#BuenDiaCorredoresMañaneros
September 27th, Mexican Air Force Half Marathon, an amazing route, at least for me, military bands all over the race, I finish it much better than last year race. When I was recovering and stretching, I walk around some service dogs which I like a lot, and see behind one of them a former military fellow physical injured and with some wound co-incident to their military service. I approach and say hi, he return it to me somehow surprised, Why? In the last days military has been questioned and criticized due some isolated incidents against Mexico population, he smiles back to me.
I have a lot of great buddies in the army, navy and air force, not only from Mexico, also Spain, USA, Canada, Columbia, Chile, Germany; I may not be in full agreement with some of their actions, but, I do respect most of them; at the end they are persons, individuals, someone like me but with different life engagement. All of them outstanding people, honest, compromised, institutional, honorable, brave and willing to give its own life to support their country and people.
I realize there´s no competition for wounded warriors in Mexico, and I did remember about a race program in Virginia for wounded veterans and service members, and I decide to find out and run that race, I found it and got in.
December, three months after that race in Mexico, quite anxious, like a freshmen, boarding my flight to Virginia, USA; half marathon for the wounded, my expectation is to finish the race and enjoy the sightseeing, honor the people, service members wounded, ill, or injured, arrive Saturday and go to pick up my race package, I got all I need, had some dinner and get back to hotel, and have a peaceful sleep (it was not, I hardly slept 6 hours), as a runner the day before : took a picture to shorts, shirt, number, shoes and watch and post it to a social network.
Race day, beautiful morning, 6am 40 oF (around 4 oC) , rainy day, windy, had some toast and water for breakfast and drove to Prince William Forest Park, I arrived 8:00 am, a lot of the 5km runners are just finishing and leaving the place.
Day remains rainy but weather is 42 oF (as per my watch), but felt freezing for a tropical guy like me, beautiful place, the three colors and smell was great; I get set on my place, warm and stretch, just waiting to start the race.
Weather is just perfect, remains the same 40 oF so, the hills and rain helps to improve my race, start by mile 7 I am reaching out some runners that passed me by few miles ago, I was running behind a Black Water finisher, younger lady and a tall and Spartan race 6.5 feet fellow , she was my rabbit he was the bodyguard, but I can go faster, so hasta la vista babies.
I start my race now, my average pace is 184 steps per min, I need to go to 186 -188 in order to improve my time, every mile I pass one or two runners, I love hills, makes me feel strong (thanks Bosque de Tlalpan), mile 12, I pass almost 12 people just one more mile and I will be done.
For some reason, I felt very confortable, I felt strong, not tired, not even in my knees, so I decide to run faster, and finish up with a sprint, reach other two guys; people at the finish line hurry you up and support you, this place and race was amazing, more than 130 runners, incredible forest, hilly route, but a rainy day improve me, I got my medal , some water and done, lets stretch and slow down, get back to my hotel and then visit the USMC Museum.
This was my last formal race of the 2015 year, I improved my time, and I did not expected it.
Incredible time I had, great runners were there, great organizers, I just love the place, race and hills. Sunday finished, a working week ahead was expecting for me, but I was just happy and complete.
Just remembering also, one of the most admired athletes I have and personally I know him, Fernando Vargas, a two heart runner with one leg and great spirit.
*You may find more information about this race at https://www.facebook.com/BishopsEvents/
¿Cuántos kilómetros corriste hoy?