Joe’s Ride, Jaguar 5K & Race to Donate Life 5K

Joe’s Ride (45K bike)

May 21, 2011
Olney, Maryland
http://www.joesanford.com/

This was Allison’s 6th consecutive “riding” (hell, you know she’s racing it!) of Joe’s Ride held annually for Joe Stanford who passed away in 1999 from a brain tumor. The 45K (actually, about 29m or so) ride takes one through the rolling countryside of Burtonsville and Laytonville before coming back into Olney for the finish. Rough country roads should be expected on the later half of the ride as this rider realized that she had been racing on a flat for 3-7 miles. Nevertheless, Allison shaved off two minutes from her previous best on a brand new road bike (had previously raced on a mountain bike, ugh) despite the flat tire and only 4.5m of training.

Race Results

Net Time – 1:47:35 (3:42/m)

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Jaguar 5K

April 30, 2011
Falls Church, Virginia
http://www.jaguar5k.com/

Allison was able to settle into a groove and place despite getting far too excited with the sound of the starter’s gun (and going out way too fast). She enjoyed the local event (frequents the track at Falls Church High School where the race is held) and had no trouble on the rolling neighborhood hills (people were complaining about them??) but struggled with the large amounts of walkers along the route (the route crossed back over itself so the runners collided with the walkers).

Allison placed 4th in her age group, notched a PR and went home with a medal (1st place in AG won the race over all so Allison received the 3rd place medal by default and has since scratched in “4th” over the “3rd” on the medal’s back) after an embarrassing awards ceremony (Stage, handshakes, smile for the photographer…oh, the photographer doesn’t want to take your picture? OK, hang head low and scurry away).

Race Results

Net Time – 23:33.94 (7:35/m)
Over All Ranking – 72/515
Age Group Ranking (F20-29) – 4/26
Female Ranking – 10/???
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Race to Donate Life 5K

May 7, 2011
Washington, DC

Allison ran this race for fun and attempted to be very conservative with the brutal climb at the end of the race and strained quads from going out way too fast in the previous week’s 5K (sub-6:00 on the onset). She was still able to tackle the long climb at the end of the run (in Rock Creek Park) and went home with a nice gift certificate for finishing in first place (age group)!

*Note, there were significantly more walkers than runners since this was a charity race.

Race Results

Net Time – 24:26.47 (7:52/m)
Over All Ranking – 35/281
Age Group Ranking (F20-29) – 1/???
Female Ranking – 9/???

Yuengling Shamrock Marathon

March 20, 2011 Virginia Beach, Virginia

Allison ran her first marathon.

And it hurt. No, actually it went really well! The wind, though, was downright brutal (which was a ghost-town as racers filled hotel lobbies looking for a break from the 35-40 mph gusts). It died down a bit yet provided a steady 10+ mph force for runners; normally nothing terrible but the “wind tunnel” along Atlantic Avenue took its toll on many-a-runner including tough-as-nails Michael Wardian who was upset with his time due to the strong winds.

Nevertheless, Allison was able to achieve her “A” goal of finishing in 3:50 (website says 3:51 but, umm, potty break, yo!) despite having been given a range of 3:55 – 4:35 (more than likely 4:15-4:20) for a finishing time by the experts (what now?!).

Miles 1-10 were a breeze, no pun intended. Allison tagged along with the 3:50 pace group and, despite a varied amount of mile splits (8:55, 8:15, 9:15, 8:37, 8:20), she was able to run under pace and still feel good about it. As described, the wind began to take its toll as Allison ran back up Atlantic Avenue (major wind gusts) and her quads began to ache around miles 15 and 16. A grab of Gu packs at mile 15 (thanks to her husband!) helped to gear her up for the lonely miles 16-23. Her pace began to dip a little bit but it didn’t pose a threat to the 3:50 goal since she “banked” 3-4 minutes with the overaggressive pacers.

The dreaded mile 20 loomed when Allison struck up a conversation with another runner who asked if she minded if he tagged along with her for the last 10K. Did she mind if a shirtless and incredibly fit naval officer ran with her? Heck no! The pain of the last 6 miles was offset by the feeling of floating on air as Allison enjoyed a 40 minute run with the handsome hunk. Reality set in, though, as she realized that she was floating a bit too much and had to haul if she wanted to finish in 3:50.

So she dropped the hunk and kicked it into gear.

What seemed like a mad sprint on shot quads wasn’t anything more than flopping around at an 8:45/m pace into the finish (and nasty headwinds). The turn onto the boardwalk was incredibly uplifting yet horribly terrifying at the same time as she could see the finish but realized that getting there would involve the longest 3/4th of a mile that she ever ran. And the wind was in full force. She gritted her teeth and used the crazy-awesome crowd (cow bells?! You shouldn’t have!!) screaming her name (note to racers: if offered, have your name printed on your race bib – it does wonders to one’s moral when strangers cheer for you by name) and helping to push her to cross the finish in 3:50:51. Not one to showboat at a finish, Allison couldn’t help to throw her fists in the air in celebration not only for having completed her first (of many!) marathon but for doing it in a time that many deemed impossible for her.

And then her quads seized up and she buckled in pain as the running gods punished her for bieng such a fruitcake upon crossing the finish.

This won’t be the last marathon for Allison and, for the time being, she will be filling her time with a handful of small road races (45k bike race, a Duathlon, the Disney half marathon (??), a 5k here and there) up and through June 27th when she begins training for the Marine Corp Marathon.

Race Results

Net Time – 3:50:51

Pace – 8:48/m

Over All Ranking – 807/ 3,159

Female Ranking – 191/ 1,276

Age Group Ranking (25-29F) – 50/263

My "fuel" to the finish (shirtless Naval officer "Jay")

Running with "Jay"

"Do I mind!?"

Jingle All the Way 10K

Jingle All the Way 10K
December 12, 2010
Washington, DC

Spirits were high at the Capital Running Company’s Jingle All the Way 10K despite a cold and rainy Sunday morning in December. Costumed and serious runners alike toed the line for the 6th annual race held at DC’s West Potomac Park. The flat out and back course allows for attainable PRs but not for a certain NORSA running on this day. Allison ran the race on an injured left calf and was not able to sustain a fast pace due to the volume of runners on the relatively narrow course. Despite running a personal worst for the year, Allison was able to chalk up the race as the “6 miles at marathon pace” run that she was scheduled to complete that day.

The Jingle All the Way 10K is a fun race and provides a good opportunity for runners to stay fit during the winter season. Beware, though, of a lack of bathroom stops along the course (Probably due to park regulations. There’s a public bathroom a mile or two into the race, though.) and large crowds or runners. The race is chip-timed but (at least for 2010) one’s 5K time is recorded based off of one’s gun time. There was plenty of food and drinks at the end of the race (even Christmas cookies!) and as long as one is able to drag him or herself out of bed on a cold December morning, this is a race to do!

Race Results
Net Time – 53:00
Pace – 8:32/m
Over All Place – N/A
Female Place – 395/2,536
Age Group Place – 128/795

Blue Moon Wicked 10K

Blue Moon Wicked 10K
October 30, 2010
Virginia Beach, Virginia

Allison participated in the second annual Blue Moon Wicked 10K held in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She did not miss her starting wave (first wave!!) this time and was able to cruise along the flat, coastal course at a 7:54/m pace and notched herself a new 10K PR.

Allison “beat the train” (a group of employees from a local running store holding up scaffolding as a group making it look as if they were a train) but did not realize that she was to receive a prize for this. The technical socks would have been nothing, though, to the hand carved, tiki head trophy that Allison’s father won after placing third in his age group. The event was well organized and plenty of spectators lined the course to cheer on the (mostly) costumed racers. The registration fee is high for a 10K ($55 plus registration fees) but runners receive aluminum water bottles, tech tees, skull caps and, get this, medals…that double as bottle openers. Absolutely, positively the coolest and most useful medal received to date.

Now for a little downtime from racing (save for a few races scattered here and there) in preparation for the Shamrock Marathon in March!

Race Results

Net Time – 49:00.22
Pace – 7:54
Overall Place – 516/6,128
Female Place – 117/3,913
Age Group Place (25-29) – 26/747

Army 10 Miler

Army 10 Miler
October 24, 2010
Washington, DC

Allison ran 9.95 miles of the Army 10 Miler on October 24, 2010 while skidding the remaining 0.05 miles.

30,000 runners registered for the race with 21,669 crossing the finish line in the allotted time. The course takes runners from the Pentagon, across the Arlington Memorial Bridge and circles the Lincoln Memorial before heading up Constitution and Virginia Avenues. The course then heads back down toward the Kennedy Center where runners meet the obstacle course portion of the race as they hurdle jersey walls to avoid the construction equipment blocking the course. Runners are cheered on along Independence Avenue before looping around the Capital and heading back up Independence along side of the Smithsonian (family of) Museum(s). A sharp left onto 14th Street and two miles along I-395 and the 14th Street bridge (bridges can have ‘rolling hills’??) leads the runners back to the Pentagon for the finish.

The race is the largest 10 mile race in America and it shows! Allison was placed in the first wave of runners but was not able to make her way to the starting coral due to the large crowds and narrow starting area. She spent the entire 10 miles weaving in and out of runners (and a crazy amount of walkers) and had a nasty wipe out after her foot fell into a sunken sewer grate on Independence Avenue after trying to make her way around a tired runner (no worries, we’re all good). After falling, hitting the asphalt hard, skidding across the road 10 yards and having the wind knocked out of her, Allison was hoisted up by four or five runners (‘angels’ in her book!) who carried her along until she could start breathing and moving her legs again. If it was not for those runners, Allison would have had to bow out of the race (she has had two other nasty falls in two separate races that stopped her breathing and she was forced to drop out). She opted to stay in the race and, thus, avoided being a pansy a**.

Despite the fall, Allison’s finishing time fell in between what her training program predicted and what she thought was a realistic time.” It was an honor for her to run along side wounded soldiers and those back from fighting overseas. The support teams were great, aid stations were easy to navigate and the medal people were really nice when Allison wanted to switch her finisher's coin with one that was a bit shinnier (pansy). As long as one doesn’t mind the crowds, this race is a wonderful experience for those looking to support the troops and veterans while touring some of the most scenic portions of our nation’s capital.

Results
Allison Tully 11884
Net Time – 1:22:41
Pace – 8:16 (I calculated the course being 10.14 miles long and, thus, an 8:09 pace)
Overall – 4,519/21,669
Sex – 872/9,594
Division – 228/1,944

Army 10 Miler logo from http://www.armytenmiler.com/

Freedom’s Run Half Marathon

Shepherdstown, West Virginia
October 2, 2010

http://www.freedomsrun.org/


Allison participated in the 2nd Annual Freedom’s Run Half Marathon in Shepherdstown, West Virginia on Saturday October 2. Despite two absolutely torturous hills followed up with 6 miles of rolling hills (not as cute and cheery as one may suspect), she was able to clock a 4 ½ minute PR while running through arguably one of the most well-known Civil War battlefields.

The 13.1 (I mapped 13.22) mile course leaves West Virginia shortly after the race’s start on the grounds of Shepherdstown University, crossing over the Potomac River and looping onto the C&O Canal towpath. At about the 3 mile marker, runners make a sharp left onto Millers Sawmill Road for a brutal 1.25 mile climb (0.75 miles at 3% and 0.50 miles at 2%). The climb leads into historic Antietam National Battlefield which is littered with rolling hills and another menacing climb around mile 6 (leaving one runner (not me) violently ill on the side). The course leaves the battlefields around mile 9 and continues along Shepherdstown Pike through the town of Sharpsburg and back to the University campus.

A note on the timing set up: I was not aware that the start of the race was a gun start while the finish was chip-timed. Thinking that both the start and finish was chip timed (crazy, right?) I kept to the back of the pack at the start in order to avoid the mass of runners up at the front. As a result, my finishing time of 1:52:24 was officially recorded as 1:55:30. Dagger. My results are as follows:

Official Results

1:55:30
168/657 overall (male and female)
20/95 (females, ages 20-29)

Actual Results

1:52:24
137/657 overall (male and female)
13/95 (females, ages 20-29)

Freedom’s Run is a (relatively) small yet exceptionally well run event (even with the confusion about the chip timing). I tip my hat to those who ran the full marathon; I have no idea how anyone made it through those climbs after 13 and 16 miles! I highly recommend the Freedom’s Run for anyone looking to really (really, really) challenge him or herself or who may be training for the JFK 50 (a good portion of the race covers the JFK’s course). Civil War buffs, too, will get a kick out of running through Antietam, Bloody Lane, passing the Observation Tower and racing by General Lee’s Antietam headquarters.

Photo credits and thanks to http://www.freedomsrun.org/ and http://www.shepherdstownvisitorscenter.com/

DC Capital Striders 8K

May 29, 2010
6:30 PM

Allison participated in her first 8K with the DC Capital Striders this past Memorial Day Weekend. The race was simple yet well run; no chip timing or elaborate set-ups here, just a $15 entry fee, toe the line and get ready to go! The out and back course began at the start (or end, depending on which way one looks at it) of the Capital Crescent Trail in Georgetown. Finishing times were recorded by handing the bottom half of one’s race bib to the officials after crossing the finish and then having the bib number shouted out to and then manually recorded by the tent official. The start/finish area was no more than a few tents, a “start/finish” banner and 197 runners eager to get out on the path. A small, simple and well run event was enjoyed by all. No one to sing the National Anthem? No sweat! Just ask for a volunteer from the crowd!

Allison had a 7:45 min/mi. pace for the first mile but a cramp in her right calf forced her to slow down considerably. She crossed the finish in 41:06.71 (officially 41:11 due to “delay in race bib number shout out”) which was “good enough” for 71/197 overall (yuck) and 17/86 in the female division. She will not only be back for next year’s 8k in order to post a much better overall finish but also for future races hosted by the DC Capital Striders!

Results
Time: 41:06.71 (41:11)
Pace: 8:16/mi.
Overall: 71/197
Female Division: 17/86
Age Group (20-29): 12/42

That's me...in the green...

2010 Care First Frederick Running Festival

May 1 – 2, 2010

Thank God I Only Ran the Half…

Springtime can be an “iffy at best” deal for many runners and unpredictable heat and humidity can and will destroy one’s goal of a 1:48 half even after she trained oh-so-hard to improve her speed and endurance and made sure to properly hydrate and replenish her electrolytes which a lack of had caused issues with calf strains and pulled Achilles tendons. She was pumped! She was ready to go! She was going to crush this race! She was dripping with sweat 1.5 miles into the race and wondering why she could actually see heat waves on the horizon…

Dagger.

2,627 half-marathoners and 1,038 (728 finishers) marathoners were signed up to participate in the 2010 Frederick Running Festival. Weather reports called for temperatures in the low- to mid-90s on race weekend. The staff of the Frederick Running Festival made sure to have plenty of water and Power Ade at each aid station (wait, wasn’t there supposed to be GU at the stops??). The sky was overcast for the first part of the run but the humidity was brutal. Less than two miles in I realized just how difficult completing this race would be.

I stuck with the 3:40 marathon pace group for the first 3 miles but slowly backed off after realizing that a pace of 8:15 was not in the cards today (note: I realized this before the race began but “just wanted to see what I could do”). I wasn’t able to even stick with an 8:30 pace. Ugh, God, 8:57??

It was a rough going for a majority of the runners; the medical tents had lines forming and quite a few people being carried off of the course on stretchers to waiting ambulances. One runner that I was pacing at mile 11 on Gas House Pike simply collapsed on the course and rolled into a ditch (mind you, I made sure he was OK and not, in fact, well, dead). No less than three ambulances screamed by me as crossed the finish line. A reported eight runners were taken to the Frederick Memorial Hospital for leg cramps and heat exhaustion.

My official time was 1:57:40 due to a pit stop and my actual time was 1:56:42. Honestly, I was glad simply to finish but was disappointed in my time. While I set a PR for myself, I only ran 2 minutes faster than the National Half Marathon where I was nursing a popped Achilles. Therefore, I was not all to impressed with my new record.

I would tell you where I placed but, frankly, I have no idea! I received an email from the race directors with one set of standings while the race website gives me two different sets of standings. I’ll stick with the rankings that make me look the best! Thus (as per the email from the race directors):

1:57:40 (unofficial 1:56:42)

Overall --> 570/2,267
Female 25-29 Age Group --> 37/276
Female Division --> 198/1,451

Aside from the humidity I did enjoy this race. The course is beautiful, the aid stations were well-manned and the people of Frederick were all out rooting us on. I will be back next year and I will get that 1:48 PR.

2010 Kaiser Permanente Pike’s Peek 10K

April 25, 2010

Just a quick recap since I need to spend a good amount of time researching how not to die running a half marathon in 92° heat (Frederick Half Marathon on May 2).

Pike’s Peek is a community run through the heart (The Pike) of Rockville, Maryland. And, may I emphasize “community run” to the gentleman who crossed the finish line with his arms outstretched, middle fingers extended? Yes, you sir, the gentleman who made sure to salute and thank all of the spectators, participants in the “1K Kids’ Run” and the toddlers participating in the 50m “Toddle Trot” right next to the finish cheering you on, ringing cowbells and hootin’ and hollerin’ as you crossed the line. Way to keep it classy.

The run begins at the Shady Grove Metro just off of Redland Road before turning onto everyone’s favorite haunt, Rockville Pike, for 6.2 miles. A net downhill course still includes generous inclines and potholes to keep a watch out for. The early morning rain tempered off just before the race began but the runners had to deal with high humidity (tunnel vision, anyone?). Water and PowerAde stations were well-manned by the support crew and, surprisingly enough, there were lots of spectators along the course cheering the runners on!

The Montgomery County Road Runners Club put on a fine race with a fantastic post-run celebration (although I grew nauseous at the thought of consuming a BBQ pork sandwich after the finish). This was the first time I ran this event and it will not be the last. I was able to notch a fine and dandy new 10K PR (by 5 minutes!) and feel pretty good about my standings in the race!

Net Time: 49:33

Pace: 7:59

Place (F 25-29): 23/205

Place (overall): 131/1,244

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?

Jingle All the Way 10K

Welcome to my inaugural post; here's hoping I don't sound like an idiot.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

"It is not warm out"

The chilly 36 degree temperature, light drizzle and fog was, surprisingly, a welcomed treat for the record 3,763 runners who were told to prepare for below freezing temperatures, snow and ice during the 2009 Jingle All the Way 10K in Washington, DC on December 13, 2009. The mist and light drizzle developed into a steady rain by the finish yet did little to damper the spirits of the runners, many donning race-supplied jingle bells (not this runner, though), Santa and elf hats, tutus (really?) and even Christmas tree costumes. Santa and his reindeer even made it out to the event not only to cheer on but to participate.

The first mile and a half was rife with jolly runners, some trying to break away from the crowd while others were perfectly content with walking the entire 6.2 miles. Consequently, the first mile was the slowest of Allison’s splits and it took until about mile 2 for her to get into a decent groove and situate herself into a running pocket, so to speak (space lacking costumed runners and walkers on the trail). Allison realized that speed-work would have to be a focus in her next training program as she and those around her cheered on the eventual winners, Bert Rodriquez and Maggie Infeld, as they cruised through their 4.0 mile marker to our 2.5 marker (refer to map). The flat course smoothed out further as runners began to space out favorably after 3 miles. The second half of the run was much more favorable than the first half with more room to break out despite the narrow turns at the 5K and 4 mile markers. Allison’s usual goal in themed races is to run down and pass any competitor dressed in costume. Her right hip flexor, though, had other thoughts for this particular race.

Despite a stomach cramp at mile 2.5 and the reemergence of nasty hip flexor pain (for a 10K? Come on!) after 3 miles, Allison finished with a time of 54:22 (8:45 pace) which was good enough to place 138/690 in her age group and 474/2,255 overall. Despite just barely missing a spot on the awards podium, Allison was happy with her performance having knocked off 4 minutes off of her previous 10K time (which was her first 10K race). After a brief conversation with the very approachable, friendly and 39:18 finisher Mayor Adrian Fenty (“Oh I’m not going to even TELL you what my time was!) and a mayoral high five, Allison filled her stomach with an “everything” bagel and a bottle of water and was escorted home by her sweet husband who endured the 6 AM wake-up call, cold, ice (yes, we found some), rain and mud, lots and lots of mud, to only watch his wife for a few short seconds as she crossed the finish line.

Capital Crescent Bike n' Brew

Well, it finally happened for real. After setbacks from inclement weather a few weeks before, the Capital Crescent Bike n' Brew went down on Sunday, April 26, 2009. The Virginia extreme team, comprised of NORSA triathletes Matt White, Russ Morton, and Jon Spurlock, biked up the trail to meet up with the Maryland Bn'B participants. Dressed in full kits and riding their road bikes, the extreme Virginians blasted the word "leisurely" right out of the Bike n' Brews' usual lexicon of descriptors.

Guest participant Steve-o was way too busy with law school finals coming down the barrel this week to do the full CCBn'B, but he joined up with the Maryland crew, comprised of Tom and NORSA newbie, Allison Tully, outside his driveway to bike to Fletcher's Boathouse for a partial Bn'B. After meeting the Virginians just north of the DC border, the team was complete with a full compliment of six riders.

Setbacks were not completely out of the picture as Russ blew a tire before getting to the C&O Canal. Matt White, despite earlier having been abandoned in the rain by Russ, decided to stay behind until the flat was fixed up. The rest of the crew biked to catch up to Spurlock who had led the pack and not noticed that Russ had flatted out. Jon, however, had already decided to wait up for the others since he'd been caught up at Fletcher's Boathouse for the Creekside Anglers' annual DC fly-fishing event for which the canal had been stocked. While waiting for Matt and Russ, the rest of the NORSA bikers saw a pretty cool chameleon on the gangplank near the boathouse.

Finally, unable to wait any longer, Spurlock biked back up the trail to meet up with Matt and Russ and returned with them in tow shortly thereafter. Russ, unsure of his tires, and Jon, who hadn't read the event e-mails closely and who had decided beers at the marina was not extreme enough, decided to bike directly back to their vehicles in Virginia rather than complete the Bike n' Brew. Steve had to part ways to get back to studying for his finals. The remaining party of Matt, Allison, and Tom pushed on to Georgetown, the Arlington Memorial Bridge (where they saw a black Northern water snake by the trail), and beyond towards Reagan National Airport before finally arriving at Daingerfield Island.

After resting for a while, the crew hung out and enjoyed some frosty cold "20 oz." beers that were served to them in 16 oz. plastic pint glasses. Despite Indigo Landing's shysteriffic fluid measurements, the beers were actually still not a bad price. Good times were had by all and after a few cold ones, the bikers decided to call it a success and head home. Future Bike n' Brews are certainly not out of the question, so come out and join us next time around.