This is a fairly new race. Only the second year for it. I didn’t run it last year. Ferndale and Linthicum are two small communities a couple of miles apart bordering Baltimore-Washington International Airport. Both are mostly old blue collar residential communities that used to be carriage stops on the Baltimore-Annapolis trail and, later, highway. Quiet, sleepy burgs, except for the airport next door. Who would expect that a local 5k run from one to the other could take on the proportions of a significant race? But, it has from the beginning.

It isn’t a very large race as measured by the standards of MCM, Peach Tree, bay To Breakers or the other mega-races around the US. Today’s race had a field of about 850. Impressive for a “local” race, but not particularly eye-catching by national standards. It had equal prize money for the first five male and female finishers ($700 for first, $100 for fifth) and for the first three male and female masters ($350/100/50).

It offers a very fast point-to-point, gently (truly!) rolling course with only four turns. Last year’s winners were probably the fastest running couple in the world….Michael Myktok in 13:52 and Laura Myktok in 16:01. Today’s race didn’t draw such international stars and times were a little slower, although weather was a significant factor. Today’s field featured a few mid-Atlantic regional runners of national class, such as Chris Fox who was second overall in 14:30. All of the top males finished in under 15 minutes and the women under 17 minutes.

I decided yesterday to enter it after my wife and I learned that our plans to visit our son in Ocean City were canceled. (He had to work all weekend.) I’m very glad I did. Not because of my time….it was a slow 26:11….26 seconds slower than I ran in Florida in March. But, because it was a very well managed race with an excellent course, fun after race party, and excellent random prizes….a 3-day trip to Orlando, Fla….two day trips by bus to Atlantic City for the winners and 46 friends….a weekend in a condo in Ocean City….and many, many smaller prizes. I won nothing. L

The only glitch was the weather. We didn’t experience what you folks in Texas are suffering, but the temps here are running 14 degrees above normal this weekend. At race time, it was in the 70’s with humidity above 60 percent. For me, that qualifies as hot and humid for a race.

I was very sweaty after just a 6 block pre-race warmup, so I cut it short. My race was OK, considering the conditions. My splits were 8:27 for the first mile, 8:39 for mile 2, 8:18 for mile 3, and :47 for the last tenth of a mile. Overall pace of 8:27. I had a good kick at the end. I passed dozens of people after the first mile and was passed by only one person near the end. I’m satisfied that I ran the best race that I could…and better than most others….under the conditions.

I got to see MikeB1 again. He introduced me to a Penguin Brigader whom I had not met before. Sue and I ran into the little daughter of friends who we knew when we lived in Ireland 18 years ago. Her daughter (our friends’ granddaughter), who enters high school next year, ran the race. Ah, it’s the little things that remind you that you are getting older. J

This race has all the makings of a major up and coming event. Those of you in the mid-Atlantic region might want to make note of it for future years.

Postscript: I ran into the race director (Dave Cooley), who is an old friend, and got some good info on sourcing the Bridgestormers singlets for this year’s MCM forum encounter.

Jim2

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