Wet but exhilarating (Parks Half Marathon 2022 race report)

Yeah, I know, this Parks Half Marathon race report is a year late. But, after reading this recent NY Times article on excess deaths, it is interesting to contrast two very different (at least for me) running worlds regarding COVID between then (September 2022) and now. According to the article, “[t]he total number of Americans dying each day — from any cause — is no longer historically abnormal.” To be sure, COVID is still here; people are still dying daily from it; and common-sense precautions are still prudent (e.g., wearing a mask on a crowded airplane). But, the effects of COVID are no longer reflected in the number of excess deaths.

It was a rainy early morning last September, as I lined up for the 2022 Parks Half Marathon, with just a little bit of trepidation. It was not the rain that I was concerned about. Rather, it was my then still apprehension about COVID that occupied my thoughts. Though I have run several virtual races since March 2020, this Parks Half was my first in-person race since the Harrisburg Marathon in November 2019. Although many in-person races have been run starting in 2021, including large-city marathons, with no known large outbreaks of COVID, I was still a bit anxious standing among the waiting runners around the starting line.

Fast forward a year and now, not only are in-person races back to routine, but seemingly also life in general, because of vaccines, immunity from so many having had COVID, and more effective treatments. It does seem that being outside, as in races, makes a big difference. I recently finished a Boulder Outdoor Survival School (BOSS) 14-Day Field Course in southern Utah. All of its courses are entirely outdoors. After shutting down in 2020, it restarted courses in 2021. So far, there has not been a single case of COVID. So, I am racing again: three 10Ks so far this year and a couple marathons coming up in the fall.

OK, back to last year’s Parks Half. It felt a bit rusty in the early miles, but splashing through the big puddles emphatically brought back the joy and exhilaration of in-person racing! I have heard nice things about this race, but I have always had schedule conflicts, though I did volunteer once at one of the aid stations. The course mostly followed the Rock Creek Trail of the Rock Creek Regional Park, MD (see map).

It was wet! The trail has an asphalt surface. But, depressions resulted in many puddles—and some veritable rushing streams across the asphalt. Some of the runners had garbage bags on—after the race had started. Some tried to detour around rain puddles but over muddy soil next to the trail, which was actually worse. It was better to just run through the puddles. Once wet, it does not really matter. Most running shoes drain well. Running through puddles was not only fun (😊) but, because many slowed down to detour, I was able to pass several whenever we encountered puddles.

[Side note: In recent years, I have been doing an “ankle walk” exercise after each run, in which I alternate walking on my toes and heels (e.g., 10-count on toes and 10-count on heels). I think the toe part of this exercise helped me to not lose too much speed at the puddle crossings.]

Parks Half is one of the major races organized by the Montgomery County Road Runners Club. As usual, the volunteer support was superb--especially in the rain! The course crosses many local roads, which facilitated setting up of aid stations, as well as viewing by spectators. Great food at the finish was provided by Mama Lucia. Bag check—dry cloths (!)—was especially appreciated this time. The finish line was conveniently located near the Grosvenor metro station, just four stops back to the start.

My finish time of 2:07:21 was the slowest in recent years. But, I was fairly satisfied, given this was my first in-person race since before COVID and the wet conditions. I ran the race conservatively, i.e., I did not push it. I did not leave everything on the course. Shown below are at least two ways to finish the race.

I plan to run the Parks Half again, to see what my time might be in sunnier weather. Meanwhile, it feels great to be racing and training for races again! 😊