2019: A Year in Review

Finally, here is my long overdue recap of 2019. I ran the most miles ever in a single year, 4418 with an average of 12.1 miles a day. While is was a milestone for number of miles, it was a mixed bag race results-wise. It was the first year since 2009 that I didn't add a new state in my quest to run a marathon in every state. In 2009, I had only run 10 marathons and hadn't yet joined the 50 State Marathon Club; I didn't know it existed until 2011.

A few miles into the race

Finishing a loop

Running strong and having fun

My best marathon was the GW Birthday Marathon, put on by DC Road Runners Club. I ran a 3:01 on a very challenging course without a taper. I thought the race would be canceled due to snow, so days before while on work travel in Pittsburgh, I ran long. I was surprised the weather forecast changed and the race went off just fine. Maybe I could have broken 3 with a proper taper, but we'll never know.

Racing while pushing Miles

In March, I raced the St. Patrick's Day Double (5K then a 10K) while pushing Miles in a stroller. I did pretty well, even winning my age group outright in the 10K.

First stroller and first in my age group!

After my strong effort last year in Boston during the storm, I was primed for a big performance this year. Unfortunately, I sustained a left calf injury a week before the race. I thought I was good to go for the actual race, but within the first mile I knew it was 100%. Since my brother and Shawn were racing, I didn't want to drop out, so I hobbled to a 3:23 finish with a negative split.

The Brothers Ames run Boston

My leg healed in time for me to lead my work's team in the FEEA 5K. In fact, I won the race outright, with a respectable 19 minutes, with my nearest chaser dozens of second behind. It was a high point of my racing season.

Winning the FEEA 5K

First place overall

Another high point of my racing season was joining Rep. Conor Lamb's ACLI 3 Mile Challenge Team. Not only did I break 18 minutes, I also helped his team win top House team. As a bonus, I was the first Congressional staffer to finish (House or Senate).

First Congressional staffer and under 18 minutes

Team Lamb: Motion to Recommit to Running

I traveled to Green Bay, Wisconsin, and brought my son and pregnant wife, but the morning of the race they canceled the marathon due to "flooding" on the last couple of miles (seriously, though, it was puddles and we could have run around them). So I ran the half instead - I tried to PR, but I wasn't in half marathon shape. I would have run a very fast marathon, in my opinion.

Starting line

In July, I raced my club's 1 mile challenge. It was a very hot night. Miles participated in the kids' mile, running the first lap (he earned a DNF for his first race since I pulled him after the first lap - too hot and I want him to love running). In the master men's mile, I surprised myself with a 5:07 (a PR that will probably remain my lifetime PR), coming in first among my pack and fifth overall - first runner who didn't break the 5 minute mile barrier.

Start of the master's mile

I started running the Tidal Basin third Wednesday races. They were a nice change of pace. I even won a few of them.

Racing MCM along Rock Creek

I had high hopes of a solid race for the Marine Corps Marathon, but the weather was awful. It was rainy the whole time with a steady wind and warm. Unlike Boston 2018, it was too warm to post a great time. I sputtered out in 3:10, barely missing a BQ. It was the best effort I had in me that day, but it was disappointing since this was my final marathon before the baby's due date.

The agony of defeat

In November. I took Miles for a stroller race, the Veteran's Day 10K. I didn't break 40, but considering I was pushing a stroller, it was a fine effort, and I was the first stroller to finish. I also raced a 5K turkey trot on Thanksgiving. I was 51st overall and 6th in my age group.

DC Road Runners Club photo

With the birth of my son Aden on Boxing Day, 2020 will present new challenges to my running career. I'll likely cut back on mileage and have to figure out how to keep things fresh to stay motivated.

First stroller!

Return to the ACLI Capital Challenge 3 Miler

And we're off! Shawn is very serious!

It has been seven years since I last ran the ACLI Capital Challenge 3 Miler. I ran a few years with CQ Roll Call in the news division as a reporter can serve as our captain. I organized the teams while I worked there. We won first print media team a couple of times with our stacked team when Amanda, Blake, Shawn, Eugene, and me worked for the company.

Waiting for the start

Now that I am working on the Hill again, I can run for a Congressional team. One problem is that the CAO isn't eligible to captain a team according to the rules. However, a Member can add one runner to their team from an organization such as CAO, AOC, Capitol Police, etc. I had reached out to the race director to ask how I could run, so he kept me in mind in case anyone asked him to fill their fifth slot.

Waiting

The day before the race, I Rep. Conor Lamb's staffer called and asked if I could run with them. A teammate was sick and the race director mentioned my name. They are one of the offices I support in my role as Customer Advocate (Pennsylvania is one of the states in the region assigned to me). I ran up to the office, filled out the paperwork, paid the entry fee, and talked with my teammates. One asked me if I could run 12 minutes. I said that would be close to a world record. She thought I meant I couldn't do a 12 minute per mile pace in which case they would find someone else. I assured them I could do at least 19 minutes for the whole race.

Ready already!

She asked if I had anything with the Steelers colors and said she could provide a Steelers t-shirt. I said if they made me wear a Steelers shirt, I would wear my Patriots hat. We compromised when I decided to wear the old DC Road Runners Club yellow singlet with a black Army hat and black shorts.

Finishing and breaking 18 for the first time!

On May 15, the morning of the race, I walked my wife and son to the Metro, took the Metro to Union Station, then hopped a bike share down to Anacostia Park. I met the Congressman and his staff near packet pickup, dropped my bag in one of the staffer's cars, and then we did a short warm up and I added on striders. I met up with Shawn and ran a little more before getting in the starting corral. Deena Kastor was the celebrity runner and she got the race started then hopped in the back.

First Congressional staffer!

I started out steady and didn't let the fast start pull me faster than my plan, which was to aim for 6:00-6:10. After the first mile, the field sorted itself out and I hit my strider, turning around at the midway point in 9:02. I knew that was a good pace I could hold without overexerting myself. I felt I had a good shot of breaking 18. I didn't pick up the pace too much more and did not even engage a strong finishing kick, saving some for the marathon. There were two runners ahead of me, which I normally would have caught, but they weren't in my division and wouldn't affect my team's score. I crossed in 17:53, good for 15th overall, and first House or Senate staffer. Our team ended up winning first House team by 2 points (cross country scoring where you take the places of all five teammates, add them up, and the lowest total wins). The Congressman said I am welcome back next year.

Motion to Recommit to Running - aka Team Rep. Conor Lamb