Baltimore Half Marathon

Yesterday was the big Baltimore Running Festival.  Thousands of runners took to Baltimore's streets for various length runs: 5K, Kids Fun Run, Half Marathon, and Full Marathon.  Maybe we are reaching an age where running is the preferred form of exercise, but it seems to me that running has become the trendy thing to do.  All kinds of themed runs are happening.  Like you get sprayed with color dye, run in the dark with glow sticks, or frolic through Disney in your tutu.  You can't offer me enough gimmicks to run 13.1 miles.  I am happy to be a fan though.

Daddio has been diligently training for the half marathon for months.  While I turned over in bed at 5 am, he was putting on his running sneakers and heading out in the dark for a morning run.  I am really impressed with his dedication and his speed.  A 7.5 minute mile is Olympic speed in my opinion ;)

After much debating, I took the kids into the city for the race via the Light Rail.  Thankfully Pops and Paula were with me; I don't think I could have done it all without their help!

Waiting for the "train" at the end of the line

Only a few stops to Camden Yards

Plenty of room for us to spread out and enjoy the 20 min.
ride into Baltimore.  

An added bonus- we were right near BWI so the planes were
close and loud.

This is my 3rd time supporting Jason at the Baltimore Running Festival, so I have it down to a science.   We arrived shortly after the half marathon started since the beginning of the race is super crowded.  We took our time going to my normal viewing area right outside the Hilton.

Plenty of room to spread out and cheer on the runners

The kids were so good during our wait for Daddio.  They enthusiastically cheered for the runners.  Braylen was so darling with his pom-pom yelling "go runner!"

Daddio's biggest (and cutest) fans

<3 td="">

Evie will be superb cheer leader for Halloween

We were positioned at about mile 12 of the half marathon, on the home stretch to the finish line.  As 1 hr, 30 mins. approached there were hundreds of runners dashing by and the number of spectators building.  The kids started to lose interest around the time we were expecting Daddio.  Unfortunately, Daddio did not see us despite our bright signs, pom-poms, and me yelling for him.  It was a major bummer for me, but we did see him run past and the kids were great supporters of their Daddio.

The security was really, really tight at the runners village thanks to the Boston Marathon bombing.  Somehow I was able to get in with a stroller and backpack thanks to being a mom with kids, but others were not so lucky.  We met up with Daddio to see his crab medal and congratulate him on a job well done.

Daddio looks amazing after a 13.1 mile run.  I, however,
am ready to crash... and did upon returning home

The crowds were overwhelming to me and the kids, so we left Daddio to have some celebratory beers and mingle with the other runners.  Jason didn't quite meet his goal of 1 hr, 40 min.  He did run his fastest half marathon yet (he has run 3 others).  His official numbers:

Time of 1:43:05 (7:52/mi)

364 out of 8605 participants

289 out of 3465 males

60 out of 562 in his age group

Not too shabby!  The main motivation for Jason running the half was to raise money for the Children's Heart Center at the University of MD.  Jason was the first one to raise $1000 and received a free stay at the Days Inn.  (Can we say date night?!)   Thank you to all of you that donated to this cause.  Good job, Boo!