Idiots Write About Sports

So why was I in Washington D.C. this weekend, watching Cal football games that concluded long after the witching hour? Why, for the 29th Annual Marine Corps Marathon, of course.

No, no — I didn’t run in the race. Tubby don’t run. At least, not unless someone is chasing him.

My wife, however, did run. This was her second marathon, and while completing a 26-plus mile course is getting to be old hat for her, it’s still nice to show up and support the wife by waving signs and shouting vague aphorisms of encouragement and taking many, many pictures.

That’s because the course is just so darn photogenic. The marathon starts at Arlington National Cemetary, wends its way through Northern Virginia and then takes the runners into the District proper, with stops in Georgetown, Capital Hill, and Haynes Point, before ending right in front of the Iwo Jima Memorial. As you might imagine, with national landmarks to the right and left of you, this provides runners and spectators alike with many memorable views.

Marine Corps Marathon participants run, as an unidentified monument looms in the background.

In fact, if you are looking for a marathon in which to participate, you would do well to consider the Marine Corps Marathon. First, while some elite runners participate, this really is a race aimed at the common folk. Second, it is very easy for loved ones and well-wishers to cheer you from multiple points in the race. I was able to cheer for my wife at Mile One (Rosslyn), Mile Five (the edge of Georgetown heading into Rock Creek Park), Mile 11 (the Mall in front of the Museum of American History), Mile 14 (Independence Avenue in front of Smithsonian Castle), Mile 23 (Crystal City) and Mile 26 (the finish line), thanks to a PDF of the race course and a $10 Metro card. Finally, race organizers have announced they plan to let in 30,000 participants for next year’s 30th anniversary race, meaning lots of spots for folks like you and me.

Well. You, mostly.

I have many, many pictures of my wife running this year’s race, which I will not post here, largely because they look like an NEA-funded exhibit entitled “Phil Chronicles the Hourly Mental and Physical Deterioration of His Better Half” and my wife has made me promise to not share any photographic evidence of the moment she realized, “Wait a minute… I’ve got how many more miles left?”

Well… maybe just one photo…

… because it’s just one of the many reasons I’m so very proud of my wife.

In keeping with the spirit of a race ran on Halloween, my wife wore a costume for the 26 mile-course — a t-shirt with the words “Why did the chicken cross the road?” printed upon it.

Because she went as a Running Joke. Get it?

Not that I ever would or could run a marathon, but I looked on a few sites of marathon listings once, and in fact and rechecking now for purposes of this post. Here's what else you can do if you have an itch to run and hilariously deep pockets. Though you'll have to leave the country to get to them:

*Sahara Marathon, Algeria.
*Antarctica Marathon.
*Casino Niagara Falls Int'l Marathon.
*Great Wall Marathon, China. You run on the wall for around half the race.
*Great Tibetian Marathon, India. Run on the Tibetin plateau.
*North Pole Marathon. That's literally where they race. Not northern Lapaland or someplace. The actual North Pole.

Congrats to your wife. I ran the SF marathon in 1991. In the pre-run tent, they piped in Marathon by Rush. Talk about goosebumbs.

I trained by the book but those last six miles were brutal. I do miss the thrill of training for the 5 and 10Ks, but just do walking now.

Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for the kind words, Jay.

And if anyone wants to get my wife's perspective on this whole marathon thing, she's posted her three-part, mile-by-mile spectacular at http://schmeiser.typepad.com/the_rage_diaries/2004/11/my_marathon_1_o.html

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