Race Recap – Wilson Bridge Half Marathon

My third and final race of 2010 was the Wilson Bridge Half Marathon. I ran it two weeks after the Rock and Roll VA Beach Half Marathon. The Wilson Bridge Half was my first local race and required no hotels, no travel, and no eating out. The main appeal of this race was that it started at Mount Vernon Estate and finished at the National Harbor in Maryland, meaning we would run over the Wilson Bridge, from Virginia to Maryland.

I was excited for this race because it was smaller, it was brand new, and the course took us along the Potomac River on the George Washington Parkway. My family and I used to live off of the Parkway. When I first started running I would park at Mount Vernon and run home, then have someone drive me back to my car. When I was able to increase my miles I would just run from my house, to Mount Vernon, and back again. So this race was truly my home turf.

I felt almost no nervousness when preparing for the race. Running the Rock and Roll VA Beach Half just a few days before prepared me enough physically so I just did some small and medium runs during the week to keep my legs loose. It took a lot of pressure off not having to worry about travel and hotels. It was relaxing to go to sleep the day before the race in my own bed.

As usual, my cheerleaders mom and Marcus, dropped me off at the race start. It was still dark at Mount Vernon when we parted ways. It’s always a little awkward when you run a race alone, and have no one to talk to in the time before the race starts. But I made the most of my time by doing my usual stretching, and bathroom breaks.

Mom and Marcus headed over to Maryland before the roads starting closing, so I knew I wouldn’t see them until the end of my race. Had it been any other venue this may have bothered me, but truthfully the course was enough to keep me interested and motivated.

Unlike the Rock and Roll Half, the Wilson Bridge Half did not have any course entertainment. Some residents from nearby came out with their lawn chairs to cheer for the runners. But for the most part, it was just me and sites of the Parkway.

It was pretty awesome to be so familiar with the course; to know exactly where each mile marker was; to be able to remember past training runs. All of my physical triumphs and longest runs were on the George Washington Parkway. It was as if I came full circle. I started out as someone who could barely run a mile at a time on that trail, then turned into someone who could run the whole length of it. It was a great feeling.

As we were approaching mile eight I knew we would be getting off of the Parkway soon and making our way towards the bridge. If you have ever seen the Wilson Bridge in person, let me tell you, it is A LOT longer then it looks! We covered probably close to 1.5 miles crossing the bridge.

One of the coolest experiences of my life was being able to look left and see Washington DC, look down and see the Potomac River, look right and see Virginia, and look ahead and see the National Harbor in Maryland. I will never forget the feeling of running over the Wilson Bridge with so many national landmarks surrounding me.

As we came off the bridge and into Maryland we rounded some streets and just kept going. The finish line was SO close but we still had two miles to go. As we came upon mile 12, my body started to catch up to me and wear out. Mile 12 was one slow hill. I just kept telling myself, “One more mile. One more mile,” like a mantra.

Once we passed the hill of death. We rounded the Gaylord Hotel and came upon the final stretch. One of the women at the final water stop looked at me and said, “You’re so close. You’re almost there!” I skipped the water stop and upped my pace. With views of the monster bridge, the Potomac River, and people cheering from every direction, I plowed through the finish line with a big smile on my face. My cheerleaders were right by the finish line going nuts as usual.

One of the coolest things about the finish line was that The Awakening statue was to our left as we were running in. It is a pretty amzing site to see the giant coming out of the sand, with his big arm stretching into the air.

As I received my third half marathon medal, I looked back over to Virginia and at the Wilson Bridge and could not believe that I just ran that. I quickly met up with mom and Marcus and felt on top of the world. I was starting to feel the fatigue of all the running, but my spirits were soaring.

The Wilson Bridge Half Marathon has been my favorite race, by far. The familiar course, amazing views, and being able to run from one state to another while passing our nation’s capital, made it the most memorable and amazing experience yet.

Now it’s almost five months later. Race season is quickly approaching. I have been training in these frigid temperatures for my first ever Spring race. VA Beach here we come…it’s time for the Shamrock Half Marathon. Here’s to hoping I can “Sham Rock On!” 🙂

Thelma and Louise

My mom and I are like Thelma and Louise. Once one of us gets an inkling to do something, there’s no stopping us. We like to say that every time we get together is like an adventure. Even the most innocent shopping trip can turn into a snowy, bald eagle hunt. No lie…it happened this Saturday.

Mom and I like going to the Old Town Farmers Market and then Trader Joe’s on Saturday mornings. It’s our time to talk, buy delish food, and enjoy Old Town at a time when few people are out.

Yesterday, I bought my usual cage-free eggs from my farmer. We bought locally grown apples and applesauce. When we were walking back to the car I almost slipped and fell on the icy road. Not to worry, I had Mom behind me to keep my balance. Not with her hand. But with her new jar of homemade applesauce. Of course we thought this was the funniest thing in the world. Mom stuck a jar in my back to keep me from falling on my butt. Thanks Mom. I’m sure if I would have fallen, your applesauce-filled hands would have caught me. 😉

After an uneventful trip to TJ’s we made way back up the parkway for Eagle Watch 2011. We started creeping along the road once we got closer to the nest. Mind you the George Washington Parkway has a speed limit of 45 mph. No worries. Mom put her hazard lights on, because you know, it’s perfectly normal to go 5 miles an hour on the parkway looking in trees for eagles.

Then suddenly, clear as day, was the female bald eagle, in her perch above the running trail. We gasped and became giddy with excitement. Luckily, she was in a tree that was relatively close to a place where we could pull over. We decided to park and walk the snow-covered trail until we reached our beloved eagle friend.

After parking we had to hike over a mound of plowed snow and walk gingerly down a hill to get to the trail. If you know me and mom, we do nothing gingerly or with grace. We made it to the trail without any incidents but a lot of laughs. The trail was so covered in snow and empty that it looked as if we were walking into Narnia. Quietly we approached the eagle tree.

After a few minutes we were at her tree. She was so close! We could stand directly underneath her. She was keeping a watchful eye over the river and kept swiveling her head to look around. Her feathers were puffed up to keep her warm, making her look even bigger.

Suddenly, we saw movement closer to the river. A huge bird flew out of nowhere and landed on the top of a tree. At the same time we realized it was the male bald eagle. They were perfectly positioned to protect their nest – one closer to the water, and one closer to the trail. It looked as if they were talking to each other, each eagle in their positions of nest protection.

Mom and I stood in awe. How often do you see bald eagles this close in their natural habitat? We both felt extremely lucky as we took it all in. Because the trail was so snowy, there was no one else around but us and the eagles. It was if it was meant to be for us to be there at that time.

After a few minutes we started to head back to the car. I knew we both felt the awesomeness of our eagle encounter and considered it a good sign. With mom’s surgery coming up, we need all the positivity we can get. Seeing the eagle couple was the sign we needed. In that moment, we both knew that everything would be ok with my mom’s surgery this Thursday. It was God’s way of letting us know.

Once we got back to the parking space we had to climb back up the small hill and over the snow bank. I was holding mom’s hand as she climbed over and her foot slipped. We both started cracking up like we always do when we’re together. She said, “how funny would it have been if I fell over and took you down with me?”

Real funny mom. You’re just lucky I didn’t have my hands full of applesauce while I was trying to brace your fall, or we both would have been in trouble. 😉

That’s mom and I for you. Thelma and Louise. Bird nerds. Best friends. Never a dull moment, and lots of good times. 🙂