Who Moved My Finish Line? (Army Ten Miler)

Did you ever read this book?

Well, I didn’t, but maybe I should have to prepare for the Army Ten Miler this year.

I noticed soon after I signed up that the course looked different.

The last three times I ran this race, the start was on the highway that runs along the left side of the Pentagon . For this year, the start has been moved to the far end of the North Parking Lot, which means that the finish line will be that much further away!

Now, that course adjustment might not sound like a big deal, but it felt like it took forever to reach the finish line with the old course. The last stretch over the 14th Street Bridge is more than one mile of concrete with a long steady incline, no shade, and no spectators to cheer you on. There are potholes to dodge, but otherwise it’s a very tedious section of the course.

When you come down the exit ramp at the end of the bridge, you expect the finish line to be right there, but you have to make a sharp right turn and keep going. At this point, the course is narrow, flanked by barricades, and lined with crowds, but that just makes it harder to keep up your pace. For this year’s course, it looks like there are several more twists and turns before you reach the finish line. I do see a body of water along the last stretch–it could be nice if we can actually see that from the course.  I will try to remember to look for it as I am pushing on to the end.

Is there a race you do year after year?

Have they ever “adjusted” the course?