Rock 'n' Roll DC--United Airlines Hub Race #1

Ohhhh....DC.  I love visiting there, but my asthma sure doesn't!

The Rock 'n' Roll DC has always been dear to me.  It was one of the first RnR races I had ever run, and if you have followed me over the years, you know how I love taking a redeye from SFO into IAD, leaving my luggage at the airport, taking an Uber to the start line, running, then taking an Uber back to IAD and flying out.  Always a challenge, and always an adrenaline thrill...  If you are new to my DC adventures every year, catch up here.

Pre-race VIP with United Flight Crew

This year, again, I was taking the redeye in from SFO with the usual plan of leaving my bags at Baggage Claim and taking an Uber back and forth to the race.

But this time I recruited another!!!!  Nichole and I had been running the Rock 'n' Roll races for some time and she, along with Sherry Ricker (see our story here) are trying to run EVERY Rock 'n' Roll race possible in 2019.  She was flying from LAX and agreed to meet me at Baggage Claim so we could Uber together.  Yay!  An accomplice!!!

Proud to run every race with Joe Harris, former Marine Veteran
and the BEST RnR spokesperson one could ask for!

As usual, the race was cold, but not below freezing, thank goodness.  While this was good for my fingers and feet, it was bad for my asthma as my trigger is tree pollen and the counts had already been high in San Francisco and Las Vegas where I had been the past month working.  I had my inhaler with me and was covered in an itchy rash on my ears, neck and chest from all the pollen that I had been exposed to already and knew the beautiful Cherry Blossoms were starting to bloom.

Well...whatever.  I came to finish a race, so I toed the line ready to go!

After four years running this race, I am still moved to tears by The Blue Mile.  Of all the RnR races I do, this is perhaps the most meaningful Blue Mile to me, as it begins right before Mile 6 and the posters of our fallen service members really make an impact along this quiet section of the course.  All of those who have given The Ultimate Sacrifice are looking back at you as you run and you can't help but say a quiet "Thank you" for what they have given.  And just as the posters end, you are greeted with an incredible support team of people cheering, yelling, waving American flags, etc. to get you up the steep hill in front of you and cross the 10K marker.  This one mile alone is worth running the entire course.

By the time I got to the top of the hill, my asthma let me know that it was aware of what I was doing, and I had to take a puff of my inhaler.  I had also entered the party section of the race where everyone has music playing from their houses and is out on the street with snacks and drinks for themselves as well as the runners, should they so choose....sooooo....

Well....I knew with hitting my inhaler that I was going to be walking the rest, so I chose to stop and socialize with various houses and parties along the next few miles.  Why not?  I had a sip of Guinness at Mile 9, a mini-mimosa a little bit farther, and even popped into a packed English Pub that said if you came in with your bib, you would get a free shot of Jameson!!!  Absolutely!!  Except they were Everton supporters (or so it seemed from what was on the tele) and as a Liverpool gal, I thanked them and got out quickly!!

As I finished the race, collected my things and took the Metro back to downtown so I could get a cheap Uber, I was reminded of my running this race for the first time and meeting all the crazy runners I know now.  Being in the right time at the right place and meeting everyone from RnR was a pure stroke of luck.

Not everyone can do what we do.  Sure, most people can finish a half or a full marathon in their home city, but how many people can fly OVERNIGHT into a city, run a half or a full, then get on an airplane and go back home or to their next destination?  Not many.

United Airlines has decided to recognize those who are willing to complete at least two of their five "Hub" races and have issued a special medal to celebrate it.  DC is the first, followed by San Francisco, Chicago, Denver, and Chengdu (China).  As of me writing this, there are four people--four women all around age 50--who are up to the task of completing all five hubs.



So, World... throw asthma, allergy rashes, busy work schedules, etc. at me.  My airline has given me a challenge that I can do whilst maintaining my work commitments throughout the year and racing at the same time.


Challenge accepted.

Life Is Good.  Life is better when you do the things you love with the people who love you back.

One United Hub down...four to go...

At IAD, ready to fly home

Finally home at ORD United Club being greeted by the staff
after being awake for 36+ hours and running a half marathon