By Cynthia Scott

On most days it takes about 30 minutes to get from Two Harbors to Duluth along scenic highway 61.

On June 18, Kathie Tetzlaff and her buddy Cathy Hufford of North Branch traveled the 26-plus mile distance in a relatively brisk 5 1/2 hours.

Not bad, considering they were on foot.

Tetzlaff, 34, and Hufford, 35, were among 11 area residents who finished Grandmaís Marathon, the annual runnersí pilgrimage along the North Shore that attracts world-class competitors and eager novices alike.

Tetzlaff and Hufford fall into the latter category. This was the first time either of them had run a marathon. Tetzlaff, a nurse and the mother of three, had previously trained for one, but an injury forced her to the sidelines for a year. She re-ignited her dream when she met Hufford.

To finish Grandmaís at all was an achievement, and to do it under their goal time of six hours was, in Huffordís words, ìphenomenal.î
ìLots of people didnít think weíd finish. Next year our goal is five hours,î she said.

Running brought the two friends together. They would regularly spot each other on the Prairie Sunrise Trail ñ Hufford usually walking and Tetzlaff usually jogging. One evening at Dairy Queen they ran into each other and struck up a conversation. They clicked, and decided to start running together.

Their original intent was to lose weight, but over time, as the miles began to roll by, they began to muse that it might be fun to run a marathon. Hufford was familiar with Grandmaís because her brother, Rodney Meyer of Lindstrom, ran it last year for the first time.

ìHe had been in an accident three years ago, and he almost died. I thought, if he can do it, why canít I?î Hufford said.

So in February they began training together three days a week, increasing their distance each week until they were able to put in 24 miles.

It was a major commitment to make, since each woman juggles motherhood, home life, and work.

ìWe have an awesome pace together,î Hufford said.

ìWe talk a lot while weíre running. Itís like therapy. We blow off a lot of stream. The time passes quickly and we get a lot of work done. But it doesnít feel like work,î Tetzlaff added. ìWe could not do this without each other. When you do it on your own, you go too hard.î

True to their routine, they talked to each other during Grandmaís, too. They stayed with each other stride for stride until the last couple of miles, when Tetzlaff decided to ease up a little and alternate walking with running. Hufford crossed the finish line a couple of minutes before Tetzlaff, and was there to cheer on her friend.

Both women drew inspiration not only from each other, but from thousands of other runners who, like them, participated in the marathon for the challenge, the companionship, and the fun of it.

ìFrom what we saw out there, anybody can do it,î Tetzlaff said.

They plan to keep running together and have their sights set on next yearís Grandmaís as well as on Octoberís Twin Cities Marathon.

The only disappointment to emerge from pursuing their newfound passion is that neither woman has done what she originally set out to do: lose weight. But, they note, they feel better than ever and theyíve gained muscle.

But even more than that, theyíve gained a long-running friendship.

Other North Branch area Grandmaís Marathon finishers and their times were:
Pam Austad, 38, 4:09.10; Leah Dehn, 43, 4:45.51; Michael Rohweder, 34, 3:22.13; Daniel Scheff, 24, 3:43.23.
There were 6,888 runners who finished the marathon in an average time of 4:22.29.

Half-marathon finishers were:
Jared Crep, 27, 2:14.32; Rebecca Crep, 25, 2:01.35; Gina Sanvik, 36, 2:33.05; William Stanley, 36, 2:25.48; Chad VanDyke, 31, 2:00.01.

In the half marathon, 4,828 runners finished in an average time of 2:07.59.

Grandmaís Marathon, so-named for the Duluth-based restaurants that were the event's first major sponsor, began in 1977 with 150 runners. It is now a world-ranked race.

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