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Washington, DC
by Ron Natalie
This was my first 10K. Got up to leave the house at 6:30 (to beat the lines mentioned in the race announcement). It's 48 degrees out in Herndon, I put on shorts. I get in the car and the weather announcer says it's getting colder. Grab my tights just in case. Of course half way downtown it starts raining and the temperature has dropped to 41
On my way back to the Starbucks I notice a woman wearing a bikini... As I get closer I realize it ain't no woman! |
On my way back to the Starbucks I notice a woman wearing a bikini top in the distance (she's going to freeze them off I think). As I get closer I realize it ain't no woman! Obviously a part of a team, later he/she takes off the warmups revealing red panties and stockings. Talking to another oddly dressed person (pajamas and bathrobe), I find that these are a team of "Christmas Carol-themed" people and this year's theme is "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus." OK, I find a place to stand out of the rain until people start lining up at 8:45. I dump out my goody bag and roll the bag into a hat. Run into one of my training partners and we wait about mid field for the start. Some kind of warmup activity is going on up at the line which we can hear none of. Soon it becomes clear the race has started (hey we're running). About a block later I realize I forgot to start my watch and punch the button.
Now things are going apparently good (I have a lousy time with pace so I'm
just following the partner who I figure is doing 10 minute miles). At mile
1, my watch says 9 (but I figure hey I didn't get it started right). At mile
2 it's 18, I'm going too fast. Sure enough my calves start to ache and the
coffee catches up with me. I need to slow down. I continue on along the
course struggling until I can see the turnaround (just beyond halfway). Things
seem better, I keep the pace steady all the way home. As we turn on Penn.
Avenue someone is calling out times. I figure it's over an hour by now, but
it's not (why I didn't look at my watch at this point I don't know, I had
managed to punch the split button at each mile when I went back and checked after the race). I try to kick it up a bit over the last few blocks, but I don't seem to be able to marshall much (at least I'm not getting any closer to those
ahead, nor is anybody overtaking me). Cross the line at 1:05 and change.
Not too bad. Wanted 10 minute miles, but did 2x9 and 4x11. Got to work on
that. Found another from the training group who finished a minute behind.
Check the time of the person I started out with and find they kept up 9
minutes pretty solid all race.
Grab some free juice stuff, chips, and water. Grab a latte at Starbucks, peel off my wet shirt and shoes (I have a spare shirt, but I drive home barefoot). Didn't feel too bad in spite of the cold I had before the race. Of course, I should have skipped the long run the next day, felt real bad after that...
-Ron
