On Saturday November 19th I ran the JFK 50 in Maryland to raise money for Hopecam, a non profit charity. Hopecam uses technology to help connect homebound kids undergoing chemotherapy with their friends and teachers at school using web cameras and high speed internet connections.  This was my fourth JFK 50 supporting Hopecam, and thanks to the support of many we have raised over $40,000 to help kids in the Washington DC area.  Hopecam has expanded its support for children in hospitals while undergoing bone marrow transplants with laptops, cameras and wifi cards. We are also supplying cameras and computers to the oncology clinics where these children receive outpatient treatment as well. My finish time was 10 hours and 7 minutes.  

Below are a few observations from this year's race:  

2005 JFK 50 OBSERVATIONS

For the third year in a row, I ran the race with my friend John Moore.  His wife Valeria supported us by shuttling our gear bags between rest stops every 8 miles, filling up our water bottles and feeding us chicken soup along the way. The first 15 miles of the JFK 50 course is on the Appalachian Trail.  The trail surface is 85% rocks and slopes up 400 meters during the first 75 minutes....then after a long descent, and a few more ups and downs, you exit the trail after a series of switchbacks that lead you down a 25% grade. The pointy rocks on this section make the soles of your feet feel like they have been hit by a baseball bat.  

The balance of the next 26 miles is flat & slow & uphill on the C&O canal...the uphill is self explanatory if you know anything about canal design theory. You actually feel relief when you finally hit a steep hill at mile 42 when you get off the tow path.  The remaining 8 miles is rolling hills and you pass a lot of people that look like they are auditioning for the sequel to the "Night of the Living Dead". After consuming about 3 gallons of Gatorade and burning off 9,000 calories, you cross the finish line and get a medal, a hot shower, a meal (comprised of pizza and fried chicken) and a massage by a therapy student that probably works at a meat tenderizing plant somewhere outside of Hagerstown. This was the first time I hit the finish line in 4 years with some daylight left.  

Some other observations: (a) There is no joy at reaching the half way mark.
(b) A group of "soccer moms" I know smoked by me at mile 38 and crossed the finish line 15 min ahead of me.
(c) One guy ran the entire race dressed as "Land Shark".
(d) A 30 yr old marine carried a 3 x 5 ft American flag the entire race, which was really cool to watch as he finished to thunderous applause. I talked to him afterwards, and he was leaving that night for Philadelphia to run the marathon the next day. No wonder we have the best trained military in the world.