DULUTH - Finally, Mary Akor could feel the burden lift from her heavy heart. After winning her third consecutive Grandma's Marathon on Saturday, she can return to Nigeria to bury her father with one final honor.
Akor, 32, collapsed just beyond the finish line after holding off Alina Ivanova by just six seconds in sticky weather. Not even her trip to the medical tent to replenish fluids could dampen her joy. As the oldest of nine children, Nigerian custom dictates that she make the decisions concerning her father's funeral, and she hoped to dedicate a Grandma's victory to him before returning home to say goodbye.
Though she was among the leaders throughout the race, Akor said this was the toughest of her trio, which allowed her to join Lorraine Moller (1979-81) as the only runners to win Grandma's three times. The humidity was 85 percent at the start, and the temperature of 64 degrees rose steadily under a bright sun. Her determination did not wither, and Akor won in 2 hours, 36 minutes, 52 seconds.
"This one means a lot, because I was running for my dad," said Akor, whose father, John, died unexpectedly at age 53 last month. "I prayed. I said, 'God, I really want to win this for my dad.'
"The other [victories], I just ran. When I look back at this one, I will remember the pain I'm going through. I'm so happy and grateful I won."
Akor, a naturalized American citizen, grew up in Nigeria and lives in California. She likes to run in hot weather, and she hoped it would be steamy, knowing her experience in those conditions could give her an edge.
Moller won three consecutive Grandma's from 1979 to '81. After Akor's back-to-back triumphs, her rivals weren't about to let her tie that record easily. Ivanova, of Russia, and Janet Cherobon, of Kenya, stuck close to her and pushed the early pace.
Ivanova dropped back, creating a tense back-and-forth between Akor and Cherobon. A determined Akor picked up speed and left Cherobon behind at mile 24, only to look back and see Ivanova gaining on her.
"I wasn't going to let Janet beat me," Akor said. "I wasn't going to lose. When I looked back and saw [Ivanova], I said, 'Oh, no.'
"I was really nervous, but I wasn't going to give it up. I had to push it. I thought when I got to the finish line, they were going to have to revive me anyway."
Ivanova, 40, finished in 2:36:58 despite being hampered by congestion in her sinuses and lungs. Robyn Friedman of Lambs Grove, Iowa, was third in 2:38:03.
Akor said the heat and humidity didn't bother her, even as the temperature rose to 75 degrees during the late stages of the race. She had some trouble picking up her water bottles, though, and grew wobbly in the final strides before collapsing from exhaustion and dehydration. She quickly recovered after receiving fluids.
Akor briefly considered withdrawing from the race to handle her father's funeral, but she has grown to love Grandma's. Winning a third time, she thought, would be a fitting tribute to her dad -- as well as a major milestone for herself.
"By God's grace, I will come back next year," she said. "I'm really happy to win and have the support of people cheering. I could not have done it alone.
"Minnesota and Duluth are so awesome. The people are very warm and very welcoming, and that's why I like to come. I really appreciate them bringing me back to win this race three times."
