Family and Friends:

The Fargo Marathon has come and gone... but my thanks and gratitude still continues. So I wanted to take a moment to thank all of you who kept me in your thoughts and prayers over the past few weeks. In that spirit, let me take a few steps backwards...

After returning from a long-distance team relay race in California at the end of April, I happen to bring back a full blown case of sinusitis and bronchitis. Over the past weeks leading up to the Fargo Marathon, my doctor had me on a variety of medications and a steroid to rid me of the bronchitis and sinusitis. The sinusitis cleared up, but the bronchitis just seemed to hang on...

With the arrival on this past Friday of two of my running colleagues (shown above) from the Twin Cities, Bill Reinfeld and Liz Harper (who came to run the Fargo Half-Marathon), I decided to chance the tail end of my bronchitis and go for a 26.2-mile run. Thanks to you, Liz and Bill, for being there to encourage me on the front end of the race and for cheering me on at the end of the long run! You're awesome!

With overcast skies and a chilly north wind, approximately 1200 marathoners took their first steps toward the finish line. I chose to maintain a 9:00/mile pace in the first two miles, just to give my legs and lungs a chance to warm up. From there, all felt well so I increased and maintained my pace of 8:10 for as long as I could. I had no idea what awaited me just miles down the road.

As the course winded through Fargo, I continued to clear my lungs while being entertained by the large number of Fargo residents who turned out to cheer on and entertain all the runners. Thanks to all of you that personally cheered me on from the sidewalks - I may not mention your name here, but I remember each and everyone of you, from my daily coffee buddy at Caribou Coffee to my feisty PTO colleagues. Thanks so much for the words to keep me moving!

And before I knew it, I had passed mile 16 and headed into Moorhead, Minnesota.

Little did I know that just around Mile 17, my sister Cher had coordinated my wife Di, my children and my mother Mable to be there waiting for me. It was such a surprise and such a wonderful gift! Thank you for coming out, Mom, Di, Leo, Emily, Hannah and Nicholas! And a very special thanks to you, Cher, for finding me earlier on the route and getting the family to cheer me on later in the race!

Turning east and then north, the group of runners I was pacing headed out of Moorhead and back into Fargo... and Mile 20 (and the proverbial Wall) was just around the corner...

But before I could get to that obstacle, my family was waiting at Mile 19 to cheer me on again (left photo below). It was, again, what I needed. Thanks again Cher and gang!

Heading into north Fargo, my time slowed more than I wanted, but I just didn't have any more lung left; I had plenty of legs left, but I think the bronchitis finally caught up to me. Needless to say, I passed Mile 22 - and I wasn't about to walk any considerable portion of the race.

Running past Mile 24, I was greeted by my brother-in-law Rick and his family, as their home is right on the route. Sorry for not stopping to thank you at the time, gang, but at 24.5 miles, I was ready to finish out the run and hit the Fargodome. But thanks for being there - I appreciated it!

Heading west through my last mile toward the Fargodome, I looked down at my overall race time to really soak in what was occurring: I was about to post a sub-3 hours, 50 minutes marathon. Again, thanks to my running pals Liz and Bill who were waiting for me at the final stretch into the Fargodome. What a rush that hit me at that point!

Entering the Fargodome and hitting the finishing chute, I was ecstatic. I finished out the 2007 Fargo Marathon with a time of 3:41:00! And I owe it all to you who personally cheered and prayed for me along the route. I owe to my family and friends who supported me over the past 16 weeks of training and I owe to the Almighty who gave me the strength to tough it out over those long miles. I can't thank you all enough! I had to take this moment again to thank you.

As a post note, I want you to know that my bronchitis seems to be on its way out the door... and my next marathon (what was I thinking?) is four weeks away (Grandma's Marathon in Duluth). But don't worry, I plan on simply enjoying Grandma' s Marathon and maintaining a relaxing pace.

I dedicated the 2007 Fargo Marathon to my mother-in-law Leone who suffered from a disease that stripped her of her breath, slowly and painfully. Each labored breath made me think of her over these past weeks and throughout the race. Because of that, I chose not to wear my traditional running Ipod during this race and simply pray for your needs, my family and friends. It's the least I could do - I hoped it helps you as much as it helped me!

Godspeed and peace in your journey in the coming days, Lee