Distance Run

This fall I had the opportunity to run the Baltimore Marathon on October 11.

I have many fond memories of this race.

First, the weather was unbelievable. Perfect the whole day. I don’t know how I’ve gotten so lucky, but it has never once rained on a race day for me.

Next, the course was great! My last big-city races were in Richmond. And, I must say, running Richmond basically turned me off of big city races.

Not to bash Richmond or the race, but to put things in perspective - My favorite course is Charlottesville (VA) - which runs mostly through countryside, and I spend most of my training time running on trails.

But Baltimore was a FUN town to run in. We ran through countless neighborhoods with tons of spectators, beautiful architecture, and lots of shade.

We ran through Fort McHenry, around Lake Montebello, and down endless tree-lined residential streets.

It was the best of both worlds!

And, the course support was awesome!

The water stops were very well staffed, and HUGE - they seemed to go on for hundreds of feet - which led to quick access without the hassle.

The thing I like most - the atmosphere. It just Felt like an awesome day.

The out-and-back nature of much of the course gave me the opportunity to see the
leaders, and those behind me - lots of opportunity to cheer on fellow runners.

I also very much liked the fact that the Half runners started at the Marathon’s 13 mile marker.

By 13 I was dragging, and the infusion of motivated runners helped me kick those blues.

Now, Baltimore was not all fun-and-games.

No Marathon is.

So, for those considering Baltimore in the future, take the following advice…

Spend a lot of time building hill workouts into your final months of training.

And I’m not talking about the “sprint up the hill, walk down” type of workout.

I’m talking about the “spend a lot of time jogging up and down the longest hills you can find” type of workout.

Baltimore had it’s hills - but they weren’t the short, steep types - they were the long, low grade type.

Alternatively - focus on walking a lot of the hills early in the race to help conserve energy for later.

I was not adequately trained for the hills and was, basically, in a blackout for the last 5 miles of the course.

Ask me anything that happened between Lake Montebello and the finish line and I couldn’t tell you.

Oh, and about the finish area. They need to do something about that. What a nightmare. I just ran 26 miles, now I have to stand in line like a cow just to get into an overly-crouded finish area? Ugh. Oh, well! Little issue for such a great race!

Would I run Baltimore again?

Absolutely.

Results:
Time: 3:46:20 (Slowest, Ever! hehe)
Place: 588/3133
Group: Males - 35-39
Group Place: 70/355

Bill

This weekend I’m in Boston to attend the wedding of my finance’s sister-in-law.

Saturday we spent the morning in Salem, enjoying the history there.

In the evening we checked in to the Bulfinch Hotel.

I remember asking Jocelyn, “I wonder what a Bulfinch is… Is it a type of bird, do you think?”

As we wandered around the North End, I noticed some weird markings on the side-walk… “Oh!” Jocelyn said, “This is the Freedom Trail!”.

She told me about the trail as we searched for a dinner venue. Our walk took us past Paul Revere’s house.

Man, how awesome! I love the history of the US, and particularly of the revolutionary period, though I admit an unacceptably low level of education on the period.

But everyone knows Paul Revere, and his famous ride to the North Church to light lanterns to warn of the British march on Concord and Lexington to arrest Sam Adams and John Hancock!

Joce and I found a cute Italian restaurant across the street from Revere’s house.

Sunday morning I was going to run the trail. What a better way to see the city.

This morning the sun was up bright-and-early. I was in my shoes and out the door at about 6:10 am. Before I knew it I was on the trail.

Past Revere’s house, on to the Old North Church, past the Copp Hill Burying Ground, past the USS Constitution, and on to Bunker Hill.

Bunker Hill struck me the most. The first military engagement against the British regular army. A stake in the ground, asserting the dissent of the colonies to the imperialist British rule of the time.

I couldn’t think of a more fitting way to reflect on the significance of Memorial day. Here is where it all began, and I was breathing free air as I plodded along the route past milestones in our country’s struggle for freedom.

Oh, and on the way, I learned of Bulfinch. Charles Bulfinch, to be precise,. Bulfinch was an architect who played a role in designing several of the buildings I saw while traveling the Freedom Trail, including Faneuil Hall, the “home of free speech.”

In our travels last night, Joce and I also came upon the New England Holocaust Memorial.

Photo from: nehm.org

The opaque coloring on the columns is not frosting.  Etched in the glass are millions of numbers.  Numbers that were assigned to victims of the Holocaust in Europe in the 40’s.  Over 11 million died, 6 million were Jews.

Being memorial day weekend, it is important for me to remember that great freedom is often preceded by incomprehensible sacrifice.

I cannot forget those that sacrificed their lives to secure the freedom I enjoy, but I must also not forget those innocent civilians that died to show the need for that sacrifice.

Bill

I nearly forgot about this rather spectacular demonstration of the precarious balance between beasts and their prey.

The other night, I was heading out on a mid week run. Being the week before Christmas, I was getting started pretty late in the evening (ahem, shopping).

About a quarter mile into my run I came a part of the Crescent Trail that crosses a stream. Neatly positioned on either side of the trail is a long, shoulder-high galvanized fencing meant to keep mothers with out-of-control tots from careening into the creek ditch.

The fence is visible in this picture I took last winter…

Well, as I was getting into the fenced-in area, I noticed a small brown spot on the trail ahead of me. Some little critter I supposed.

As I got closer, I could clearly see that it was a bunny. “Hello, bunny,” I said as I approached. For some reason I talk to the wild life. My patron saint, St. Francis would be proud, hehe. Just as quickly as his darkened figure formed an image in my head, he took-off like a … well, like a scared rabbit.

I thought nothing of this. I see wild animals all the time on the trail.

But a little further down, out of the corner of my eye I briefly caught glimpse of a football sized light-gray figure sitting on the top of the fence on the right side of the trail. Again, almost a soon as I noticed it was there it took off. Effortlessly, and perfectly silently. It was eerie. One second it was there, the next it was flying off into the trees like a ghost.

“Hey, Mr. Owl,” I said under my breath, a little self conscious after my talk with the bunny just a few strides back.

Then the reality of this situation hit me. I sent the bunny home to his family, and I sent the owl home hungry! Wow. That owl was, in all likelihood gonna be feasting on that little rabbit within seconds of my arrival.

Life is a delicate, somewhat precarious balance. One minute you are nibbling on some leaves, thinking about this and that. The next you are being fed upon.

This encounter gave me plenty to think about as a I plodded along for the next hour…

Appreciate the now. It might be the last now you get.

Bill Gross