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Charlevoix Marathon 2019

Posted on June 24, 2019July 14, 2019

Lifetime Big Long Thing #210
Calendar Year BLT #29
Strava Link | Garmin Link
Short version: Out-and-back on bike path with nice views of Lake Michigan, but overall somewhat dull.

The Charlevoix Marathon in Northern Michigan is a reasonably flat out-and-back almost exclusively on bike path, though a small part weaves through the western part of the town that sits between Lake Charlevoix and Lake Michigan from which it draws it’s water.

Returning to Michigan, where I spent about 5 years in a previous career was nice. I’d never been to Charlevoix. In fact I’d never heard of it, but I had been to the neighboring cities of Traverse City for their cherry festival, and Macinaw City, so I was somewhat familiar with the area. Summertime along lake Michigan brings fond memories and I would recommend the area to anyone. As for the race, it’s pretty for a little bit, but becomes rather monotonous, as out-and-back courses tend to be. Community support was great, with plenty of water and electrolyte as well as food, but I doubt I’d return for logistical reasons unless they bring back that cherry juice at the finish.

I traveled there overnight from Detroit with Cade pictured below. My flight came in a little after midnight so it was nice to have the companionship for the 4-ish hour drive. We arrived, picked up our packets and briefly saw roving Marathon Maniac Ambassador Carol “Ponytail” Earles and Teal Clark. I tried to squeak in a half hour nap before the start and probably wound up more tired than if I hadn’t.

Off to the start where I ran into Georges and Jonathan, and soon we were off on the course. The course has turnarounds for 5k, 10k, half and marathon distances, and several pace groups. I maintained a 4:15 pace until the turnaround when I started to fall back. I ran into Georges and we exchanged phone numbers since I had mentioned that I had left the Bookface machine, and I lost a bit of time when I got a phone call about mile 18 about an issue from work, and again at 23 about the same issue. Sadly I missed 4:30 by 22 seconds. I wasn’t running for time, but it’s never fun to disappoint. I’d call that a B effort for the day.

I was honestly really looking forward to the “all you can drink cherry juice” that Andy Bowden said we would find at the finish. Unfortunately this year it appears that’s a no-go. (Sad Panda) I had never been this far north in Michigan without getting something cherry so we made a quick side trip to Cherry Republic, a shop selling all things cherry and I purchased a bag of dried cherries for my office, and tried their cherry cider, which isn’t really my thing.

A quick stop down to Lake Michigan to dip a toe into freezing water and back on the road for 4 hours to get Cade back to Detroit, and me down to Mom’s house for a surprise visit which she seemed to be onto from the get-go. Cade and I had lunch at a diner near his hotel then I was off to see Mom and Mike and the newest edition to the house, Teddy Bear, a Bichon rescue that Mom fell in love with a few weeks ago. I was dead tired so there was much napping in chairs and sleeping in, along with hobbling around with significant plantar fasciitis pain, but I managed to get several dog kisses from Teddy which I have reason to believe can help with that. Unfortunately I had to catch my flight back from Detroit less than 24 hours later so it was a quick trip, and I stupidly didn’t take pictures with Mom and Mike. *headslap*

Fun fact: Did you know that there was once a kingdom in Michigan? After Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon church, died it’s widely known that Brigham Young took over, but there was another man named James Strang that lead a breakaway faction of Mormons to Beaver Island, the largest island in Lake Michigan, and established a “kingdom” in which of course he was king. The power went to his head and he would later be killed by two men he had ordered flogged. Today you can take a ferry to beaver island from Charlevoix.

Dawn over Lake Charlevoix
Cade, as usual, is a blur
Great to see Georges and Jonathan
Carol “Ponytail” Earles is always a welcome sight
Small race, maybe 350
View of Lake Michigan near the half marathon turnaround
Loveable spectator
All of the course is bike path, but part is this nice wood decking. I suspect if it had been wet this might be somewhat treacherous
View toward Lake Michigan through the channel connecting Lake Charlevoix in the middle of town. The lighthouse at the far end can be found on the medal and logo
Ironically this is at miles 10 or 16 depending upon your direction
Another shot of Lake Michigan, this time coming back toward town
It wasn’t hot by South Florida standards, but it warmed up to the low 70s and they cracked out this hose, which was a welcome sight.
Second smallest bib I’ve ever received (I like), not much larger than a 3×5 notecard
The shirt didn’t photo well, but it’s a long sleeve in a pale seafoam color that I don’t see myself wearing on the regular
Post-race beverage (sadly no beer or cherry juice) and the medal, which rivals the bib in size

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