When you look back at the last few months and how many hours of training were put into helping you get set for an event, you start to realize it was quite a bit.  I’m not much on keeping track of how often or long I train each day, but it’s a pretty decent amount of time that was set aside in order to get prepared for the running season.  For some, it may be time spent for just this one event we took part in on Saturday morning.  The Fargo Marathon is now complete.  Over 23,000 runners took part in anything from a 5K to 10K; half marathon to a full marathon or a relay event.  All fifty states were represented and five countries.  Fargo is getting to be a popular place! 
It is a popular place for me too.  Prior to the event on Thursday I made a trip down there to spend some time at a local media tv station.  We had initially had set the meeting to be in Mahnomen, but due to a busy schedule they had and limited staff to come up, I told them I’d head down there Thursday evening.  It worked out great.  WDAY-TV which is channel 6 in Fargo (Channel 8 in Grand Forks) had been in touch with me to do a story about my team and my running.  The reporter got the idea from another story that my friend Jenna did in a magazine called FM Stride a few weeks before.  Being in radio and having to ask questions all the time to different people, much like they did to me for the coverage provided, it’s a nice change of pace.  I enjoy answering questions about something I’m passionate about just as much as I like asking questions. 
J.R. was the reporter who did the story with me on Thursday evening.  We did some stuff outside on the streets with actual running then an interview following that.  I also got the chance to meet some of the other anchors and reporters at the station, which was cool.  One of which was also running the half marathon Saturday morning. 
Following that meeting, I headed back home for the night, work the next day then off to Fargo once again for the festivities.  Friday night I got in town just in time to check into the hotel then head over to the Fargodome and take in the 5K event which my dad, sister and nephew were part of.  Stood on the sidelines with my mom watching that and cheering on the runners/walkers.  One of the top five was a kid maybe 13 or 14 years old just booking to the finish line.  He finished in about eighteen minutes…that’s a six minute mile steady for three miles straight.  The kid was maybe 5’2”.  He received a big roar from the crowd when he came around the final curve where we were located.  Rightfully so!  That was awesome.  My dad came through and finished just over half hour in the crowded streets with a group of people and when my sister came around with the stroller and my nephew tucked inside, we all walked to the finish line together…my parents, Nikki, Ben and myself.  After that run/walk, we headed in to the Fargodome to take in some of the health fair and freebies businesses and organizations were giving out.  There were lots of people roaming around all over the dome, inside and out.  We headed back to the hotel where we were going to make a plan to find a place to eat.  Thankfully Nikki had the number to a place we were going to attempt to eat at, but they said the wait would be at least an hour, at the time we called it was almost 8:30pm.  The result of that lead to Nikki & Ben heading back to Ada for the night to rest up and come cheer us on the next morning along with my brother in law Mike.  So instead, my mom went up to sleep while my dad and I headed over to get some subs.  A sit down restaurant just wasn’t going to be in the making for Friday evening. 
Getting back to the hotel it was time to wind down and relax.  For me it was setting out the uniform for the next morning piece by piece to have ready for when I get up.  I like to get that done the night before just so I don’t have to think as much when I wake up.  There’s enough on my mind once I get going in the morning as time gets closer, nerves start to run wild.  At this particular race, I added one little piece to the uniform.  On my right arm, I’ve got a bracelet that’s got my friend Corey’s name on it along with some other information engraved on the stainless steel.  I also got my hands on a white wrist band.  The purpose was so I could have the number 7169 written on it.  My friend Arin who has much better writing that I do was kind enough to write the number on this band.  I wanted to make sure that number crossed the finish line in some way Saturday morning.  In the previous blog post, you read about a guy from my home county – Red Lake County – that passed away last weekend after collapsing at a race near St. Cloud, MN.  He was only 35 years old from Oklee, MN originally, a neighboring community to my hometown, Red Lake Falls.  My sister ran track with him, they were the same class.  Nikki had originally planned to run the 10K on Saturday as well, but wasn’t able to as time got closer.  I was going to have it written on both bands, give one to her and have one on myself too.  Paul Melby was the guy and he was to be in the Fargo Half Marathon along with his dad to run.  Paul’s funeral was Friday down in Byron, MN with a memorial service that will be held in Oklee along with burial tomorrow (Monday 5/23).  When I got toward the finish of this race, I saw a woman who had collapsed on the sidewalk prior to coming down a hill.  I again saw the same thing at the finish line later on that morning, as it happened where medics had to yell for more help.  Let’s just say at this race, which was a fairly humid day in Fargo that morning, the medical staff was pretty busy, especially at the finish line chute. 
Standing alongside thousands of other runners in front of the Fargodome waiting for the start of the race, I saw about forty yards in front of me, another American flag similar to mine.  There was another guy running with the flag this time around too.  I thought that was great!  I caught up to him around mile three and shook his hand while we kept our stride.  We shared a smile and wished each other luck.  The start is always tough to get going with such a large amount of people crammed onto the streets.  But it did flow pretty good once you got out there. 
As always in Fargo, the crowd was great.  Spectators at pretty much every block, along residential areas there were families camped out on their front lawns cheering, some had signs up, others had music and a few spots had flags all over in their yard.  There was one location, mile nine or so where a yard had a huge flag, as I like to call it a “Perkins flag”.  Old Glory hanging way up on a couple of poles and covering their entire yard basically.  They went crazy when we ran by.  I’m guessing some kind of patriotic group or just major supporters of the troops.  There was bands on the way, people dressed up in different costumes and volunteers at the water stops ready to serve us.  So many little details to make an event like this flow and it did just that again in 2011. 
One of the things I enjoy most is seeing the kids along the route excited for all the runners coming by.  Some of them stick their arms out in hopes that the runners will give them a high five as they go by.  I made sure to do that at every chance I could.  Even though we’re not famous and big named people like you see on TV, the impact that will have on a kid to say they got to give a bunch of the runners a high five is maybe over looked by many.  Plus it’s just not nice to leave people “hanging” like that. 
The other part where I got to give a hand shake to (twice) was on a the corner of one street near down town Fargo.  Within the first few miles, one of the volunteers was in full camo.  Dressed from head to toe in his military uniform.  An Army National Guard soldier there to help keep traffic away from the runners.  The first time I was coming up on him he was facing the traffic and turning his head back and forth to see where runners were at.  I saw him give one final “stay right here” hand gesture to the cars before turning 180 degrees to face the runners.  I was maybe fifty yards from him when he did this.  He lifted his right arm, fingers together and straight out and slowly raised it toward his forehead.  I raised the flag as high as I could for him to salute the American flag.  I slowed down so I could shake his hand.  He pulled me in and hugged me with no words spoken, he just smiled.   All I told him was thank you, then kept running.  Thankfully we came around that same corner again later on in the race around mile ten.  He was still there directing traffic, this time I didn’t need to slow down, he just extended his arm out and his hand facing towards me I knew he wanted a high five as I passed.  I gave him a good one.  I think it hurt my hand more than it did anything to his but I’ll be just fine. 
The wind was a bit of a factor around some corners which helped keep our bodies cooled down due to the humidity that morning.  I sweat a lot that day but took advantage of almost every water and powerade stop there was.  So many people think you have to run the entire way without stopping.  Some, like myself, haven’t mastered the “art” of running or even walking for that matter, while drinking water at the same time.  At the water stops, I literally stopped, behind the volunteers so I was out of the way of the runners coming up and drank.  At each stop I was there for maybe 15-20 seconds then went on.  It was needed.  Your body needs to stay hydrated during the run and that’s the only way it will be accomplished.  I talked to my sister about that after the race and how effective it is.  You can get off to a faster pace after you get some water and sugar in your system to get you back on track.  You’re not going to lose time by doing so, you’ll actually do much better. 
This was the first half marathon I didn’t walk at all, other than to slow down to shake a soldier’s hand.  I did stop, but never just plain walked.  I wanted to, oh yes I did.  Around mile nine or ten I got that message from my body saying “come on man, I’m tired, let’s walk, just for a little while!”  My mind had different plans.  Once you walk the first time, it makes it so much easier to give in the next time your body says let’s rest.  The water stops were my rest.  It worked out well enough to get me a PR for my half marathons.  This was my 11^th overall, fourth one in Fargo.  Best time I’d ever had was 2:06 and maybe thirty seconds.  This race final official time:  2:00:45.  That’s two hours and forty-five seconds.  My goal:  under two hours.  Did I achieve it?  No.  Did I set a PR by setting a goal for myself?  Yes, by over five minutes. 
The hard work that started in late January/early February has definitely paid off.  From Sprint 8’s to circuits, kettle bells, running, biking, jump rope and intervals…it was possible.  I didn’t work out longer, I worked out smarter.  I took advice given to me by several people and put it into action.  Not only did I set a PR for half marathons – I set two PR’s for 5K’s just this year alone, and got my goal of finishing one in under twenty-four minutes with the flag (23:58 on May 1^st in Eagan, MN).  It feels good to be accomplished.  But now it’s time to break that and set a new goal already! 
Before I finish up I just want to thank everyone who’s been a part of keeping me going.  The fallen soldiers are the ones who’ve motivated me…losing a friend is not any fun, it’s emotionally draining for anyone that has to go through it, but it’s how you react to that loss that makes you who you become in the future.  Thankfully, this one has strengthened me to become better.  To my sister Nikki who inspired me to run.  Without her perseverance, her good attitude towards running and staying in shape when she was training for marathons in the past, I don’t know if running would be the thing I’d be doing today.  She’s been there to encourage me along with my entire family and many friends too.  Heck even people I don’t even KNOW are there encouraging me to keep at it.  Nikki was at the finish line down on the floor in the chute to greet me when I crossed.  I didn’t expect that…it was a nice surprise.  I put my arm around her and she walked me to the end of the chute where I had the chance to chat with Eric from WDAY to add to the previous story they did the night before about the race…and a lady (I don’t remember her name now) from the Fargo Forum news paper.   I remember Nikki asking if I was alright after the run.  I honestly don’t know what I was right when I crossed.  It was a mix of many things.  I extended my right arm out first which had the steel band with Corey’s name on it and the white wrist band with Paul’s bib number on it, to make sure they crossed first.  One of my friends and one of Nikki’s friends, both on my one arm.  Maybe that’s why it didn’t look like I was feeling good after the run.  I was trying to hold back the tears but I couldn’t.   I had to let it out. 
Speaking before of family supporting…my parents both finished their first half marathons.  A mix of walking and running, they still crossed the finish line!  Now one to go, my brother, and we’re all to that point as a family!  He and his wife just had their third child on Monday, who I’m looking forward to meeting soon! 
Preparation is key to crossing the finish line – there’s a hand full of people who have been there for me to get me set for these runs.  Initially it starts with yourself, gearing up and getting out there to do what you need to do, but sometimes you need help to get where you want to go.  Trainers, coaches, friends, anyone that’s done any type of workouts with me and supporters who continue to keep up with our running on this site, thank you!!
The other final thanks goes out to Mark Knutson and his huge cast of supporters who make the Fargo Marathon what it is.   The workers, the people in Fargo with the city and public works, the volunteers from so many different groups and businesses and the fans who come to support us.  Not only the dome, but the entire city was rocking on Saturday!  Thank you, too!  Along with that, thanks to Dean and Mitch – two guys who had taken pictures during the event and sent off some pics to me for posting.  They will be part of the slideshow soon and are on Facebook now along with postings on our Twitter page (http://twitter.com/freedom_team) 
To our soldiers and their families: Gold Star, Blue Star and everyone else associated with the military in any way.  Thank you for your service.  It means so much to all of us, but you might not hear it as much as you should.  A hand shake and a hug can go a long way in someone’s life.  It did for me on Saturday morning during my first half of the 2011 season.  I won’t forget that moment…much like the fact we won’t forget those who sacrificed everything to keep us free. 
Philco’s Freedom Team: “We run to remember”
And we will never forget…

Newspaper article in regards to the Fargo Marathon:  http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/320764/
A section in here about our running – also check out the article down the page by David Olson from Oklee, MN.