Baltimore BOT-Fest

[Theta]

Good luck MCMers!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Jodi]

Go BOTS, et al, @ MCM this weekend!! Run hard & have fun.

 

[Optimator]

Good Monday,

I hope everyone is doing well. Thanks for all the well wishes and congratulations.

Not really a race report but...

First off, I'm really sad that I didn't get to see Howard, Charlie, Bill, Cam, Lynnda, or Judy and anyone els that was here over the weekend. I was lucky enough to bump into Jackie and Jeff prerace and see other WISHers Jeanne and John cheering on the course. It was also great that Kathy was able to link up and chase around with Matt and Cindy.

The race: I wasn't really expecting much since I only had 2 runs longer than 12 miles since April. Not good. Plus, my knee has been hurting like a bugger the last 2 weeks all the time except for when I run. Go figure. I was fully expecting that to be an issue somewhere along the line.

Anyway, I lined up in the 3:45-4:00 (or something like that) area of the corrals and ran with the masses. Lots of congestion, lots of traffic for at least 10 miles but I was still pretty much able to run my desired pace. The crowd finally started loosening up around mile 11.

I was getting pretty pooped by the time we got to the Mall around mile 17 but was able to hold on until about 20. From there it was run a bit, walk a bit, rinse, repeat until the end. I think I got passed by about 5,000 people in the last 4 miles. Someday I hope to be able to run all the way up the hill at the finish. It seems a little silly to stop to walk when the line is less than a football field away. Oh well.

Colleen still has a faster MCM time than I do.

It was great seeing Kathy, Matt, and Cindy a number of times. I even stopped to give Kathy a smooch twice (plus I didn't mind the breather... at all!). Then it was great to have a post-race meal with them before we made our way home. Again, I am sorry we missed everyone else.

It's good to be done and I enjoyed the race. My knee never did bother me and it actually feels better today than it has for a week. Just the usual stiffness today so no real complaints.

I guess next up is Goofy.

 

[KeenHo]

Mike~ Congratulations on such a great race and result.

I have a quick report... I finished in 4:49:35 with an overall pace of 11:04. Not my best. My 2008 MCM remains my PR at 4:10:39.

The weekend was frustrating in that the METRO system I used to go to and from the Expo and to the race start was a mad house/zoo, etc. It took so much longer to go anywhere that it impacted the weekend considerably.

On race morning, Bill Floyd, Charlie, Kelly (Charlie's co-worker) and I took the METRO over to the race start. My plan was to get there, make a Jodi stop, drop off bags and then over to see everyone. We got there so late and waited in line at the Port-O-Lets way too long. I left the line mid-point and took our bags to check and ran back and still managed to get in line with them before their turn was up. Bill had left by then because the race was starting in less than 10 minutes. By the time we finished, we raced up to the starting area and the cannon fired and we were on our way. We managed to see Jeff, Marcia and their friend Paul and had a photo taken as we began to move.

I ran out ahead and never looked back. I felt great and was energized for the first 13.1, I crossed the mats (garmin time) just under 2 hours. From there on, it was a struggle. I slowed down considerably and by mile 18 was doing the walk/run method of marathoning. I had extremely sore feet, a blister forming, and my fuel tank was on "E". This dispite taking on energy chews every 5 miles at 5, 10, 15 and 20. I did the best I could and left nothing out on the course.

It was highly congested through 10 miles and I did well in passing people when I could. In hind sight, I pulled a "Keener" and went out a bit too fast yet again. I need to keep that in mind in January on Sunday at WDW.

I did manage to see Cindy & Matt at the turn uphill around mile 1.5 (ish) and also Lynnda, Timmy and Billy. I didn't see anyone recognizable the rest of the race including at the finish. Judy & Cam were waiting for me near the barbed wire fence, but I never saw them. I was feeling so bad and was rushed to get back to the hotel to check out by 2 (I finished around 1 pm) that I just went to the UPS trucks for my bag and went to the hotel missing everyone and not waiting for Bill, Charlie or Kelly to finish. Luckily I did what I did because the others finished a while after me and I wouldn't have done well waiting. I didn't get to enjoy any post-race amenities, beer, etc.

Overall, I love this race. This year was a bit more challenging for me. Perhaps I am just getting too old for this stuff? I've decided that I need a break from this one and will not be running it in 2011. Three in a row is enough for now. Hopefully, I'll get into NYC next year and run it!

Again, congrats to everyone who participated in the 10K and the Marathon!!!



Howard

 

[Honeibee]

Hey Bots, just a tiny report since I did the tiny race. It was great, really great. I felt mighty fine out there. All those young men in unirform didn't hurt either. The only thing that happened was about mile 4.5 my ITB started to tighten up. I have been rolling about on the foam roller and will continue to do so.

I have a true confession that I can only tell here....

I did the old que/pee/repeat routine many times before we left the hotel, then I went again at the Port-O-Johns. Then headed to the corrals. But then I had to go again...Grrrrr. It was WAY too crowded to go back to the Pot-O-Johns. I saw some people ducking behind some trees. So I did too.

Yes, it's true. I peed on the lawn at the Smithsonian. I'm not proud that I squated on the grass at one of our nation's treasures. But there it is. I did.

ETA: I sure hope the Tag Fairy stays away from this post. Geez.

 

[KeenHo]

I have a true confession that I can only tell here....I saw some people ducking behind some trees. So I did too. Yes, it's true. I peed on the lawn at the Smithsonian. I'm not proud that I squated on the grass at one of our nation's treasures. But there it is. I did.

Lou and I "watered" the foundation at the Philadelphia Museum of Art a couple of years ago, but that pales in comparison to the beloved Smithsonian Institute in our Nations Capital!

 

[Optimator]

Howard - Sorry it was a tough day. You're right about the Metro this weekend. I heard Saturday was a real nightmare and Sunday was a lot more crowded than I remember in the past (although I was a little later than usual).

Judy - Yippee for peeing on a national treasure! I guess we're just fortunate you didn't soil Honest Abe's shoes at the Lincoln Memorial.

I can honestly say I'm not the least bit sexist but... seeing a pack of guys lined up peeing in the bushes is so routine at a race I don't even think twice but I have to admit that seeing a woman dash off to barely the side of the road at mile 16 and drop her drawers to whiz did catch me a bit off guard.

Just to be clear, for the record I am all in favor of women pulling down their pants.

You know, for running comfort and all.

 

[StitchAquarius]

What is the course like for the 10K? Since Disney doesn't have anything between a 5K and half marathon now, I'm looking for races that could pose a challenge. And big congrats to everyone!

 

[Honeibee]

What is the course like for the 10K? Since Disney doesn't have anything between a 5K and half marathon now, I'm looking for races that could pose a challenge. And big congrats to everyone!

It's pretty flat, except of course for that last hill everybody does. The 10K course is the last 5 or so miles of the Full, we just start off at the Mall. (Yes, The Smithsonian ) We go over a small bridge, past the Pentagon (which I didn't even notice), then there is a switch-back in Crystal City, then we head back towards the finish line. I think it's a great course. I have done it last year and this year and both times I had a lot of fun. Two water stops. Plenty of screamteamers. And lots of Marines to cheer you on, or yell at you to get going.

 

[Theta]

Congratulations to all the MCM and 10K finishers!!!!!

I was thinking about you all all day Sunday, wishing I was there!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[CynthiaCindy]

Hi BOTS!

I have to post and run, but I wanted to share our exciting news! We found out yesterday that we are having 2 Little Boys!!!

 

[KeenHo]

Hi BOTS!

I have to post and run, but I wanted to share our exciting news! We found out yesterday that we are having 2 Little Boys!!!

WOOO HOOO!!! Congratulations!

You and Matt will be doing a lot of this..

 

[Honeibee]

Hi BOTS!

I have to post and run, but I wanted to share our exciting news! We found out yesterday that we are having 2 Little Boys!!!

Ohh how very exciting! Congratulations!!

 

[Optimator]

Cindy and Matt - Congratulations!!

I take back what I said about "Boys are idiots." I was only referring to myself.

 

[Theta]

Yeah Cindy and Matt!!Do you have a date you would like to share with us?

 

[jbucci]

Cindy and Matt: Thanks for sharing the wonderful news!

Howard, Mike, Judy: Congrats on the achievements this weekend at MCM. We have a friend who lives in DC and had the race go right past his house. When he realized there was a marathon going on he called to ask us why we weren't there. Maybe next year... We are debating doing the National Marathon in the spring has anyone done it?

Jodi and Lou: Thinking of you guys and wishing you a great run this weekend. I'm serious about the shirt-- name the price to donate if I can get a cool miles for paws shirt.

I'm debating with myself doing the Amish Half this weekend in Bird in Hand, PA. I love Amish country and think it would be a beautiful, although hilly, place to run. It's an inaugural race and I would have to go solo as Butch would be home with DD7. Not sure what to do...

 

[CynthiaCindy]

Yeah Cindy and Matt!!Do you have a date you would like to share with us?

I'll be 38 weeks on 3/31 and that is about as far as you can expect to get with twins (although I guess the average for twins is 35 weeks) - so, sometime in March!

We are debating doing the National Marathon in the spring has anyone done it?

Mike's done the full at least twice and Matt and I have done the half twice. I liked the half and would do it again (but obviously not this year!) but probably wouldn't do the full unless I was faster. You have to provide a qualifying time (I think it's 5 hours for the marathon but you can use a shorter race) so the race tends to have more faster runners (and more people run the half than the full), so I think it would be pretty lonely out there for someone finishing much over 4 hours.

 

[Jodi]

MINDY!! - Two boys??? That's just incredible news. I am so happy for you guys. I hope you're feeling good, Cindy. Did you know that you can use Jodi as a boy's name if you spell it Jody? I'm just throwing that out there. Let us know how you're dealing with all this....when are you moving?

Dave - I take it you aren't going to be in NYC this weekend for the Disney Store grand opening?

Jen - I'll find out about the t-shirt for you. Right now I think they're giving them to the 5 runners, but I'm sure there are extra. I'll e-mail the "lady" today. I say do that 1/2...it'll be fun. Well, as fun as running 13.1 miles can be

Mike - What a great run for such little training . Who needs those 18 miler training runs, right? Um...I'll get back to you on that after Sunday, gulp!

Howard - You have to be happy, too, with your run. Lots of people on the boards were talking about how hot & crowded it was. How's the legs/knee feeling? How's Cam?

Judy - Now THAT'S the way to make a JodiStop!! Kudos. You didn't pee/doody in front of any Marines, did you? ....

Lou - Are you ready for Sunday? What time is your ferry again? We could meet @ the entrance..I'll have my phone.

Colleen - NYC won't be the same without you there!! So wish you were running. How are things going down in NC, anyway? You've been scarce around here.

Chester - Where ARE you?

Sara - How's school?

Bruce & I are stressing about Sunday big time. Hoping our feetsies hold up in our Fivefingers. Actually, I'm only stressing about my feet, he's just stressing general. Weather looks near perfect, so no excuses. Damn.

I did a silly thing yesterday & on impulse signed up for the Triathlon held @ Disney in May '11. Not once considering "uh....how are you going to get a bike down there, douche?" This D-bag still has no answer to that question. Anyone?

 

[Optimator]

Jodi - I saw quite a few people running MCM in 5-fingers. Also a bunch in Newtons and all sorts of assorted minimal shoes. Kathy saw some dude completely unshod. She saw him running on the mall on the pebbly, rough, sidewalk. She said he was running very gingerly.

Jen - First, yes run with the amish. I bet they wear minimalist shoes.

Second, the National Marathon... I think of it as a no frills race. Dinky little expo for the size of that race, not much more than a couple of bands on the course, Matt and Cindy have always had trouble with big lines at bag check.

On the plus side, there is plenty of parking at the start if you drive, the course is really pretty interesting (through lots of DC other than the touristy parts). There are some hills in the first half and then nothing too terrible for the last half although I wouldn't call it flat. I have run my 2 fastest marathons there for what that's worth.

I'd do it again. It's been my back-up mid spring marathon if something more interesting doesn't come along.


Colleen - I'm anxiously waiting to see what you rename the thread.

 

[Theta]

Mike, renaming the thread?? Yeah talk to me in about three months when y'all come to a consensus.

Jodi, buy me a NYC marathon mug when you are there this weekend. I am still PO'd that they ran out last year. 2009 or 2010 what's the difference?? Yes, I will miss being there again this year.

Chester, what is your family signed up for WDW marathon weekend?

Bill, are you doing the full at Disney? What about Lynnda?

Judy, you are full-ing it this year correct??