Nate Gretschel ‘24 completed the Rock ‘n’ Roll half marathon on March 16 with an impressive time of 1 hour and 35 minutes. Streets were closed as thousands of runners ran through the city. The race includes a 13.2 mile loop that surrounds downtown D.C. and goes through the National Mall, Georgetown, Columbia Heights and Chinatown. Bands were stationed around the course, playing different genres of music for the runners and observers.
“It was electric. It was a ton of fun, the music was great, the crowd was into it, and I heard lots of people yell ‘Go Gonzaga’, I would definitely recommend Gonzaga students to try a race like this in the future,” Gretschel said.
Despite the excitement surrounding the event, a lot goes into preparing to run a half marathon. First, runners need to set a goal for what they want their time to be. After that, runners must spend months preparing themselves for the race. They must train their respiratory system and their muscles to handle the intensity of a half marathon. Days before the race, participants must watch what they are eating, how much water they are drinking and how much sleep they get. The day of the race runners must make sure they are hydrated and have eaten the right amount to make it to the finish line. Despite all of these challenges, it is worth it for runners as they get to achieve a goal they worked so hard to achieve.
“I wanted my time to be 1 hour and 35 minutes, and I was able to do that. During the race I was questioning why I was doing this but when I realized I was able to reach my goal it was one of the most rewarding feelings ever and I want to run another to improve my time,” Gretschel said.
For Gonzaga students, running a race such as a 5k or a 10k is a great way to work toward a new goal. It’s a very rewarding experience as it takes time and determination to work toward a goal that you set. Gonzaga student Drew LeNard ‘24 has also participated in races. He participated in the Jingle Bell 5k run last December and the year prior.
“Running the Jingle Bell 5k is something that I really enjoy because it’s an activity that I don’t do that often but I really enjoy it. Every year I try to beat my time from the previous year and achieving that goal is great,” LeNard said.