Date: September 6, 2026
Where: Bearskin Trail, Minocqua, Wisconsin
Time: 4:53:37
Place: 34 out of 68
Results: https://results.raceroster.com/v3/events/xunc43t6vwag5rnu/race/305075?filter_search=
I’m still putting in miles training for my ultramarathon in two weeks and needed one more long run, so today I opted to run a local marathon in Minocqua called the No Frills Marathon. I had been up here and crashed this race several times because I would forget that it was happening. This time I remembered.
It truly is no frills, but at least it was chip timed, has aid stations, and has some of the best Northwoods scenery that you can get.
Temps were upper 50s, maybe low 60s at the start, and felt perfect. My pace plan was to run/walk, but I picked sub-5 hours for a goal, so I settled on 1.5 minutes of running with a one minute walk to get me somewhere near an 11-minute mile average pace.
I started off pretty strong and quickly moved to the left so people could pass me without having to go around me. I found myself leap frogging a couple of runners who were running a steady pace. I would pass and get ahead, then walk and get passed back. They finally got just enough ahead of me that my run segment couldn’t catch them. The woman in the pink top would be up ahead of me in my sight for most of the race.
I carried a water bottle with me and I was glad I had because the aid stations were pretty far apart and it would not have been enough for me, plus I was drinking Tailwind so I was really self-supporting myself. The plan was to renew my bottle four times, about every 6-7 miles. Kari handed me my first replacement, then I refilled it at the 13.1-mile turnaround. I met Kari once more at 19 miles or so for the last bottle. I supplemented the Tailwind with a stroopwaffel, a Payday fun size bar, and one gel. It worked for the race, but I might need more for the backyard ultra coming up.
I started catching slower runners on the return trip and finally started seeing pink top girl up ahead. I bargained with myself about when or even if I should start to kick to catch her and a few others, but I waited until about 2 miles to go because she was walking occasionally and looked to be struggling. I passed her at mile 24 and kept looking over my shoulder to see if she was coming, but no one was there. I decided to coast in the last mile and finish without wrecking myself too much.
Ben, Emily, and Kari met me at the finish line and helped me recover a little bit before heading home. I was pretty happy with my time and coming in under 5 hours. Time to rest the legs and celebrate with a great dinner with my family.
Thanks to Ben and Emily for cheering me on, and to Kari for once again, making sure that I am well prepared for and taken care of after these crazy races I do.
an amazing run 