Last year when I ran the half marathon in Baltimore, I was suffering from the Charm City Cluster. My cluster: not theirs. I’d registered for the full marathon instead of the half. No fear my friends, I did run the half. If you need to catch up, here is the link:
So, it was with great joy and anticipation that I headed into the weekend for this year’s run. I knew it would be hills, chills ,and thrills in Charm City. I was registered for the half-marathon and I was actively engaged in the chatter on Face Book from the Baltimore Running Festival. I knew my running pal Sid Busch was headed to town and connected with him on Face Book. I met Sid running the Beck’s Challenge in Tampa in February. I may have run with him previously but we didn’t chat. Sid has run close to 180 road races. He is quite the running machine.
I run into Sid everywhere. We bumped into each other in Virginia Beach and began to compare notes. Apparently he and I will be running through eternity together. Sid was making an appearance at the Race Expo and I was glad to be able to see him there and chat a bit. We have since chatted it up on Face Book. There was an option to sign Sid’s running jersey at the Expo so I added my signatures right over his heart: “Judi n Sid.”
After much fun at the Expo, it was home to relax, carbo load and get a good nights sleep. Ha. I don’t know why I tossed and turned all night. I ran through my mind over and over where I wanted to park and making sure I was up in time to secure my spot just past the finish line with easy access to the road home after the race. I was traveling solo this year.
Last year I ran solo because Em, my PSM running buddy was sporting a broken leg. Gayle-Ann the other member of the PSM came through in the pinch and attended the race with me. It was fabulous to have her there to shout me to the finish. Well, this year Em is putting the finishing touches on her wedding and Gayle-Ann just had some back surgery. So, solo it was.
I was up, dressed, out the door and parked in the same spot I had last year. Yes siree Bob, I was there by 6:am for a 9:45 am start. I did the only logical thing and took a nap in the car. Finally the noise of the crowd and the sun peeking in the window awoke me so, I did the next logical thing, went on the prowl for a potty!
My stomach began to growl and I decided to get something to eat. Usually my races start at 7 or 8:00 am. 9:45 is late, but just part of the fun that the Baltimore race is. So, I went in search of food. Much to my dismay and the dismay of many of the racers, the shops at the Inner Harbor were not open, if fact the entire building was closed. We attributed that to the “Occupy” folks that were camped in tents at the Harbor. Perhaps it was a way to keep them from the facilities. I do know that the facilities were a big hit with us last year.
No fear, I met a few runners and we headed to the Hyatt Hotel, which had a Starbucks. I had a yummy Skinny Vanilla Latte and an Almond Scone and made some new running friends. One woman, whose name escapes, me mentioned she would be walking this year, though she runs every other year. She had just had…drum roll… a full hysterectomy the week before. The surgery had been completed with the Davinci Robot. She had four small incisions (yes she showed me) and was up and about and prepared to walk 13.1 miles. Holy Running Blisters. I had that surgery 17 years ago, was cut from hip to hip, and off work for 6 weeks. OK…let me be clear, I didn’t feel bad, but the protocol was 6 weeks off from work. Who was I to argue? I traveled to Florida and had a wonderful vacation for about 4 weeks.
I am absolutely amazed at the technology that allowed her to have the same major surgery I had and she with little to no scars, and was on her feet completing a half marathon in less than 7 days. Damn Skippy! She also shared with me that she had had a bi-lateral mastectomy several years ago and that didn’t stop her from the love of our sport. Hmmm…reminds me of my friend Carol Dellinger. These are some extraordinary women. I always feel blessed that I can strike up conversations with strangers and hear such remarkable stories of cancer survival. Long live the pink ribbon!
Finally, it was time to corral for the race. Through the gate we went for a day of fun in the beautiful Baltimore sun. I was a treat to see that the Apex Theater is still in business and showing the XXX shows at noon and 2. The sights and sounds didn’t change from last year. The mile around the lake didn’t seem half as long this year and there is something refreshing to be able to come out of that lake loop and see an 8-mile marker dead ahead. Yup, counting them down at that point. Somehow I missed the 10-mile mark, so Patti didn’t get the 10-mile salute, but I did give her one at 11.As always, I had my eyes peeled for a critter along the roadside. There were plenty of dogs and owners, but they are not quite the same as a fun school mascot, and then I remembered…The Eye of the Tiger. They would be on the hill, the top of the hill, the top of the car, and yes, praise all fuzzy critters, there they were. The Widow was not to be disappointed in this race. There would be a critter picture for the race album.
I stopped buying the photos from the race events long ago. I determined the “critter” snaps along the race route are a far better memory for me. As my niece Jackie once commented, “Aunt Judi, I worry when you don’t post a critter picture.” She knows if I do post a “critter” I have survived to run another day.So, it was The Eye of the Tiger that made this years Baltimore race posting on Face Book. I made it to the top of the hill and it was all downhill from there (errr, ummm, except for the Howard Street Bridge), but whose counting?
So, the chatter on the BRF website had fabulous thumbs up comments except for the whining about, of all things, no safety pins. A real runner has a car ashtray full. You should see mine. In fact, Sid also pointed that out today. The safety pin issue seemed to be such a nightmare for some of the runners that I’ve suggested to Sid that we rent booth space and sell pins next year. I’m thinking there is a small profit to be made. So to get to the point…wink, wink…safety pins? Holy Running Blisters. Here is suggestion. Pin four to your shoelace when you travel. Carry a Ziploc bag with pins, gu, Band-Aids, energy bars and the like. I do and most of my friends do. Safety pins? Stick a fork in my eye, or better yet a safety pin. Ahhhh, the plight of a runner!
So, in closing, Charm City once again charmed the Diva Widow Fike and she will be back to hit those hills again next year. If you are in need of a safety pin, hit me up on Face Book, err, or better yet, visit me n Sid at our booth. We’ll pin ya!
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