The weather was perfect, high sixties with a light breeze. The sky was a deep blue with a few white puffy clouds. The bright sunshine had chased away nearly all of Washington's notorious humidity. This year the date, time, and place were moved. Traditionally run in April at 9:30 AM at Freedom Plaza, there were still nearly two thousand runners signed up [off from last year's 2,500, with 1,971 finishers]. It seemed as if more than half the runners wore bibs on their backs, announcing "In memory", "In celebration", or better still "Survivor." The crowd was in a very upbeat mood.

Before coming, I had looked up the results from last year's race. Looking around, I saw a few regular racers of the thirty or more races a year variety. Did any of the strangers have the goods? Jim Hage (44) was there with his typical ear-to-ear grin. I knew he was relaxed and just out for a good time [Wow, a pun!]. Still, some of the less than superstar masters runners were already settling for "maybe second." Now my heart is beating faster and the announcer yells out the G-O word.

The first quarter mile is straight downhill with the White House on our right. Like good Democrats, we turned left instead. Adrenaline and hubris told me it was okay to stick with the leaders on the downhill. Hage and Greg Wenneborg (34) of Tucson, AZ quickly formed a pack of their own with eventual third place finisher in 16:16 Tim Schaefer (23) of Rockville, MD about thirty meters back. Doug Kuderna (41) of Odenton, MD moved past the flameouts in the second pack to earn the fourth spot.

By the first mile, we recognized that the flat course had a few hills as the leaders briefly winked out of sight. Arms flinging wildly and bellowing forward, Jay Wind (52) of Arlington, VA surged past the first woman trying to gun down Dan Eddy of Alexandria, VA. Eddy won the fight, finishing in 18:01, eighth overall, though Wind tells me that his 18:20 was his fastest 5K since turning fifty. Emily Hampson (18) stayed right with him winning her race in 18:22, nearly a minute ahead of second place. Talented Win Persina (42) of Washington, DC was twenty- first overall for second place woman. Newly anointed masters runner Gloria Santarpia of Odenton, MD was third in 19:45.

I learn from friends that Hage and Wenneborg finished in a near dead heat. Hage got the electronic nod, finishing officially in 15:48 with his pal one official second back. "Interesting," I say as I brush past them, beelining-it for the large tubs of frozen Ben & Jerry's ice cream. It was so good that I could have eaten as many as my friends claim that I did.

There were tons of bagels, fresh bananas, and apples and boxes of Wheaties [the breakfast of champions]. Though they tried many times, the announcers were unable to remember my number for the random drawings. Hardly chagrined, I ate another Ben & Jerry's.

The race again gathered in many thousands of dollars for this vital charity [The Brain Tumor Society]. It is always tough to match the needs of runners trying to race and organizations trying to raise money for a cause. Today's race combined a beautiful Washington May day to do both.

Complete results of the 5K run/walk.