Baltimore, MD
October 12, 2013
4:33:35
I have wanted to visit Baltimore for a long time, so this was naturally going to be my Maryland race. The weekend started with a 3:30 AM alarm Friday in order to make my 5:50 flight out of Omaha. After connecting in Chicago I rented a car and drove to the host hotel in downtown Baltimore. After checking in and dropping off my luggage, I headed to the expo. The expo offered the usual check in procedures and running related booths.
I would have liked to tour the city a bit, but I was really tired and with 52.4 miles of running ahead of me, I walked to the Lexington Market and devoured a lump crab cake, one of the city's signature dishes, at Faidley's Seafood. Later that night I took a taxi to the Little Italy section of town and loaded up on pasta for the weekend ahead. There were several runners also there and we compared notes and shared stories of other marathons.
The race started at 8, which I don't like because I am always up way before that and I usually need extra time after the race to get checked out of the hotel, make a flight, etc. The hotel offered a 1PM checkout, which would be cutting it close. I also had to make it to Atlantic City by 6PM to pick up my packet. It shouldn't be a problem, but I was unfamiliar with what traffic on I-95 would be like.
Although the forecast called for rain, the start was dry with temperatures in the mid 60s. With the humidity, it felt much warmer than that though. In a departure from other races, the marathon and marathon relay started at 8 AM in one place, with the half marathon runners starting roughly 90 minutes later at a point near the half way mark. This made for a less congested start, which was nice. One noticeable change from previous marathons was an obviously enhanced police presence. Security measures were tighter and the fact that bomb sniffing dogs patrolled the start reminded all of the Boston Marathon tragedy.
The race is considered to be pretty hilly, and that was certainly the case. There were also TONS of pot holes in the roads, so you really had to watch your step. The course was a good glimpse of the city. Lots of miles along the harbor, through the many parks highlighted by various monuments and sculptures, and a good deal of time witnessing the poverty in the housing projects just outside of downtown.
I ran an easy pace, but not as easy as I would like. I had to be done in time to get back to the hotel, shower, and drive to New Jersey. I finished in just over 4 1/2 hours. The half marathoners who joined the race finished at about the same time. Although the start was not congested, the finish was. There were long lines for food that I didn't have time to wait in. I grabbed by medal and a bottle of water at the finish, and ran about another half mile to the hotel. I took a fast shower, grabbed by luggage, and checked out right at 1PM. I got in my rented Hyundai and headed for Atlantic City, NJ.
I would have liked to tour the city a bit, but I was really tired and with 52.4 miles of running ahead of me, I walked to the Lexington Market and devoured a lump crab cake, one of the city's signature dishes, at Faidley's Seafood. Later that night I took a taxi to the Little Italy section of town and loaded up on pasta for the weekend ahead. There were several runners also there and we compared notes and shared stories of other marathons.
The race started at 8, which I don't like because I am always up way before that and I usually need extra time after the race to get checked out of the hotel, make a flight, etc. The hotel offered a 1PM checkout, which would be cutting it close. I also had to make it to Atlantic City by 6PM to pick up my packet. It shouldn't be a problem, but I was unfamiliar with what traffic on I-95 would be like.
Although the forecast called for rain, the start was dry with temperatures in the mid 60s. With the humidity, it felt much warmer than that though. In a departure from other races, the marathon and marathon relay started at 8 AM in one place, with the half marathon runners starting roughly 90 minutes later at a point near the half way mark. This made for a less congested start, which was nice. One noticeable change from previous marathons was an obviously enhanced police presence. Security measures were tighter and the fact that bomb sniffing dogs patrolled the start reminded all of the Boston Marathon tragedy.
The race is considered to be pretty hilly, and that was certainly the case. There were also TONS of pot holes in the roads, so you really had to watch your step. The course was a good glimpse of the city. Lots of miles along the harbor, through the many parks highlighted by various monuments and sculptures, and a good deal of time witnessing the poverty in the housing projects just outside of downtown.
I ran an easy pace, but not as easy as I would like. I had to be done in time to get back to the hotel, shower, and drive to New Jersey. I finished in just over 4 1/2 hours. The half marathoners who joined the race finished at about the same time. Although the start was not congested, the finish was. There were long lines for food that I didn't have time to wait in. I grabbed by medal and a bottle of water at the finish, and ran about another half mile to the hotel. I took a fast shower, grabbed by luggage, and checked out right at 1PM. I got in my rented Hyundai and headed for Atlantic City, NJ.
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