Ripley Race 5K 2014

This is the 4^th time I have run in the Ripley Race 5K.  The race is in honor of Col. John Ripley, USMC. Colonel Ripley is famously known for his heroics in Vietnam when he was ordered to “hold and die,” against 30,000 North Vietnamese troops and 200 enemy tanks that were preceding toward a U.S. position.  John Ripley scaled the struts of and then successfully blew up the Dong Ha Bridge, preventing the enemy from crossing, earning him a Navy Cross.

It is also the race that supports the Semper Fi Fund.  I was inspired to become a Semper Fi Fund Community Athlete two years ago at this race, when I witnessed the remarkable strength and determination of a dozen athletes who would not let their injuries stop them.

As for this year’s race, I had just come off a lack luster performance at the Marine Corps Marathon and we had attended the Navy-Notre Dame game at FedEx Field the night before.  That game would keep us out till past midnight and sitting in the cold wind most of the night.  In the morning in think it was around 44 degrees when we got to Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium and the wind was a steady 25 mph with gust up to 45 mph.

I decided I was going to wear the Kilt for the run…not sure why since I usually don’t wear it unless I get $100 dollars in donations to the Semper Fi Fund.  But I braved the chill and wind and headed out.

Believe it or not, this was a fast race.  There was group of runners from a runners club who bunched up the start line and took out like a shot.  My goal was just to run a steady pace.  After leaving the stadium and turning right onto Rowe Blvd, you run down toward the Maryland State House.  There you are at 1 mile. And I hit it at 7:35…nice pace can I keep it up?  Now you head downhill toward Main Street toward the city dock, left on Randall toward the Naval Academy Gate 1 and then left on King George St.  The wind was really hitting me in the face heading up King George and it is back uphill.

You hit the 2 mile mark at the College Creek Bridge. There, I got hit by a gust of wind that must have been 40+ mph, that got the kilt lifted, but more importantly I ran that second mile at a 7:34/mi pace.

The third mile takes you the rest of the way up the hill on King George and then left onto Taylor Ave back toward the stadium.  I was feeling pretty good and felt really good as I hit that 3 mile mark with 200 yards to go and a steady 7:36/mi pace.

I carried that in for a 23:32 finish.  I ended with 7:35 pace.  I finished 57 of 607 overall and 10 of 77 in my M40-49 age group.  Six of the 10 top male finishers were in my age group and all came from the same running group that took out and the beginning of the race.

Jon Brianas, a former Supply Officer shipmate of mine from my time at the Naval Academy, organizes the event.  As usual it was well run and he makes it truly feel like a family event.  Jon is a cancer survivor and the Co-founder of Turning Point Sports.  I encourage you to look into any event that he runs, such as the National Youth 5K Series, he promotes youth fitness and it is a very good program.

I really was happy with my run after the Marine Corps Marathon, a business trip to Bloomington Indiana, the late night football game, and taking a complete week off of running before the Ripley.

Next up the Remembrance 5K, the last of the USMC Henderson Hall Ooh Rah Run Series…Then the Chesapeake Bay Bridge 10K…standby for that post.