Joelful Morning

Adkins Arboretum vistor center; the sight of the Arbor Day 5K start and finish line.

Saturday was like another world. It was a gorgeous windless day with temperatures in the seventies. It started out by meeting up with Joel in Easton. We rode our bikes out to the little town of Queen Anne. The morning could not have been more beautiful. That end of the Talbot County is like another world; farm land, train tracks, wide open fields, narrow creeks/streams, and small rolling hills.

Joel was having a blast on the down hills. There is a really cool way to get to Queen Anne and Hillsboro (which is on the way to Tuckahoe) via back country roads; beautiful roads and scenery. We discussed a future plan of riding out to Tuckahoe on the bikes, swimming in the Lake, running the trails, and returning to Easton on bikes. As we were checking out the village of hundred plus year old houses, Joel said that it would be cool to get a group of us together and buy some houses there; have our own little commune of runners and triathletes. Unfortunately, he didn’t have more time than to ride to Queen Anne and back. We said our good byes to each other with a shaky hand slap on QA’s Main Street.

I ventured on to Adkins Arboretum to participate in their Arbor Day 5K. I was amazed by the number of cars in the parking lots when I rode up on my bike. There were 70+ runners ready to go. With the bike leaning on a tree, I quickly changed into a dry running shirt (Valliant appreciates my wardrobe changes between races), threw my $20 at the lady at the desk and got in line to run the race with bib number 185.

There was a correction to last year’s course to make this year’s an official 5k distance. I was nervous about the competition. Not so, because of Noah Wood, who wins most every race he enters, but for all the other runner-looking-types that I did not know. When the gun went off the crowd lurched forward. A boy took off so hard that I knew for sure I’d see him again soon, and I did. He lasted about 40 seconds before he started walking. He did win his age group. I didn’t start in the front, but by the time we were in the field only Noah was ahead of me.

The course was dry and well marked. I kept looking over my shoulder to see who was coming up behind, but there wasn’t anyone gaining on me. I pushed on anyhow, because at last year’s race I got passed in the 3rd mile. We did a double loop back on the course to get the mileage in. I passed a group of ladies I knew from Easton on my second time on the loop. The finish was a welcome sight and I was pleased to hear the timer yell 19:21 when I finished. I was stoked! I went on to be 2nd overall behind Noah and first in my age group.

The folks there at Adkins did a superior job of making the race wonderful in everyway. They really did it well. The post race buffet was fully stocked with bagels, fruit, drinks, cookies, and cupcakes. Winner’s medals were awarded three deep in many age brackets. And, the volunteers were helpful and cheery on the course. Combine great race organization with the beauty of Adkins, and it’s hard to imagine a better venue so close to home.

I truly believe the moderate bike ride to the race warmed up my legs to run, because they felt great. I also feel the bike oxygenated my blood to a level that aided my effort. I’ve experienced that phenomenon while swimming intervals. It was a pretty awesome feeling to be wearing a winner’s medal while hopping on my bike and speeding away back to Easton. Many folks from the race beeped at me when they passed me on the road. Did I say how awesome the weather was? Soon after I left Adkins, in a field were two Bald Eagles standing with two turkey buzzards about 75 feet from the road. The eagles were easily twice the size of the buzzards. Beautiful.

The rest of the day was just as awesome: We drove to DC and watched my niece Ashby and her Georgetown Lacrosse team whoop up on U of Cincinnati. Olivia, Ashby, and I later biked down to the Lincoln Memorial, had milkshakes, and enjoyed Georgetown. Great day. Did I mention how awesome the weather was?

This week we’re looking forward to some lacrosse games for my daughters, a Latin competition for Liv, and the Trail Dawgs Triple Crown Races for my RUR blokes and me. Love, swim, ride, run, and appreciate life ~ WF

Inaugurated and DQ'd

The Capitol on Inauguration morning from our vantage point across the reflectiong pond.

In my family “DQ” means one of two things: the tasty Dairy Queen or the dreaded DisQualification. I have the distinct pleasure of having experienced both in the past week. The better was experienced on Friday night after my daughter’s basketball game when my nephew shared some of his DQ blizzard with me. It was a tasty Cookie Dough. The dreaded DQ came in the form of my biggest event at the Annapolis Swim meet.

Our TCY Masters team had a great showing at the Arundel Olympic Aquatic Center in Annapolis last Saturday. I swam in a record 5 events including 2 relays. Our team was a clear winner enabling us to reclaim first place in the state of Maryland for the 2009 series. We have 2 meets left.

Relay-mates Bill, Frank, Mark, and I after swimming our 400 yrd freestyle relay.

The event I felt I could do best in was the 200 yard breaststroke. Our entire team was swimming this event and I was doing very well. However, I lost count of my lengths. At the end of 6 lengths I stopped, thinking I had done 8. The silly mistake of losing count and “breaking form” earned me a disqualification. I was disappointed, of course, considering mine was the only DQ for the team in that meet. I know I’ll have another chance to swim that event at another meet, so the sting was not that bad. But, I really didn’t want to be the cause of our team not winning. My worries were for nothing as everyone swam very well and earned us a place on the top podium.

My running schedule has been a bit light over these winter months. I get out for a run about once a week, if that. However, Monday provided a fabulous opportunity to run in Washington, DC. My daughter, a friend, and I went to DC for two days to partake in the Inauguration of the new president. After our arrival Monday afternoon, the girls took off shopping and I took off on a reconnaissance run. With over a million people predicted for the inauguration, I wanted to see where we were supposed to be. We had tickets for a standing-room-only area in front of the Capitol building next to the reflection pond. It was an 4 mile run from my niece’s house (where we stayed) to our “spot” in front of the Capitol. My route took me through some sleepy streets in Georgetown, across the Canal, and to the trail lining the river. This trail took me to the back side of the Lincoln Memorial where I crossed the road, rounded the front, and paused to awe at the statue of a man we owe a great deal.

From the Lincoln Memorial I ran straight to the Capitol passing the Washington Monument. I ran on paths, open lawn, and streets. There are 4 main streets that paralleled my course: Constitution, Madison, Jefferson, and Independence Avenues. They all were lined with buses and media trailers. There was much excitement in the air. Many people were out and about; some protesting, some gathering, some sightseeing. It was exciting for me to weave in and out of the throngs of people. Running was by far the best way to get around that late afternoon.

Once I reached my destination at the edge of the reflecting pond I gazed at the setting sun’s warm light illuminating the Capitol dressed in patriotic colors. The light was incredible. I wished I had a camera then. The crowds were no less on my return to Georgetown; it seemed more people were turning out as evening worn on. It became a great game to dodge people; good fun. After a shower, dinner, and a movie, we hit the hay.
The National Mall from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in the wee hours of Inauguration morning.

Morning came with a vengeance. At 6:45 the girls and I left Georgetown on bikes following the same paths I ran the day before. We had to leave our bikes with Honest Abe and walk the remaining 2 miles to the Capitol. At 8:30 we were on our spot for the inauguration which wouldn’t start for another 3 hours. The crowds were un-be-leive-able! Had we waited any longer we never would have gotten to our ticketed area, never!
The throngs of well-wishers to our back for as far back as the Potomac River.

The Inauguration was worth waiting for. We stood among 1.4 million people in the cold to listen to the first black man to take a simple oath to the highest office in our land. We stood directly behind a farmer from the Midwest and an Arabian man. There were people of every walk of life and color. It was a great testament to the principles in which our country was founded. I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to attend in person.

Leaving was fantastic, as well. Though we arrived with a crowd (1000’s) to get to our area early it took the Mall 4 hours to fill up after we were settled. When the main event was finished everyone (100,000's) started to move at once. Three times we came to a complete standstill where my body was touching 5 others at the same time. the girls and I had our arms hooked together so we wouldn’t lose each other. Someone would climb a traffic pole to give those of us near a report. At 12th Street the report was that Independence Avenue was jammed for 3 blocks in all directions with sardined people. We were again lucky to be able to break free of the crowds. Our destination required only us to move our legs, not wait for a bus or metro rail. Even with our advantage it took us 2 hours to get back to Georgetown. Incredible.

The monuments at Washington still give me chills when I see them. The greatness of our predecessors’ actions is often too much for me to comprehend. I would love to have our running group (RUR’s) make a road trip one day to DC for a run around all the monuments (and their stairs). Let’s pick a day. Love, swim, bike, and run…..