Before Tottenham Hotspur took the pitch on Sunday I spectated a sporting event far more impressive: the marathon.
We’re in the tail-end of the marathon season. Chicago and Berlin have come and gone. New York City is due this coming weekend. But before that comes we had the marathon here in Washington DC. I’ve run this one twice before – in 2018 and 2022.
Since I last ran the marathon I’ve always come down to spectate it and support the marathoners. I usually like to position myself somewhere late on in the race
where there are fewer spectators (because I think the runners need it more then). In 2023 I chose around Mile 23 in Crystal City, and last year I hung around Mile 25, which situates on the highway between the Pentagon and the Iwo Jima Memorial in Arlington, Virginia
But this year I did something different (mostly because of time). I travelled down to L’Enfant Plaza and walked down to around Smithsonian Station, which I believe was somewhere between Miles 19 and 20. I was a little late going down there, so the 5-hour plus group was making their rounds.
What does a marathon sound like?
Well, that depends on which part you’re watching. It could be the clicking and clacking of trainers or – in my case on Sunday – the shuffling of feet of people struggling. I was pretty concerned, because I knew they haven’t even gotten to the most difficult part yet.
Still, it underlined why the marathon is a unique sporting event. It’s full of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. And there comes a point when you are fighting against the doubts inside your head – regardless if you’re an elite runner or a couch-to-marathon runner.
Now, as for what your hoddler-in-chief has in store? Well, it looks like there’s another local half marathon next month that I’ll be signing up for. And a 10k, so why not both? Then, it’s just about finding which marathon to run in the spring.
Fitzie’s track of the day: Payday, by Yard Act
And now for your links:
The Athletic ($$): “More change at Tottenham: Rebecca Caplehorn to leave the club in January”
The Times: “Only one Premier League game set for Boxing Day due to calendar pressure”
BBC: “Celtic replace ‘divisive’ Rodgers with former boss O’Neill”
