Woodrow Wilson 1/2 marathon....a review

On October 7, my girlfriends and I ran the Woodrow Wilson Half Marathon   This is the third year that this race has been held and we were excited to try it out.  Here is my review of the race from registration to the finish line.

Registration: Easy online registration.
Updates:  As the date of the race approached received frequent updates regarding bib pick-up and day of race transportation.
Expo: Small, but compared to the last race I reviewed, 2/3 of the vendors were running related, from jewelry, sunglasses, tech shirts, running apparel, hydration and energy gels.
Race Day:  The race began in Mount Vernon where there is minimal parking and ended at the new National Harbor in Maryland. The race organizers simplified the parking issue by picking a central location, The Holiday Inn in Alexandria which is near the Hoffman Center, and provided free shuttles to transport the runners to the starting line.  Runners could have also parked at the National Harbor where free shuttles would also transport them to the start line.  There were plenty of volunteers to direct traffic into the parking lot and to direct runners to the next available shuttle.  It was a cold morning and the buses were a warm refuge.
Course:  The race is run along the Potomac River, through Mount Vernon to Old Town Alexandria and up the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, ending at the National Harbor, MD.  The course is run along the same route as the George Washington Parkway ten miler.  It was a little hilly, with some rolling hills, and some slow incline hills, but nothing that a beginning runner cannot tackle.  If the weather had been on our side, the view during our run would have been magnificent, especially when running over the bridge.
Even though it was cold and rainy the spectators and volunteers were very enthusiastic and kept our spirits up.  The water stops were at about every 3-4 miles, with plenty of water and Gatorade, and thankfully there were plenty of  Port-o-johns at the starting line and throughout the course
Finish:  Check out the medal we received at the end of the race.  The hand is a replica of a sculpture The Awakening.   Plenty of water, and Gatorade was available at the finish line with bananas and bagels to munch on.  Shuttles were waiting to take us back to our parking spot at the Hoffman Center.  My only suggestion: have signs directing runners to the shuttle location.  We followed the masses and found the shuttles, but when we asked a volunteer were were just told "over there, beyond the weeping willow".
Grade:  A.  From registration to the finish line....no complaints!  Looking forward to next years race.  Keeping my fingers crossed for a cool day with sunny skies.

In(RL) conference

One of our door prizes

Awesome hostess Lisa-Jo!

I can't believe that it has taken me this long to post about the in(RL) conference sponsored by (in)courage, Lisa-Jo from Gypsy Mama, and the great ladies from Cavalry Church.  (in)courage is Christian social website for women.  The in(RL) conference was held throughout the world in churches or homes in order to get women to meet in real life, beyond the blog.  Lisa-Jo is the community manager for (in)courage and writes at Gypsy Mama  When I received the invite I was really hoping that there would be a local meet-up near me.  How lucky was I to find that Cavalry Church is only minutes from my house and that Lisa-Jo would be the hostess.  I wish I could remember where I found her website because I really enjoy reading about her adventures.  There is just something that draws me to her....
April 28 was plugged into the iPhone calendar and I wasn't going to miss this meet up for anything!  I was nervous, though, not knowing anyone else who was going.  How was I going to be received?  Would anyone talk to me?  You know, first day kind of jitters.  I didn't have anything to worry about!  The ladies were all warm and welcoming.
The conference was for us women to get to know each other and support each other through our walk with God.  My table mates were a young mom with a 16 month old and expecting her second baby, she was trying to juggle new motherhood and spending time with her husband.  A newly married young woman trying to balance work life and home. A mother of toddlers trying to find time for herself, and me, a mom of teenage girls, trying to keep them in the faith.  We shared stories, laughed and prayed for each other.  Leaving the conference I was so glad that I went.  I left uplifted and ready to face life!

New friends!!

Oldest Friend

Today’s NaBloPoMo prompt is to write about “who was your first friend”.  I don’t remember my first friend, but instead I will tell you about my oldest friend.  She and I grew up together while living overseas and I’ve known her now for over 25 years.  She is like family to me, I would call her more than a sister, she is my best friend.  How have we been able to stay in touch this long?  It hasn’t been easy….it has been hard work on both our parts.  When we moved away to boarding school we wrote to each other, then while in college just two hours away we would visit, now we text and FB.  Some months we are in touch daily.  Other times, weeks may pass before we talk, but each time we talk it’s like we just left off.  She has seen me at my worst, and my best, and joined me on the journey that is motherhood.  Her boys and my girls are friends, actually they call each other ‘something like cousins’. What has kept me turning to hear year after year?  She makes me laugh, she knows ALL of my secrets and has been there when I’ve needed her.  She could hear the sadness and tears flowing during that phone call many years ago and she said “come over”.  I can’t imagine a day without her….my oldest friend, I love her, and I’m going to call her right now!!