The Ides of March & a Leprechaun

"Beware the Ides of March"was the first reported warning about negotiating the city center of Rome on what was, to ancient Romans, just another day. Just another day, that is, before Julius Caesar was stabbed and hacked to death by those closest to him as he walked in public.

This thought was in the back of my mind as I was mentally preparing myself for my own trip through downtown Rome on the now famous Ides of March. Caesar was dressed in his flowing clothes of the upper-class of Roman society. I was dressed in a strange get up that might have had people wondering if I had escaped a St. Patrick Day parade gone wrong...in Detroit.

I looked ridiculous.

Waiting for the starting gun

My wife and I were participating in the Leprechaun-a-thon, a 5K road race in Rome, GA. I was a little nervous as this would be my first 5K. Sitting in the car with a 3-time Peachtree Road Race veteran wondering what I had gotten myself into, I just kept telling myself, "any race with a costume contest can't be that bad.". And I couldn't help but think about ol' Julius, from a different time, a different Rome, a different trek through town.

Here's what my actual trek taught me that Caesar might have benefited from (and maybe a few that wouldn't have helped him).

1) 3.1 miles is 3.1 miles whether you're dressed like an Olympic runner or a Gaelic snowbird.

2) Shin splints hurt. But probably not as bad as Brutus' knife.

3) Choose companions that you can trust to make such a trek.

4) People who want to be in charge are a real pain in the butt. And the neck. And the back. And the side, and, yes, probably the shin.

5) When the voices behind you tell you to stop, it's time to pick up the pace. You're about to get ambushed.

6) A familiar voice shouting encouragement will work wonders for your pace.

7) Crossing the finish line is the best part. Don't let pain keep you from it.

All in all, it was a good experience. So much so that I'm already signed up for the next one. I guess I'm either a glutton for punishment or I'm just that hard up for stuff to write about. Either way, I'll have these 7 points in mind when I hit the road next time. Wish me luck.