This year had to be different. It started out with a week of rain before the race and a down pour while we waited on the race to start. There was no problem going slow those first three miles because the Tow Path had turned in to a mud pit. My ankles burned by mile two as I felt like I was running in sand as my muscles worked to compensate for the slick mud and cross country grass excursions. It was around this point that I bumped in to Shannon. She was a fellow Half Fanatic and just began chatting with me. We see sawed back and forth as she stopped to take many pictures of the gorgeous (even in the rain) course. It was fascinating to learn about the races she has done and all those that she has yet to do this fall. We discovered that we are both running the Balti-moron in two weeks and decided to meet up there.
There were some serious hills as I remembered in Antietam, especially the ones that leads up to the tower by Bloody Lane. However, they just didn't seem as bad as I remembered. Well except for the one near the tower, that one just stinks. We had a constant drizzle and another down pour but Shannon did great at keeping my mind off of it. The marathoners also tend to catch up with the 1/2 marathoners in Antietam too and it's great to watch these super athletes run.
Course support is minimal, so if you are someone like me who requires a lot of water make sure you bring some with you. The battlefield and canal really limit the number of fans that can be out there to support. I enjoy the quiet time to think and reflect on the run. Plus, I got to make some new friends! The medal is made by a local artisan and is pottery not metal. This year there was also a water bottle at the finish and of course a pint waiting for you at the Bavarian Inn post race party. If you have time the view at the after party is beautiful. Fall colors seem to be a little behind this year so we didn't have that wow factor. The local music was also great! Overall, this is a great small town race with a finish on Shepherd University's 50 yard line. If the half isn't for you, they also boast a kid's run, 5K, 10K, and full marathon. That's a lot for a little running town! |