FORT LAUDERDALE A1A HALF MARATHON

Magnificently beautiful, phenomenally gorgeous, remarkably stunning, each glossy description  an accurate account of yesterday’s Fort Lauderdale A1A Marathon and Half Marathon held in - drum  roll please - Fort Lauderdale, Florida USA. 

A more perfect weather day could not have been ordered, even by the folks who put on this popular annual running event.  God, so it seemed, granted runners and spectators, as well as a throng of out-of-town beach-goers, a day to remember.         

The morning sun made its brilliant red and orange entry right about the time when many runners and walkers made their way across the E. Las Olas Boulevard Draw Bridge onto A1A, between mile marker three and four.  This particular bridge, for those of you that are not acquainted with our magnificent sub-tropical area, crosses over the inland waterway, and was the only elevation change during the entire marathon course.  Flat when running is a good thing.

With barely a ripple or wave noticeable, the Atlantic Ocean was a perfect backdrop for the hundreds of runners participating is this fifth annual running event.  Add a few high-altitude white clouds, temps in the low sixties at the start and seventy near the end, a slight comforting breeze coming off the ocean, and you’ve got a picture-perfect day by anyone’s account.  Many of us thought we died and went to heaven.

Even though most of the course had us running on Fort Lauderdale’s famed A1A Oceanside roadway, the first couple of miles had us running eastbound on vibrant and exciting E. Las Olas Boulevard, an area known for its many boutiques, galleries, specialty shops, and ever popular sidewalk cafes. 

We also had a firsthand glimpse at South Florida’s pre-industrial era as we ran through Birch State Park between mile five and six.  Viewable from the park’s narrow pathway were numerous stately mansions, old and new, nestled along the inland waterway.  Yachts and sailboats, small and large, were docked alongside nearly every seawall.

Then there was the tall canyon of meticulously manicured condo buildings at the turnaround spot, located no more than a half a mile prior to where several fun-loving gentlemen stood along A1A offering runners and walkers a cup of leftover beer from their previous night’s party.  They were actually hand filling plastic cups with the foaming brew at your request.  I passed on the beer and opted instead for activWater served by the many young, energetic volunteers stationed nearly every  mile along the 13.1 mile course.

The remaining three miles were run along the picturesque Atlantic Ocean, where two live bands gave it their all to entertain and motivate. 

Outstanding weather, wonderful friends, delicious food, feeling blessed, it doesn’t get any better than that. 

In closing, I would like to volunteer the fact that I became somewhat emotional while crossing over the E. Las Olas Boulevard Draw Bridge, where we were able to view the barely visible ocean and the faint golden glow of the yet-to-rise sun.  It was then that I thanked God for my lovely wife, all of our remarkable friends, our excellent health, and our sub-tropical Shangri-La.

Putting aside my better judgment, as well as my promise to myself not to run but to walk only, I ran probably 50% of the time – generating a modest time of 2:48:11 for the 13.1 miles. Even though I kept my run pace slow, something like 5 mph, it was still considered running. And running is what generally aggravates my spinal stenosis and arthritic left knee. 

Whether by miracle or pure luck, it doesn’t appear that these pesky infirmities were aggravated anymore than usual. Still, I need to tread cautiously during future runs.

Our good friend, Dawn, pictured on the right, completed her 13.1 miles 19 minutes prior to me waddling across the finish line.  I appreciated the fact that she waited for me at the finish line area.