toddler Trot and Diaper Dash and go up to $100 for the now closed marathon.

Last year I was quite happy to visit the Expo, pickup my number and chip, walk quickly through, purchase a shirt, and head home – less time on the feet the better! Some of my non-runner friends have taken their kids to the family events and had a blast.

If you’ll be here for marathon weekend, what event are you doing?  Me – I’ll be knocking out the 26.2.

[tags] Twin Cities, Marathon, Twin Cities Marathon, 10 Mile, TC 10 Mile [/tags]

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]