![2013.10.06 - Balloon Arch](https://i0.wp.com/farm8.staticflickr.com/7292/10123912625_1c0d2ab27d_z.jpg?w=584)
So, that marathon I ran this morning? Went pretty damn well. My official time is 3 hours 19 minutes 55 seconds, which is a personal record marathon time—by about ten minutes! I attribute this to (1) spectacular autumnal weather—clear, cool, and perfect for running; (2) some half-arsed attempts at speed training I did over the winter; and (3) actually paying attention to my pacing, instead of my usual marathon strategy of just running as fast as I can until I end up barely able to walk the last mile.
I didn’t do much tweeting from the course, but I did take a bunch of photos—the camera on my new iPhone is a lot better than my old one. So here they are, with a reconstructed transcript of my internal dialogue:
“The best thing about a marathon in my hometown is, I can walk to the starting line. It was near the Metrodome. And the weather’s nice and clear! But, eek, I only have about 25 minutes to stand in the porta-potty line …”
![2013.10.06 - Metrodome](https://i0.wp.com/farm8.staticflickr.com/7347/10123962323_f727fee8ed_z.jpg?w=584)
“Whew. All set. Time to head to the start line.”
![2013.10.06 - Headed to the starting line](https://i0.wp.com/farm4.staticflickr.com/3791/10123807444_eafc03d60b_z.jpg?w=584)
“And we’re off! Next stop, Saint Paul.”
![2013.10.06 - And we're off!](https://i0.wp.com/farm4.staticflickr.com/3757/10123860105_59f99aa4cd_z.jpg?w=584)
“Yay, marathons! Here’s Hennepin Avenue. I’m going to see Wicked in a couple weeks!”
![2013.10.06 - South on Hennepin](https://i0.wp.com/farm4.staticflickr.com/3756/10123927216_c89b0b8a53_z.jpg?w=584)
“And here’s the Basilica.”
![2013.10.06 - Basilica I](https://i0.wp.com/farm4.staticflickr.com/3719/10123920186_d0d9080116_z.jpg?w=584)
“I’m a sucker for Baroque architecture.”
![2013.10.06 - Basilica II](https://i0.wp.com/farm3.staticflickr.com/2827/10123857425_a27a525e47_z.jpg?w=584)
“Ooh, the Walker Art Museum.”
![2013.10.06 - Walker Art Museum](https://i0.wp.com/farm6.staticflickr.com/5520/10123922656_31ff07245e_z.jpg?w=584)
“And now we’re at the lakes! This is just like my usual Sunday runs.”
![2013.10.06 - Lakeside I](https://i0.wp.com/farm8.staticflickr.com/7337/10123799824_eb4a9947fc_z.jpg?w=584)
“There’s the skyline across Lake Calhoun.”
![2013.10.06 - Lake Calhoun](https://i0.wp.com/farm6.staticflickr.com/5517/10123856344_9d391ed122_z.jpg?w=584)
“And now the trails around Lake Harriet.”
![2013.10.06 - Lake Harriet](https://i0.wp.com/farm8.staticflickr.com/7396/10123797614_7023b61c03_z.jpg?w=584)
“Is this Minnehaha Parkway? I’ve never run here before.”
![2013.10.06 - Parkway](https://i0.wp.com/farm4.staticflickr.com/3704/10123849755_f121c2b875_z.jpg?w=584)
“Balloon arch!”
![2013.10.06 - Balloon Arch](https://i0.wp.com/farm8.staticflickr.com/7292/10123912625_1c0d2ab27d_z.jpg?w=584)
“Almost to the halfway mark. Whew.”
![2013.10.06 - Almost halfway!](https://i0.wp.com/farm3.staticflickr.com/2811/10123846185_f35c03a75e_z.jpg?w=584)
“Oof. Sixteen miles in two hours. I’m right on pace.”
![2013.10.06 - Mile 16](https://i0.wp.com/farm4.staticflickr.com/3754/10123844225_bb35a5bcac_z.jpg?w=584)
“Crossing the Franklin Avenue Bridge. I’ve done this hundreds of times before … but it hurts a lot more this time.”
![2013.10.06 - Franklin Avenue Bridge](https://i0.wp.com/farm8.staticflickr.com/7315/10123786164_1a025b8593_z.jpg?w=584)
“Gee, thanks for the reminder, sponsor I’ve never heard of. Six miles to go, mostly uphill.”
![2013.10.06 - Gee, thanks.](https://i0.wp.com/farm8.staticflickr.com/7372/10123913875_2260489cb1_z.jpg?w=584)
[Five and a half miles of incoherence and pain. Otherwise known as Summit Avenue.]
“Finally, the cathedral. All downhill from here. Ow.”
![2013.10.06 - Cathedral](https://i0.wp.com/farm4.staticflickr.com/3759/10123782734_1f715e97b4_z.jpg?w=584)
“I can see the State Capitol!”
![2013.10.06 - Final stretch](https://i0.wp.com/farm8.staticflickr.com/7329/10123902836_e268c76cd8_z.jpg?w=584)
“Getting closer …”
![2013.10.06 - Finish line in sight](https://i0.wp.com/farm8.staticflickr.com/7332/10123840355_5a7505e31c_z.jpg?w=584)
“The finish line! Does that clock really say 3:20?”
![2013.10.06 - Crossing the finish](https://i0.wp.com/farm4.staticflickr.com/3711/10123834075_f137dc2a4d_z.jpg?w=584)
“Ow. Owowowowow. Now where’s the chicken broth table?”
![2013.10.06 - State Capitol](https://i0.wp.com/farm6.staticflickr.com/5501/10123970603_48f8eaec4b_z.jpg?w=584)
“Of course they make me climb a staircase to get to the bus back to Minneapolis. Ow.”
![2013.10.06 - Finish line festival I](https://i0.wp.com/farm4.staticflickr.com/3693/10123968993_1fe0016116_z.jpg?w=584)
And that’s the lot. Next year, I’m going to have to do a marathon out of state for a change. Maybe Chicago?◼