Some you do for time and some you do for the times. This was a marathon as an excuse to see some friends from the Murphy’s Law plagued Kilimanjaro trip of 2018.
Eugene “Gene” “Fritz” “Gene-o” Fritzel recently retired from the Baltimore Police Department after a long and storied career. Like me, he and his friend John came to Tanzania last year to climb Mt Kilimanjaro and run in Marie Frances’s race. This year marked the beginning of the end of his “streak” at Baltimore Marathon, an event he has run every year since its inception. It’s his 19th year and I thought this was going to be his last… turns out he’s running one more to hit the magical 20 years running level. But that may have changed because this year he hit a 4-year-personal best.
That’s always a joy to see when a fellow runner breaks through a physical and mental barrier. Gene attributes it to increased cardio due to competitive “pickle ball” games which he’s gotten into post-retirement.
Note to self: investigate this pickle ball thing as it seems to be doing wonders for Gene.
But I think it also has to do with Gene’s embracing of the retired life — he’s left his job behind but is working on his own happiness and packing in fun, adventure, and living. On top of that, he wrote an essay on that Kilimanjaro trip that has him as a finalist at the local senior center. It’s really an inspiration.
And to make things even better, two of our other Tanzania traveling companions, Ed and Eileen, came up from the DC area to cheer us on. It was a mini-reunion and a reminder that the world is full of good people near and far… and connections made through trials and tribulations and oxygen deprivation can be built to last.
As for my run… well… I was doing really well in the first half… and then… hills. I had been warned of hills but was ill-prepared for them coming in ling, gradual rolling progressions so late in the mileage. That and I just got tired. I had planned on grabbing a banana to appease a cramp/stitch in my side… and of course I wanted one at one of three aid stations that did NOT have a banana. So much of the course was well supplied and supported by volunteers and it was just a revenge of Murphy’s Law that had me struggling at the one moment where the song lyrics floated through my slightly dehydrated brain — yes, we have no bananas.
I knew at mile 20 when the pacers passed me that hitting a BQ time was out the window… unfortunate as it was a lovely day to run. So the clock time wasn’t what I might have hoped… but the chance to see Gene and Ed and Eileen — well, that’s the time to celebrate.
So here’s to Eugene… to you, Gene… and to Ed and Eileen. We survived Kilimanjaro… and we lived to tell the tales along the inner harbor of Maryland. May our paths cross again soon.
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And per usual these days – a photo gallery for those who are interested, complete with Snarky Kevin (Patent Pending)Â Commentary:
