2008 Lewis & Clark Marathon

Through heat (Chicago), fire (Cincinnati) and yes, huricane Ike, we run! With thirty mile-per-hour winds and torential rains, a few thousand runners showed up on Sunday, September 14, 2008 to run the Lewis & Clark Marathon.

I knew it wouldn't be a PR setting day (and I might consider making it a half-marathon), but I just had to show up. Standing near the back of the start corral, I watched as more and more runners appeared to be returning to their cars as the race start was delayed. Some took to hollering and whooping to try and raise the spirits of those of us still standing around in trash bags.

Finally the race started and when the trash bags came off, the rain pletting us actually hurt when the wind blew hard enough. After the first few miles, the wind seemed to let up a little and I was thinking maybe I would do the entire 26.2 miles, but then it would hit us again.

I knew something was wrong when we cross the Highway 370 bridge and should have turned North on Highway 94, but were rerouted South. Runners started speculating on where they might take us to still cover the miles we needed. A short distance later we got our answer... they weren't... the race had been cancelled. They were routing us the shortest distance to the finish area and requiring all runners to stop.

With flooding on the course and winds hampering the first aid stations, the race director made a difficult decision to end the race early. We had covered just over 10 miles. They handed us a half-marathon medal, which won't go on the wall, but will always have a good story to go with it.

Looks like I need one more long run next weekend before Chicago. Hope the weather improves!