Start to Finish

Ironman Wisconsin, Twin Cities Marathon, Whistlestop Marathon, Chicago Marathon, The Day Across Minnesota. By the time this issue reaches you, most of these iconic Midwestern endurance events will be finished for the year. Finishers will still feel the thrill of crossing the finish line and falling into the embrace of family, friends, and partners who supported their journey from start to finish.

In 2024, 6,700 runners crossed the finish line at the Twin Cities Marathon in an average time of 4 hours, 20 minutes. At Ironman Wisconsin, the average finishing time was 13 hours, 45 minutes. Most of those competitors juggled families, careers, and other responsibilities to find enough time to train. The time in the result list documents the accomplishment, but the truest, longest, best memories come from the emotions of crossing the finish line.

No one starts a journey to finish a long race with “maybe” in mind. At the moment we hit send on the registration page, we are all in, fully committed. From that high point, the journey is littered with ups and downs. Balancing life’s day-to-day task lists with the training program declaring you must run 6 miles today, rain or shine, sickness, business travel, or a child’s music concert or first cross-country meet isn’t easy.

The start of a training program is filled with excitement, anticipation and a look forward to the glow of achieving that goal. Checking your smartwatch or heart monitor for the day’s training analytics adds some momentum to your training habits. A new pair of running shoes or a cycling jersey promoting the race you’ve entered reinforces the commitment.

When the training log reaches the midpoint between registration and day of the race, the questions come. Why haven’t my times improved? Still feel like I’m struggling. Thoughts of redefining success leak into your dream. Maybe that time goal that you set starts to look a little too optimistic. Reaching the start line takes as much mental energy as hundreds of miles of training rides or runs. Add a nagging injury to the mix and anxiety can turn up a notch.

For first-time marathon runners or gravel riders pushing themselves to longer events, the unknowns become daunting. What will I feel like at mile 20? What is the best setup for my bike’s gear bags? Those positive vibes at the beginning begin to fade a bit as the reality of the challenge becomes clearer.

The joy we encounter from completing a physical challenge is independent of the race. Sure, there’s something to be said for bragging about finishing an Ironman or your first marathon. Still, thousands of runners, cyclists, and triathletes feel that sense of accomplishment completing a 10k or Olympic distance race that hosts a few hundred participants.

Read Kierstin Kloeckner’s engaging article about Molly Ehlers. Molly, with the support and encouragement of her parents, finished the Great Divide Mountain Bike route. Riding her mountain bike for 45 days, she traveled more than 2,400 miles from Alberta, Canada to Antelope Wells, New Mexico—a small, but critically important detail. Molly is twelve years old. Congratulations Molly.

There wasn’t a crowd of spectators waiting for her at the end of the route, but the joy she felt is familiar to anyone who has pushed themselves to finish an epic adventure.

Close the magazine and take another look at the cover. Remember the flood of emotions you felt when you saw a volunteer cheering you to the finish line and hanging a medal around your neck. Whether it’s an iconic life-changing race or a get-off-the-couch Saturday morning 5k fun run, those emotions are an excellent reason to go from start to finish.

ldzierzak@formula4media.com