Christiana Delaware Marathon
Wilmington, Delaware
Sunday, May 18, 2008

The temperature was 55 degrees as I started to race walk the Christiana Delaware Marathon in Wilmington, Delaware on Sunday, May 18, 2008. The sun was up and there was very little breeze. The race had five loops. The first was about 2.5 miles, followed by a different one of 7.5 miles, and finishing by repeating a 5.4 mile loop three times. Most of each loop were out and back segments. One section of the river walk was covered 8 different times, four times in each direction. The course was relatively flat and some sections were a little too crowded. They did limit the field because they recognized this fact. I personally did not mind the repetition but some of the others did.
It was a reunion marathon for the 50 State Marathon Club that I belong to and there were over 90 of the club members. It was nice to see so many members at one event. The event organizer had special signs made for each one of us that listed our name and the number of marathons completed as of when we entered the event. That was a nice surprise as the signs were posted along the 5.4 mile loop in a section that was out and back. I got to see my sign six times and was allowed to take it home with me as a memento.
The course was designed so that automobile traffic would not be too backed up and the water stations could be used multiple times; therefore, there was not a need for many police to control traffic and there did not need to be as large a number of volunteers. The temperature reached near 70 degrees and fortunately the rain held off until about 15 minutes after the official ending time for the event. I was satisfied with the event and enjoyed myself as usual.