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LFM RD
Regular
23 Posts |
 Posted - March 25 2010 : 09:11:19 AM
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Let's get something going on this Graffiti Board! Please tell everyone why you are running LFM, what it means to you, your favorite LFM story (we've had 30 years to amass those), etc. We'd love to hear from all of you!
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Wegs
Regular non-poster
USA
4 Posts |
Posted - March 25 2010 : 6:24:32 PM
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Back in 1982 I had my first exposure to the LFM as a volunteer at one of the waterstops with the Menomonee Falls North HS Cross Country Team. I remember thinking there was no way I could ever run 26.2 miles. I also got a kick out of how prominent the Lite Beer sponsor logos were on the hats and shirts we got. Since the CC rules were no shirts with alcohol or tobbacco references.
Ten years later (1992) I ran my first LFM. I recall my longest run in trainig was 15 miles so everything after that was a new experience. I had such a great time I ran again in 93, 94 and 95. No technical fabrics or gel - just cotton socks and long sleeve cotton t-shirts and Gatorade. I not only lived to write about it but I had my fastest times!
After a 9 year break, I took my brother in law up on a New Years Eve challenge and started again in 2004 - older, wiser, and much slower! I've run every year since ‘04 just trying to break 4 hours - no PR attempts in the foreseeable future.
The top ten things I love about LFM (in roughly chronological order)are:
10. Build up runs
9. Technical shirts
8. Parking and shuttle to start
7. Scenic country setting at the start
6. Accordion player rocks!
5. Cross Country Teams still volunteering
4. Crowd support where needed most
3. Lakefront finish
2. Finisher's medal
1. Post race Ale House refreshments
Thanks to Kris and all the volunteers for keeping this race going and finding ways to make it better every year!
Tim Wegner |
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bananza
Regular non-poster
USA
5 Posts |
Posted - July 08 2010 : 3:48:22 PM
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Now that's a cool story Wegs! I ran last year and I'm running again this year (well, I better - I signed up!) because I have this issue with not being ‘one and done'. I feel like Lakefront is “my marathon", with it being the hometown course and everything.
Here's my story:
I ran my first marathon in 2009. It was the Lakefront Marathon. In January of 2009 I hadn't run more than a 5k. I was overweight but losing weight, falling from a top weight of 240lbs. I have one of those addictive personalities (you know the ones, many of us runners have them) so I switched addictions from let's say... unhealthy habits... to running. I had never had anything to be ‘good at’ before and running became that thing. I committed to running the marathon early, and began thinking like (what I thought was) a marathon runner.
The funny thing was, I started running on my own as a time for myself, but I ended up making so very many friends through it! Starting with the buildup runs! I was nervous the first day I attended but was approached by another newbie, Dan. He was about the same pace as I was and we ran together that day. Soon we were joined by Tracey, Julie, Corey, and others. The group of us all ended up running Lakefront together and crossing the finish line within seconds of each other!
One thing that made the whole journey really special was the power of social media. As I trained for the marathon, I tweeted about my running experiences, the trials and the triumphs alike. Soon, I had a group of supportive ‘friends’ that I had never met cheering me on from their computers. Then when race day came, they made REAL signs and brought their butts down to the finish line to cheer for my friends and I! How cool is that?! And guess what else? This year I have made lots of new friends that have been encouraged to start running, and will run THEIR first marathon at Lakefront. AWESOME!
Thanks Kris and Jon and all the volunteers, for making things happen for this awesome hometown event! |
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Ali
Regular non-poster
USA
1 Posts |
Posted - July 13 2010 : 7:57:02 PM
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Great Stories! Let’s get more out there…Here is mine:
I’ve been a runner my entire life, I remember racing the neighborhood boys in our alley (bare foot) when I was 5 years old! I ran cross country and track through high school and ran to stay fit in college (I attended WTC they didn’t have a competitive team). One of my life goals was to run a marathon by the time I was 20. (I’ll be 33 by the time I run my first) I stopped running when I was 5 months pregnant with our oldest son now 3 ½ and never found the time until, in January of this year I cautiously started running again. LATE one night I felt I could conquered the world SO I signed up for my first half marathon and full marathon.
What makes this especially rewarding for me is that in 2005 at the age of 27 I was unexpectedly diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. This last June, 5 years later, I quietly celebrated the fact that this disease doesn’t own me. I laced up my shoes, grabbed my tester and sport beans and went for a 4 mile run on Solberg Lake in Northern WI. I’m hooked again on running and although I haven’t even finished Lake Front I’m contemplating; where will my next marathon be? Good luck to everyone, I hope to see you at the finish line!
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radodd
Regular non-poster
9 Posts |
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mr. ted
Regular
USA
29 Posts |
Posted - August 20 2010 : 12:32:50 AM
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I remember being fashionably late for the 1995 Lakefront Marathon. The race day registration stayed open until the last minute, and maybe beyond that.. I quickly signed up, got out the Grafton High School cafeteria door, heading over to the start area. The pack was gone! I had a little catching up to do, and upon passing the one mile mark, I was about a minute later than I was planning to be. Hence, I was the one saying, “I lost a minute! Anyone see my minute?”
As it turned out, the number of participants was the same as my bib number, about 1534. Anyone else ever been fashionably late for a marathon?
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mr. ted
Regular
USA
29 Posts |
Posted - August 27 2010 : 4:15:17 PM
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Find old stories - USATF Rules, Headphones, DQ awards (See http://216.247.178.207/graffiti/graffiti.html?QSBrdID=6 .)
I still think that running Lakefront or any other marathon with your dog on a leash, pushing your tootlebug in a stroller while wearing those oh, so banned headphones is cause for honorable recognition -- almost up there with running a marathon backwards.  |
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Tell us YOUR Story!
