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The DelMoCrew returned to Washington DC for the annual Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Miler and our final race in the "first act" of our season that started with the New York City Half, The Love Run in Philadelphia, and CUCB.
The DelMoCrew returned to Washington DC for the annual Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Miler and our final race in the "first act" of our season that started with the New York City Half, The Love Run in Philadelphia, and CUCB.
Our role at CUCB is three phases: Course Management, Signage, Event Equipment. This event is a BEAST to produce. The weekend starts with an 8000-person 5K on Freedom Plaza on Saturday, then a 20,000-person 10 miler on Sunday. Couple those two events with one of the busiest tourist times of the year (cherry blossom season) it makes navigating our nation's capital for set up cumbersome at best. To add some spice to the soup, there were also TWO massive protests going on simultaneously which converged in scope and size which did NOT allow us for any set up on race site the day before.
So, what would normally take us all day to do we needed to get done in a few hours....and we did thanks to some hard as nails crew members willing to come in after hours and do the work. Check.
Race morning was absolutely perfect. The advance team got the work done, and all facets of production were on schedule as planned.
I don't know if it was the threat of moisture in the air or me just being a big 'ol baby, but my right knee (as detailed in my last three newsletters) was really hurting. I had a visible limp and a grimace on my face for much of the weekend. I was thankful my follow-up with my orthopedic doctor was scheduled for Wednesday, April 9th. I would finally have some answers.
Back to the race. CUCB is a unique event. It's world class in every way, but it has a local feel not many big events can capture. Additionally, it's a technical dynamo; a common start finish line, which leaves no margin for error when trying to clear the chute for the finishing elite athletes. We're usually able to get it done with a few minutes to spare...it's the way it's always been done. This year would be different.
The event has exploded in size since 2020, and this was the largest field yet. To prepare for the possibility of runners not fully vacating the chute, we installed a secondary lane which runs along the sidewalk to the first turn. This lane has historically been used for athletes who arrive late and we didn't want them interfering with the first finishers. However, in 2025 Taylor Roe would test our wits as she was on a World Record Setting Pace in the 10 Miler. By the data provided, there would still be over 1000 runners in the chute when she was scheduled to cross the line.
No bueno.
To quickly remedy this, we opened the valve to the secondary chute to clear the back of the coral. It worked PERFECTLY. There was only one problem. I was standing in the center of the chute, coordinating the effort and a sea of runners were heading directly at me. I recognized the mass of humanity and scurried towards the opening by timing and in the process felt a POP in my right knee and I nearly went down taking all the photo finish equipment with me. At that moment, I knew I was done. I limped my way into the secure opening of the timing tent, sat on a chair supporting my knee and through the opening I witnessed Taylor Roe crossing the finish line breaking the world record...and no one was in her way. Mission Accomplished.
I sat in the tent for a few minutes, then limped my way into medical, of which I was their first patient of the day and got some ice and crutches. Truthfully, I felt like crying. I thought of ski trips that I missed this year with my kids and all the other fun things we had planned for our family in the upcoming months that I would not be able to do. I also thought of how I would need to restructure my business (AGAIN) because I would be physically incapable of any manual labor for the foreseeable future. I let myself feel bad for a hot minute and remembered a few things to keep my situation in perspective:
1. Nobody died
2. It can be fixed
3. My team is amazing.
4. I've got a full head of hair
5. Tell me you laughed at number 4!
I have no self-pity in my game. All is well. Everything is working out for my highest good. Only grand things will come to me from life's daily situations, and I am safe. This is my mantra and has been for quite some time, and a world record won't change it.
See you at the next one!
-DelMo
