Let me back up just a moment and admit my responsibility. I registered last summer for the "DC Hot Chocolate 15K" without reading the fine print that this race was actually in Prince George's County, MD. PG County and I go way back - as in, I grew up there. I never could run there (a topic for another blog). I thought I'd be running... um, in DC. Silly me.
I registered for this race as a sort of "consolation prize" for my inability to train the way I wanted for the Army 10-miler. That was before I injured my foot in September and had to scratch the ATM, so this would be my only big race of the fall/winter. Not quite a 10-miler, but close enough.
Our brilliant plan to avoid traffic involved my brother and his new (to him) houseboat. He's docked at Belle Haven, literally across the river from National Harbor. Two months ago, when I got the threatening email about parking at the Harbor, I asked my brother about the possibility of taking the boat across. I bought a pass just in case, and ended up giving it to my neighbor. So I could have predicted the mess that developed on the Wilson Bridge Saturday morning.
Unfortunately, our brilliant plan did not anticipate that the race management would delay the start for the traffic. As we walked up the hill for the 15K and tried to make sense of the corral system (only my sister was in a "corral" the rest of us were "O" for "open") we realized the 5K hadn't started. So we froze for an hour and 15 minutes. If you know me, you know I am a "start on time, end on time" kinda gal, so a late start is inexcusable. (OK, I'll give a few minutes for unforeseen circumstances, but an hour and a quarter is ridiculous).
Once the race got underway, I tried to let the fast people go first. In fact, I sent my sister, brother-in-law and friend on out. I waited and then started running. I did okay, but was suprised by how many elbows I hit as people passed me, and I passed people. I stopped at the first set of portapotties on the highway (only 5, really????) and did my business, and thought about the hundreds of portapotties behind the fence at the finish festival. I ended up walking more of the highway than I wanted, but there were BIG dump trucks ten feet away!
As I ran down the hill back into National Harbor, I was looking forward to the last 5K. Sadly, I was in the Last Wave, and the early and mid-pack finishers were sauntering across the course to get back to their cars. Apparently that's what delayed the 5K start (besides the parking). Then I had to run up hill at the Harbor. And at mile 7.2, right on schedule my right calf began to cramp. I hadn't run more than 7 miles all fall, due to my foot injury, and so it was to be anticipated. But I wonder if I had been able to run right away after warming up, would I have cramped up? Then my left foot began "talking" to me and I decided to walk the rest of the way. Why risk another injury on this course? I finally crossed the finish line, not the greatest time (a 14:11 pace, though, and I wasn't sure I'd meet their 15-minute pace limit a month ago).
So I walked up the hill to the finish, but turned the corner and ran as fast as I could across the finish line. Then another long walk UP the hill to the fondue tent where my husband was serving chocolate to the masses.
All of this to say, personal goal: met. Family time: fabulous and enjoyable. Race experience: worst I've ever seen. Seeing how RAM Racing, an out-of-town firm, managed this race makes me thankful for groups like Potomac River Running, Pacers, and the fabulous military folks who do great races in this area! I won't be running another RAM Racing event, but I LOVED the boat ride!
