So I didn’t get the pouring rain I was hoping for yesterday, but it was still a pretty good day for a run. 
I told several people prior to the Dick Beardsley 5K run that was held on September 11th I wanted rain, and more than that – a down pour.  Just when you think someone couldn’t get any more crazy, they hear that come out of my mouth. 
You’d say the same thing if you set two personal records (PR’s) in weather conditions like that.  A 5K back in August done in just over twenty-three minutes, and a half marathon distance in just under two hours, something I had set out to do since I started seriously running.  It wasn’t with the flag, and it wasn’t in an actual event.  In fact, it was around a high school TRACK.  That’s 52 laps and a straightaway for distance.  For my training on Labor Day (that’s when I accomplished that in the rain that didn’t let up the entire two hours I was out there) I was to do just that.  All it said on my training schedule was: Two hours – very easy run.  That’s it.  It was for stamina, and it was going very well.  Many times I start out too fast, because when you feel good, you just want to get going as fast as possible then burn out.  It took a little extra focus and discipline mentally, but I was able to set myself up for a slower start, increase slowly, then in the final two miles boost up to just over an eight minute per mile pace.  I didn’t know if it would work, but it sure did! 
The weather conditions we got to deal with yesterday was sunny and windy.  Sunny = good.  Windy = Not good.  Of all the conditions you don’t want, wind is the first on the list.  Overall, it doesn’t matter what hand you’re dealt though, everyone’s got to deal with it so you just go. 
Arrival time to Detroit Lakes was about 7:00am.  The run didn’t start until 8:30, but l like to get there early, walk around a little bit and check out the area where we start and finish.  Sometimes you run into people you know that want to chat a little bit too and that was the case right away yesterday.  One of the first guys I saw there was Ben Bruce, who is part of the Mahnomen County Sheriff’s Department here in Mahnomen.  He’s got a competition coming up in Las Vegas soon, so this was treated as one of his long runs.  I saw him finish too – 1:23 is what it took him.  I’m pretty sure he was in the top ten for all half marathon runners at the event, which is awesome!
I’ve been asked too many times about how long it takes to get to the finish, so with this race, I thought I’d pay attention for once.  Of 452 runners in the 5K event – I took 85th with a time of 26:23.  Satisfied?  Yes, because I finished and met some great people again at this event.  If I would have finished in 36:23 I would have been satisfied.  
Right at the start line, there was a Detroit Lakes fire truck with the big boom on it, and a huge American flag hanging down.  It was flying in the wind for all to see as we waited to get the race under way.  I always line up towards the back of the start line for a few reasons – one is so I have more space to walk around before the gun shot is fired marking the start of the race.  Two, I can unroll the flag in an open area where it’s not getting in someone’s way that is getting mentally ready for the same race all the participants are and third, so I can pass a bunch of people to make it feel like I’m going really fast.  The third one really isn’t one of the reasons, but it is kind of interesting hearing the reactions of other runners as we pass by. 
In the early portion of the race, just as we turned the first corner, one guy must have seen me at another race, he mentioned to his group he was with “that’s the guy from Mahnomen who runs for his friend and for all the fallen soldiers”. 
There isn’t much time to hear a lot of response from spectators or other runners when you’re only going 3.1 miles, plus I do wear the ear bud in the left ear to listen to some music during a shorter run.  I’ve got the shorts with pockets, so it works out nice.  Don’t sweat quite as much in a short race like that, so don’t have to adjust the piece at all, can focus on hanging on to the flag that ended up being a parachute for me yesterday, kind of like those you see for strength and speed training some athletes use. 
We ran some smaller hills, up and down during this course, but it wasn’t too bad.  The wind was the biggest challenge for most of the runners in Detroit Lakes yesterday.
I caught up with a guy in the final mile of the 5K that recognized me from last year.  He asked why I wasn’t running the half this year – an easy explanation of back-to-back-to-back halfs would be a killer and I didn’t want to do that.  He understood as I mentioned Bismarck is coming up next weekend and that will be a great run, plus the finale for 2010.
My favorite part of the entire event, happened in the very early part of the race – so both the 5K and half marathoners could see it…
With it being 9/11 – obviously a little more of a patriotic day for all.  More homes had flags flying than you’d normally see, flags were flying half staff and there were some more military that you’d usually see at an event like this.
Between one mile and 1.5 miles – there was a stretch call: “Stretch of Silence”
In this section there was no cheering allowed – no noise makers – and for the most part, no talking by anyone.  All you could hear was the heavy breathing by runners and the feet pounding on the pavement as we made our way through that three block stretch. 
Every twenty yards or so, there was a war vet, military soldier or other military supporter holding a three by five foot American flag on a high pole, on the side of the road – both sides.  I didn’t count how many there were total because I thought it was just for a block.  There must have been thirty to forty flags throughout that stretch.  The feeling while running through that stretch of the race is hard to explain.  All I can tell you is that from the first line of flags held by the war vets in their bandanas and leather coats – I raised my flag up for the entire stretch and got a couple salutes out of it.  There was a pretty big group that was running together and had seen that I was coming down the middle of the street that parted so I could pass them.  A nice gesture, that’s for sure.  I don’t know if any of the walkers at the event have video as they walked through that section, but if they do, I’m going to try and find that. 

After the race, I had a chance to meet and talk to some people that were there for the event or had run in it.  Had a conversation with a guy who thanked me for running with the flag as he is a volunteer fire fighter down in Bloomington.  His mom actually has a sister from Red Lake Falls, so she knew the name Corey Rystad when she looked at my shirt.  She knew some of my family as well, it’s crazy how that works.  I met another guy that did the same thing – came to thank me for running with the flag as he was waiting for his girlfriend to finish the half marathon.  He was from Minot, ND where some of my relatives reside – sure enough, he plays hockey with my cousin Tom every once in a while, sounds like once a week actually.  So we had a good conversation too. 
The director of a 5K I ran in back in June in Mayville, ND was also there taking part.  Kathy saw me at the start line and then again at the finish where we got some pictures taken.  Even Chris Holt – the guy who introduced me to kettle bell training was in the 5K.  Basically all of the celebrities were there at this run, and me too. 
Oh and I can’t forget about my three dates for after the run…Jess, Jen and Heather.  Three friends from Mahnomen who walked the entire half marathon.  I shook the overall half marathon winner’s hand after the run – but better yet, got to eat breakfast with the three who anchored the race to make sure everything ran smooth.  Good times had by all, pretty sure that was the case.

Good times will continue this week with a trip out to Bismarck, ND for the final run of 2010.  This will be half marathon #10 of all the halfs I said I’d never do.  This will also be the final run with the flag I have been using for the last four years.  I’ll be handing it off later this year.  It’s a silver pole with a three by five foot nylon flag topped with a plastic Golden Eagle that has been flying high in three different states in over 25 different events, as we run to remember our fallen soldiers.  I can guarantee it’s going to be well taken care of after it’s handed off.  It’s something that probably doesn’t mean much to a lot of people, but to a guy who from day one of taking it out of it’s plastic package, assembling the two poles that are held together with a couple of plastic clamps that keep the American flag attached – it’s meant something very special.  The first day I got it, I put it on my shoulder, just like you see it in pictures or if you’ve been to an event and watched, and thought to myself “how am I supposed to finish a half marathon with this on my shoulder?”  The thought fades away when you’re on the course and know why you’re doing it. 
This flag has been through wind, rain, part of a thunderstorm and has been seen by thousands of people.  It’s been through the Fargodome; Crossed I-94 from Stillwater, MN to Hudson, WI; It’s been in hand for an 80-lap (20 mile) run around a track for four hours; Been through Lambeau Field and the tunnel so many professional football players have entered & exited to play in Green Bay, WI; It’s got some rust stain, sweat and tears from nearly three hundred miles of running through different conditions and being draped around me after the finish of each race. 
All of these memories come to mind, plus so many more when I look at this flag.  To me, it represents thousands of men and women who have lost their lives for us.  Before each run, each training session, I think about that.  90% mental – coach was right.  Think about it, remember it, and then go do it. 
One final destination for 2010…September 18th – Kroll’s Half Marathon in Bismarck, ND.  The grand finale for this flag…but not its final destination.  May Old Glory fly high in North Dakota’s state capital this coming weekend!  A great way to finish a mission that started in this same state back in May of 2007. 
We start at 7:30am Saturday, but more importantly, Bismarck, ND…We’ll see you at the finish line.