About that Army 10-Miler

After sleeping for all of 3 hours before I awoke from a terrible nightmare and deciding I’d rather stay awake to avoid returning to my imagination, combined with my headache that would only get worse from activity, my SO and I passed on the Army 10-miler. Though I feel guilty receiving the official shirt for my donation, but not participating in the run, I think this was a good move. I can’t stand without hearing an ankle and/or hip crack while my SO knee gives out on her on the slightest hill. We’re already an old married couple.

With Sunday and Monday now free because we wouldn’t be stuck recuperating from the run, my SO, her mother, and I made a run to the Maryland Renaissance Festival for its Celtic weekend. The first 40 minutes of the 45-minute drive went without conflict. We turned onto the single-lane, Rt. 450 (in Crofton) and hit a long backup. Maybe it’s just the traffic light at 424. We get through the light and resume normal speed until we reach another backup. Maybe this won’t last long because we’re within 4 miles of the Festival’s entrance. One hour and 3.5 miles later we turned around on 450 and grabbed a bite to eat. I called the Festival’s general number and was told that the backup was in both directions on 450 and we “picked a good weekend with the Annapolis Boat Show.” Thanks lady. It was 2:30, we were hungry, and even if we got to the Festival by 3ish, we would have to rush through the events and shows after forking over $17 (plus the cost of a turkey leg).

Because I don’t know the layout around the Festival (since I didn’t make it there), I can’t say if traffic direction from local police would’ve improved things. Whatever is needed, the Festival’s organizers need to make it easy enough to reach the parking lot. I suggest adding signs along 450 to let us know just how close we were getting. I did learn: the importance of leaving for the Maryland Renaissance Festival in the morning; when looking for sarcasm while in traffic, call the Maryland Ranaissance Festival; and to bring water and snacks to sell to trapped motorists inching their way to the Festival.