[/caption]What a fantastic day for a race! It was a gorgeous 58 degrees as the cannon went off! (I think it was still 58 degrees, 11 minutes later when I actually reached the start line as well!) Can I say that 11,000 runners make for a very large crowd (and VERY large lines at the port-a-potties?)
We showed up VERY early (I was not going to drive 2 hours just to get to "packet pickup" and drive home the day before - when I could show up 2 hours before the race and get it!), with one of my friends that was running riding along, and my wonderful wife there to root us on. As we arrived (getting a parking spot less than 1000 feet to the starting line,) I realized that I had forgotten my license, a requirement to pick up the race packet. As we got to the table,I was quite lucky - the packet pickup lady was not a stickler for the rules - so after much begging, pleading and groveling (or I MIGHT have just explained the situation and she was quite reasonable.) So luckily, I didn't get up at 3AM just to watch other people run - That was a good start. Then I got to use a port-a-pottie that no one had used yet - they smell surprisingly "Fresh" when that is true. Definitely another new experience!
