Army Ten Miler

Lord willing, I will do that again next year!  What an awesome experience!!!  If you want another perspective, click on Gina’s blog to the right in my blogroll.  They are our buddies that took our extra spot in the race since Joe couldn’t be there.  They did awesome and it was so good to hang out with them and share in that with them!  Stephen was his usual outgoing self and worked hard (read- irritated the life out of) their oldest daughter to “get the shy out of that one”!  I think he was a little overwhelming to their girls, but he was so excited to see them, bless his heart!

So not to copy Gina, but my favorite parts were similar to hers.  When the national anthem was played, 20,000 some odd people stopped in their tracks to face the music in silence.  I really appreciated the respect and patriotism.  It was the first of many times I choked back the sobs!  Passing the soldiers that were running even after having lost limbs in action was an inspiring part, too.  As other runners would pass them they would clap and “Hooah!” to encourage them.  What an inspiration.  Still others were running in “honor of” or “remembrance of” someone they had a picture of on their shirt.  I had my own picture pinned to the back of my shirt.  Joe in uniform with Stephen and Grace in his lap and a suspiciously real looking pistol in Stephen’s hand(?)  Joe will have to confirm or deny that one.

The course was beautiful, or so I hear.  I thought I would be engrossed in the monuments and sights, but I was too focused on not tripping someone or being tripped and just generally focused on what was in front of me.  I was in the zone, I guess!  My mom asked me if we ran certain streets, and I couldn’t tell her much at all!  There were not too many hills, the end did have a nice one over a bridge back to the Pentagon.  I do remember seeing that! 

Thankfully we were able to do a lot of sightseeing the day before and the 2 days after the race.  I finished with a blister and a time I was well pleased with!  When I first signed up to run the race, I had in my mind to finish in 90 minutes.  Ten 9-minute miles.  After much training and a dose of reality, I amended my goal to 100 minutes.  Ten 10-minute miles.  I actually finished in 93 minutes, so I was thrilled!  That was a 9:22 min/mile pace.  Next year…Joe will need to run with me (like it or not!) and I will have to beat that time! 

Now I want to train for a half marathon…only 3.1 more miles on top of that 10.  I am hooked, obviously.

Lord, Thank You for the awesome experience.  Thank You for the countless times You have kept me from injury and lead me to prepare for this run.  Please help me to continue to honor You in this sport and give You the glory.  You know I could not have had the strength to do this without You.