originally uploaded to Flickr by Josiah Mackenzie
About the time this blog began a year ago, I started getting serious about running. Well, serious for me meant getting over the two-mile hump on the treadmill when I’d get bored and peter out. On Sunday morning, together with 3,400 runners, I finished the Capitol Hill Classic, my third race, and felt more than a little neighborhood pride-tinged adrenaline as I participated in the 31st year of the event. Being a part of an event that raised more than $40,000 for the Capitol Hill Cluster School didn’t hurt either.
As I made my way towards the second mile-marker at RFK Stadium, the leading male runners zoomed by. Their speed was shocking, but at the moment, I really only cared about making it to the first water table. It turns out those fleet-footed wonders were Ethiopians Mohammed Awol, of the Bronx, and Gurmessa Megersa of DC. Awol, a cross-country runner with his own Wikipedia entry, won the race by three hundredths of a second with the time of 31:32. These two had faced off in Saturday’s Germantown 5 Miler, where Megersa came away the winner. Washingtonian Kate Neeper lead the women with a finish time of 36:55.
The race showed that age is no boundary for lacing up your shoes and hitting the pavement. One of the oldest participants, 72-year old Val Lewton, participated in the first Classic 31 years ago. More than 340 of the runners were under ten, with more than half of those kids electing to run in the 10k or 3k races, not the fun run! A seven year-old boy from Lancaster, PA finished the 10k in 58:07, while a 12 year-old Bethesda girl beat all of the other women and girls running the 3k in 9 minutes, 20 seconds. This is the second year the women’s 3k first-place finisher was a child – last year the winner was only 10!
Seeing the legions of dog walkers and sleepy residents out in their slippers waving hello made the fact that this race draws runners from around the country seem a little bit out of synch, but the temperature and scenery made for an ideal run. Rounding the bend near St. Marks on 3rd Street and heading down Capitol Hill, I picked up a little speed and marveled at the ages and body types flying by me on their way to the finish line. The Hill slowed me down, as it always does, but the blue sky, good conversation with a former stranger, and the promise of carbs and bathrooms ahead helped me soldier on.
A woman in bridal headgear, as well as the freak running with no shoes (ouch) and parents wheeling strollers passed me early on, but I managed to keep pretty good pace with the 11-year olds and the woman running with her dog. The folks from “Running From Our Feelings” and “We Run Better than Metro” probably had witty t-shirts and finished with awesome times so I didn’t see them milling about for free bananas and bagels at the park afterward. Who I did see were the eager volunteers at the Fenty campaign table, front and center underneath the statue of the former secretary of war. They were lapping up praise from the appreciative, if sweaty supporters grateful that last week the Mayor agreed to foot the $29,000 bill for the police and street closure services. Kudos to the Capitol Hill Cluster School parents, alumni, runners and other Hill groups that organized the effective email campaign to the Mayor’s office and have hopefully paved the way for the 32nd running of the Classic next spring. In all, it takes more than 200 volunteer positions to pull off the event, with the big winners being the Cluster School students who enjoy funding for arts programs, field trips and special grade-level initiatives.
A few things happened early in my evolution as a runner that made participating in the race all the more rewarding — certainly more rewarding that seeing that I came in 137 in my age class. A friend challenged me run the Army Ten-Miler last fall, I spent a lot more time in the neighborhood after a layoff, I changed jobs and THIH really took off. Each of these activities has demanded changes in perspective, unique kinds of training and a good helping of energy and sustained enthusiasm. They’ve also helped me hone in on how many opportunities this city offers, and the benefit of purely physical endeavors in a very cerebral city. And most recently, I became a runner with a baby on board…for now, literally on board; I’ve yet to deliver and join the throngs of stroller runners. You can bet I’ll be sure any stroller of mine gives wide berth of Tim’s ankles.
A few more details about the city’s waiver of fees from parent and volunteer race co-chair Lori Goss:
Fortunately there are policies in place that ensure grass-roots community organizations are not subject to the same cost structure associated with major events that come to Washington. “Without this, events like the Capitol Hill Classic would simply be unable to bear the costs of their events,” she said. “The process to apply for the designation is a bit murky, and the decision rests in the Mayor’s office and with city management.”
While Mayor Fenty’s decision to cover the MPD costs ensured the success of this year’s race, it’s unclear what will happen next spring. Goss said “Councilman Wells office has committed to help us establish a dialog with the necessary city officials well in advance of the 32nd Classic and I believe the collective voice of Capitol Hill has gotten the attention of some city officials. Hopefully, we can reach an agreement which secures the long-term future of the Classic.”