On June 22, Duluth kicked off their summer with Grandma’s Marathon, one of the largest marathons in the country, welcoming 20,000 annual runners and bringing over $21 million dollars to the region.
Pengilly native and current Grand Rapids resident Aaron Itkonen was right in the midst of the runners, pacing himself with some of the best runners in the world. To complete a full-marathon, one must endure 26.2 miles to the finish line - nothing new to the veteran-runner Itkonen, who has completed nearly 10 of them in his life, not including his more than seven half-marathons (13.1 miles), or roughly 35, 5k races.
“It’s who I am, and what I am,” Itkonen said. “I’ve been running my whole life.”
A bad experience on Christmas Eve in 2015 gave more purpose to Itkonen’s life of running.
“I overcame fear, and now I run from fear,” said Itkonen explaining how the experience has driven him even more into the sport.
His training and preparation for these long-distance races includes yoga three times per week and strength training another two days, which has helped him transform from 180 pounds in 2015 to 141 today.
The work he’s been doing showed up for him in two races this past weekend: The William A. Irvin 5k on Saturday, and Grandma’s Marathon Sunday. He ran the 5k in 28 minutes, 17 seconds, which he said helped prepare his body for the marathon the next day. Itkonen says he ran the same 5k in 29.28 the year before, marking a strong improvement from just a year ago.
He finished Grandma’s Marathon in 6.02.36, just short of his goal of staying within the five-hour mark.
Although Itkonen finished at just over six hours, he says he was feeling good throughout the fifth hour, that is until the rain and wind kicked in, however that couldn’t stop the self-motivated and dedicated runner from completing his fourth Grandma’s Marathon.
Itkonen says he intends to run in the upcoming Park Point 5-miler and 2-mile walk in Duluth on July 18, and will be competing in the Running the Rapids marathon in August, but is still undecided whether or not to run the full or half marathon.
A graduate from Nashwauk in 1996, Itkonen recalls his days as a track and field athlete growing up. While proud of being a varsity letter-winner from eighth grade through his senior year, he was equally as proud of his perfect attendance in school 7th-12th grades.
“Not many people have been able to do that,” he says. He was also a basketball and football manager in addition to being on the math team during his high school days.
Unafraid of a challenge, he’s even writing his first book: “Life as an Eagle Scout,” by Aaron Gabriel Itkonen, or Icky1 he says for those who know.
Itkonen is a self-reliant, and independent athlete, but said he is grateful for all the people who support his endeavors in life:
“I want to thank my family, friends, best friends,” he says. “I have a huge extended family, coaches; I want to thank the people on my side in the world we live in today.” Be positive, be thankful, give heart.”
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