update:
Two weeks out before Grindstone. I am kind of nervous.
They say now is time to taper, meaning reducing my run volume.
My weekend: Race 1
Instead, I signed up for and ran three races last weekend. No comment. Abebe Bikila, Arlington 9-11 5K, and the Parks Half Marathon.
I did it because a few weeks ago I checked my schedule and said, hey, this year I am not going anywhere for the 9/11 weekend. I only had a 5K for the 9-11 Arlington Run. Why not throw in a marathon. And I found one, the Abebe Bikila International Peace Marathon, near home.
Then after I signed up, I happened to remember oh I have a half marathon the next day, which I signed up like 6 months ago and forgot.
The weekend ended up being a triple header. I did something like this maybe back in 2018 or 2019. I will see if I could pull up the link to that race report. It would be interesting to see what happened, like how I was able to do it. (I tried but my site is hard to navigate, and I couldn’t find it).
I had very little sleep the night prior to the Marathon. The race was not early. It started at 8:00. However, I usually get to my race an hour ahead. Driving into downtown, usually takes an hour too. I need an hour before at home to get up, have breakfast and get my things together. It means waking up at 5 AM. I think I was up around 4:30 or so.
Abebe Bikila International Peace Marathon from Health & Safety Foundation, and ACE Physical Therapy
I got to the race on time. Parking was plenty for me. There were three wave starts (7:00, 8:00 and 9:00). I actually wanted the 7:00 AM start but I was a bit slow getting to my car and was late for that. Generally for this race, they recommended people to start at 8:00. 9:00 AM was for really fast people. They also had the half marathon at all three time starts.
I don’t remember when was my last time running a marathon. Probably it was during spring, when I did my last marathon. Though I run a lot ultras, running a marathon has a special feeling. Marathon is truly my jam.
I have been on the same course a few times. I remembered the past events. One of my very first race in 2017 was the Fall in Love 5K, where I met my first (and only) running club and I am still involved in. None of them were running in this marathon today, but I remembered them because that was the first time I got involved with others in a race. I also volunteered for their races before.
I also recalled the last marathon I ran on the C&O Canal towpath. It was also my first half marathon there in 2016. I ran until I cramped up. I think my mom was with me on that very first race. That was so long ago.
Today was hot and muggy. I loved it. In the past, I prefer cold weather running but recently, in the past two years, I have grown to love the hot sweat drenching run. This was the day where the heat and humidity would cake up around me. It would be a slow going race to battle it out.
Indeed, my time was not great. I reached halfway at 2:18 (hh:mm). I normally could run a half marathon in a faster time, like under 2 hours. By the time I finished it was 5:18 (officially was 5:12, since it was bib time). The second half was much harder for me.
I had to walk early. However, I was able to keep ahead of a couple people. I was catching some younger runners. It motivated me to not stop. It was an out and back course, so on my 2nd outbound, I could look at people on their way back. Eye candy, some call it. I love people watching. Many runners were kind and returned the smile or said some encouraging words. They were super fast. I recognized some Korean runners, having seen them in other races.
I finished around 1 pm. I was too tired. Supposingly that day, my mom told me to go a family gathering, which doubled as a memorial service for my great uncle who recently passed away. I felt I was not properly dressed. Also, I had intended to start the run earlier, but that plan fell through. So I hung around at the race until the 6 hr runners came in. I met many of them on the course during my run and it was good to see them came in at the finish. Many of them were first time running a marathon. Rain came and I sheltered in my car till it was over. Now it was mid afternoon. My next race was in a few hours at 6 PM.
I went to grab sonething to eat. I had just enough time. 3:30-4:30. I was able to change into dry clothes.
Race 2: Arlington 9-11 Fire, Police, E-services, etc 5K
This year, I parked at the Metro (East Falls Church station) instead of driving to the Pentagon. Later, I found out, they closed off the Pentagon parking lots. They were always restricted but in years past, we always parked in the Pentagon lot (at least a few of us without issue). There was no exception made this year. I glad I took the Metro train like many other runners did to avoid all the headache.
I still had to pick up my bib. I felt I was running a bit late when I arrived in Arlington to Pentagon City Mall. We had a 10 min walk to the Double Tree Hotel where the race would be held. A lot people were already there.
Then it started to rain again, with lightning and thunders. The race was postponed until 6:25 pm.
I tried to run but my body froze up. I had hard time breathing. I guessed I was too tired from the earlier marathon. About five minutes in and caught up with a friend. He and his friends ran this every year since the first event, like 20+ times. This year was my third. He was walking the course instead of running because his doctor told him he no long can run due to his knees. I ended up walking with him. We finished the 5K less than 50 minutes.
Race No. 3: Parks Half Marathon
The next morning, I had the Parks Half Marathon. This was even earlier. The race started at 6:45. It was about an hour drive too. I had to be up around 4 am. I think I was up by 3:30. I only slept for a few hours. I was excited by tired.
I parked at the Shady Metro station. Note to self, for next year, try parking on the West Lot instead of the East Lot. They closed the Metro tunnel from the East to West Lot. It took me half an hour walking around all over the place trying to get to the other side. Later, they had volunteers directing the way.
The race in itself was pretty good. It was my best experience for the weekend. This race always hit a special spot. Half marathon is short. This was my third time running it. I kind of remembered the course. It was hilly. Then with my ultra training, the hill was less than I remember. I was much stronger than before with my hill run. I did not have a fast time. I was fine with it. The course allowed 2:45 (h:m), and I was originally lined up with the 2:45 pacer. Later after a mile in, I realized I could keep a 11 min mile pace, I moved up to around 2:15-2:20 finish pace. I finished at 2:22 (hr:min).
I also found a friend at the finish. We haven’t seen each other since winter. We ran into each other quite frequently this past year as she has dabbled into the ultra world. She came out for a lot of local trail races. She told me about the ocean to ocean race in South Africa. I said, we should plan a trip there.
I stayed for the food and then it started to rain around 9 am, so I went home. I slept for the rest of the day to catch up on the much needed sleep.
Conclusion:
Not my usual race report. If anyone is wondering should they do either of these races, yes, run them. They are fun.
The Abebe Bikila Marathon, this course is offerred several times a year. They are basically my training runs for much bigger race. I love the vibe of every time I run it because I am surrounded with new runners and first time marathoners. It does make me feel like an expert on the course! One guy, I saw was “dying” slowing down at the halfway point, so I called out to him, telling him to move relentlessly forward (say you have to shuffle, that is, drag your foot), he misheard me and thought I said, you have to suffer to finish. When he came in at the finish, he was a mess, yes he suffered. I replied to him, that is true, we always suffer too. We laughed.
5K is fun. I would recommend it too. A lot of out of town people run this. It was a solemn run every year due to the serious nature. Many of us were old enough to remember 9-11 when it happened.
Parks Half Marathon, it is a beautiful wooded course outside the DC area. I found it relaxing. This race has over 1000 runners each year. You would be running with a crowd, but not too big a crowd. The course is paved, but on a trail. City trail race. There are probably many better report out there than mine. It is not a flat course, so don’t expect running this in a fast time, but for ultra runners, it is a pretty fast course!
In awe 