Cherry Blossom 10-miler

I ran in the Cherry Blossom 10-mile race on April 3, 2011. This was my second race of the year and my second race in about a week. I ran the Sun Trust National Half Marathon one week before this race. After getting a PR in that race, I decided that this would not be a PR race. My last 10mile race was the Frederick 10-miler last fall and I ran that in 71min.

The cherry blossom race was held in downtown DC and runs through the cherry blossoms (hence the name) that surround the tidal basin. The race started at the Washington monument, loops through DC, into Virginia and ends back at the Washington monument. Pretty cool. Can't find anything like that in Columbus Ohio.

Anyway, the race was to start at 7:40am, and since I was coming from Frederick, I had to take the subway from Shady Grove into DC. I got up at 4:30am, had my typical bagel, peanut butter and Dt. Mt. Dew and packed my stuff. The weather called for cool temperatures, so I put on a long sleeve tech shirt and my wind pants. I grabbed by coat and headed to the metro.

The ride to metro was uneventful. I had my check bag, and my running belt, so after locking up the car, I headed for the train. As I walked down the tunnel toward the train, I began hearing jingle bells. I looked behind me, but nothing. After I walked through the turnstile, I heard them again, this time I could tell they were in front of me. I headed up the escalator and looked around. It seemed I was the only one on the platform. I looked down the dark tracks and saw no trains in either direction. The sound of jingling startled me again and I quickly turned around to see a portly older man, with a long white beard, rosy cheeks, and a red Santa hat that matched his red running shorts. A timing chip on his left shoe and a jingle bell on his right rounded out his wardrobe. He looked at me and smiled. All I could say was "Hi Santa.". Santa and I talked for only a few minutes, but I did tell him that I'd like a PR for Christmas!

Once the train showed up, I wished Santa luck on his race, and boarded the train for DC. The ride was uneventful and after a transfer, I got off at the Smithsonian stop. Coming up the escalator I could feel the excitement in the air. Stepping onto the mall with the sun rising is an amazing experience. After taking a quick look around, I headed toward the large crowd of people at the Washington monument. Boy was it ever large. The cap for the cherry blossom run is 15,000 people, and they were all ascending on the Washington monument at the same time. Many, many people.

After finding bag check, I decided to head for the port-a-potties. To my surprise, there were no lines. I stood behind a crowd of people and waited, and waited, and waited. Turns out this bank of johns were locked.... Damn. Just as I was about to walk away, a guy with a key passes me and starts to unlock the johns.... Could be my lucky day, first Santa now this! But the guy seemed frustrated. Turns out the key that he had probably only worked on 1/3 of the johns there. Well, I was in line anyway, so I might as well wait. After about 2 minutes, he comes back with a huge hammer and starts smashing the locks on the remaining johns... Everyone cheered.

After finishing, I decided I should head to the start line. I was in the yellow corral. I saw many colors but no yellow. Turns out yellow was right next to the start line. I was yellow B.... Elite was yellow A. I prayed I did not get mowed down when the horn blew. I worked my way into the yellow corral and warmed up a bit. The start was to be progressive; each corral would start about 1-2min after the corral in front of it. As the clock approached 7:40am, I could see the start line both in front of me and on the big screen by the grandstand (the race was live streamed to the web). My goal for this race was to go out strong, but if my legs felt tired, I would not kill myself. The horn went off at 7:40am and we were off.

Did I mention 15,000 people?? The 10-miler in Frederick had about 300 people.. 15,000 is way more than 300. Tons of people, tons of feet. But I started fast.

Mile 1 took me down Independence Ave slightly around the tidal basin. I remember feeling good, and knew I was moving fast. At the 1-mile marker, I had a 6:50m/m. Not too shabby.

Mile 2 took us over the Memorial Bridge and back again. It was here I saw the lead runner on the other side of the bridge. Running over the bridge was cool. I have never been over that bridge before. The weather was just beautiful, but I was over dressed. I had a 6:49m/m in mile 2.

Mile 3 and 4 took us down Rock Creek parkway past the JFK performing arts building, which was a turn around. There was also a water stop along this way also. I gotta say the water stops were really well manned at the race, much better than the national marathon last week. Another u-turn down Ohio drive finished out mile 4. I was feeling really good now after clocking 6:47m/m and 6:35m/m for these two miles. Maybe I will PR??

Miles 5-6 were back down Independence and to the opposite side of the tidal basin. I thought this stretch was really neat because the crowds just lined the streets and were screaming, and cheering for the runners. It was a real booster. I finished these two at 6:52m/m and 6:47 m/m.

Miles 7-9 went through east Potomac Park, which is a kind of peninsula. These were hard miles, but beautiful. No crowds, but tons of blooming cherry trees. It was quite a sight, but after about a mile, I was done with them. Mile 7.5 we hit Haines point, which is the tip of the peninsula. Time to turn around and head back to the Washington monument. Into the wind...damn. By this point, I knew I could make a PR, so I figured if I slowed down a bit it would be ok. But the competitor in me told me to keep pushing so that's what I did. I finished these miles in 6:54, 6:54, 6:55. I was getting tired.

The last mile swooped around the edge of the tidal basin and back to the monument. Oh yeah, they also added a 0.25mile hill in there to make it interesting. It was the only hill the entire race and they stick it at the end.... Damn them. I could see the monument get closer and closer. As I turned the final corner, I could see the finish line up ahead. The clock looked like it said 1:08... No way... I pushed....the clock read 1:08:45. I need to beat 1:09!!! Why? Who the hell knows why that's just what I screamed to myself. As I got closer, I could tell it was going to be close........ I crossed at 1:09:02. (6:50 m/m) So close.

After slowing down, I clicked off my Garmin, which still said 1:08. And then it hit me.. It probably took me about 15 sec to cross the start line. I probably did beat 1:09!! I grabbed some water, a muffin, my finisher's metal, and sat down to stretch. I was feeling pretty good. My left hamstring was a bit sore, but I figured it would be since it was kinda bothering me throughout the race. I hung around to watch others finished before heading to the subway. I walked back to the Smithsonian stop, I couldn't help wonder how Santa did. I hope he did well. I need to remember to thank him for the PR when I see him in December!

Official time: 1:08:46
533/15970 overall
33/646 in age group
First race ever with every mile less than 7m/m
Also my front and back half were only 15 sec different in total time

National Half Marathon Race Report

This past weekend, I ran in the Sun Trust National Half Marathon. This race is totally contained with the Washington DC city limits, and is touted as flat, fast race. I signed up for this race in the fall, with hopes at making a PR. My training strategy was simple, I wanted to get my mileage to about 40 miles per week, and then I would add some speed work for the last month of training. My fastest HM was at Parks half marathon in 2009, where I finished in just over 1:37. I ran a HM in 2003 while I was living in Columbus OH, and kinda remember being in the high 1:35, but cannot find the finishers list to verify.

The race was to start at RFK stadium, loop through DC and finish at the stadium. There was also a full marathon which followed the half and finished with a second loop. Originally, metro was to open at 5am, and my plan was to be at the Shady Grove Metro station at 5am, so I could get down to RFK before 6:15am. The gun was to go off at 7am sharp. Well, about two the weeks off, the organizers and Metro decided to delay the opening of Metro until 6am. I would never make it from Shady Grove to RFK in time. I had to drive. I took the family to the Expo the day before and we travelled via Metro, so race morning was my first attempt at driving to RFK. Big mistake.

My alarm went off at 4:30am, and I got my breakfast ready: Bagel, banana and a Diet Mt Dew (breakfast of champions). I gathered my cold weather stuff (temp at 4:30 was 30F) and pulled out of my garage at 5:00am. I brought with me Google Map directions, but after about 15min, I realized I forgot the GPS. I had no trouble getting toward DC, I got off 270 and onto 495, I then got off 495 and onto the Baltimore parkway. No problem. But then all of a sudden I was on 50. It was not on my directions, and I started to freak out a bit. It was 5:45. I pulled over to the shoulder and thought, "What would I do if I was in the amazing race?" So I took the next exit and stopped at the first gas station. I ran in and asked the guy behind the counter how to get to RFK. He rattled off some directions and I just stared at him blankly. Just as I was asking him to show me on the map, a guy standing beside me said, "I'm going that way you can follow." It was a taxi driver taking a couple of girls to the race. So I ran back out to the car and followed the taxi toward the stadium. After a few turns, and bobbing and weaving, we made it near RFK stadium. But so did 15,000 other people. I got stuck in a line of cars that was not moving. I pulled up next to a guy in a black truck and asked him to roll down the window. I asked him if he was looking for parking. He said he was a medic and trying to get into the race area. I asked him where the parking was, and he pointed behind me. He told me to turn right here, turn right again, and again, and that would head me toward the parking. I thanked him and asked if I could cut in front of him, which he let me do. After making the multitude of right turns, I found my way to lots 6 and 7. But again long lines. I waited and waited, trying not to get anxious or nervous (yeah, right). After making my way to the back of lot 6, I was set and ready to go. I gathered my hat, gloves, phone, gu and started walking to the start line via the Armory.

When I got to the Armory, it was jammed packed. People stretching, talking, laughing and getting ready. I took a quick picture, and decided I should hit the bathroom, just in case. The line to the indoor bathrooms we long, but I decided to wait. It was about 6:35am. At 6:40, I still had not moved. So, I thought I would try and hit the port a potties. They had tons of them, but the lines were extremely long, and it was pushing 6:45. I decided I did not have to go that bad, and started to try and find my corral. I was in corral 2. I found 5-10, but where was 2. Well it was near the start line. No pressure there. When I finally found it, it was about 6:50. I jogged in place a little and took a few more pictures, when all of a sudden the national anthem started. By the time it was over, it was 6:55am, and the announcements were beginning. Guess what, now I had to pee. I thought about having to pee when I ran, and thought it might not be too bad, let's see how it goes. Before I knew it, the gun went off and the race began.

My plan was to see how the first couple of miles went, before deciding if I would try and PR. The first mile felt downhill and fast, but as I saw the electronic clock, which read 7:40, I knew I was going kinda slow.

The second mile headed straight for the capital. It was pretty neat to see the Capitol in the distance, I picked up my pace a bit and finished mile two at about 7:10

Mile 3 and 4 ran down along the mall, and by the white house. The view was pretty good. I kept a pretty steady 7:00 m/m. At about mile 4, my friend Rob passed me. We chatted for a while, but he is pretty quick, and soon he was pulling away from me.

Mile 5-8 headed north through DC, and consisted of several pretty tough hills. I was told is course was flat, but did notice some hills. Actually, what I really remember were the spectators yelling, "good job up that hill". It was funny, because I remember thinking I was feeling tired, but did not realize the grade was increasing until the spectators said that. I was at 7:18 at 5, 7:10 at 6, and 7:40 at 7. I slowed a lot at 7 since this is when I took my gu. I needed water, but the water stops were not well manned, and I actually had to stop and wait for water.... Kinda sucked.

Miles 8 and 9 were at about 7:00 again, and we pretty uneventful. There were several times when the crowd had huge boom boxes, and were singing and dancing. It was a big pick me up. Mile 10 (first official mile marker i saw since i saw the 1mile clock.... Did they forget the mile markers??) turned back south and started heading back toward the capital. I could see it in the distance, and it seemed really far away. I started picking up the pace, and hit 6:37 in mile 11. One we neared the capitol, we turned left and started heading back toward the finish.

Mile 12 and 13 went quickly, and I was able to keep the 7:00ish pace. My legs were starting to get tired and I started to think that it was a good idea I did not do the marathon. I looked at my Garmin as I passed 13.1, and knew I was a bit off. They told the half marathon people to stay to the right, and the full marathoners to the left. I knew we were getting close. As soon as we turned toward RFK, I kicked it up another notch, and watched the finish move toward me. I also saw the finish clock, just past 1:35. I crossed the finish line at 1:35:47 on the official clock. My Garmin read 13.30 and 1:35. I went and got my thermal cover, my metal, and my picture taken. I also picked up a banana and a soft pretzel and a bottle of water. The pretzel was really dry, but I was feeling pretty good. It was really crowded at the finish line, so I decided to go backhand stretch at the armory. I called Thea and told her how I did. After stretching a bit, I gathered my stuff and headed home. And guess what, I got lost trying to get home. Oh well, it was a good experience, and I think I PRed.

Officially I finished in 1:35:26. My fasted half in Maryland was Parks in 2009, where I finished in 1:37:46. I think I ran a faster one in Columbus, it was 1:35something, but I'm going to say this is my PR. Yeah for me!

Results
1:35:26
557/9485
25/375 in my age group

Cherry Blossom 10-mile race

A video of the finish.... see if you can find me. My race report will be coming soon!!