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| Dismal Swamp Stomp Half-Marathon Race Poem (Report) (Read 297 times) |
| view log ~Gordo~ |
posted: 4/22/2008 at 1:27 AM |
It was April nineteenth, and the weather was fine,
Fifty-six degrees as we approached the starting line.
The second annual Chesapeake Dismal Swamp Stomp half,
Some stretched, some warmed up others stood around and laughed.
A good sized crowd, just under 1200 athletes,
Ready to put 13.1 miles under their feet.
The course is a very flat, straight out and back,
And only 6 elite racers to lead this “dismal” pack.
The horn sounded right at eight o’clock and off we went,
I ran the first mile way to fast, had to slow down – couldn’t be spent.
Mile 2, the Dismal Canal on my right, my pace back to norm,
Being passed by many, I would pass later – wow look at her form.
Mile 3, my pace for a PR is still on track,
Get some water, get back in the pack.
I hook up with some dude, running my pace,
Mile 4, I feel like this is going to be my race.
Mile 5, wholly molly there are the elite six going by,
I swear if they had wings they would fly.
Almost to the turn around and a shot of vanilla goo,
The dude I was running with had to stop and poo.
Still feeling good at mile 7, I smile for the camera guy,
I pass someone walking, she’s asking “why or why”?
I see the sign for mile 8, and another water break,
I thank the volunteers as a water and Gatorade I take.
I breeze through mile 9, I’ve hit a wall here before,
This time is different, my legs feel good, not quite sore.
I spoke too soon, mile 10 comes and I must slow a bit,
Shorten the stride and slow the gait.
I shake my head and ask myself why, why now,
But I push through, it’s mind over body and how.
Mile 11 – only two more to go, I refuse to check my time,
Just keep running, right foot, left foot to the finish line.
Mile 12 – can’t stop now, I turn my hat around – a habit I have,
Pick up the pace, have to ignore the pain the right calve.
Half a mile left, dig deep, don’t stop you have come this far,
The finish line, I feel great – 1:48:07 – a new PR!
This was my first time running the Dismal Swamp Stomp in Chesapeake Virginia. It was a great “small” half-marathon compared to the Shamrock Half and the Rock n’ Roll. It takes you down what used to be Highway 17 to North Caroline. They built a new Highway 17 and closed off the old one and made it into a running/bike/hiking trail right along the Dismal Swamp Canal. Although the crowd support was sparse, those they were out there cheered their hearts out. They gave a great technical T-shirt, not covered in logos and sponsors, just a small logo on the left front. All in all a great race that I will definitely do against next year. I’m just 3 minutes off my goal of a 1:45 half-marathon. If you live in the Hampton Roads area, I strongly recommend this race.
~Gordo
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!If you don't...you won't!
~Remember the light at the end of tunnel maybe you~
~If you choose not to decided, you still have made a choice~ |
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| view log Bif! Bam! Pow! |
posted: 4/22/2008 at 1:56 AM |
Nice race& report! Congrats on the PR  |
Beware the Pink Boxing Gloves of DOOM!
"It's not enough to bash in heads, you've got to bash in minds" - Captain Hammer
2008 Goals New PR's in 5K 10K HM, M What now?
I failed the 12 minute run in 11th grade... |
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posted: 4/22/2008 at 2:00 AM |
You just wrote that?
Very creative. Unique. Nicely done.  |
Ricky
2008 Goals: sub-18 5k 17:51 | sub-39 10k 38:35 | sub-3 M
Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go. T.S. Eliot
Play the game, you know you can't quit until it's won.
Soldier on, only you can do what must be done.
You know in some way you're a lot like me.
You're just a prisoner and you're tryin' to break free. |
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| view log Runs With Snowplows |
posted: 4/22/2008 at 2:15 AM |
And the bar for fun race reports has been raised... 
Very nice, Gordo--great PR, too! |
Kirsten
• Ladies Locker Room •
.: 2008 Goals :.
• Run 1500 miles
• October 5 - 1st marathon - Milwaukee Lakefront - in my home state of WI
• PRs: 5k ~ 15k ~ 25k
• 1st trail race |
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posted: 4/22/2008 at 11:58 AM |
I love it!
Creative and fun.... nice job on a new PR.
It makes me want to run this one next year. |
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posted: 4/22/2008 at 1:54 PM |
| Congrats on the PR. I loved reading the report. |
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posted: 4/22/2008 at 3:33 PM |
I suppose I really shouldn't be disappointed, but I was expecting to hear you had to hold your rifle over your head as you waded through waist-deep muck. Guess I'm reading too much into the race name?
Nicely done Gordo, an effort to be proud of (even if you didn't actually have to slog through a swamp). |
Ed
Tuesday Good Times 5K series in Lowell, MA (So sad it's over)
2008: HTFU and BQ at BayState Marathon
Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy |
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zzz |
posted: 8/21/2008 at 9:14 PM |
great read!!! very talented!!
hope to run that with you next year. congrats on the new PR!!! |
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