Even with the state of Virginia opening in-person running events to more than 1000 participants, again this year, the Marine Corps Historic Half Marathon will be virtual. I’m one of the group of about 70 participants who have finished all 13 editions of the race, including a virtual race in 2020.
Recently, the Marine Corps Marathon Office reached out to Iron Mile club members who are registered for the 2021 virtual race to profile participants on their blog site. These were their questions:
How long have you been running? I ran track in junior high school and high school, starting in 1968, quarter miler and high jumper. In the mid 70s, I ran some DC Road Runner races. Then, I had a long pause, where I did a little running, until 1990. I started running local Fredericksburg races and in 1993, I ran the Marine Corps Marathon. Since 1993, I’ve completed a races of at least marathon distance each year (28 years) including 25 consecutive JFK 50 Mile finishes from 1996 to 2020. From the original question, 53 years.
What inspired you to start running? In 1993, I wanted to run a marathon before I got too old. I continue to run to keep from getting a big butt.
What does a #RunWithTheMarines mean to you? My mother enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1943 and my father joined the Marine Corps reserves in 1949. They met in Ogden, Utah during a stopover on his train going to Camp Pendleton. Without the Marine Corps, I wouldn’t be here. My first job out of college in 1978 was with the Marine Corps Exchange Service at Quantico, where I worked in the IT Branch for 11 years. Though never active duty or reserve, I appreciate who Marines are and what they do.
You’ve been running the Historic Half since its inception, what does it mean to you to be part of the Iron Mile Club? a good group of dedicated runners. I’m not the fastest runner. It doesn’t take speed to keep running and finishing.
What’s your favorite part of the course? The section on Prince Edward, William and Princess Anne
What does a virtual Historic Half look like for you? (course, set up, support or cheering squad, etc) I’ll run the Fredericksburg Blue & Gray ½ Marathon course from Old Mill Park. This course includes two loops of the Heritage Trail/Canal Path with a spur up the Fall Hill Trail to Celebrate Virginia South and Slave Museum Garden. I was the RD for the Blue & Gray ½ Marathon from 2008 to 2019 and measured the course from Old Mill Park in 2015. I know where the mile splits are and the course is accurate. The trail up Fall Hill is a little steeper than Hospitalization Hill. Without a hill, it would not be a Historic Half. I’ll run the virtual, unsupported, on a Thursday morning, which is my normal long run day.
Any advice for other runners? Get vaccinated and run in-person races of any distance. See my blog at slowoldrunner.com.