My Marathon Wife (aka Run Becky Run - 2/15/2004)

Becky completed her first marathon yesterday (yay!) and the results are in. In her gender/age group (Women 25 to 29) she placed 168 out of 382 (and 926 out of over 2000 timed women runners) with a Chip Time of 4:29:43.2, which paces her at 10:18 per mile. This is an amazing improvment over her 30K pacing of 10:31. Her total time is less than two hours behind another 27 year old runner who won the race, so it should be no time at all before she’s able to win these things! ;0)

Jank’s brother (and BPBer when he has a break from Law School), Matthew “Doc” Jankowski, paced just ahead of Becky. Doc hit 197 out of 303 in his gender/age group (Men 25 to 29) with a total time of 4:22:45.0 and a pace time of 9:50 per mile. His overal ranking in Men was 1801 out of nearly 3000 timed men runners. Go Doc!

If you can get up that early and brave whatever weather is available, I highly reccomend you check out a marathon. The fans of competitive long distance running are very energetic and supportive (and if you can find a “Rock-n-Roll” marathon you’ll get to hear music while you cheer on the runners.) It is one of the best people watching experiences you will find. So many people who are earnestly working for such an inspiring goal are mixed with several folks who, at varying degrees, are masking their earnest exercise with a “running” gag.

My favorite runner (other than my wife, duh) on the course was a very large (muscular) man who ran shirtless for most of the race. He would have been considered generally not attractive were he in a suit and tie, planted in a cubicle, but he was pushing a baby stroller with what I assume are his three smiling, laughing and waving children for the entire race — and it made him the sexiest man I have ever seen in person. (My second favorite was the patriot-inducing man who ran in fatigues and GI boots for the whole race.)

Pictures of the day’s events will be posted as soon as I get a roll developed and Carrie emails my copies of her pics.

Posted by etrigan at February 16, 2004 7:33 AM