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This spring’s weather has been even more erratic than usual and we were warned that is was not going to a warm and gentle day. But we had Regency Furniture Stadium, home of the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. We had lots of free parking and shelter from the coming storm. The 10 mile race started first at 8:00 a.m. followed by the 5K which started at 8:15 a.m. but ran in the reverse direction. It seemed a little strange that the starting line was almost a half mile from the stadium but that was well planned so that the two races would return and enter the stadium in left field and charge to the finish line at home plate.

It was very windy for the runners as they made their way to the starting line but it wasn’t the wind that knocked over the start stanchion. The power generator that filled it with air stopped a couple minutes before the start. Of course, it was quickly repaired and the start was on time. Unlike the big dog 10 milers such as Credit Union Cherry Blossom and GW Parkway Classic from the last two weeks, this race had no superstars. Most of the runners were reluctant to place themselves to close to the starting mats.


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Below Gurmessa Megerssa breaks the tape.

In typical Washington Metro the weather juked us better than scoring guard in a NCAA March Madness tournament. Colder than normal most of the winter we were torched by nearly eighty on Friday. Saturday racers were greeted with wonderful spring weather in the mid sixties. Then as the real spring dawned at Freedom Plaza the temperatures dipped below freezing.


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“The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain.” Here in hilly northwest the clouds parted for the third annual race.

Though we were warned that all week that it may be time to build an ark, the early morning showers gave way to a delightful cool morning. Though the streets were still wet, the Gods had stopped perspiring on us when the race got underway at 8:30 a.m.


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In the photo below, the lead pack crosses the first ditch down the opening mile.

If you were a volunteer course marshal, the morning was brisk but just barely damp from the pleasantly unrequited promise of rain for the weekend. As a runner, missing the water at the first two ditches on the opening hill just meant that you were not muddy until the next mile. Most of the experienced runners were in shorts and by the last mile were hoping for rain to cool them off.


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Christine Hackman (#520) and Joanna Russo (#512) battle down the final stretch.

One day before the clocks go back, nearly five hundred runners descended on West Potomac Park for the 2nd Annual Run Geek Run 8K. With overcast skies the race was still a little dark as it got [button-red url=”http://old.runwashington.com/results.htm” target=”_self” position=”left”] Results [/button-red]underway. Runners charged down Ohio Drive headed for Hains Point. Last year’s masters winner Bill Bray (44) of Fairfax, VA was eighth overall in 28:43. This year he pulled away from everyone early to win solidly in 28:08.