by milesflyby

2025 Recap

It’s that time once again when I like to look back at the past year of racing and 2025 sure was a great one for me. I covered quite a range of distances! I (very reluctantly) ran 800m on the track twice in one day, raced the mile for only my second time ever, did five 5Ks, one 10K, one 10-miler, six half marathons, one 20-miler, three marathons, one 5K swim, and three triathlons – two Olympic-distance and one that was a 10-part adventure race. My schedule below shows how all of that played out.

As a result of all of that racing, I had my biggest year of running ever with a total of 2,233 miles. 2,184 miles had been my previous best in 2021. While I’ve cut it close trying to “Run the Year” the past couple years, I far exceeded the goal this time. In the past I’ve only run two marathons in a year, so training for and running three in 2025 helped boost my running mileage.

*No problem running 2025 miles this year!*

As my running mileage grew, my swimming and biking mileage dropped. While I swam 144 miles in 2024, I was down to just under 87 miles in 2025. Biking is where I really dropped off. I went down from 1,339 miles in 2024 to 442 in 2025. That was enough to get me through the few triathlons I did, and without any half-iron races on my schedule, I didn’t feel the pressure to ride quite as much. It’s nice to change things up year-to-year and have different goals so I don’t really get too caught up in the numbers – it’s just interesting to see how it all adds up.

*My swimming, biking, and running stats from the year*

One of my biggest and most exciting accomplishments last year was doing the Dopey Challenge at Disney World in January. It was something I had wanted to try for quite some time and it lived up to everything I could have hoped for. Four consecutive days of racing between the 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathon made up the biggest challenge I’ve undertaken. I was thrilled that everything came together so successfully and it was a really great experience.

*My collection of medals from the Dopey Challenge*

I was fortunate to run the Boston Marathon for the fifth time last year. The challenge of getting in then making sure I train hard enough to be prepared for the tough course keeps drawing me back. Not to mention all of the activities and events that surround it. This time I was only 10 seconds slower than my previous best at Boston which was fast enough to get me in again this April!

I only did three triathlons last year but one of them was the Battle of Waterloo. The 10-part adventure run-bike-swim-run-swim-run-swim-run-bike-run race is always a very difficult but very rewarding experience that’s a highlight of the season.

*Battle of Waterloo is always an epic adventure*

I’m glad I finally did the Detroit Free Press Marathon which I probably should have done sooner, seeing as how it’s the big hometown race. I decided to go big for my first time by doing the Supreme Challenge: 1 mile, 5K, and marathon. After completing the Disney challenge so successfully I was looking forward to doing something along the same lines and it was another fun adventure. As an added bonus, I was pretty shocked to receive $40 in prize money for my mile a month after the race!

*30.3 miles completed in Detroit for the Supreme Challenge*

It’s fun to look back at the medals that represent each racing experience from the past year.

I still keep piling up way more shirts than I can ever wear – six alone from the Disney challenge! I collected quite a few cool ones in 2025.

I have plenty more fun things ahead in 2026. I just started 16 weeks of training for my sixth Boston Marathon so that will keep me working hard through the winter. Between the snow, ice, and cold I’ve already coped with, I hope this isn’t an extra tough winter of training.

I’m trying to get around to some of the races that have been on my “to-do” list and decided this will be the year I finally go to Duluth in June for Grandma’s Marathon. I’ve heard many great things about that race and I’m looking forward to it.

I was still debating what to do the second half of the year until I heard Des Linden and Kara Goucher talk about CIM (California International Marathon) on their “Nobody Asked Us” podcast. It reminded me that it’s been on my list and it might be the perfect one to add to my schedule in December. Just like that, I signed up. I don’t really do the New Year’s resolution thing but I DO find it to be the perfect time to sign up for races to give me some big goals to work toward. I enjoyed my Freep experience enough that I decided I wanted to do something there again this October. This time I’ll do the Wonder Challenge, which consists of the 1 mile, 5K, and international half marathon. As if all of that isn’t enough, I’m still wondering if it could be the year that I finally try the New York City Marathon. NYC is a bit overwhelming to me but I visited a couple times this fall and decided I might be ready to try it. I don’t know if I’ll get in through the lottery system though. If not, I’ll have to debate if I should try to pay my way in through a race travel company. Three marathons in one year might already be enough, but I’ve been on a roll…could I attempt to go for four this year? I guess I’ll see what happens!

With so much running on the agenda yet again, I’m not sure what triathlon season may look like. I know very well that when I’m training for a marathon I like to “save my legs” for running and I don’t bike very much. I probably won’t commit to anything quite yet and see how much I think I can juggle as it gets closer to summer.

As usual, I will hope my body cooperates for all of these ambitious plans and that 2026 is another good year of athletic adventures!

– Janet

Follow me on Instagram @janetboltz

12.07.25

by milesflyby

Run Elf Run 5K

After working so hard most of the year, I finally took some time to back off following the Detroit Free Press Marathon in October. I’ve still been running plenty and like to maintain half marathon fitness, but I won’t get back to a structured training plan until the end of December. At times I feel a bit aimless without that kind of agenda yet I also know I should enjoy this time when my schedule is more flexible. I’ve been to a lot of concerts lately and it’s been nice to miss a day or two of running along the way without the pressure of trying to juggle training.

I haven’t felt motivated to race which has been strange after racing so much this year. I suppose I was due for a break but it’s like I’ve been in limbo the last 6-7 weeks without any goals to aim for. Maybe I’ve snapped out of that after getting back to it with a last-minute decision to do the Run Elf Run 5K on December 6.

This past week I went to an Infinite Multisport Triathlon Club meeting and heard people talking about the races they’d be doing over the weekend. Some were even going for a trifecta on Saturday by doing three separate races in one day! It sounded like a fun adventure and finally got me thinking that I ought to get out there and do something. I had friends who were going to do the Holiday Hustle Half Marathon in Dexter and although I enjoyed it the last two years, I just didn’t feel motivated to race a half marathon. I wondered if I should consider one of the many 5Ks that would be taking place.

I talked to my friend Jeff on Friday who reminded me that he’d be doing the Run Elf Run 5K in Pontiac the next morning. I didn’t know anything about the race so I looked it up and started to get drawn in. I had just been in that exact area for a concert the night before and knew how easy the drive and logistics should be. When I saw that the route would be a straightforward out and back without any real turns, I thought that could make it a quick course. It would also be nice to see Jeff and our friend Don, so I decided to go for it and registered the afternoon before the race.

The race started at 8:00 on Saturday morning and I parked several blocks away just before 7:00 which gave me plenty of spare time. I went to pick up my bib and was grateful that I was also able to get a shirt in my size despite my last-minute registration. I went back to the car and got everything ready for racing. I had so much extra time that I went back to the packet pickup building and hung out inside to stretch and stay warm. Since Santa was there, I decided to get a photo.

I decided to be a little festive with my Holiday Hustle hat plus a shirt that I got at Thursday night’s Sister Hazel concert that took place right across the street. It was the perfect time to wear the “All For Yule” shirt, which is a play on their hit “All For You.”

Eventually I headed out to do a warm up run of about a mile. I found that my toes were a bit numb thanks to temps that hovered just below freezing. When it got to be around 7:45-7:50 and I didn’t see many people near the starting line, I started to question if the start was truly at 8:00. I looked it up to confirm and figured maybe people weren’t in any rush to stand around in the cold. Plus, it was a smaller race with less than 200 finishers.

The crowd began to grow minutes before the start and Miss Oakland County sang the anthem. I spotted my friend Don right before we started and learned that Jeff was sick and hadn’t made it – bummer. We only chatted briefly because it was time to start!

*Waiting to start with Miss Oakland County about to sing The National Anthem*

With a parade due to take place on the same streets several hours later, our route was closed to traffic and easy to follow with one spot where we veered to the left. We didn’t have any true turns and just kept going until we hit the turnaround point and headed back. There was a slight incline to start but the course was relatively flat. Although it was chilly, at least it wasn’t as cold as it had been a day or two before the race and we didn’t have to worry about any snow on the roads.

It was a nice distraction to see some of the floats parked along the side of the road. Once the leaders hit the turnaround point it gave me some people to watch and I counted how many women were ahead of me. The winners of the race would win a pair of shoes but unfortunately there were enough faster women that I knew that was out of reach. I was the fourth woman and I wondered if I’d be able to catch anyone. My pace got faster as I went and I passed some people, but none of the leading women. I was thankful for the slight decline at the end and did my best to fly through the end even though I didn’t have anyone close by to chase.

I had suspected the course was going to be a little short and I came up with 3.03 miles instead of 3.1, the same as a guy I talked to in the finishing area. I’ve run plenty of extra distance at many of my recent races so I guess it’s only fair for one to pop up where I was a little under instead of way over! That meant my speedy time of 21:29 was a little deceiving. My Garmin had me averaging 7:07 per mile vs. the 6:56 that showed in the results.

Sure enough, I was the fourth woman overall and I placed second in my age group. There were awards for people who topped their age groups so I just missed that.

It was interesting to check out my splits afterward and realize that I got 10 seconds faster with each mile. Other than running a few quick bursts of speed, like 30 seconds to a minute at a time in recent weeks, I haven’t done anything this fast and was pleasantly surprised to see what I had in me.

I hung out at the finish and caught Don as he crossed the line behind several people who were dressed for the occasion.

*The finish with plenty of festive outfits*

I had to take advantage of the post-race photo opportunity and posed with Santa again, joined by the Grinch this time.

*A post-race shot with Santa…and the Grinch*

For celebratory treats we were directed to go to Fillmore 13 Brewery where we could get free pretzels and a beer. Those soft pretzels were really good!

Don and I hung out and chatted for a while. I had run a really solid race without training for that kind of speed, and once again, it leaves me wondering what I could be capable of doing if I get more disciplined about doing the speedwork that I know I ought to do. My friend Lisa has been getting PRs in basically every distance lately thanks to her dedication to speedwork. I know it makes a big difference, I just need to DO it. Maybe this race will inspire me.

I was pretty shocked when I looked at my Garmin stats and found that I didn’t spend ANY time in the red zone during this race. I usually hit zone 5 during many of my regular training runs and I didn’t during the race?! I swear I was breathing pretty heavily but apparently I could have been pushing a lot harder! I know I have more potential in the 5K and need to work on trying to reach it.

I’m really glad I chose to hop in this race at the last minute. Even though I’ve kind of been in maintenance mode with my running, I found that I was more ready to race than I realized. I think this will shake away that lack of motivation to race that I’ve been feeling lately. I certainly needed a little break, and I’m not sure how much racing I’ll do in the next few months as we go through winter. I’m very wary about racing if there’s potential for slick surfaces so I won’t commit to anything until the last minute. Maybe I’ll be more likely to hop in other races now if the conditions are favorable enough.

– Janet

Follow me on Instagram @janetboltz

10.27.25

by milesflyby

Detroit Free Press Marathon Recap

*My Freep Marathon weekend consisted of a total of 30.3 miles*

I did my first marathon in 2013 and have had a guilty feeling sort of haunting me for a while because it took this long to finally run the big “hometown” marathon. The Detroit Free Press Marathon is understandably a big one for people who live in the metro Detroit area. Now I understand why.

I actually signed up to run the race in 2024 but something else came up that same weekend plus I had my big Disney Challenge on the horizon so I opted to defer to this year. Still…what took me this long? I don’t know if I really have a good answer. Part of it is that there are so many marathons that I’d like to do and I just happened to get to some of the others first. Also, I’d heard plenty of people complain about the tunnel being muggy and gross plus I knew my Garmin tracking would probably get messed up there. There was also the fear that if I had some kind of hydration belt it could leave me open to getting stopped and checked by the border guards. Now that I’ve run the race, those seem like silly reasons because none of them were issues. What matters most is that I finally did it and enjoyed it!

Since I did the Dopey Challenge (5K, 10K, half, marathon) at Disney World in January, I knew I should be able to handle the Supreme Challenge (1 mile, 5K, marathon) in Detroit. Offer up the challenge to add even more distance and it can tempt me! That meant I needed to make the 40-minute drive down to Detroit and back three days in a row. I started with a trip to the expo on Friday afternoon after work, parking in a deck right by the Huntington Place convention center.

This was a proper expo with lots of official merch from Brooks, merch from other brands, and plenty of stuff to browse.

*Lots of official race gear from Brooks*

I was worried that I’d be tempted to buy too much cool stuff and was pretty proud of myself for just walking away with a hoodie that was half off (only $35!) and a hat.

Of course I came away with official swag in my race packet as well, including a long sleeve shirt, a neck gaiter, and a very nice jacket for doing one of the challenges.

I also had a bib for each of my three races, two of which would take place back-to-back on Saturday morning.

There’s a Detroit Free Press Marathon Runners group on Facebook that has been extremely helpful throughout this journey. People gave plenty of tips for things like parking and I learned that I could park in the River East deck for free right near the starting line for Saturday’s events. The mile was due to start at 8:25 and I arrived by 7:00 just to play it extra safe. That gave me time to take photos as I wandered the riverfront and enjoyed the sunrise.

*A clear morning on Detroit’s riverfront*

I walked out a little less than a mile then jogged my way back for a warm up. I stashed some clothes at the gear check tent, used the bathroom, and took in more scenery before I went to line up.

*A gorgeous view before the start of the mile*

When I saw some of the people gathering near the starting line I realized I better get up toward the front. I didn’t plan to break any records, but I could gauge that some of the people might not be especially speedy and I didn’t want to get stuck behind them. The announcer also made a point of mentioning that faster people should move up front and slower people should move back.

*Near the front for the start of the mile*

I have only run a mile road race once and it was back in 2014. I had no idea how to pace myself and ran 6:25. Although I’d be curious to see if I could do better, I really don’t enjoy the short, fast stuff, and this was not the time to go all-out. The marathon was a much more important goal and I didn’t need to tweak something the day before! Still, I couldn’t help but give it SOME effort.

The super speedy pace that comes at the beginning and can’t be maintained was brought back under control almost immediately. A quick turn around a corner took us to a short climb up a hill. My first thought was that this was clearly not a PR kind of course. My next thought was that I really am a marathoner and not a miler! I do so much better when I’ve already been running for a while then roll into a faster pace to finish strong. I don’t do so well when I get out there and have to go full-blast right from the start. Still, I got a good enough rhythm going eventually without getting too out of control.

*Smiling even while I’m catching air in the mile. Thanks to the race for providing some free photos!*

I was hoping to go sub-7 and I did, so while I’m sure I could do better, this was a good result for the day and the situation. Then I was shocked to see how well I actually placed!

I didn’t expect any kind of award for my mile time! I checked the website to see if they gave age group awards or anything. I got the impression that it gets sorted out after the fact so maybe I’ll receive a surprise in the mail one day!

*Posing with my first medal along the riverfront*

With the mile starting at 8:25 and the 5K at 8:50, I thought I had some time to kill and took more pictures along the riverfront. For some reason I thought I had until 8:55, then I heard an announcement that the start was three minutes away and I wasn’t even in the corral. I scrambled and found fencing blocked off any entrance to the corral until I made my way nearly to the back. I tried to move up some but it was packed in pretty tight with over 2,000 participants. Big mistake on my part. I told myself that it would help keep me under control, but staying disciplined with my pace and avoiding tripping over walkers are two different things!

Sure enough, the start was a total cluster for me. When I saw someone with a walker in front of me I knew I was in trouble. I started out in the totally wrong spot for my kind of pace! I did the best I could to weave around people at the right edge of the road but that didn’t always work. The hill that I dreaded at the beginning of the mile was probably helpful this time around because it helped weed people out a little as they slowed down. That didn’t help me get around them, but when I finally got a break, at least I had a bit more of an opening. It actually only took about half a mile to get enough space for me to run freely.

Once I could get moving I had to remind myself to settle down. I probably shouldn’t go much faster than my goal marathon pace of 8:00 miles. It can be really difficult to stay disciplined in a race environment but I worked too hard to prepare for the marathon and kept reminding myself that it was the ultimate goal.

The course was nice and flat other than the initial hill. We ran along the riverfront a couple times and mixed in locations like the Atwater Brewery and an amphitheater along the way.

*Running by the Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre*

We had such a perfect day for racing – it was beautiful and around 60° at the start of the 5K. Finishing along the riverfront was especially great.

I was successful in keeping my pace under control. A 5K that I truly raced a few months ago was several minutes faster so I certainly didn’t push it to the max this time. I still did pretty good too!

Day one of racing was complete with 4.1 of my 30.3 miles done.

I collected a bottle of water and was glad they had chocolate milk so I could have something with protein, but the post-race treats were a major disappointment. They had bananas and that was about it. No granola bars or anything else. That’s why I’ve learned to throw one of my protein Picky Bars in my bag so I always know I’ll have something.

I took in more of the scenery and admired how pretty the course was from a couple perspectives.

*5K runners with views of the Windsor and Detroit riverfronts*

They did have a few food trucks available but I passed on those and just headed out.

The weather forecast did not look so good for marathon day so I opted to take in all of the good photo opportunities on this beautiful morning.

*Posing with the RenCen in the background*

*Both of my medals with 5K runners and scenic views in the background*

It may have been a little questionable to do a bunch of extra walking, but I was glad I stopped by the Spirit of Detroit and Hart Plaza since I probably wouldn’t visit either the next day.

I rested for most of the day and even tried to nap for a hour but I usually don’t have much success trying to nap. I went out to dinner and a concert with a friend which was another questionable choice, but at least it was a seated venue that was 15 minutes from home and I was home by 10:30. It was probably good to have the distraction because the forecast had me feeling a little anxious.

*An email we received about race day conditions*

There had been plenty of talk about the rain and wind in the Facebook group leading up to the race. I read through recaps of other rainy races I’ve run to assure myself it would be fine. The one good thing was that it would be on the warmer side so at least I wouldn’t have to worry about being cold. No need for arm sleeves or gloves if it would be at least 60°. Minimal, tight clothing, a hat, and plenty of Aquaphor/Body Glide was all I really needed.

Once again, I followed the advice of some people in the Facebook group and decided to park at the MGM Grand Casino. It was far enough removed from the course that I didn’t have to worry about road closures plus it was free. I got there at 5:30 and made the walk with plenty of other runners over to Campus Martius which may have taken about 15 minutes. I dropped a bag of warm clothes at gear check then ventured off to find RunDetroit’s VIP area.

I bought shoes at RunDetroit this spring which gave me entry to their Freep VIP gathering. They had a nice big area inside with their own gear check, tables, snacks, and real bathrooms. I was only there briefly and used a foam roller and hit the bathroom before venturing back out into the rain.

Since this was my first time doing the race I didn’t know how congested or tricky it may be trying to get to my corral. I entered from the south side and went all the way up to corral B without any issue about 20 minutes before the start. I had a “throwaway” raincoat from the Salvation Army which served me well for a while, then I shed it five minutes before the start.

I made it up to the very front of my corral because that’s where a 1:50 half marathon pacer was standing. Since I was aiming for a 3:30ish marathon, I should have been near a 1:45 pacer. Some slower pace groups were actually in front of us! I debated stepping over the rope into the A corral so I could get to the appropriate pace group but decided I could stay where I was.

We took off around 7:00 into the dark, rainy streets of Detroit. Unlike the congested start of the 5K the day before, I was among people doing a similar pace at the start and was able to run 8:06 and 8:07 for the first two miles. We got to the Ambassador Bridge by that point and there were plenty of border guards making sure everyone had a visible race bib. The fact that this race is international is definitely a major draw. It’s pretty unique getting to run over the bridge to Canada then come back through the tunnel!

I’ve seen plenty of pictures and heard people talk about how cool it is to see the sunrise from the bridge. Not this year! I think I actually got up there a little too early to have seen it anyway. It was still cool to see the view from the bridge but by the time I got to the peak, I was more concerned with the pelting rain hurting my face and the strength of the wind.

*Lovely conditions on the Ambassador Bridge*

Although there was a big climb, it really didn’t feel that significant to me. Maybe it was gradual enough. Either way, that’s when congestion became an issue for me. I got stuck behind a pace group that had people running a little slower than I wanted to go. I couldn’t seem to find an opening to get around people and got kind of frustrated. I slowed to an 8:26 mile there and it wasn’t due to the climb. However, a big climb up means a nice drop down, and eventually I got around people and could milk the momentum on the way down. A 7:34 mile helped balance things out!

There was an announcer where we exited the bridge who made me laugh because he was wearing a swim cap. Once we hit the streets of Windsor, the course was nice and flat.

*Another view of Windsor after crossing the bridge. A special thanks to the photographers who had to capture us in those conditions!*

It was pretty cool getting to see the Detroit skyline from the other side of the river. Of course it would have been more scenic minus the rain. The rain seemed to die down by the time I was 3-4 miles into the race which was a relief.

There had been enough rain to soak the spectators’ signs and I totally cracked up when a guy in front of me whacked a “power up” sign really hard and it completely tore apart. I haven’t seen that in a race before!

The crowd support was great along certain stretches in Windsor and I was really drawn to a Golden Retriever who was intently staring up at its owner, still as a statue. It all made sense when I passed by and saw the person holding a box of Timbits from Tim Hortons.

We spent about three miles in Windsor before it was time to run the “underwater mile” through the tunnel. It was a pretty cool experience going through the entry lanes where the signs had messages specific to us!

*A nice greeting* *and a timing mat ahead to track our underwater mile*

I felt a little slickness off to the right side early on and decided it would be wise to move to the center of the road for better traction.

*I realized the damp areas at the edges could be a little slick*

As people had joked, at least the tunnel would be one spot safe from the rain and wind! It was especially fun to see the halfway point.

A lot of people complain that the tunnel is hot and muggy. It really didn’t bother me much. It WAS refreshing when I exited to some cooler air though.

*Returning to the streets of Detroit after exiting the tunnel*

The map shows that my Garmin strayed from the path of the tunnel a little bit, but it did pretty good and I think the distance was still fairly accurate. I guess I didn’t have to worry so much about it screwing up my data.

*How my Garmin tracked me through the tunnel*

There was a lot of energy from the crowd once we left the tunnel and plenty of spectators lined Jefferson. We ran past Joe Louis’ “fist” and toward the expo center.

*Running by “The Fist” – a monument for Joe Louis*

It was also energizing getting to run up Woodward past one of my favorite spots. That’s an area I tend to frequent because I go to many concerts at The Fillmore, plus we went by The Fox and Comerica Park.

*Running up Woodward by the Fox Theatre*

We spent a number of miles getting to and running through some neighborhoods. There were occasional gusts of wind but the rain had died down and I actually found myself pouring water on my neck a couple times at aid stations when I got warm. Maybe a little more rain wouldn’t be so bad!

*One of the neighborhoods looking beautiful this time of year*

By the time I was 12-13 miles into the race my legs got a little tired and I hoped I hadn’t been too ambitious with some miles under an 8:00 pace. Despite hints of fatigue, I still kept rolling along consistently though!

There were some students cheering as we ran past Wayne State’s campus, and I saw some people I knew around 15.5 miles in which was a pleasant surprise and made me smile.

I knew Bruce, an Infinite Multisport Triathlon Club teammate, would be stationed around 16 miles so I got to say hi to him. Shortly after, more members of the club were stationed at an aid station and I got some cheers.

*Captured by an Infinite Multisport Triathlon Club teammate at an aid station*

We ran through the Eastern Market area and to the Dequindre Cut, a nice paved path. I had done an 18-mile training run a month earlier that was hosted by RunDetroit and it covered a good chunk of the course. It was nice to be so familiar with most of it because of that.

There was a bit of a climb on the way out from the Dequindre Cut, but I told myself it was good to change things up for my muscles for a minute. The course remained flat after that.

It took a while to run the straightway that took us to the Indian Village neighborhood so at least the fastest runners on the other side of the road provided some distraction, not to mention we had some nice fall colors.

*Running the long stretch out toward Indian Village*

Indian Village is definitely one of the prettiest spots of the course, with nice houses and gorgeous trees.

*Indian Village was one of the more scenic spots*

After I looped through Indian Village the wind picked up. A couple of spectators’ hats blew across the road in front of me! The rain started to pick up once again as well. I only had about three miles left, but it was going to be a long three miles into that wind.

*A map of the course. It shows what a long stretch we had from mile 23 (at the bottom right) to the finish*

The course became a grind by this point. No more screwing around with my phone for photos or videos! It was tricky trying to wipe rain off my lens when all of my clothes were wet, and I wasn’t willing to give any extra effort to anything other than finishing the run.

It was cool getting to run through part of Greektown, but I was in “just finish” mode by then. I thought I’d use the last mile or two to pick up the pace on that straightaway, but the rain and wind did not make things any easier. I reached the point when I knew I just had to round a corner to get to the finish line, then an especially strong gust hit me. It was a combination of swearing and laughing from the ridiculousness.

I assume the finishing banner was removed due to the wind, so when I approached the finish, I almost questioned it. It felt very uneventful going by some scaffolding that didn’t even mark the finish. Still, I made it!

*My official results. It looks like I placed in my age group!*

I may always aim for the big goal of a 3:30 marathon, but I was thrilled to run 3:32:53. It was my second fastest marathon! Not bad in some challenging conditions!

As usual, if I ran closer to 26.2 miles rather than coming up with 26.6 miles, I could have shaved a few minutes from my time. Oh well, it was still pretty great!

It’s pretty cool to look back at my splits and see just how strong and consistent I was with the exception of my slowdown on the bridge and the last few miles. Even though the end felt like a grind, I wouldn’t say I hit any kind of wall…except maybe a wall of wind!

As I went through the finishing area, my friend Angie said hi from the half marathon side. We just happened to walk through at the same time!

*With Angie right after we each finished*

It always feels pretty rough coming to a dead stop after running for that long. Still, I managed to put on a big smile for a photo!

The rain was steady by that point and once I stopped to get my Supreme Challenge medal, my sole mission was to get to gear check. I had to wander a little bit after the finish to finally get there and I was extremely anxious to get some warm, dry clothes. Once I did that I could take more photos and figure out what to do about food.

*My Brooks shoes (and shorts and sports bra) served me well so I had to pose here*

I wasn’t happy that a banana was the only food option after the mile and 5K, and I wasn’t happy with the few options they gave us at the end of this race either. I was thankful for chocolate milk again, but after burning 2,500 calories, I hoped for more than a few snack size things.

*I look forward to eating after a marathon but this selection didn’t excite me very much*

So many local 5Ks even load up on bagels, muffins, cookies, bags of chips, granola bars, etc. I know they had a lot of racers to move through and a bag of snacks makes it flow, but still. I ate another one of my protein Picky Bars – I’m always prepared. I decided I needed some kind of substantial treat so I stopped at the Cinnabon food truck.

*At least there was a Cinnabon food truck so I could treat myself to something more exciting*

The rain was so steady that I gripped my wet Cinnabon box as I made the trek back to the casino where I could enjoy the treat in a dry place. I didn’t hang out to celebrate because I was too cold and wet to stay out in the rain and wind any longer. I felt much better once I got the heat going in my car!

I felt so accomplished and proud afterward. I enjoy the journey of the training and wouldn’t feel like it had been a waste if things didn’t go well on race day, but it’s so much sweeter when all of that work pays off with the results I hope for. PLUS, it’s a major Boston-qualifier for me! The qualifying times could always get adjusted by 2027, but right now I need 3:45 to qualify. Even if it drops to 3:40 I have a nice buffer.

This was my 16th marathon and it was the first time I ran three in a year. Typically, I aim to run one in the spring and one in the fall. I had a headache the morning after because I didn’t hydrate enough after the race, but soreness was very minimal. I think I’m learning that the more I run, the more my body has grown accustomed to this.

I had a really great experience throughout the whole Freep weekend and would definitely return to this one, whether I try the marathon again, the international half, or even the shorter distances. It may have taken a while for me to get to it, but now I understand why so many friends love it.

*My full collection of medals for completing the Supreme Challenge*

– Janet

Follow me on Instagram @janetboltz

10.16.25

by milesflyby

Ann Arbor Half Marathon Recap

*This year’s medal for the Ann Arbor Marathon*

I debated whether it would be a good idea to run the Ann Arbor Half Marathon this year since it fell a week before the Detroit Free Press Marathon – my goal race this fall. My training schedule called for a 12-mile run with half of it at marathon pace that day anyway. It would just be an extra mile and I’d aim to be smart and not “race” it. Yeah right. I decided to sign up after I received a discount code from Epic Races for participating in one of their other races. I knew I really wanted to do it since I’ll take any excuse to get back to the land of the University of Michigan and because I’ve enjoyed the race so much the last three years in a row.

I basically cancelled out the discount by opting to pay a fee to have my bib and shirt mailed to me. The half marathon requires people to do that or to attend the expo the day before the race. I was able to make it to the expo last year because I had plans to catch a concert in town and stay overnight. Otherwise, it really doesn’t make sense for me to drive an hour out to Ann Arbor then an hour back home on Saturday, then do it all over again on Sunday. I’m thankful I had the option to have my packet mailed to me.

Just like last year, I went to a concert the night before the race. This time it was in Detroit rather than Ann Arbor so I drove home afterward and probably got around 4.5 hours of sleep since I left the house by 6:00 the morning of the race. It’s the sacrifice I’m willing to make when I love both music and running and want to do it all!

One bonus for having the race on a Sunday is that street parking is free. I got to town an hour before the race started and was able to find a spot a couple blocks away. I made a bathroom stop, did a half mile jog to warm up, then dropped warm clothes at gear check about 20 minutes before the 8:00 start. It was in the high 40s and I was concerned I might be cold standing around in a t-shirt while I waited, but between my jog and the anticipation of the race, I was fine. I lined up in the corral early enough to situate myself right by the pace group I hoped to follow. Last year I hit gear check later and faced a line, then it was hard to get where I wanted to be in the corral and I started farther back than I should have. I learned my lesson for this year.

I knew I should be disciplined with my pace since I was in taper mode for the marathon. My goal marathon pace is around 8:00/mile so I figured I could stay behind the 1:45:00 pacer for at least half of the race and maybe go ahead after that if I felt good.

We started in small waves every few minutes to help ease congestion and I went off near the front of the second wave. The wave start was especially helpful for coping with a tight spot around road construction in the first mile.

*If you look closely enough you can spot me, always smiling for photographer Greg Sadler!*

I’ve only had success sticking with a pace group a couple of times but this wasn’t one of those times. Despite being a couple people behind the pacer in the corral, I lost him immediately in the bustle of the start. I was able to get moving at my ideal pace fairly easily and ran the first mile in 7:51 yet I still couldn’t catch the pacer.

Last year we started an hour earlier in the dark which I believe was due to a request from the city so the roads could open up earlier. It also rained during that race so I didn’t take photos along the course. I made up for that this year by taking tons of photos of the scenic route. Fog kept us from seeing much of a sunrise but it was still pretty running past the Michigan and State Theatres through downtown Ann Arbor.

Prior to the start, race director Eva Solomon made an announcement about a narrow spot due to construction. Unfortunately I didn’t realize that until later because the guys next to me in the corral were talking so loudly I couldn’t hear anything she said. As we ran down State Street, we shifted to the sidewalk to get around the torn-up portion of the street. It didn’t get too clogged thanks to the wave start staggering runners every few minutes.

*The course narrowed for a brief stretch on State Street*

The inconvenience was fairly brief. We crossed over by the art museum and soon enough we were back out on the road running past the scenic law quad.

*Another perspective of the law quad, thanks to Greg Sadler Photography*

One of the perks of this race is getting to run around the campus of the University of Michigan, my alma mater. The only running I did during my time there was around the indoor track at the gym so I enjoy getting to run around a little chunk of campus now that I’m a “real” runner.

*Running past a building that didn’t exist when I went to school there!*

After a couple miles we worked our way out to Geddes Ave. which has some rolling hills. One of my fastest miles of the race was the fourth mile when I gained a lot of momentum running downhill. Each time I run that stretch I think about how I ought to get out there when I’m training for the Boston Marathon because it can help simulate the quad-pounding downhills of that race.

*Rounding a corner on Geddes, about to head down a hill*

*The map and elevation, which shows the drop a few miles into the race*

The foggy scenery was kind of nice as we ran past a golf course.

We ran along Huron River Dr. for a stretch before heading down to a path that runs along the river.

I have run this race four times and have experienced a slightly different course each time. The core of it has been the same but there have been tweaks every year – probably because of construction in a different spot each time. We didn’t run on as much of the Border to Border (B2B) trail last year so I was thankful this stretch was a part of the course again this year because it’s especially scenic.

*A little taste of fall colors along the B2B trail*

I was halfway through the race when I finally caught up to the pace group. Does it mean I was technically disciplined since I didn’t pass the 8:01 pace group until halfway through the race as planned…even though my watch said I was averaging 7:45/mile at that point? Early on I heard some guys speculate that the pacer might be going out fast to help bank time for the hilly section that would come later. When the course ended up running extra long for me, I realized it was necessary to go faster than 8:01 to actually hit that 1:45:00 time successfully.

*I couldn’t resist taking a bunch of pictures here*

By the time I was halfway through the race the fog had broken and it turned into a pretty day. Thankfully it was in the low 50s which felt perfect to me.

I know things get tough when we approach the hospital 10 miles into the race. There’s a good uphill climb at that point. I had actually been there a couple weeks earlier because my niece Zoe was born there!

A major change to the course this year came when we got to the Arboretum – aka “the Arb” segment. We entered the Arb where we usually exit. Once again, thanks to construction! It got a little congested at this point because the marathon and half marathon runners started to share the course with people doing the 10K.

*Another perspective of the entrance to the Arb*

Taking a set of stairs down to the trail was something new this year. I’m thankful that Epic Races keeps finding ways to adapt each year so we can keep running the race even as construction pops up all over. I’m sure it creates challenges with mapping out the course.

*A blurry action shot flying down the stairs*

The Arb is such a gorgeous part of the race. It was nice to run along a trail through the woods for a bit. The Arb hill is known as the toughest part of the race. Even though we ran a completely different route through the Arb, we definitely still got a hill! It wasn’t one steep climb like we’ve had in the past but rather a longer climb that just kept going. I ran 8:26 for the eleventh mile which was 30 seconds slower than my second slowest mile. It sure was pretty though!

*It was a pretty day for some trail running*

*The climbing helped space people out and I was on my own for a brief moment*

Once I came out of the Arb I had a couple miles to go and got my pace back to where it had been prior to that mile. I had to do a little more weaving around some of the 10K people, and as I got closer to the finish, some 5K people as well.

*Thanks to Greg Sadler’s team for some great photos!*

During the last couple miles I also saw some of the fastest marathon runners going out for a second loop of the course.

*Heading toward the finish on one side of the road as marathoners went back out on the other*

The inconvenience of the construction on State Street was more noticeable on the way back simply because people running each of the races were on the same narrow stretch of sidewalk with a variety of paces. I was able to get by on the left well enough and it didn’t seem to slow me down.

Things opened back up soon enough and I knew I’d get a nice long stretch along Liberty to let loose with a downhill segment helping me out by the end.

*It’s so cool getting to run through this town*

I managed to run a 7:01 pace for the thirteenth mile, then instead of having .1 left, I still had .43 more according to my watch. That was nearly half a mile at a 6:40 pace. So much for being disciplined and taking it “easy.”

*Around the corner to the final stretch*

My official time was 1:43:21 which averaged out to 7:53/mile. Since my watch claims I did quite a bit more, it had me down for a 7:42 pace.

I know well enough that it’s rare for me to actually run the shortest possible distance on a race course even when I aim to run the tangents. My watch is not always reliable either and it showed me running through buildings rather than on the street when we were downtown. It’s typical for me to end up with 13.2 miles in a race rather than 13.1, but going over 13.4 was a bit more extreme. I’m sure construction along the course and a different route through the Arb could have contributed to some of that. It’s just nice to know that I would have been even closer to 1:40:00 minus some of the extra distance.

Mile six is when I found myself actually by the pace group and when I kept it the most under control. I’d been in a rhythm of going faster though, so when someone else broke around them on the left to pass, I took that chance to follow. I was actually fairly consistent for most of the race. That just meant I was consistently faster than I had intended to be on this day! I felt good and it can be hard to hold back.

*A closer look at the medal, which came with a little charm that can be detached*

I went to the post-race celebration area and saw my friend Angie who was helping Epic Races at the merch tent and talked to her for a few minutes. Standing around there only tempted me to buy something, of course.

*I didn’t really NEED another hoodie but couldn’t resist this cozy one in UofM’s colors*

Then it was time to get my warmer clothes from gear check and walk through the food line. I got some of my favorites that Epic always has to offer – pancakes, an egg and cheese wrap, and a cookie.

*Another place to pose – after I got some warm clothes*

I stopped by the awards table and found that I was first in my age group! I could pick a coaster or a keychain and opted for the keychain.

I thought about going to treat myself to some donuts from Washtenaw Dairy and sent a text to my friend Beth to see if she was around. She lives right by the dairy and I stopped to visit her after the race the first year I did it. I lucked out and was able to see her and her family for a little bit before their day got busy.

*Running a half marathon is a perfect excuse to enjoy some donuts from Washtenaw Dairy*

I walked back by the finish line on my way out, thinking about how the marathon finishers at that point were probably around the pace that I would run for the marathon. Now I’ll see how that pans out for me on October 19 when I get my shot. I ran easy the day after the race and felt fine so I don’t think I beat myself up too much. Between the 20-miler at the Fox Valley Marathon at the end of September, this solid half marathon, and some good training, I should be in good shape and will hope everything comes together on race day.

– Janet

Follow me on Instagram @janetboltz

09.25.25

by milesflyby

Fox Valley Marathon Fall Final 20 Recap

*A successful 20-mile run at the Fox Valley Marathon*

Sometimes things fall into place perfectly and that’s what happened with the Fox Valley Marathon. When I started planning a trip to one of Chicago’s western suburbs for a wedding, I knew it would give me a chance to find a cool place to do my long run the next morning. I scoped out the wedding venue in Geneva, IL and saw that it was along the Fox River. I typically start my hunt for running locations by looking for green areas on the map that might indicate a park or by looking for bodies of water that may have a path by them. Sure enough, the Fox River Trail was right in the area where I’d be. As I looked into it more, I discovered there would actually be a race taking place that Sunday morning (September 21) that would use the trail. With the Detroit Free Press Marathon a month away, I’d be due to run 18-20 miles. It was just my luck that the Chicago Marathon would be three weeks away and many people would be running their last 20-miler that weekend. In addition to the 5K, half marathon, and marathon, the Fox Valley Marathon Races actually included the Fall Final 20 specifically for people getting ready to run fall marathons. The race would start and finish in St. Charles which was the area where most people were going to stay for the wedding. Everything about this race seemed ideal for me and I was excited to add it to the weekend’s activities.

I left for the Chicago area the morning of the wedding and the drive from the Detroit area took just under six hours thanks to a few patches of construction that created numerous frustrating delays. I went to packet pickup first which was held at the Kane County Fairgrounds. It was interesting to drive around the fairgrounds where nothing else was happening and try to figure out where I was supposed to go. I was amused to find that everything took place in the rabbits shed!

*Fox Valley Marathon Races included a 5K, half marathon, 20 mile run, and marathon*

There was some merch available from Dick Pond Athletics and some event-specific clothing as well. I basically went in to collect my bib and shirt, then went to my hotel in St. Charles since I had about an hour until I needed to head out to the wedding. Everything worked out really well – the expo was 10-15 minutes from my hotel, the wedding was about 10 minutes from the hotel, and the start of the race was as well.

I didn’t see much of it, but Geneva seemed to have a very nice downtown. The wedding was beautiful and had a nice view of the Fox River out the windows. I stuck around until just before 10:00 and ended up with about six hours of sleep that night.

It rained overnight and during the early morning which left some fog and plenty of humidity for race day. It was in the mid-60s so it wasn’t especially hot but the air was really thick. The race was due to start at 7:00 and I parked on the north end of downtown St. Charles around 6:15 and walked 10 minutes or so to the start. Lots of people were trying to park near the race site and the traffic was pretty congested there so I was happy with my approach.

*We had 98% humidity first thing in the morning*

Everything was based out of Mount Saint Mary Park which was a really nice spot with paths, flowers, and sculptures. There was a gear check area which I used so I would have some dry clothes available afterward and bathroom lines didn’t take too long around 6:30. I had time for a warm up mile and ran around the paths within the park. I lined up in the corral 15-20 minutes before the start and had plenty of space even with the half, the marathon, and the 20-miler all starting at the same time. Over 1,800 people participated in those races with over 300 more in the 5K that started 10 minutes later.

*Pace groups helped me figure out where I should line up to start*

Aside from the initial congestion getting out of the park, things flowed smoothly because we spent the first 5.5 miles on the roads where we had plenty of space.

My marathon training plan would have had me run 6-8 miles at marathon pace at the end of the day’s long run. I also had a 16-mile run coming up the next week with 10-12 miles at marathon pace. Since that’s hard for me to pull off on a Thursday evening when I’m already tired from work I decided I should probably keep my pace under control for the first 10 miles of this race then aim for marathon pace for the second half. It’s a whole lot easier to pull off the faster pace in a race than it is during a solo weeknight run.

This was not my goal race and I didn’t want to push so hard that it might set me back for my upcoming marathon. Staying “under control” in a race environment can be tricky because running feels so much easier in a pack of fast people. I thought maybe I should aim for 8:20-8:30 pace for the first half. I ran 8:19 for the first mile but ran 8:07 and 8:09 for miles three and four. I slowed down to 8:24 for mile five but ended up at 8:04 for mile six. That back and forth pacing continued for the first half and I hoped it wouldn’t hurt me later on.

The course was very pretty and I loved running on the path alongside the river. It definitely looked like fall! Plenty of leaves were on the ground and I was a bit cautious because they were wet. Thankfully I didn’t have any issues with traction and spent much of the run enjoying the scenery.

We crossed bridges a few times during the run and cut through some of the towns briefly as well.

*A nice view of the river while running across a bridge*

Most of the course was pretty flat but I could feel the added effort of some rolling hills that came 12 miles into the race. I had picked up the pace by then which made any climbs feel harder, plus it was around that point that a couple of guys I’d been running behind broke off to greet family/supporters. It had been nice to use them to help pace myself for a few miles but then I was on my own.

*The guys in the black shirts had a steady pace so I tried to stay behind them for a bit*

The half marathon runners had split in another direction seven miles into the race, then the marathoners split after 14 miles.

*The course was well-marked for the different distances*

I felt like I was mostly on my own for a while until I started to catch up to some walkers, who I assume were around the tail end of the half marathon racers. As I kept going I started to catch up to some who were moving a little faster, but aside from one guy I caught in the last couple miles, it didn’t seem like there was anyone within sight ahead of me who might be going fast enough to be doing the 20. I had to keep pushing on my own and somehow I was successful!

*There weren’t many people ahead of me for a while after the marathoners split*

From the beginning of the race it felt like I had to constantly wipe sweat off my face. The humidity was tough but it didn’t seem to wear me down. I fueled as I normally do with Skratch electrolyte mix in my own bottle plus water from aid stations. I ate Clif Shot Bloks every couple miles or so after six miles with a salt tablet now and then as well. From mile 12 on I ran at a pace of 7:55 or faster. It definitely got a bit more labored in the later miles yet I was able to keep it going. I continued to enjoy the scenery, including a windmill in one town, and the Geneva Dam that I had admired from the opposite side of the river at the wedding the night before. It was pretty fun that I got to run back through that same area.

*Riverside Receptions, the site of the wedding, before I hit 18 miles*

My Garmin (which I don’t know if I can trust) had me at a total of 20.2 miles when I finished. That averaged out to 8:01 per mile which meant I essentially averaged goal marathon pace for 20 miles.

The official results had me averaging 8:06 pace which is typically around the faster end of where my marathon pace actually falls when I have a good race. So either way, it was a really solid run!

I finished in 2:41:56 which was good for second in my age group. The top two male and female overall runners received awards – they didn’t go into age groups for the 20-mile race. I was given a generic-looking medal at the finish line because there had been a shipping delay that prevented the “real” medals from making it on time. 20 miles isn’t a common race distance so that’s why my medal was especially generic while the other racers got medals that actually listed their distances. We would get the official medals sometime later in the mail.

I chatted with the guy I had passed in the last couple miles who ended up finishing shortly after me and we took pictures for each other by the finish line. I’m glad we did because I didn’t end up with any official photos from this race! I found a couple shots of me along the path that could have been nice if they hadn’t been focused on the trees behind me. Another runner had a speedy finishing kick as I ran across the finish line so it was a little congested there and I didn’t get a finishing photo. All of those times I have raved about Greg Sadler Photography’s great job for Epic Races is truly genuine. There are a lot of races that are a huge disappointment in the photography category after being spoiled by the great Epic Races shots!

The race really was a great experience all around, but another disappointment was the food. I passed on a banana, leaving me only with a bag of chips, Mini Chips Ahoy, and Mini Nilla Wafers. There’s no protein there and although the salt from the chips was helpful, these weren’t very substantial treats at the end of such a long run. This is why I always make sure to bring along a protein Picky Bar!

*I enjoyed these snacks but I was definitely hungry for more after 20 miles*

I was pretty drenched from the humidity by the end of this race so I was really glad I brought a fresh shirt, shorts, and hat to change into for the 6-hour drive back home. Some of my family who had gone to the wedding were hanging out at a coffee shop that was along the way back to my car so I stopped to chat with them for a few minutes before heading out. I knew the drive could be trouble because I’d surely stiffen up. I drove for a few hours before stopping at Sweetwater’s Donut Mill in Kalamazoo. It’s always on my radar when I drive through the area and it seemed like it was a very necessary stop this time after the lack of post-race food. It was a good excuse to stretch, and as expected, I felt pretty rough when I stood up.

I made it the rest of the way without stopping and was very thankful that the drive home went more smoothly than the drive out. I’m glad everything came together so well between the wedding and the race because this was another fun adventure.

– Janet

Follow me on Instagram @janetboltz

09.19.25

by milesflyby

Crim 10-mile Race Recap

*The medal for the 48th running of Crim*

Saturday, August 23 was my eighth time running the Crim 10 Mile race in Flint, MI and it’s taken me about a month to write my recap. I raced enough this summer that I’ve written a bunch of recaps and haven’t been motivated to write another while work, marathon training, and life in general have kept me so busy. I also wasn’t super inspired because this race has become pretty routine for me. Still, it was a great day so it’s worth remembering!

I followed the same method that has worked for so many years – I arrived somewhere around 5:30-5:45 and parked in a lot that’s a good half mile north of the race site. I rack up a couple extra miles on race day just going back and forth but it’s probably a good way to warm up/cool down. I was a little earlier than last year when I actually had to wait in line at packet pickup. That wasn’t an issue at all this time and I was able to use an actual bathroom in the building with a minimal wait as well. That line always grows exponentially as the morning goes on!

I went back to the car to drop off my shirt and get my bib and everything ready to race, then I jogged down to the race site for part of my warm up. I made another bathroom stop just to play it safe but the porta potty lines are always long. I still had a good 40 minutes until the race started so I was still okay with a wait of at least 15 minutes. They really don’t have enough porta potties though because the lines get LONG and I’d guess people after me had to wait at least 20-30 minutes. It only gets worse as we approach the 7:00 start. I know now that I have to be extra early at this race to avoid that added stress since I was in line until minutes before the start last year.

I jogged around a bit more to get to an even mile, then I headed to the starting corral. I saw Andy, who I know through Infinite Multisport Triathlon Club and we chatted while we waited. Then we saw our friend Joe who pretty much knows everyone. He said he starts at the front of the corrals and works his way back so he can say hi to all of his friends!

As usual, I wasn’t really sure what kind of pace I could expect to run. It was in the 60s which felt pretty reasonable after such a warm summer. Still, after a mile of warming up I could tell that it was humid and I got warm pretty quickly. I know that I can typically start somewhere between the 7:30 and 8:00 pacers though.

Over 4,000 people ran the 10-mile race so runners go off in waves.

*A mob of people waiting to start, photo courtesy of Crim. I see myself at the top just left of the 7:30 sign in a yellow shirt and my head down with the white hat!*

Even with the congestion of the start, I managed to run 7:42 for the first mile. That was a pretty quick start! I usually run the race by feel and glance at my watch now and then to get an idea of what I’m doing. I dropped to 7:31 for the second mile which seemed a little ambitious so early on, but I fluctuated around the 7:30s and 7:40s for much of the race and seemed to be okay with it so I kept rolling.

*Following the blue line. Photo courtesy of Mark Corcoran*

Three or four miles into the race I came across Carlo, a guy I know from my days working at GM. We were both a part of the Chevy Running Club and it seems like we often run the same pace and usually end up near each other during Crim and Corporate Cup races. It’s funny how we still find each other in a crowd that large. We chatted for a little while until one of my mile splits popped up in the low 7:30s. That typically isn’t “conversational pace” for me and I thought trying to talk while running that fast might get more difficult or I’d pay for it later so maybe we’d chat more after the race.

Even though I run hills around home, the Bradley Hills are always a challenge and seem steeper and longer than anything I run during training. I kept grinding and although I hit my slowest split after that segment, 7:51 wasn’t too bad and I sped up again for the last half of the race.

*Climbing the Bradley Hills. Photo courtesy of Jeff Grossklaus*.

The community always shows up for this race and I was glad to see some of the regular characters. I never grab anything other than water along the course so I didn’t stop at the “rum water” or beer stops, but the options were available!

*This woman is always out bouncing on her trampoline for Crim!*

Another thing I can count on pretty much every year is coming across my buddy Lee along the course. People who have participated in Crim 30 or more years get an early start and many of them have something on their shirts that says what number Crim it is for them. Lee said he would have a “38” on the back of his shirt so I had been on the lookout the whole time. I think I saw him around the Bradley Hills last year, so eventually when I hadn’t seen him yet I figured I missed him in the crowd. In the last mile or so I finally saw him up ahead! Seeing him so late into the race meant he was having a really strong race so I made sure to cheer him on as I passed.

After running 7:38 and 7:40 for miles seven and eight, I found an extra gear and finished miles nine and ten in 7:24 and 7:04. Once again, I’m amazed that a 7:04 mile can be a big struggle to hit on any random day, but once I’ve “warmed up” with a long race, I can pull that off at the end.

*Thanks to RunMichigan.com for a finishing photo*

I knew that I was RIGHT on the edge of hitting 1:16:00 and didn’t quite do it – I made it two seconds over. I made it under 1:14:00 one year, and this was actually my fourth best Crim out of eight. That’s okay – it was a solid race and earned me a pretty high slot in my age group! That age group placement was especially important because Stellantis, GM, and Ford form teams to compete against each other in a “Corporate Challenge” at this race. Even a month later I’m not sure how the results panned out yet, but I did my share for my Stellantis team! I believe I will get an award in the mail for my age group but that hasn’t come yet either.

**Update** – About a month after the race my age group award came in the mail. It attaches to the ribbon of the medal.

*Attached to my medal in the Crim section of my medal hanger*

Soon after I finished I found Carlo and had to grab a picture with him.

I also came across Susy, a woman I met at Stony Creek Metropark this winter when we were both training for Boston. I got a picture with her, then she gathered a bunch of people she knew (who I didn’t!) for another photo.

One of my favorite parts of Crim is seeing SO many friends. For a race that has been going for 48 years, it’s a pretty long-standing tradition for many area runners. Lindsay is one of those friends I see nearly every year.

Don is another friend I can always count on seeing at Crim. I usually run into him in the starting corral and was bummed when I didn’t this year, so I’m glad we saw each other in the celebration area afterward.

I had a granola bar, chocolate milk, and a slice of pizza as I chatted with friends. Another was Ron, the captain of our Stellantis running team.

Last year I decided to change things up and go big with the half marathon challenge by adding the 5K race after running the 10-miler. However, I had an hour and a half in between races, I stiffened up, and I landed myself in physical therapy for months afterward when my hip became a problem following the race. I had a great run but I also may have pushed too much for the one day. I opted not to try that again this year!

It was another fun year of running the Crim and it’s likely that I’ll be back for my ninth time next year!

– Janet

Follow me on Instagram @janetboltz

08.20.25

by milesflyby

Swim to the Moon 5K Recap

*Swim to the Moon: Unsalted & Shark Free*

2019 was the first year that I did the Swim to the Moon 5K with Epic Races and it was such a great experience that I’ve come back every year, with 2020 being the exception due to COVID. That meant that this year was my sixth time so of course by now it has become routine for me. I know I can always use this event to motivate me to keep up with my swimming because 5K is some serious distance in the water. I was a bit disappointed in myself for slacking off on my pool time for much of the winter and spring this year though. With marathons in both January and April, that training took priority and I cut back on my early morning swims in favor of sleep to recover from all of the running. I had some stretches where I didn’t swim for weeks at a time and it wasn’t until later in June when I finally stepped up again with multiple swims per week. In 2023, I swam close to 160 miles from January until this race. I dropped down to around 120 miles last year. If I thought that was disappointing, I was kind of shocked to realize now that I had done just over 60 miles during that stretch this year! It’s okay to shake things up and change priorities throughout the year but I’ll have to see if I can do better going forward. I guess what matters most is that I got some good training in for 8-9 weeks prior to this event which was still plenty of time to be prepared.

One tough part about the routine of doing this race is leaving the house around 4:30 in the morning to get to Halfmoon Lake at Pinckney Recreation Area just before 6:00. Sunday, August 17 was the big day and we lucked out with a pretty great day for it. It’s been a warm summer so I didn’t have to worry about the water being a little chilly like it has been some years. The water was probably around 80° this year! I also didn’t have to worry about shivering before or after the swim. It was in the low 70s first thing in the morning and it just climbed from there. Forecasts had shown possible rain or storms but fortunately nothing materialized and we were good to go.

Packet pickup is an option the day before the race but obviously it doesn’t make sense for me to make that drive. Getting there early usually works just fine. I waited a few minutes to collect my shirt, swim cap, and gear check bag. Collecting my ankle timing chip required a longer wait. In the past we’ve had disposable timing chips and plenty of people had them ahead of time because they went to packet pickup on Saturday. This year the timing company had reusable timing chips that were assigned to people on race morning. I suspected that could cause a delay and I was correct because hundreds of swimmers would be lining up for those in a short period of time. I was totally fine because I was in line by 6:15 and had until 7:00 to catch a bus to the 5K start. However, some 10K people were still getting their chips at the last minute which wasn’t ideal when they were supposed to start at 6:30.

The 10K swimmers start at Halfmoon Lake, swim out 5K, then come back. I usually like to see them take off before I catch a bus out to my start, and this year they were delayed a good 25 minutes. I knew that meant our 7:30 start time would likely be delayed by as much time as a result so I wasn’t in any big hurry.

In the meantime, I was able to find my work buddy Cristian waiting in line for his chip. One day we were chatting at work about all of these crazy races that I do and I mentioned Swim to the Moon. It caught his interest because he used to swim in high school. Next thing I knew, he had signed up! I was a bit concerned because he hadn’t done any real swimming in something like 11-12 years and had maybe a month to prepare? We touched base as he got a YMCA membership and got in the pool a few times. I personally like to prepare as much as I can, so his approach of just going for it kind of stressed me out! Some people can pull that off though! Hoping that he would have a good experience helped distract me from some of the nerves I may have had about my own race.

*With Cristian in the line for timing chips*

I had another distraction because Kim, a friend who I know thanks to Epic Races, asked if I could join her 16-year-old daughter Sydney for the bus ride and hang out together at the beach where we’d start. Kim was swimming a shorter distance and wouldn’t be able to join Sydney at the start and it would be nice for her to have some company. Hanging out together probably distracted both of us from some of our nerves and it was really nice getting to chat with Sydney and learn about the kind of training she does with her high school swim team.

*Heading to the bus with Sydney*. *Photo by Kim.*

*Getting dropped off at North Star Reach*. *Photos courtesy of Greg Sadler Photography and his team.*

The 5K starts at Patterson Lake where there’s a camp named North Star Reach. It’s a place where kids with serious health challenges are able to go and enjoy themselves and the race raises money for the great organization. I gave a little money after I signed up and appreciated my mom for providing a donation as well. Over $19,000 had been raised when I looked the day before the race!

As we walked from the bus to the beach I heard an announcement that things would start at 7:35 and I freaked out. I had been super relaxed assuming the first swimmers wouldn’t go until 7:55 and I’d probably be starting at least 45 minutes behind the fastest people. I wasn’t ready to go yet! I hit the porta potty and realized I better pack my clothes quickly to drop at gear check before it closed. While over by gear check, Sydney found some work friends so I knew she would be good to hang out with them. That’s when I had time for my own nerves to kick in!

It’s possible that the announcement about starting at 7:35 referred to a pre-race meeting rather than actually starting the swim. That’s when race director Eva Solomon went through the logistics. That confirmed what I suspected – we WERE still waiting for the lead 10K swimmers to come through before we’d start. That’s how it has typically worked in the past and why I had been in no rush. If it takes about an hour for the speedy people to get to us, the soonest we would start would be around 8:00. The lead swimmer this year finished his first 5K in an hour and five minutes!

*Race director Eva Solomon leading the pre-race meeting*

Now I was a little anxious because I still had at least 45 minutes to kill and probably should have hung onto my drink and energy chews. I try to plan the timing of my eating and drinking very carefully! I ate a Honey Stinger Waffle at home before I left, a Picky Bar during the drive, another Picky Bar while waiting for the bus, then a couple of caffeine Clif Bloks real quick when I had to leave my stuff at gear check. I drank nearly 20 oz. of Skratch electrolytes during my drive and sipped on some heading to the beach as well. I like to pre-load with electrolytes knowing that I don’t want to cramp during the swim.

In the future, I may just hang on to a disposable bottle, some of my chews, and maybe even a heat blanket from a marathon if I have to drop stuff at gear check by 7:20 but still have to wait an hour to actually start. It wasn’t a cold morning so I was fine and fortunately I seemed okay with my timing for what I ate and drank.

*5K swimmers lined up and ready to start*

Cristian found me during some of that downtime so we got to hang out as we waited to start. I took a few minutes to get in the lake off to the side to warm up and get my goggles ready then I lined up when it seemed like we were getting close to the swimmers who might take 1:40-1:50 to complete the 5K. It wasn’t super structured so I may have started a little early, but that worked better for me than last year when I started later than I should have and got stuck in some congestion behind slower swimmers. It’s a tricky art trying to figure out where to line up when it’s kind of a free-for-all!

Cristian thought he would be quite a bit slower but we still started out together which made things extra fun. It was cool having a friend to share the beginning moments of this crazy thing we were about to do.

I think Cristian had a pretty strong start and we were probably by each other for the first few minutes, but eventually it was hard to tell with other people around and each of us settling into our own paces. It was a cloudy morning at that point which was ideal because it made it easier to spot buoys. The water was comfortable and I didn’t really think about the temperature at all.

I knew where photographer Greg Sadler had set up for photos in the past and didn’t see him there so I wasn’t sure where he might be along the course. I usually like to mug for him when I spot him. I found out later that he had been positioned on top of a bridge. He got some nice shots of the action from up there.

*Swimmers on their way toward a bridge* *along the Potowatami Trail*

You can see a number of people standing because the transition from one lake to another was pretty shallow. I was just barely able to continue my stroke without swiping the bottom, but I’d imagine people with longer arms had more of an issue. Whenever people chose to walk it seemed like they went the same pace as me as I continued to swim so it really didn’t matter which I did. I just told myself that I was there to swim 5K so I wanted to keep swimming.

*Heading from Watson Lake to Halfmoon Lake*

No big smile this time around, but Greg caught me in action as I approached the bridge.

I did pretty good spotting the buoys and staying on track for a while. One thing that messed with me was approaching buoys when we actually needed to turn. There were a couple of buoys that were good for sighting so I knew which direction to aim for, but then I didn’t realize that we actually needed to turn and head into the next lake. I found myself still on track to get to those buoys when I noticed that people were rounding a corner instead of heading straight toward the buoys. I have to be more aware when I do this race in the future so I can cut those corners rather than adding unnecessary extra distance. Although some individuals might swim out of the way and stray from the path of the buoys, if a whole group is headed one way, there’s probably a good chance that I should follow them.

We pass through five lakes in this point-to-point course which is something that makes it extra special. It’s so much more enjoyable than swimming loops around buoys in one lake. Some of the transition spots get a little tricky though. There are the shallow spots, and some spots have pretty thick weeds. Those stretches don’t last very long though before getting back to a more open lake.

I bypassed the first aid station a mile into the race because I’m used to going two miles straight without stopping to drink. I planned to stop at the 2-mile mark for some water. I snuck glances at my watch along the way when I knew I should be past two miles but still hadn’t seen the aid station. I saw a bunch of people standing in the distance and figured that must be where it was. Nope – it was just another shallow spot. This time it was shallow enough that I decided I should walk so I could get some relief from my goggles. They were killing my face by that point and it’s a struggle that I still haven’t managed to resolve. I want the goggles to suction tight enough so they won’t leak, but eventually they start to hurt. I’ve tried what seems like a million different kinds and keep coming back to the Speedo Vanquishers just because I can keep them from leaking more than any of the others.

I took that little break to wade through the water while I messed with my goggles then continued to swim. Just when I thought I wasn’t going to get to an aid station, I realized there was a boat off to the side. I worried that it might take me off course and add distance, but I thought it would be smart to have a cup of water to help avoid dehydration. I held onto the boat, drank, then got going again and realized I was still on track for the next buoy from there.

Halfmoon Lake is where we finish so it can seem like a big relief to finally get there. Yet it probably covers about a third of the swim! It’s not like it’s a quick straightaway to the finish. It’s also where the water got a little more choppy. It wasn’t anything too annoying but it was more than we’d faced in any of the other lakes. The sun also came out by the time I got there. That WAS super annoying because then I was heading straight toward the sun and it was really hard to see the buoys and know whether I was on track. The best I could do was follow people ahead of me and hope they were going the right way.

I held up pretty well throughout the whole swim without any real issues. I decided to pick up my pace when I figured I had 1,000 yards to go. It’s not like I suddenly found more speed, but I definitely felt myself really working.

Eventually I came to a pelican buoy and then a turtle and knew those marked the turnaround spots for people swimming some of the shorter races. Those helped keep me on track and motivated me to keep pushing because I was getting close.

As always, the finishing arch became visible enough eventually.

*Time to stand up and head to the finish line*

*So glad to get those goggles off my face*

My official time was 1:54:05. Out of the six times I’ve done the race, that falls somewhere in the middle of my times, with the best being 1:50:00. That was my very first one and I still haven’t figured out why I can’t seem to improve on that time yet!

Surprisingly, I didn’t stumble when I stood up after being in a horizontal swimming position for so long. I was able to jog under the finishing arch and felt fine. The only thing that bothered me, which hit a little bit later, was some tightness around my neck, shoulders, and back. What I really needed was a good shoulder massage! I was totally fine otherwise though. I got my stuff from gear check, sprayed some sunscreen, then went to check out the food.

Pancakes, cookies, an egg and cheese wrap, and a peanut butter and granola wrap – all of the usually goodies at the end of an Epic race.

I hung out by the finish for a while and as I started to walk away I ran into Cristian who was exiting the finisher’s chute. I must have just missed his finish! I gave him a high-five and was so excited for him. He thought he might take at least three hours and was worried he’d miss the cutoff. He finished in 2:27 and didn’t have to worry at all! We hung out with his girlfriend for a while and talked about our races. Cristian’s shoulder started to bug him a mile into the race so it was uncomfortable for a good chunk of it. Being undertrained probably had something to do with it, but it’s totally awesome that he was able to pull it off. I was relieved that he wasn’t cursing me for putting the idea in his head – he was already talking about doing it again next year!

I saw my friend Dawn and she told me that I had placed fifth in my age group. Epic was giving awards to the top five people in each age group, so I decided I should go check on that. I was shocked because I usually don’t place very high in this race. I’m a decent swimmer when I’m racing against people who are stronger cyclists in triathlons, but when it’s purely a swimming event, I can’t compete. Yet it was confirmed that I was listed as fifth and I collected a little backpack for an award.

I don’t get any cell reception at that park so I wasn’t able to see the results. It wasn’t until later in the day that I was able to check and I found that my finishing time was listed as 1:38. That would have been nice, but there was no way. I knew my Garmin could be off by a few seconds, but I definitely swam 1:54-something, NOT 1:38. I felt bad knowing that I’d probably taken someone else’s age group award but I hadn’t been aware of my supposed time when I collected it. I sent a note to the timing people about correcting my time and I finally saw that it was fixed a couple days later. I was actually 7/19 in my age group and 156/289 overall.

Because I’m totally crazy and Sunday is usually my long run day, I decided I would attempt to get a run in after the swim. I realized that Hudson Mills Metropark was just a few miles down the road on my way back to the highway so it would be the perfect place to go. It was 1:00 by the time I started which wasn’t great with the sun was beating down on me. It wasn’t so great trying to run after eating pancakes and cookies either! It got better as I went though, and fortunately a good chunk of the park’s path has some shade. Somehow I managed a solid 11-mile run. It caught up with me the next day though when I didn’t feel so great.

*A beautiful afternoon at Hudson Mills Metropark*

*I’m glad there’s plenty of shade along the park’s path*

Once again, Swim to the Moon left me feeling very accomplished. Swimming races like this are pretty rare and we are lucky to have such a cool opportunity around here. It sounds like I can count on seeing Sydney and Cristian next year too because as soon as we were done, all of us were already thinking about doing it again!

– Janet

Follow me on Instagram @janetboltz

08.12.25

by milesflyby

Bridge to Brew Half Marathon Recap

It looks like this August’s race schedule is going to play out exactly like 2023’s – the Bridge to Brew half marathon this past weekend, the Swim to the Moon 5K this upcoming weekend, and the 10-mile race at Crim the following weekend. Just like 2023, I signed up for Bridge to Brew a couple days before the race. I originally had other plans for the weekend so the race was not on my radar this year. I caught up with my friend Amy during a run earlier in the week and when she mentioned that she had registered for it, I realized I was actually free because my plans had changed. I hesitated to register because I knew it would be warm and humid and it could be a tough day for racing. I still had to run 18 miles for marathon training either way and it would be very helpful to have water stops every couple miles at the race. I enjoyed the scenery while running through Port Huron a couple years ago and knew it would be nice to hang out with Amy too so I finally went for it. It certainly helped that it only cost $50, even at the last minute. That’s a bargain compared to most half marathons.

My routine in 2023 worked so well that I basically did the same thing this year. The race took place at 7am on Sunday, August 10 and I arrived in Port Huron at 5:30 to allow myself time to run five miles before the race. I wore my headlamp and light-up vest because I started in the dark. I wasn’t the only one out by the water that early though – plenty of people had their fishing rods set up already.

*The sun starting to rise by the Blue Water Bridge*

I was a bit early for the full-blown sunrise but still got to see some nice colors and enjoyed the view as I ran up past the Blue Water Bridge.

These views were part of my motivation for signing up for the race. It also made it much more tolerable to add five extra miles beforehand.

It’s pretty cool to run under one of the major crossings between the U.S. and Canada.

*A view that makes it worth waking up early*

Although I enjoyed the views, I knew I couldn’t stay there to observe very long because I still had to pick up my packet and get ready for the race with about half an hour to spare.

Like the first year I ran this race, I came back to find a ridiculously long line for the few porta potties they had. There were four together and one slightly further down the road. Based on the line, they really ought to add a few more. Fortunately there was no line for packet pickup so I got my bib and shirt easily.

Since it was already extremely gross with the humidity nearly maxed out and temps around 70°, I changed into a fresh hat and shirt following my warm up and swapped a bottle of water for a fresh bottle with my Skratch electrolyte drink. I also ate half of a Picky Bar figuring I needed something after running five miles while also not eating too much 20 minutes before the race.

Because I had scoped out some other porta potties during my pre-race run, I knew that I could jog out to one by the water about a quarter mile away that wouldn’t have a line. That also allowed me to get one more glimpse of the sunrise over the St. Clair River.

I still had a good 10 minutes to spare by the time I got back to the starting line. I lingered a little bit behind the arch because I didn’t plan on being one of the leaders!

Eventually people were encouraged to move closer. I stayed where I was and hoped the truly speedy people would fill in the gap.

*I left some space in hopes that the fastest people would move up front*

The half marathon had 225 finishers so I still had plenty of people behind me!

The race started with a loop through the downtown area before we worked our way toward the water. The best parts of the race were the gorgeous views along the St. Clair River. I caught a few gnats on my face and neck during my warm up and during the race, but fortunately it wasn’t very buggy out there. Sunglasses were smart for trying to keep them out of my eyes though!

I took a couple photos as I approached the Blue Water Bridge then kept my phone away for the rest of the race. It didn’t take long before I was dripping with sweat, my shorts were drenched, and I didn’t need to screw around with trying to defog my camera lenses!

We caught a little glimpse of the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse and ran on sidewalks by some really nice waterfront homes. We turned away from the water for several miles and ran past a cemetery, Port Huron Northern High School, a golf course, then did a loop in a neighborhood. Since it was an out-and-back course it was fun to see the leaders of the race going by in the opposite direction. I was on the lookout for Amy and we gave each other a big high-five when we passed each other. I was able to gauge that I was probably among the top 10 or 11 women by the turnaround.

Because it was such a warm and gross morning I didn’t have big ambitions to run one of my faster times. My main goal was to see if I could aim for marathon pace – somewhere around an 8:00 average. I’m about 10 weeks out from the Detroit Free Press Marathon so if I could pull that off it would be a great training run for me. I started a little fast during the downtown stretch with a 7:49 first mile then settled into a good rhythm and consistently ran just above or below an 8:00 pace. I was thankful for the water stops every couple miles and grabbed a cup of water at nearly every one. After a couple sips I dumped the rest on my neck in hopes of cooling myself down a little bit. I ate a couple Clif Bloks during the run as well as a couple salt chews.

By the time I got back to the bridge and had a couple of miles to go, it was definitely getting harder to maintain my pace. I passed a woman somewhere around that point but then it seemed like there was a huge gap between me and other half marathon runners. It was hard not having anyone to chase or keep me in a rhythm. I often get some great race photos with a big smile but I couldn’t even fake that in the late miles of this race!

*I had to force my smile at this point!*

The 12th mile was my slowest of the race at an 8:12 pace. I did manage to drop below 8:00 for the rest of the race though. I passed a few 5K runners/walkers in the last mile or two, then gave what I had left at the finish. I thought I might manage to run 1:45:00 but I was a little over since I ended up running an extra tenth of a mile according to my Garmin. My official time was 1:45:38 which was good for first in my age group! I was especially happy when I saw that I managed to do so in a 10-year age group category rather than the more typical 5-year age groups.

There was a sprinkler after the finish line as well as bottles of water and Gatorade in a pool filled with ice. They knew people would be hot after this race so things like that were helpful. Although I had dumped some water on my neck, my shorts were completely drenched from the sweat, not from the cups of water. It was a warm and challenging day for running and I’m glad I held up so well.

Amy told me her goal pace for the day so I had a general idea when to watch for her. I was able to cheer her in by the finish.

Getting to hang out with Amy after the race was a major bonus!

Based on the first time I did this race I knew the post-race snacks might not be real substantial so I had a protein Picky Bar in the car. I also ate a couple of the granola bars, some fruit snacks, and a slice of watermelon provided by the race. There was also a place where people could purchase beer, thus the Bridge to Brew name of the race.

The awards ceremony for the half marathon runners took place an hour after I finished so I was glad to have Amy there as we waited. She was kind enough to take a little video and some photos as I collected my age group win – a hat from On Running and a Bridge to Brew glass.

Amy said she likes to take the scenic route home and make stops along the way so she inspired me. When I looked at the map to figure out what to aim for I saw Palmer Park and Boardwalk in St. Clair, about 20 minutes south. That sounded promising so I drove there and looked around for a few minutes. It was a beautiful spot!

By then I was ready to get home and get out of my shorts that were still soaking wet. It had been a pretty gross day for running but that’s been the case for a good chunk of this summer and I still need to get my runs in regardless. Even though the humidity is usually at its worst first thing in the morning it helped that the race started early enough to avoid some of the heat of the day – it climbed into the 90s later. I always seem to find some reason to neglect the speedwork in my marathon training plans and the heat has been my main excuse this summer. At least doing this race helped me pick up the pace so I can see that I’m already in shape enough to run half of a marathon at my goal pace. It gave me a nice change of scenery with a flat course plus an excuse to hang out with Amy at yet another race. It sure was a better option than slogging my way through a long run somewhere around home. I find that doing a bunch of races in the summer really helps me work on speed and gets me through those long run days. I have plans for several more as I keep working my way toward my next marathon in October!

– Janet

Follow me on Instagram @janetboltz

08.02.25

by milesflyby

Battle of Waterloo: 10-stage Triathlon Recap

*Like the medal says, “10 legs 42 miles.” Battle of Waterloo is the ultimate triathlon!*

Epic Races truly lives up to its name when it hosts the Battle of Waterloo. It is the ultimate triathlon/adventure race that covers close to 42 miles over 10 stages around the Waterloo Recreation Area in Grass Lake, MI. It’s an opportunity for triathletes to mix things up from the traditional swim, bike, run routine. Instead, people ride their bikes from one park to another, swim across a lake, run on trails to get to another lake, swim across it to go for another run, and so on. Obviously it is quite an endurance event, but it’s also very much a logistical event because people need to carry their gear with them along the way.

While I have done the Battle of Waterloo a few times now (here are my 2021 and 2023 recaps) and it feels like I’ve got the hang of it, it doesn’t make the challenge any easier! I continue to learn lessons each time I do it. At this point I have a couple pages worth of notes to remind me what to bring and how the logistics of each stage plays out step-by-step. I have also taken a picture of my gear each time for a quick reference to make sure I have what I need. My notes came in handy this year when I started to feel pretty stressed the night beforehand. I had been out of town until a few days prior to the race, didn’t get a last practice session in like I had hoped, and didn’t start packing early like I meant to. Going through my checklist and notes kept me very organized, reminded me how it all worked, and eased some of my worries.

*The gear I used for the race, plus my bike that had a couple of bottles*

The picture of my gear is fairly representative of almost everything I took. For this race I like to use a tri suit with sleeves for the sake of more coverage from the sun. Although I put sunscreen on before the start, I know it will wash off by the time I finish five hours later so sleeves will help save my shoulders from sunburn. I have a very large dry bag/swim buoy for packing all of my gear. I wish I could be more minimal but I tend to be an over-packer and like to have my “stuff.” That includes my own fuel, so I have used a hydration vest the last couple times where I can pack the buoy in the main pocket and have flasks with my electrolyte drink (Skratch) plus Clif Bloks (with extra sodium) and a Picky Bar in front pockets.

I always like chatting with athletes at the race to learn how they approach it. I even study some of the race photos afterward because people have their own methods and they give me ideas for things I can change. While I’m more maximal with all of my gear, some people take their swim cap, goggles, and running shoes…and that’s it. They may tuck their shoes into their tri suit during the swim and run sockless with wet shoes. That means they need to make sure those shoes are secure enough so they don’t lose them along the way. I saw a shoe on the road during my bike ride then saw a guy riding the opposite direction who I assumed could be going back for it once he had realized. I saw a swim cap on the ground which obviously isn’t quite so critical, but another guy said he lost his goggles. Some people sling the swim buoy across their body during the bike ride and tuck it or hold it during the run. Others have a drawstring bag or backpack. The key is to train with the gear to hopefully work out any issues. I probably wouldn’t want to hold a buoy while I run and would also need to make sure it doesn’t bounce and annoy me while running if it’s in some kind of bag.

Sunday, July 27 was the big day. The drive takes me close to an hour and a half so I was pretty tired by the time I got to Big Portage Lake State Park around 6:15. I took my stuff to the transition area where we got to choose our own spots on the bike racks then I checked in to collect my packet.

*A fuel belt was included in our packet too*

The race features a “full battle” and “half battle” with the full athletes starting at 7:30. There was a pre-race meeting at 7:15 and I had plenty of time to get ready in the hour after I arrived.

*A drone shot of the transition area courtesy of Greg Sadler Photography. The “full battle” racks are up top and the “half battle” racks are at the bottom.*

I caught up with some friends and did some stretching and jogged for a minute to warm up since the race would start with a run. Although it added weight, I chose to wear my vest for the first run for the sake of not wasting time fumbling with it before I took off on the bike.

We met at the start/finish line to go through a few things then the full battle athletes started with a run. Because the half battle athletes would head a different direction on the bike, they started after all of the full battle athletes cleared out so there would be no confusion about which way to turn.

*The pre-race meeting. All race photos thanks to Greg Sadler Photography.*

*The woman behind me would go on to win*

I had just done Epic’s Tri Goddess Tri at the same park at the end of June. Between that and racing there a number of times in the past, the first run course was very familiar. We had a little time on pavement at the beginning where people spaced out a bit then the majority of the run was on a trail. The run was only 1.6 miles long but that was enough time for the humidity to really hit me. The breeze on the bike would feel nice.

I had a quick transition of 56 seconds since I rode with my running shoes and just had to put my bike helmet on and head out with my bike.

*Heading out of transition for the 2nd leg*

I knew the roads would get rough so I was extremely thankful for the stretch of smooth pavement we had at the beginning of the ride. Some of the roads in the area continue to deteriorate which results in a more challenging ride.

*Smiling on the bike while I had that smooth pavement!*

*A view that shows my hydration pack with the buoy stuffed in the back*

I hardly consider myself a cyclist and I regularly slack off on the bike because I’d rather run or swim. That already put me at my usual disadvantage on the bike leg, and going on vacation leading up to this race didn’t help either. It had been about two weeks since I’d been on a bike. I could get through the 20 miles but it wasn’t especially pretty.

Epic was kind enough to circle many of the bad potholes with paint to help us avoid them. Considering the number of potholes on those roads, that had to take a LOT of work! Luckily traffic out in the farmland was very minimal on a Sunday morning which provided some flexibility for weaving all over the road to avoid the worst stretches. I was even able to ride in the opposite lane when I needed to. I always debate bringing my mountain bike for races in this area and have done so several times in hopes of making the rough ride more tolerable. I didn’t do it this time and fortunately I escaped without a flat. I was gripping my handlebars way too tightly though! I didn’t wear gloves because it would have been one more thing for me to worry about in transition. I did notice one person running with them for the first leg though which may have been smart. My hands were so slippery that gloves would have come in handy.

I made a point of drinking close to 20 ounces of my electrolyte drink on the bike. I didn’t want to cramp during the swims and wanted to stay on top of hydration. The ride was so bumpy that I worried about trying to eat my Picky Bar because it could fly right out of my hands. I managed to scarf down half of one after about an hour on the bike.

I recorded 1:12:59 on my watch, good for 16.7 mph for just over 20 miles. When I parked my bike after the second leg it felt like the racks were especially full. I was convinced that I must be one of the last people. When I was running the fourth leg I crossed paths with some people doing half the battle and it suddenly hit me that they must have gotten to the bike area sooner and that’s why it looked so full. Even though they started about half an hour after the full battle, they only biked 5.8 miles during their second leg.

*The transition area where we left our bikes as we swam, ran, swam, ran, swam, and ran*

I left my helmet with my bike and ran down to the water. It was time to get my swim buoy out of the hydration pack and put the pack inside the buoy. I only needed my swim cap and goggles and everything else went inside the buoy. Between the run from the bike to the water and getting all of my stuff situated, the transition took me 4:53.

*Once I hit the button on my watch I can start the swim!*

After the tough workout of the bike ride, I was really looking forward to swimming – something I enjoy much more.

*Jason Paluchniak from Greg Sadler Photography’s team always gets great action shots in the water*

When looking through my notes for the race, one important thing I had to remember was to inflate my buoy as much as possible. I thought I had but it felt like it was dragging a bit during the first swim. Still, I had a good first swim across Clear Lake. I recorded 17:49 for that leg.

*Leg 3 – I got 820 yards for the swim which is nearly half a mile*

*Deflating my buoy so I can unpack my run stuff when I get to shore*

We were told that the lakes ranged from 78-80° which was perfect for swimming.

*Where we finished our swim across Clear Lake*

*Getting my shoes ready to run*. I put them inside a shoe bag within my buoy which helped avoid getting a bunch of dirt inside my buoy after the trail runs.

My second transition took 2:56. The run from Clear Lake to Mill Lake took us on a segment of the Waterloo-Pinckney Trail. The actual distance may vary because my Garmin may not have correctly tracked me in the woods.

*Leg 4 – I got around 3.6 miles for the run*

That run was pretty decent and took me 34:08. But the BUGS! They were so awful and I was constantly swearing at them to go away. During other run segments I sometimes took advantage of aid stations that had bug spray to share.

My second transition took 3:15 then it was time to swim across Mill Lake – aka “the one with the lily pads.” Only people as crazy as us would swim through a lake like that. As if the lily pads weren’t challenging enough, the weeds in general were really thick. I couldn’t help but think that the swim was the material of nightmares. It was as if the plants were trying to tangle me and pull me under. I tried to mix some breaststroke in to see if it would help but I didn’t figure out any good technique. My arms and legs got stuck at times no matter what I did. I basically waded my way through some parts. There was someone in a kayak who was watching out for us and could help if we needed it and obviously I DID survive it.

*Leg 5 – I got 696 yards for the swim, around .4 miles*

The totally straight line my Garmin recorded for this swim tells me that it probably didn’t pick up my signal very well through all of the weeds and just tracked the start and finish. My open water swims never look this smooth! It took me 13:44.

At that point I had to save the first five legs on my Garmin and start a new program. Garmin only allows five stages for its multisport setting. I spent a minute waiting for it to save and to get my next five legs started. That meant I couldn’t record a true transition between the swim and run, but I can see that it took 2:42 before my pace suddenly picked up.

*What my Garmin recorded for the first five legs*. *26.63 miles covered so far.*

There were enough aid stations along the way between one at the end of the swim/start of the run, one along the way, and another at the end of the run/start of the next swim. I had my own electrolyte drink because sometimes Gatorade is too strong and doesn’t sit right with me. I did grab water at many of the stops though and ate some of my Clif Bloks along the way.

The run from Mill Lake to Crooked Lake took us on the Waterloo-Pinckney Trail again. The trails weren’t overly technical but there were plenty of roots and rocks to watch for and potential ankle-turning spots. By the time I got to the later runs I wished I had been doing regular hill repeats to prepare! As it got warmer, it was especially helpful that we had shade on the trails for the runs. I just could have done without the damn bugs!

Between my swim to run transition and the 2.9 miles of running, I recorded 31:10 for the sixth leg then I took 4:04 to transition to the final swim. I took extra time to make sure my goggles were secure since the final swim was close to a mile long.

The swim across Crooked Lake was especially enjoyable for me. The water was calm and felt great. It just got a little tricky when it was time to stand up and walk my way into shore. Most of the swims didn’t exactly start or end at nice beaches. They were pretty random spots where I would sometimes stand up to walk then change my mind and try to swim in further because the footing was loose or rocky.

*Leg 7 – I got 1,598 yards for the swim, a little under a mile*

Once again, the straight line my Garmin recorded is a little too perfect. It said I swam .9 miles and the info for the race said it was .7 miles. It could vary based on the buoy placement, how much I actually stayed on track, etc. It’s all a rough estimate. I recorded 27:22 for the final swim.

*Watching my footing coming out of the final swim*

I took way too long during the transition, partially because I couldn’t seem to get my swim buoy to fit into my hydration pack. The back pocket is fairly skinny and can be a tight squeeze. It’s one thing I may have to change about my method for future races. I got going on my run after 4:29 in transition.

The run from Crooked Lake took us on some dirt roads with challenging climbs. The last couple times I did the race we ran through a gravel pit which gave us a cool backdrop for photos. It was all grown over with grass this time so it wasn’t as exciting and all I could concentrate on was the huge hill that took us out of that area! That run segment was TOUGH with the hills. I rarely walk during my runs but that changes during this race. After being on the go for several hours the steep inclines on the trails and dirt roads felt especially harsh. I saw people ahead of me walking which made it easier for me to accept that it was the only way I’d get through it. We had another chunk on the Waterloo-Pinckney Trail before we got to Clear Lake Road, which took us back to the park where we had left our bikes.

It was great to be greeted by drummers because that sound told me I was almost to the transition area and that motivated me to keep moving. I finished that run in 33:42.

We were encouraged to stop at the aid station so I grabbed some water, took my hat off and stuck it in the outer pocket of my vest, then headed out on the bike with a transition time of 1:22.

I knew that I could expect my legs to feel wrecked for the start of the ride so I tried to keep it as easy as I could. At least the final ride was on decent roads. I got through the ride in 20:56, which was around 16.1 mph.

The final transition was a quick 49 seconds because I just had to park my bike, swap my helmet for a second hat I had left in transition, then I left my vest behind. It was freeing to run without any extra weight. At least I ONLY had 1.6 more miles to go.

*At least there was a little downhill segment out of transition*

*I told Greg Sadler my smile may have been fake for this last segment!*

The last run went surprisingly well and my watch says my pace averaged 8:49 per mile for 14 minutes. Seeing Angela from Epic Races and Greg Sadler out there a couple times for the final run helped lift my spirits and kept me smiling.

DONE!! I didn’t sneak in under five hours, but I finished in 5:01:47.

*What Garmin recorded for legs 6-10 – 14.5 miles for that portion*

I was pretty shocked to hear that I was the second woman. I really had no idea how I’d been doing out there. The race was spread across so many segments that it was hard to gauge where I stood. I just knew that it felt like a struggle for me but I must not have been alone. This thing is probably hard for everyone! I chatted with another athlete afterward and we both agreed that it felt harder than a half Ironman. Running the hills on trails and dirt roads felt brutal at times. They are both tough challenges and it’s probably hard to compare, but at least on this day it seemed harder!

After getting some food (pancakes, mac and cheese, an egg and cheese wrap, a cookie, and an ice cream sandwich!) and chatting with a couple other athletes, I finally checked in at the awards table. I got a towel for placing first in my age group.

*This was on the towel that I won for an award*

Since this was my third time doing the race, I was curious how I compared to past years. This time I was within a minute or two of my first time when I made it just under five hours. The bike course was cut short by about six miles due to poor conditions the second time I did it so I really can’t compare those results. I feel like I was especially beat up by the hills on the run this time but maybe time helped me forget how brutal it could be!

So many things can happen during a race this long with so many stages. One of the photographers said a lot of people had water get into their buoys. I heard a ton of people talk about suffering from cramping. Some people made wrong turns. If others hadn’t dealt with some of those struggles, they surely could have finished ahead of me. It’s all a part of the adventure though and I was fortunate that things went relatively smoothly for me. As much as I thought I was too slow on the bike or took too long in transitions, it worked out well enough. Although I fumbled around too much trying to get my buoy into my hydration pack, that vest may have saved me from cramping since it helped me stay on top of fueling.

I spent many moments swearing as I dodged potholes, climbed hills, swatted bugs, and tried to untangle myself from weeds in the water. Yet by the next morning I was already brainstorming about how to improve things next time because I definitely want to do it again. It’s amazing how quickly the struggles fade and the sense of accomplishment is what sticks with me. It feels pretty badass to complete something like this and there are few people who even take on the challenge.

Many thanks to the Epic Races team for offering such a unique experience. They always provide such a supportive and welcoming environment for people of all paces. A LOT of work goes into something this involved. The volunteers were also amazing for spending hours at the aid stations on a hot day with bugs surely trying to eat many of them as well.

I always come away from this race feeling like I can accomplish really hard things and I’m very grateful that my body allows me to do this crazy stuff.

*I did it! Another Battle of Waterloo successfully completed!*

– Janet

Follow me on Instagram @janetboltz

07.10.25

by milesflyby

Volksläufe Half Marathon Recap

*A special medal to celebrate the 50th running of Volksläufe*

When staying local for the Fourth of July, a fun way to celebrate is to head north (about an hour and 20 minutes for me) to the Bavarian town of Frankenmuth for Volksläufe – “The People’s Race.” This was actually just my second time running the race which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year.

My friend Kristine would be in town for the holiday and I was trying to think of a touristy thing to do with her. Since she studied German in school I thought Frankenmuth might be a fun place for her to see. I knew the race would be taking place so of course that was on my mind too. When I went to the town’s website I saw that Frankenmuth Brewery was offering a rooftop dinner buffet with live music and a view of the fireworks over Cass River the night before the race. I checked with Kristine to see if she would be okay with me heading out early the next morning for the race. I’d basically be done running by the time she would get up so the timing would work out fine. I got tickets for the brewery party, found a hotel across the street, and registered for the race a couple weeks beforehand. I was excited that we had some fun plans in place.

*Posing by the bridge with the Volksläufe* *banner*

There were a few “up north” traffic slowdowns but the drive wasn’t too bad in the early afternoon on the third and we got to Frankenmuth by 2:30. We went by the wooden bridge that I would cross toward the end of the race and went to explore some of the shops. I got ice cream from Zak & Mac’s and decided to hold off on other treats until we were on our way out of town the next day. It was very hot and I didn’t need cupcakes or fudge to melt before I could get to them!

*I couldn’t resist getting some ice cream*

After walking around town for a bit we checked into our hotel and relaxed until we drove over to packet pickup, which opened at 5:00. There was a bit of a line but it moved quickly, and as I suspected, I found people I knew. Joe and Scott are fellow members of Infinite Multisport Triathlon Club and it was nice to catch up with them.

*I had a hunch I’d see someone I knew! With Joe and Scott.*

There was the typical race expo merch plus bounce houses and other activities outside.

After browsing briefly, Kristine and I headed back to the hotel to rest a little more before heading across the street to Frankenmuth Brewery.

It was a perfect night to sit on the rooftop, enjoy dinner while a trio of musicians played, and have an ideal view of the fireworks over the river. The convenience of being able to walk back across the street to our hotel by 10:30 was especially nice too.

*On the rooftop of Frankenmuth Brewery, overlooking Cass River*

The next morning I headed out just after sunrise and did a mile-long warm up jog to the starting area. I saw Joe again and found bathrooms near the finish area that weren’t as busy as some of the other areas.

*Before things got busy around the finish line*

The 10K was the first race to start at 7:00 so I watched them and lingered around until the announcer welcomed the half marathon runners to line up next.

We took off at 7:15 and started on the grass then transitioned to a dirt path that lead us out to the roads. I’m glad the race started so early because although it was around 60° to start, it was sunny and definitely warmed up. After the first mile we spent the majority of the race running on flat, straight stretches of road past farmland. It was nice and peaceful and definitely not lined with spectators! I DID get to see the Hanson brothers, owners of the metro Detroit area Hansons Running Shops, in the opening stretch.

The roads were somewhat uneven with little potholes and patches to watch for. Seven miles into the race we came to a smooth road which felt amazing after the rougher stretch we’d run prior to that. By that point of the race I was basically on my own for a bit. I had passed some people while those ahead were well off in the distance.

The long, flat roads allowed for some fast running but it only took a few miles for me to feel pretty warm. I was thankful anytime I felt a little breeze or we came to a stretch in the shade, which was a rarity. It wasn’t as hot as it has been for some of my recent runs but it still got steamy and sweaty. I managed to run consistently in the 7:40s for nearly the whole race so I held up well enough.

The race had offered a 20K in the past – 12.4 miles. There are even permanent street signs that mark 1K increments of the 20K along the route. When they switched to 13.1 miles they had to add a little extra distance which explains the short detour around a neighborhood that is nearly the perfect length. That was one spot where I got to see runners heading the opposite direction as I ran in and out of the neighborhood loop.

By the time I made it 9-10 miles into the run the course went from completely flat roads to some hills that slowed me down a little. The eleventh mile was my slowest, then I really started to grind for the last couple miles and dropped just below a 7:30 pace. A bunch of turns kept things interesting as I got back to town after so many miles of straightaways. It was especially cool getting to run through the covered bridge.

*Coming through the bridge on the way toward the finish*

From that point there was probably just over half a mile to go. As I ran up the street toward the finish I yelled out to my friend Joe who would be lining up soon for his 5K walk. I went past the corral for the 5K runners who were about to start and it was nice to hear cheers from some of them. There was a short stretch on a dirt path then a quick turn on the grass to the finish.

I finished the race in 1:41:42 which was a solid time. It was about a minute and 20 seconds slower than my Dexter-Ann Arbor race a month earlier which had been a nice and cool morning. Considering how warm I got during this run, I was pretty happy. I was thankful for a wet towel to wipe my face and wrap around my neck after finishing. I collected a granola bar, water, and some chocolate milk as well.

When I entered the pavilion area I ran into Bruce, another member of Infinite Multisport Triathlon Club. He had run the 10K and we chatted about our races. He looked up my results and it showed that I was second in my age group which meant I would get a stein for an award.

When I ran the race in 2021 I had to hang out for an extra hour or more for a full-blown awards ceremony. I was relieved to find people waiting in a line to pick up awards at their leisure this time. I had been hoping I might have time to get back to the hotel to shower before checkout time and that wouldn’t have worked if there had been a ceremony. Once I made it to the front of the line I learned that they were only giving out 10K awards at that point. They still didn’t have official results for the half so I hung out for a bit and chatted with people.

In the meantime, the results changed and I found that I was actually first in my age group! I guess it’s good that they waited for official results. The higher the placement the larger the stein. They had a few that I could choose from and one looked like the prize I had collected in 2021 so it was nice that I got to pick a different one. The steins are such unique and intricate awards which is definitely one of the appealing parts of this race. On top of that, I only paid $50 to register for the race a couple weeks beforehand. Most half marathons cost twice as much!

When I was able to collect my stein I headed out immediately to get back to the hotel. It was fun to see the 5K runners go past Bavarian Inn’s water park on their way to the finish.

*The finishing stretch took us past the water park*

I had about an hour to spare at the hotel and was relieved I could get cleaned up before we ventured out for lunch. We ended up at the Bavarian Inn where I started refueling with a chicken pot pie. Then it was time to get a bunch of treats. We went back to SugarHigh Bakery for some cupcakes to go. We also got some fudge at Frankenmuth Fudge Kitchen to take home. I needed some kind of dessert to eat before heading home though and chose a nice big cookie from the bakery below Bavarian Inn’s restaurant.

*By the bridge once again to pose with my medal*

*So many great options at SugarHigh Bakery*

*Michigan Pothole was one of my selections*

*A large chocolate chip cookie from the bakery under the Bavarian Inn Restaurant*

It was nice to actually stay in Frankenmuth this time and enjoy more of the activities and food the town had to offer. Volksläufe is a great race and one that I may have to do more often. There’s no guarantee I will always be speedy enough to place in my age group, but it sure is fun to see friends like Joe share pictures of a large collection of steins from multiple years. It’s something that’s especially cool to display on the bookshelf of awards!

– Janet

Follow me on Instagram @janetboltz

Miles Fly By

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