The picture was worth a thousand miles: Meg Grindall crossing the Scheels Fargo Marathon finishing line, iPod in tow, practically oblivious to the fact she was the first female finisher.
She had no visions of winning the 26.2-mile race. In fact, she set out that day treating it like it was just another run. No watch - she never wears one - and no pressure.
"I'm still doing it for the fun of it," the 26-year-old Grindall said this week.
The defending champ will return next Saturday for the third annual event.
In the year since she surprised the local running community, Grindall has been working as a dietician at Concordia College. She said she hasn't received much attention for her accomplishment.
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"It's nice that way," she said. "I totally was not expecting to win and it just kind of happened. It was a real shock, a surreal feeling."
Her only race since the marathon was the 2.6-mile Bridge Bash last fall, which is organized by the Fargo Marathon to kick off 2007 registration.
She finished last year's marathon in 3:04.44, which was about 25 minutes faster than her only other marathon - the 2005 Fargo.
"I've been running on a treadmill more so I kind of know what pace I can run," she said. "I think I'm in a little better shape."
She tapered her training last week, although not by plan. She had her wisdom teeth pulled and didn't train.
As for her running with headphones, that is getting pulled, too. USA Track & Field has banned headphones and music-listening devices at its sanctioned events. That includes the Fargo Marathon.
"I thought about it," Grindall said. "But I'm going to follow the rules and just go without it. Maybe that will make me go faster."
It won't, however, make for a better picture.
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Readers can reach Forum reporter Jeff Kolpack at (701) 241-5546.
Kolpack's NDSU media blog can be found at www.areavoices.com
