2007 B & A Marathon & Half Marathon
Severna Park, MD
March 4th, 2007
Fast Tracks Running Club
This page was last updated on: March 9, 2007
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Fast Tracks group at B&A
Front Row (Left to Right): Rachel German, Lori Herman, Tina Devlin, Michelle Burkholder, Sarah German
Back Row (Left to Right): James Snyder, Jerry Davis, Michael Reese, Tom Burkholder, Tom Chaves, Elden Monday
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Read a recap of the day . . .
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Yesterday a group of us traveled to Baltimore for the B&A Marathon & Half Marathon.  I would definitely suggest this race to anyone, regardless of your goal.  It was a nice, small race, and a great course (with a little too few water stops).  It was a FAST course, and a good Boston qualifier for anyone in that league (which I am not!).  We all met at 4:45am (and I came in on two
wheels because apparently I hit snooze one too many times).  We made great time getting to the race, thanks to Tom Chaves & his stellar Map Quest & driving skills.  When arrived about 45 minutes early, so there was plenty of time to prepare & relax a bit.  We got a few group pix, got dressed & off to the start we went. 

This race was different for me because there were maybe 500 runners, half of which were doing the full marathon, and the rest of us doing the half.  It was very different than my experience in NYC, but I enjoyed it.  No huge crowds, no long lines for the bathrooms, no weaving in & out of people for position or to set your pace.  It was nice.  The trail was flat & beautiful the whole way.  Those of us running the half marathon started together, and stayed pretty close the whole way (with the exception of James, Rachael's boyfriend, who WON the half marathon).  I was nowhere near him, obviously!  I had a personal pacer in Elden Monday (thanks buddy), and around mile two Tom B. nicely reminded me to stop chatting & save my energy for the race.  I was glad he had, as I needed all the energy I had for miles 11 & 12 (thanks Tom, you are the fa-shizzle).  I think we ran our first mile in 8:50 something, and I was a little concerned with that pace as I knew it would be cutting it close in the end.  We picked up the pace, thanks to Elden, and I believe at one point someone was even recruiting a "Team Tina" to help me break two hours!  ha ha. 

Honestly, the race was mostly really fun!  I said less than 100 words the whole way (I know, hard to believe).  There was one hill at the turn-around point, and after running Raymond Rock (thanks Janice!) last week, this hill was no big deal.  We picked up the pace a bit, running mostly under 8:40, I think.  Elden kept picking people for me to pass, like little goals through the race, then he
would tell me when it was "time" to pass them.  I kept hearing people yelling "BALLARD", as we were conscious not to run into the little posts along the trail, much like those on the bike path.  It really was more like a Sat. morning run than a race.  Very enjoyable!

After the finish, I ran back for my friend Rhonda, then changed & got in place to get pictures of the group running the full.  Elden & I headed outside when the clock read 3:20, even though Elden insisted we had 20 more minutes before anyone would be coming through the finish, but I knew better!  :P  (Sorry, Elden, but I must speak the truth)  About 10 minutes later, low & behold, here
come Jerry Davis!!  Elden & I began cheering, Jerry looked great, no winded at all, and finished in 3:31 cutting 20 minutes off his pervious time.  A bit later, Tom Chaves came through, looking marvelously fresh!  I was in awe!  I was not worthy to drive home in the same vehicle as these two Kenyans!  :)  A few more minutes passed & Tom & Michelle B. came through, also looking mighty good!  We got great pictures of everyone!

Congrats to Rachael in a great first half; to her boyfriend James for winning the half (we had a star among us!); congrats to Lori, Sarah & Mike for also finishing well under two hours.  Congrats to Tom C. for another under 4hrs., and to Jerry for amazingly taking 20 minutes off his previous (and first) marathon.  Congrats to Tom & Michelle B. for an awesome "training run" (faster than any marathon I have ever ran!).  I had so much fun going with the group, and it was such an awesome time!  And, of course, thanks to Elden for helping me break two hours, and being such an inspiration along the course!  :)

You guys are all the best.

Tina

Recap of the Day
Race Info & Results . . .
See individual pictures of the runners by clicking here . . .
Invidual Pictures
James
Jerry
Tom & Michelle
Mike
Rachel
Tina
Tom
Sarah
Lori