2010 CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield National Half Marathon

2010 CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield National Half Marathon
I Beat Michael Wardian


No big deal, but I spent my Saturday morning out on a run through our Nation’s Capital with four-time winner of the Boston and New York Marathon Bill Rodgers and Joan Benoit Samuelson, winner of the first women's Olympic Marathon. No need to mention that I paid $85 for the privilege of rising at 4:30 AM and began my run with 38° temperatures and 9,197 other racers.

But most importantly, I beat this guy:

That, folks, is Michael Wardian; an Arlington, Virginia runner whose accomplishments are too numerous to list here (this entry will be long enough as is), but go ahead and Google him; it will only show how big my accomplishment truly was. More to come on that.

The March 20, 2010 marked the 5th running (no pun intended) of the SunTrust National Marathon, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield National Half Marathon and Team Relay (whew! Say THAT five-times fast!) here in our Nation’s Capital. Forecasts called for a pleasantly sunny and breezy afternoon, but not before chilly temperatures greeted runners at the 7 AM start (and a 4:30 AM wake-up call for me).

While the course touts itself as “the fastest looped course in the country,” in no way is it free of challenging climbs. Even Benoit Samuelson, no slouch runner herself, said, “It was a good solid run. It’s an Honest Abe course, it’s not flat.” From mile 4 through mile 7, one effectively runs at a 3% grade. Sharp inclines scattered about the route did not allow for easy coasting. This runner realized that she should have run the hilly section after running 3 to 4 miles rather than beginning her practice runs at the foot of Constitution and 18th.

I began training for this race at the end of December and was able to knock out 272.8 miles despite the blizzard and countless fights with my right leg that is plagued with issues (popped Achilles, ‘tweaked’ quad, ankle tendonitis, patellar tendonitis, need I go on?). My Achilles flared up immediately after crossing the starting line (of all the rotten luck…) and I spent the first three miles trying figure out if dropping out of a race due to injury (a ruptured Achilles) was “bad ass” or not. My pace at this point was pretty fast so I slowed down considerably (the hills helped me to slow down, too…) and focused on favoring my left foot in order to take pressure off of my right. While this helped a bit, six hours of ice and an elevated leg after the completed run helped even more!

I completed the race in 1:57:58 (9:00/m…dagger) (2615/6239 overall, 315/1025 age group) and, yes, did a little fist pump at the finish line when I saw that I completed the run in under two hours as hoped. Although the leg cramps commenced on queue after crossing the finishing line, I was able to hobble my way over to “The nice medal guy,” stick my arm out and as politely as I possible could, said/commanded/demanded, “Gimme.” After wrapping myself in one of those "warming capes" (the runner dressed as Batman did not receive a cape) and walked off of the course with my head held high. No Top 5 finish for me, but I did place and had a cash “pay out” next to my name.

2010 CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield National Half Marathon
6,239 finishers
Overall Women (clock time)
1. Laura Farley, 25, Bloomington IN - 1:18:38 ($1,000)
2. Phebe Ko, 27, Bethesda MD - 1:19:03 ($500)
3. Dani Prince, 24, Bloomington IN - 1:19:37 ($250)
4. Kristin Andrews, 28, Bethesda MD - 1:21:00 ($200)
5. Kathryn Neeper, 26, Washington DC -1:21:06 ($100)
2615. Allison Tully, 27, Falls Church, VA 1:57:59 (-$85)


But wait! I beat Michael Wardian, right!? Indeed, I did. Let me explain.

I spent a bit of time walking around, stretching and refueling (banana, water, not losing my guts when offered a banana-flavored Muscle Milk) while watching and cheering on the rest of the runners crossing the finish line. As the race announcer began to broadcast that the leader of the marathon, Michael Wardian, was nearing the finish, something utterly amazing occurred to me: Holy crap, I beat him! Yes, the four out of five time winner of the National Marathon who just crossed the line for yet another tally mark on his win list and, low and behold, guess who beat him? Me. That’s who.

Wait, you say. But how? I’ll explain.

Me: Holy cow, I beat Michael Wardian!
Sean (husband): Umm, no sweetie. He ran the full marathon; you only ran the half.
Me: Yes...but I crossed the finish line first.

Sean said that he didn’t respond because his head hurt from my logic; I chalked his silence up to me being correct. So I stood there, banana, water, medal, shinny cape and all reveling in the fact that all of the hoopla for Michael Wardian was misdirected: I, in fact, beat the 2008 and 2009 ultra-marathoner of the year. I should be interviewed by NBC 4, Runners World, Running Times and so on. Next time. Next time...

Nevertheless, this is a great course and event for beginners and veterans alike (even fellow NORSAites who either failed to man-up for this run. *cough* Tom, Matt and Steve. *cough*). The entire event, from sign up, to expo, to pre-race, race and post-race was run with the utmost of efficiency. Those in charge of this race have set the bar pretty high for those hosting future half-marathons that I have entered (I’m talking to you, Frederick Running Festival). I still have much to do to improve my time but I will be entering this race again next year with two goals: finish with an 8:30/m pace (baby steps) and beat Michael Wardian. Again.

Yeah, Michael Wardian, you may be crossing the line now, but guess who already has her medal?