The 30th Annual Detroit Free Press Marathon (Read 1731 times)

The 30th Annual Detroit Free Press Marathon was held today under clear skies and warm temps. We leave for downtown at 6:00am after picking up my sister-in-law. With a half-marathon, a relay marathon and a 5k race the downtown area was a buzz of activity. In addition, there is a Detroit Lions football homegame scheduled to begin at 1:00pm. My wife, her sister and the two boys participate in the 5k. We are joined by my best friend Bill who drives down to offer his support at various points along the course. The race starts early at 7:15am. After a motown edition of our National Anthem under dark skies we are marshaled into our corrals for the start. Race time temperature is 59 degrees with a gusty Southwest wind at 10-25mph. The race unfolds beautifully with a rising pink sun over The Detroit River as we cross the Ambassador Bridge into Canada. After a few effortless miles we turn into the Detroit Windsor Tunnel which takes us back to downtown Detroit. Passing the old Tiger Stadium it seems too easy at mile 11. Two miles later I encounter my family and friends at the halfway point. I cruise past feeling good in 1:29:35. High fives are exchanged and I’m off to The Frederick Law Olmstead designed gem past her prime—Belle Isle Park, which sits squarely in the middle of the Detroit River. The bridge over and back takes it’s toll on my now tiring hams, but I’m still on pace to break three hours and all things considered feeling pretty good. At mile twenty I’m joined by a training partner who’s running New York in three weeks. She helps maintain pace through historic Indian Village. At mile 21 a business associate also joins us for a mile and offers more encouragement, but I’m beginning to feel the effects of the miles now. At mile 23 we turn West and head into a stiff head wind which continues unabated for the balance of the race. At mile 25 my friend Bill does what he can to offer his support, but I was hurting pretty bad. I remember hearing my split time of 2:54:00 at 25. From here we run through Detroit’s Greek Town district and to the finish at the recently revitalized Campus Martius district. My partner runs me to mile 25 which I will be forever grateful for. Although my finish time of 3:04:00 is short of my goal I am pleased for having done my best today. In the 5K, Henry, my youngest son finished first in the 9-11 (22:58) age group and Nick my oldest finished 7th in the 12-14 age group (25:03). It was a slow start due to the number of entrants and the course layout, but it was a terrific way for them to participate.

Joe, that race has always sounded so great to me. Maybe after I have a GR Marathon under my belt I will do Detroit. And it's awesome that your son's did so well in their 5ks, too! I think your time is fabulous, especially in this godawful wind! k

Congrats Joe!! What a time! Sounds like it was a great race, and to top it off your kids did so well! How nice that your wife and SIL run and were able to share the day too! Great job!!

Congratulations, Joe! Nice work.

Wow! Nice job, Joe. Like others said - you are freaking fast! Congrats.

Thanks guys--no sour grapes here. Glad to be able to run--We all want to accomplish our goals whatever they are. It's all relative...glad to get back to leisurely short runs again.

Great race, joe! and thanks for the report. It's so nice to get a peak inside the (twisted, demented and insane) brain of the fast and talented runners (w/much affection, of course ). Seriously though, it's nice to know that, irrespective of pace, every runner goes through hell and back in a race. You need to know that you're an inspiration for guys like me who want to get faster, be better, and to KEEP GOING! Thanks for letting us in!

Well that's what I meant to say, it's just that POQ did a much better job of it. If it wouldn't violate copyright laws, I'd hit modify and copy and paste it into my first post. Then I'd accuse POQ of plagiarism.

Wow - you are uber-fast! When I run mt first marathon will you carry me? Claire xxx

PICK ME!! PICK ME!!! Hehehe Won't be hardly as fast though.