#48 Fargo Marathon, Fargo, North Dakota

     North Dakota has only 3 marathons and no ultra's so only a short list to gain this state.  I had always felt that ND would be my 50th state due to so few runs available and time of year for those events.  This year Fargo worked out so Fargo Marathon it was to be.

     The 50 States Club had the summer reunion with the Fargo Marathon so for only the 2nd time I was able to attend.  It is nice to visit with runners with the same goals and bents.  The club meeting room was full and a nice meeting was had, as well as many runners receiving their awards for 50 State completions.  Hopefully I will soon be a recipient.  So packet pickup was on Friday as well as the meeting for the club.  All in the Fargodome, home of the North Dakota State University football team.  Now on to the race........

      Fargo Marathon was on Saturday, May 21, 2011.  The weather for the start and during the marathon was not promising:  60-70's, high winds (15-25 mph) and torrential rain.  All was had except for the rain, not a drop.  However it was overcast the whole marathon.
     The race course meandered through the downtown of Fargo and residential streets.  Having tree lined roads helped diminish the winds, except when in open areas.  Some small hills were found, but far and few between.  This should be a nice race with mostly a flat course.
     My plan mirrored the plan used for Colorado Marathon breaking the race down into 3-9 mile segments.
Pushing the 1st 9 miles, then getting to the half marathon at 13.1 and assessing based on time.  I was over 2 hours so I throttled back as no stellar time was going to happen on this day.  Ran to 18 miles and was loosing my focus, so I stuck with a group I was running around to the end and pushed the last 2 miles.  The finish was in the Fargodome creating an excitement for the finish of the race.  I always hate to have anyone pass me the last 3 miles and in fact I passed 4 to 5 runners to the finish.
     The stats:  4:41:14; 1470th/2211 place overall; 954rd/1290 male; 31st/53 AG(60-64).  48th state!

     For those who read this, I would recommend this race.  Small size field for the marathon, even though the half marathon runs with the marathon on two sections feeling like a larger field.  Bands galore along the course and even more in garages.  The number of spectators along the course was impressive for the size of this race, but maybe they were out to see and hear the bands.  The finish was a nice touch and even had your mug on the large screen in the dome.  Food and goodies were great.  They even had chocolate milk. 
   While the visit was brief and the return home was mostly uneventful except one little tornado in Minneapolis, close enough to us but far enough we did not know it.  So there you have it another adventure completed by yours truly.