Runners, including your favorite Examiner, relax post-race.
Running up the steep Naval Academy Bridge in the second mile of the ZOOMA Annapolis 10K Sunday morning, I passed another runner in close proximity.
She turned to look at me. Then, she smiled approvingly, and said, "Good job!"
This unlikely encounter embodies the spirit of this all-women's race, which offers a hilly, mostly unspectacular course but lots of girlie-bonding.
The race starts at the Navy-Marine Corps Stadium, winding through a few neighborhoods before crossing the Severn River on the Naval Academy Bridge. The bridge is steep and tough, but is by far the loveliest part of the course, which otherwise follows Ritchie Highway and equally uninspiring local roads before finishing waterfront at Jonas Green Park.
The atmosphere of the race more than makes up for the course, which is peppered with signs with inspirational quotes, like George Sheehan's "I have met my hero, and he is me." While the uphills were tough, the downhills provided stadium-seating views of runners wearing the race's wonderful pink technical T-shirts. And the post-race expo was truly something to experience.
As soon as runners exited the shuttle from the finish line to the stadium, a race volunteer provided a dark-chocolate truffle. For our group, that started an hour of hey-girlfriend debauchery including more chocolate, chi-chi cupcakes, spa treatments and a wine tasting that did not disappoint. The folks at Barefoot Wine & Bubbly understood that runners didn't want a taste or two of wine; they wanted a glass or two, and they poured accordingly.
Then, there's the adorable silver necklace presented to finishers in place of a finisher's medal. Considering the number of runners who entered the race with their girlfriends, these are sure to serve as grown-up friendship bracelets, and reminders of a unique and fulfilling race-day experience.
My sole complaints: The random downpour that soaked runners at the start, which race organizers were powerless to control, and the unbelievable traffic backup getting into the stadium, which I hope race organizers will work to avoid next year. Dozens, maybe hundreds, of runners arrived at the starting line late thanks to the lack of traffic control at this key spot, which is especially problematic for a race geared toward beginner runners.
Did you run the race? Share your review by posting a comment.
Curious about how your favorite Examiner did? Check my personal race report on my training blog.
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