Monday, January 15, 2007

I Heart MCM

I almost forgot to tell you about this. Last month, I got a slim manila envelope in the mail from the Marine Corps Marathon. Inside was the medal at left (apologies for the blurriness), and a letter from MCM race director Rick Nealis.

The letter, in part, said: To complete a marathon is a feat of dedication and courage, but to distinguish yourself by earning a category award requires special recognition. I would like to extend my congratulations to you for your exemplary finish at "The People's Marathon."

The letter ended: Bravo Zulu, Rick Nealis.

Warm Fuzzies: Awwww. I raced the marathon as part of a four-person co-ed team for my local running club. All I had to do to get on the team was to sign up via e-mail.
To tell you the truth, we didn't have a lot of esprit de corps. I never even met my other teammates. But we did well enough to place 3rd out of 10 teams.

Turn over the considerably heavy medal and etched on the back is: THIRD PLACE. ORGANIZATIONS TEAM. The MCM recorded the times of the first four finishers in each team. The first and second place teams had all men. Okay, the second-place team had one woman, but her time was slower than her teammates, so her time didn't count. So we were the first co-ed team, with two men and two women.

Take note: Wouldn't it be cool if next year we had an RBF team for the Marine Corps Marathon? Food for thought.

Pounding the pavement: I was too tired from travel to run 8 miles with my Saturday running group. Especially at 8 effin' 30 in the morning. But I did log 4 miles that evening on a hilly course with E. On Sunday afternoon, I ran 8.5 miles, also on a somewhat hilly course. Average per-mile pace was 8:48/mile.

Today was supposed to be a rest day. But I got antsy. So I logged another 6 miles. Average per-mile pace: 8:29/mile. My legs felt pretty tired, but visions of the homemade fudge, chocolate-covered doughnuts, cranberry cake, chocolate mousse, and other desserts that I ate over the past week kept me from slowing down.

16 comments:

  1. Hello?? Did someone say fudge?? mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm fudge....

    Congratualtions on getting a 3rd medal for that race!

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  2. MCM ... the race that keeps on giving. Race photos, finisher certificate, organizational medals and sponsor commemorative coin.

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  3. Glad I'm not the only one whose plane travel woes (and, yeah, I've been through the public strip search and bitchily demanded someone hold that plane) make the next morning's run seem impossible. Nice hardware you got there. Nice work by your team.

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  4. Congratulations on you placement at the MCM. Wow!

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  5. Congratulations on your letter and medal! That is awesome. Happy that you found my blog and now you are listed on mine. Happy Day and congrats again!
    ~kim

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  6. That's 3 medals and counting for one race. You've got some pull!

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  7. Congratulations on your medal! I just read that registration for the 2007 race opens May 9.

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  8. wow, congrats again! I like the idea of RBF team.

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  9. Thats great Bex, RBF team is a great idea.

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  10. hey 3/10 that's pretty good!! Good job Bex!!

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  11. The more I hear about that race director, the more impressed I am with him. First he banned the cheaters from his race, and now he individually writes to award winners? Very cool.

    Congrats on your award.

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  12. Nice hardware! And good for you for getting back on the road even though exhaused from travel.

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  13. Congrats! What a nice unexpected suprise. Are you going to put it on your mantel?

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  14. Congrats on the medal! Thanks for stopping by and commenting on my piano blog. That's great that you're thinking of playing again. I actually found your blog awhile back, through Jeanne's blog. Small world!

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  15. Getting back out on the road is an inspiration to me, suffering from the motivational blues out here in Colorado. thanks for this lift! and Congrats on the medal!

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  16. Everything OK Bex? It's been a while since you've checked in with your friends out here in the blogsphere.

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