Today’s 53’rd annual George Washington’s Birthday Marathon organized by the DC Road Runners Club had to be canceled due to the recent heavy snowfall. However; in honor of the event, I am publishing my throwback recap from when I ran the race.
Back on February 20, 2000 I decided just a week or two earlier to run in the George Washington’s Birthday Marathon with my running buddy Todd, and a new running friend Joel. I had just come off of my PR marathon at Steamtown and then two weeks later the Marine Corps Marathon, both four months earlier in October. I hadn’t trained specifically for a winter marathon, but my endurance was good because I had resumed longer weekly runs of about 16 miles after the holidays.
Joel and I drove over from Virginia on race morning and arrived early for packet pick-up. We met Todd and hung out together until the race started. We ran the early part of the race together, then broke apart to run our own races.
The race was run on a three-loop course and had less than 200 runners. It was a beautiful day for February, and felt very warm in the sun, but much cooler in the shade. I had on a lightweight pullover shell over my running bra, and I remember taking it off and tying it around my waist when the course took us back into the sun. If I remember correctly, we were in a shaded area for quite some time before hitting the clearing and the sun for a stretch… Eventually, I warmed up enough to drop my jacket at the start/finish point on one of the laps and ran the rest of the race in just my running bra, wishing I had on shorts as well!
As I’ve mentioned in other throwback recaps, almost all race shirts were cotton back then, and this one was long sleeved.
I was very happy to finish in 3:42:44 (8:30 pace) and even win my age group. Of course it was a very small race, and I just might have been the only one in my age group!
- Questions:
- Have you ever been signed up for a race that was canceled due to bad weather?
- How often do you sign up for races last minute?
- Who raced this weekend?
This may sound like a strange comment… but I just didn’t know what things like this (races) existed when I was younger (and a little older!). I’m so glad I’m a part of the club of amazing people LIKE YOU who have been running races their whole lives (or for a good part of them!). An 8:30 pace? God Bless you! Now that I have almost 2 years of running under my belt and am doing other things (sprints/strength training) I often wonder what my final PR will be in the Marathon and the Half!
Thanks for the recap!
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Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed the recap. Keep up those workouts at the track and watch your PR times come down!
Like Stephanie, I had no idea of road races when I was younger. My first exposure to them was when a friend trained for and ran the Army 10 Miler when I was in high school. But I still had no idea that meant masses of people were coming together to run a race. I love the pictures from your throwback recaps 🙂
The Blacksburg Classic 10 Miler was supposed to be this weekend, but it got postponed due to the snow and ice. They are tentatively saying it will be next weekend (the 22nd) so we will see. I have signed up for races “last minute” in the past, but usually I know I’m going to do a race because a lot of planning goes into travel. Now a days, I prefer to sign up early if I know I plan to run a race to beat the price hikes and potential selling-out of the race.
Meagan recently posted…A new personal distance record
Back in the “olden days” the races rarely sold out and the prices didn’t increase every month. I just found a race folder with a “wealth of information” in my basement. In it was a copy of my first MCM registration form. I signed up on July 20th and paid $35. Yes, only $35!
It sounds like your race director made a smarter decision than ours. The race I had for Sunday was still on after we got about 8-10″ of snow Saturday all day and night. I couldn’t believe it. For me, it was a 45 minute drive one way and our neighborhood was barely plowed and I don’t have Yaktrax or anything to run in, so I made the call not to even bother. They’re still sending everyone their fleece blankets and medals or offering refunds. It should have been a 5K and 10 Miler, but people who went said they changed the 10 Miler into a 10K and just had 2 loops of the 5K course. They said the roads were a mess, too, so it made me glad I didn’t go!
Courtney @ Don’t Blink. Just Run. recently posted…Face The Music Friday #21
It sounds like you made the right call by skipping the race! Are you taking the fleece blanket or asking for a refund?
I asked for the refund (I have a lot of races I want to do this year) but then he made me feel guilty since it was going to various charities so I told him the blanket and medal were fine. I was kind of annoyed – don’t offer a refund to people and then make them feel guilty for asking. I’m OK because I didn’t realize what charity it was for (or that it was for any) so that makes it better.
Courtney @ Don’t Blink. Just Run. recently posted…5th Anniversary – Love In Pictures