Montgomery County Parks Half Marathon
September 16, 2007 Montgomery County, MD
I arrived in the dark and found a place to park near the Rockville Metro. I run about a mile to registration to find a bathroom only to realize I couldn't find one b/c all of them were a mile further at the start. I jog back to the car and reassess my plan - It was cold, I didn’t have anyone to throw my warm up gear too, I needed to stretch out, go to the bathroom, change into my run socks, race gear, etc. I remember I had a throw away long sleeve in the car. I change my clothes, get my water bottle and head to the start. I get in line for the Port-a-Potty and then find a place to stretch. I watch the people walking by, listen to the chatty, early morning nervous conversations, the girl/boy run together types walking as one, the 2 and 3 girl buddy teams striding by and the loners - with distraught faces, looking as though they would rather be shivering at a race start near others rather then laying in bed alone.
The weather this year could not have been better. The race started at 7:00 am sharp and a cool 68 degrees. This was the 2nd running of the race and attracted a few hundred more people. I esteem this race to become one of the most popular races in the area. The timing is perfect due to the weather and the route is interesting and is not starved for challenging terrain. I am not one to chat during a training run much less while I am racing. However, after the 1st mile I found myself having a nice conversation with a 9 time Ironman [woman] finisher while we clicked off mile 1 in 6:35. By mile 3 we still chatting away at 6:40 and decided on mile 4 as the hills came into focus that we needed to settle down a little bit.
I hadn't trained properly for this race due to starting a new job and having to travel 85% of the time. However, I was compelled to strap a number on and send my should out for recess to frolic and play. I didn't care so much about how I finished, but was more concerned with feeling free from the dogma of a life on the road amongst spirits too introverted to see much past their Starbucks coffee and conference calls.
Not unlike last year, the hills spoke to be @ mile 10 reminding me of the pain in my quads and the strain on the back of my wind pipe. Last year I brushed it off and ran on. This year I looked the other way as though I didn't hear at all. I leaned forward causing my stride to increase and concentrated on lifting my legs higher.
Then there was the tunnel. I had forgotten about that. It arrives @ mile 12.4. And I must admit, at first when you enter it, it's kind of neat in there. But after about half way through, you just want to get out of there. It not claustrophobic but rather it feels like it's not going to end - and let's face it, you're ready to see the barn.
Finally I hear the cheering and the light appears. I step up the pace even more and focus on passing the person ahead of me and holding off the person a few seconds behind. BAM! I round the corner to the left and smack a hard right down the street to the finish. I'm running like no tomorrow. My hearts is beating so loud my ears start ringing and for a second - my body wants to fall - and I think, not hear, not now, even though this is the way I would want to go.
I cross the line. I am sooo grateful for this moment. How lucky I am for the ability and opportunity to do this. I look to the sky and gave thanks - sit down and take off my chip. Still breathing/panting I stand up and look for water. I dumped what I had left @ mile 9 after taking my last GU so shave off some weight. They were handing out black embroidered knit hats which were great b/c I was cold. I get my dry clothes bag and hang out for while with the rest of the runners.
I love to feel this energy, the spirit the pull of being - of feeling alive and for a moment - that everything is just perfect.
Time: 1:34:39
Per Mile Avg.: 7:14
Age Rank: 16/132
Overall Male: 127/818
