• The weather: despite gloomy predictions, it opened up into perfect running weather, at least most of the morning.
• The start: I was concerned our corral would go out too fast, but they didn’t. Twenty yards in, I thought “This will be easy.” Nice confidence-builder.
• It must have been easy. I was unofficially timed at 0:00 flat for the first mile (forgot to start my watch).
• Crossing the Franklin Ave. bridge, with the sun just starting to peek out, was a peaceful scene.
• Even more spectacular, approaching St. Thomas – against the sun with many runners’ breath visible in the crisp autumn air.
• The “Holiday Road” music blasting at Summit and Oxford was a great lift. Thanks.
• I wanted to yell something like “Lower my taxes!” while passing the governor’s mansion, but somehow missed the opportunity.
• On the final descent past the cathedral, one guy had a camera and was shooting pictures on the run. Hope he got some good ones.
• The sweat check and pick-up was remarkably efficient and well organized. Clearly, this wasn’t a government-run operation.
• Carrie Tollefson: the lady had a baby four months ago, ran a full marathon today in just over three hours, and a few minutes after that did a full media interview on the big screen without a huff or puff. I was impressed.
Best of all: sharing the last 7 miles with the Twin Cities Marathon course. It was like getting to run a marathon but cheating. And it was like running the junior varsity race and then settling in to watch really good runners finish.
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