Decrospective: Detroit Free Press Marathon 2012

On Sunday, October 21, my little brother ran his second marathon in Detroit, MI. Being in our own stomping-ground, I had to go and support my brother on home territory.

I think it is going to become a tradition that we have dinner with my friend Lindsey before the marathon. She just happened to be in Washington DC for Travis's first marathon and here we are again!

October 21st

6AM

I met Travis in the downstairs lobby of his apartment building (I had stayed the night with his girlfriend :)

Both of us were incredibly bundled up, it was only 42 degrees outside. Travis got a ride to the race start with one of his friends; I rode my bike the few miles down Cass Ave. to the race start.

I haven't experienced bitter cold like that in a long time. Thank goodness I was able to scrounge around some extra warm clothes and gloves from Trav's girlfriend!

6:50AM

About two blocks from the start getting ready. The plan was to take Trav's extra things, wish him off and then meet mom and dad at the race start to see him go.

7AM

I didn't make it to mom and dad in time to watch him start together, but I did get to see Trav start! He's difficult to see, but he is the runner in dark green and black on the right side of the runner in white (in the middle of the shot). You can see Trav's wile hair :)

7:10AM

I did meet up with mom and dad and we headed to our first checkpoint that was going to be about mile 8.5. We had about a 45 minute wait sitting on the side of the Detroit River. We could actually see the lead car cross the Ambassador Bridge into Windsor, Canada and watched it race alongside the Detroit river across from us. And we got to watch the sunrise... pretty perfect morning so far!

7:40AM

Here's mom practicing her hand-off of Gu to Trav.

Dad's just hanging out...

7:50AM

Sorry for the blurry shot but my hands were really cold. Here's mom handing off the Gu to Trav (the blur wearing the black).

After this point, I met up with Travis's roomate, Alex. I sent mom and dad to their net check point, Mile 13 while Alex and I biked our way to mile 15.

Trav at Mile 15. He looked so good! Strong, calm, and confident!

8:20AM

At mile 18, Travis headed onto the Belle Isle Bridge was was glowing in the orange and red leaves. I remember driving over the bridge to the first day of WSU Swimming and Dining practice and could only think about how long that darn bridge is!

This pack of three is about to head onto the Bridge and they're all vying for 2nd place.

8:45

Alex and I saw Travis once again as he headed off the bridge at mile 23 and headed towards the finish. He had broken away from the guy in white, but was still running with the guy in red.

9AM

Alex and I had to hustle to the finish. We rode down the left-hand turn lane of Jefferson Ave. I had never seen or experienced Detroit like this before; the city felt so much different with the chill air on my face. The buildings seemed bigger and streets wider.

9:10AM

I will admit, I haven't really worked out in a long time and this bike riding was painful!

The race finish was one parallel street north of Jefferson and Alex and I could see the lead car every block when we would cross an intersection. I peddled as hard and as fast as I could; at one intersection, I'd be ahead of the pace car. Then at the next, I would be behind. Think about this... the lead car was directly in front of the lead runner. This lead runner was running as fast as I was biking!!!!

9:25AM

Alex and I stopped short of the finish by 3/10 of a mile. There just wasn't anyway we would make it through the crowds in time to see Travis right at the finish. But we had an excellent view right in front of the 26 mile mark.

Trav came around the corner in 3rd place running faster than he did in DC! Both Alex and I went CRAZY!! And the best part is when the people around us saw how crazy we were going... they went nuts as well!