Pumpin' Blood

The manic nature of the days lately is getting to be a little much! As I said in the email, Sunday's race day weather ranks among the worst days I've ever experienced, with temperatures in the low 40s (and dropping), torrential (cold) rain, and flash flooding on every road.

Perhaps the Biblical rain we experienced was all part of guerilla marketing efforts to promote the new movie "Noah" - but either way it made the performances all the more impressive.

Carly Page last ran the B&A Trail Half in 2012, when the day was much kinder to runners. This year she came into the race a little worn down, having cracked some ribs following a long coughing fit a few weeks back. Given the circumstances, nobody would have faulted her for not running. But she put on the SICKEST OUTFIT OF ALL TIME (no pics because it was raining) and a happy face, and just got after it. The race was all but decided from the gun; Katie Ogden, formerly of Towson, blitzed the start and amassed a large lead, which she nursed all 13.1 miles. After settling into a rhythm, Carly rolled some great splits out (with the wind) and back into the wind as the rain pelted. For her efforts she was rewarded with a 2nd place and a solid March 30th time of 1:27:58.

Sara Damiano had "the look" - like you knew she was ready to go. Nothing was going to get in her way. Unfazed by the conditions, she marched down the trail, ticking off a relentless tempo and getting to the line in a new personal best of 1:35:49. Sara D has had an amazing string of results over the past 6 months or so, and it's been fun to watch.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Ironman Los Cabos (MEX) was bright and sunny. And hot. Kona-like conditions are something that Alyssa Godesky has become quite accustomed to over the past few years, but this race was a little different. It was her first triathlon as a professional! No longer "just" racing for age group wins or Kona slots, Alyssa was going up against the big shots, competing for money (and awareness). Following the splits throughout the day, they were incredibly even, and her method of steady racing was able to propel her to a 13th place finish in the pro field in a time of 10:22 - 30 minutes faster than her race there last year! Her marathon split of 3:39 was only a minute off her best IM run.

Coming back locally, Graham Peck and Megan DiGregorio were dual winners at the Dundalk Challenge 5k, and Joel Brusewitz raced as well. On the rubber oval, Ed Aramayo started, and finished, his outdoor racing campaign in the 1500m at the Widener Invite.

Our Purple Drink Athlete of the Week selection went to Carly!

And two KC Masterpiece Awards went to Emily Hurley, who ran her long run and significant portion of Carly's race with her; and Dan Miranda, who braved the elements to cheer on runners in a number of spots along the way, with a BOOT on.