Lakefront Marathon
Second time the charm for top male, female finishers
Two years ago, Matt Borneman ran his first Lakefront Marathon and cruised … for the first 20 miles.
Then his legs wouldn’t cooperate. He went out way too hard, ran out of gas and ended up walking much of the final six miles, crossing the finish line in a time that didn’t put him in contention for a place at the podium. Not this year. After logging in a whopping 100 miles a week during his training, the former UW-Platteville runner crushed the 37th annual Lakefront Marathon on Sunday, pulling away from the other leaders around the 23rd mile and finishing the rest of the way strong. He won in 2 hours 31 minutes and 44 seconds.
“I was expecting a little bit faster,” said Borneman.
There’s a reason he said that. Condi-
tions were good enough for the 1,776 runners Sunday morning, at least compared to the 90-plus degree heat the week before. Morning temps hovered in the 50s and low 60s, but there was still a good headwind along the lake for the final 4-6 miles in.
“It was tough, the wind coming off the lake slowed everybody down,” said Joseph Skurski, the second-place finisher. “I think the front end of the field was probably capable of breaking 2:30 but it was just a slower day than anticipated.”
Borneman, a 26-year-old software engineer at Epic Systems Corp. in Madison, pushed through the wind and the crowd. In fact, the middle part of the marathon might have been more challenging because of some of the hills between Miles 13-18. Otherwise, he ran a steady, consistent race in what was his fourth ever marathon.
For much of the way, he kept Martin Hinze, the leader, within view until he was strong enough to surpass him. Hinze finished third. Skurski, a graduate of Beloit College and UW-Milwaukee, finished second.
“(Hinze) was out in front until Mile 22 or 23,” Borneman said. “I didn’t think I was going to be able to run him down. My legs were feeling like weights — but I was able to tough it out.
“Once I passed him I felt a little more comfortable.”
He will run Boston Marathon next spring.
Not long after, Jenny Zwagerman crossed the finish line at 2:54:11 as the top female finisher.
Even though the 31-year-old from Shorewood took second place at this race two years ago, she laughed at the idea of wanting to come back and claim the first place medal.
“No, no — I never expected to win,” said Zwagerman.
She took the lead among the women six to seven miles in and never looked around for other female contenders, concentrating instead on her own rhythm.
“I just wanted to run my own race,” said Zwagerman, who was running her 11th marathon. “I can only do what I am able to do.”
She said the key to her victory was her support, first. Her training runs often include her husband, Tyler, and one of them pushing the stroller of their 11⁄2-year old son, Decker.
“He’s been dragged along on 20mile runs since he was born,” said Zwagerman.
She also runs with Milwaukee Running Group OMG.
“Consistent training was helpful. Just a good 14-15 weeks of training without too many injuries and building up the miles,” said Zwagerman. “You never know who is going to show up in these races. I’m not the fastest runner in Wisconsin.
“But today was a good day and I was able to run my best race.”
Asked if she would wear her medal all week she said: “Maybe. It’s a little heavy!”
Erin Smith, the race director, said the marathon and 5k went well, hosted by the Badgerland Striders.
“Great day, amazing volunteer support and awesome runners,” said Smith. “Couldn’t ask for anything better.”