4.9.06 – Ohio River Road Runners Club Marathon, Xenia, Ohio

I don’t know why I like the Ohio River Road Runners Club annual marathon in Xenia, Ohio. It’s a small, low-key, no-pressure, well-organized 7am marathon that provides rare solitude for a marathoner, primarily because there are few participants that run the full marathon. You park in front of a Wal-Mart, get your number at the adjacent Holiday Inn, and start the race through the picturesque little town of Xenia. At five miles, you head out of town along a bike path. At the nine mile mark the half-marathoners peel off, and then its just you and nature. Occasionally you’ll hear the footfalls of another runner approaching, but essentially it’s just your footsteps and the gurgling brook that runs parallel with the course.

It was a crisp spring morning for the race this year. People along the course were out sprucing up their yards, waving and offering words of encouragement. It was one of those clear mornings where everything just smelled so clean.

I’d forgotten my watch, so time wasn’t so important or pressing as I didn’t have a watch to check my mileage, and this little race certainly didn’t have mile clocks. But the volunteers were friendly, and the water was there as needed, so essentially it was just a (long) fun run on a beautiful spring morning.

Got home around 1pm, had my post-race massage at 2pm, and was good to go for the week!