Arggghh!!!

April 22 – Flying Pirate Half Marathon

The weather forecast called for a 100% chance of precipitation at this year’s Flying Pirate, and they did not miss it at all; it rained the entire way.  One Facebook visitor amused your humble blogger by posting on the day before the race, “I am so hoping the rain holds off till later in the day! My costume will be such a mess! :(“  That wasn’t the only thing that was a mess by the end of the morning, as ankle-deep puddles took their toll, especially in the final three miles of sand roads  in Nags Head Woods composed of rain-filled potholes.  My quads took quite a beating, and my rained-out glasses kept me merely trying not to stumble and fall in the final half-mile mulch-path across the sand dunes in the woods.   I soon gave up any idea of bettering my time two years ago of 1:55:36 (and placing third, no less) – it was a simple matter of survival, and I was thankful to cross the finish line in 2:07:28.  No sooner had I staggered over and grabbed some water and a banana than I heard the announcer call out, “Martha Betz,” and sure enough, my better half had been hot on my heels the entire way.  Not only that, we discovered when they scanned our bib numbers that her unofficial time was 2:07:09.  How can this be?  The answer, we realized, was that I started in Corral A and she started in Corral B, which was released a full minute after me at the start.  While I had been busting my quads, she had been gaining on me the last three miles. 

Dusted by my wife – an eventuality I have been expecting for a long time!  I am so proud of her for running such a good race!!!  She also apparently bettered her time from two years ago, and in conditions that were the worst we have experience in any race at the Outer Banks, including the rainy inaugural OBX Marathon in 2006.  On dry, paved roads, this would have been a huge PR for her.  Next year Martha starts in Corral A for sure!

Am I upset about being beaten in a race by my wife?  Not at all - I'm proud of her.  Isn't that what it's all about, really?  To want to see those you love excel, to see them do the best they can. What more reward can a man, or a runner, have in life than that?