TRAVERSE CITY -- A year ago, he was preparing for his fall cross country season at Central Michigan University.
Now, Andrew Manning is employed at Lyle Industries in Beaverton, coming off his first marathon, and hoping to be a contender in Saturday's Cherry Festival 15K road race.
Manning, a former Traverse City Central standout, was third overall a year ago in 51:27.
"If I'm anywhere near that (time), I'll feel good about it," he said.
Manning ran the Bayshore Marathon in late May, finishing in 2:37.57. It was his first attempt at the 26.2-mile distance. After taking a couple weeks off, he resumed training in preparation for the Cherry Festival 15K, Flint's Bobby Crim 10-mile run in August and another marathon, probably Detroit, in the fall.
Manning, 23, was running a strong fourth in the Bayshore until he faded in the final four miles.
"It was a good experience," he said. "I was in good position at 22 miles. I was closing the gap on third. Then I started getting blisters on my feet and I tried to make a change in my stride to take the pressure off and that's when it fell apart."
Manning's goal was to finish under 2:30.
"The first one you live and learn," he said. "I think I could probably do it next time out."
Manning, who was coming off his senior season of track, said the biggest adjustment for him was changing his race mentality.
"The whole first half I was telling myself to slow down, to not go out too fast," he said. "I wanted to be at least a little conservative never having done one before. It's hard because all the other road races I've done you want to go out hard and push the pace."
Manning was in good shape until the blisters slowed him down. He called the last four miles "about as hard as I expected it to be."
"I was just turning on to East Shore (Drive) when I felt them (blisters)," he said. "I was just trying to keep it together after that. I kept thinking, 'I'm almost there. I've run this (road) hundreds of times. I can do it one more time.'"
Although he finished in discomfort, Manning said he was already looking ahead.
"As soon as I got done I wanted to do another one," he said.
Manning said his goal is to run at least one marathon a year.
"I'd definitely like to do Boston, New York and Chicago," he said.
For now, though, his focus is on the Cherry Festival 15K, a race he's done every year since he was a junior in high school.
"I don't really know where my fitness is because I haven't run anything really fast since Bayshore," he said. "I'm just hoping to get into the 52s. That would be a good place for where my fitness is.
"I know last year I was in the 51s. If I'm anywhere near that, I'll feel good."
Festival of Races
-- Races start Saturday at Northwestern Michigan College
-- 5K starts at 7:45 a.m., the 15K follows at 8:10
-- Upwards to 2,500 runners are expected
-- Registration fee is $30 through Friday, $35 on race day
-- Registration and packet pick-up will be Friday from 5-8 p.m. and Saturday from 6:30-7:30 a.m. at Eastern Elementary
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