The problem was, 30,000 other people had the same idea.
As you can see, this is the start of the Cherry Blossom 10 mile run, which is held anually in DC.
Honestly, I had no intention of running. My wife and I traveled down to watch my daughter Erin who was a participant in this craziness joggers call fun.
I thought I knew what to expect. I knew this was a big deal and I knew there was going to be world class runners here ( all of those pictured above are world class.) and a whole bunch of other runners, but I was blown away by the sheer number of human beings who thought that running 10 miles on a beautiful Sunday morning was a great idea.
Did I mention that this race starts at 7:30 in the am? Craziness!
As my wife and I stood on the side lines watching these committed athletes take to the road, I thought for a minute I should start training for next years run. This looked like fun.
I quickly regained my senses when my knee started to hurt, just walking from vantage point to vantage point.
This does look like fun, doesn't it. What a beautiful city to run through. The course took them past Washingtons famous monument and along the ever popular tidal basin, where the Lincoln Memorial proudly sits. I wonder what Abe would have said if he witnessed 30,000 joggers cruising past.
The field was stacked with big name runners. The woman pictured above in the white hat is Joan Benoit Samualson. All she did was win the first woman's Olympic marathon in 1984, held in Los Angeles. I remember watching her run as a young woman and kicking everyones butt.
Here, at the age of 52, she's still at. God bless her. That was fun to see.
Pictured above is Joan again, at mile marker 9 1/2, going strong.
Trying to find ones daughter among 30,000 people isn't easy, which is why she ran past me 1 hour and 15 minutes into the race, before I could get a photo. Damn!
Here she is, minutes after running 10 miles in 1 hour and 20 minutes.
After some stretching and water intake, we headed off to find a place that was serving brunch.
It was 10 am. Erin just ran 10 miles, and we were sipping our first Mamosa.
Not a bad way to spend a Sunday.
7 comments:
Indeed, not bad at all. Well done Erin, and well done Joan! This time next year we'll be reading of your efforts perhaps? :-)
Mimosa!!! Now that is a perfect way to end a 10 mile run! WTG Erin! Just the thought of doing that makes my feet hurt...not to mention the rest of the body would be in shock for several weeks after.
Hugs
SueAnn
Now is this daughter "Erin" like your older brother who you call "Bob"? Or is she really Erin?
wow...congrats to your daughter and good for you for getting some great photos !
i used to run track in high school....even held the record for the 400....but now, ummmm, walking around the block and stopping to talk to the neighbors is good enough for me :)
Yay for your daughter! Our city hosts a marathon every year and its crazy the numbers it draws from all over the country. Its well organized and is known for being very flat so its an enjoyable race course. Sounds like a great Saturday!
Erin rocks!
Your attempts to find her in the huge field of runners reminded me of trying to spot Spouse during the 7 Marine Corps marathons he did. It's impossible!
I used to just park myself on the lawn near the Iwo Jima memorial and watch him come in at the end. By then the runners were decidedly more spread out.
Mark,
As soon as I finish this note I'm going to Google myself... never thought to do it before; but being a NO. 2 kind of person, I can hardly wait to see who I am.
Erin is a lucky daughter... I'm betting she knows it.
Jerral
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