98:08

The morning of the Army 10-Miler was perfect for running. Clear, with only the slightest wind, down around 50F at the start of the race, the temperature topped out about 58F by the time we left the Pentagon parking lot for home. We got to the Pentagon a little before 7 AM, which was good considering both A- and I had to use the Spot-A-Pots twice and still get through security (very tight) and be at the starting line by 7:30.

Start - There were as many runners at the starting line as I've ever seen at a race. "As far as the eye could see." Since it was the Army 10-Miler, the race started with a blast of a howitzer rather than a starter's pistol. Even 2 minutes behind the starting line I heard the gun go off with no problem.

Mile 1 - Brought us to the Virginia end of the Arlington Memorial Bridge. Not much to see and the runners were just elbowing each other to make some room. Helicopters from the Army and the National Park Service zipped overhead scarcely 300 ft above our heads. Taking pictures I suppose. Finished the first mile about 10:16. About what I wanted.

Mile 2 - My favorite mile. We crossed the Potomac into DC on the Arlington Memorial Bridge going north around the circle behind the Lincoln Memorial. There's something about running across bridges that is just so much fun. Planes from National Airport (I can't bring myself to call it anything but "National". I'll never refer to it by the name of that man.) came up the river overhead. I imagine the race caused some amount of early morning conversation among the passengers. The golden lions at the east end of the bridge glistened in the early morning sun. Passed by the Federal Reserve Building. Finished Mile 2 about 20:03.

Mile 3 - Up Virginia Avenue past the Watergate Hotel. As the runners hit the underpass, there was a loud, reverberating chorus of "Hooahs!" and shouts. We cruised through Foggy Bottom. Passed the Mile 3 split at 29:48.

Mile 4 - Another fast mile (for me). We cruised south on Rock Creek Parkway, along side the Kennedy Center, picking up Independence Avenue. I hit the 4-mile mark at 38:50. Now I'm realizing that this is going to be a fast course. Before the race I kind of hoped I'd beat 100 minutes for my final time. Now it was looking like I could do it.

Mile 5 - Cruised past the Washington Monument and the Department of Agriculture Building. By this time, my long-sleeved T-shirt was beginning to annoy me because the sleeves wouldn't stay up and I was wishing I had run in a T-shirt. (No tank tops for me; I have too much concern for the health and well-being of society to inflict my torso in a tank top on the general population.)

Mile 6 - The faster runners were streaming back up Independence Avenue as I continued outbound toward the Capitol. At this point, I started looking for A- on his return leg. After watching the returning runners for about 5 minutes I was beginning to think I'd missed him. But just past the 5.5 mile mark, I looked up and there he was motoring along. "Looking good, Billy Ray!" I hollered. "Feeling good, Lewis!" came his reply. (It's a Trading Places thing.) We exchanged thumbs-up and that was the last I'd see him till the finish area. Turned the corner onto Third Street to be greeted by a street corner band playing for us. Nice touch. Passed by the Capitol going one direction, rounded the block, and passed by it going the opposite direction.

Mile 7 - Things are starting to get a little tougher. The sleeves on my shirt just wouldn't stay up and I was beginning to obsess about them. At this point on the return trip, Independence Avenue has a slight uphill grade to it that made the 2 miles I had to run to the left-hand turn on 14th Street turn just a little tiring.

Mile 8 - Cruised past several of the Smithsonian Museums (Air and Space, Hirshorn, Sackler) but I'm tiring and didn't pay them much attention. Had my last water break. This was the most popular watering hole along the course. I actually had to wait for my cup.

Mile 9 - My toughest mile by far. We passed the Tidal Basin and the Jefferson Memorial heading out onto the 14th Street Bridge. I was becoming concerned that I would tucker out. But then God provided. There in front of me was the cutest blonde ponytail I have seen in a while. She was going just a tad slower than me but she provided the respite I needed. I tucked in behind her and let her set the pace. After about 5 minutes of slower jogging behind this vision of loveliness, I had recovered. I accelerated past her, cast one last look over my shoulder to confirm her backside presaged the front side (it did), and took off.

Mile 10 - Piece of cake; adrenalin surging at this point. We were also coming down from the arch of the bridge so the going was easier. Some emergency vehicles going in the opposite direction decided they had to get somewhere fast. This pinched the stream of runners against the jersey barriers. Their sirens were loud and not what I particularly wanted to hear at this point of the race but I was not to be deterred. I hit the final quarter mile feeling great.

I had no cheering section at the end the way some people did. A- was off finding food and water when I rounded the final turn toward the finish line; no one else who might have cheered for me felt motivated to come. But I didn't care. The squeal of the chip timers as I arrived was enough for me. Some Army guy on the PA gave us a "Hooah!", I was handed a bottle of water, and the race was over.
K-