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It was a GORGEOUS day in a beautiful setting. The course started and finished at the Washington Monument. It went over the Memorial Bridge and back, then down Rock Creek in front of the Kennedy Center, and back. It snaked up Independence Ave and around the Tidal basin before turning off and going down East Potomac park. I would love to run out there all the time. It was so beautiful!
It was also incredibly crowded. Considering they did a lottery, I can't even imagine what it would be like if everyone who tried to get in had gotten in. O_O There were times when I was running on the sidewalks or the median to pass people. Running on the median on Rock Creek was similar to passing on a busy country road. There were people running both directions, because the course went down past the Kennedy Center and doubled back. There were other people on the median trying to pass people, and that traffic was two ways as well. It was kind of insane. I was super careful, but still kind of lucky I didn't trip on something.
I like to keep track of little things in my head, snapshots of moments in time while I'm running. Sometimes I remember to jot them down later, sometimes not.
Mile One: VNV Nation: Homeward Bound. Somewhat prematurely appearing in the random order. This song has a habit of showing up near the end of my runs usually. ;)
Mile Three: The GPS in my phone was incredibly faily. It was working up until this point, and then it suddenly told me I had run 70 miles. I'm pretty sure I didn't.
Mile Five: Shiny Toy Guns: Major Tom. Mandy gave me a Vanilla Gu to try out and I had just downed it and was hauling serious ass. The course started to slant slightly downward in a really nice way, and I felt AWESOME. Drifting, falling, floating, weightless, calling, calling home.
Mile Nine: I think. I never saw the Mile 9 sign. But I knew I was close because I came around the corner and there was the monument, and there were people everywhere, cheering. And then there was a big hill in front of me, and I sprinted it. I picked someone up in front of me that I wanted to pass, and I went for it. I don't know if I actually passed them, but I crossed that finish line feeling proud.
It was definitely not my best race.
I have a number of issues plaguing me: a healing sprained ankle, a dumb head cold and on top of those, I got down there late and the lines at the porta-johns were AWFUL. I really needed to go, but there I was in line when they said my wave was starting in 90 seconds, so I said forget it and bailed for the starting line.
I made it to the end ok, but yeah, let's just say when I crossed the finish line, I kept running...straight for a bathroom :)
It was a good race. I felt good. I still feel good. I've been letting up a bit since the Half-Marathon because of my left foot being weak and I was concerned I wasn't going to finish this thing, honestly. But I did really well and I'm proud.
The funny thing about head colds, is you think its going to be AWFUL to run through, but something about the endorphin rush makes it just go away. I've run on many occasion with a stuffed up head and it disappears until the end. I was so sick in Jamaica that as soon as I stopped running, I sneezed like four times and was totally congested again. ;)
It wasn't that bad this time. I definitely woke up feeling really congested and kind of awful this morning though. Also, back to bosu therapy for my left foot. Someday it will heal!
Next week is the George Washington Parkway Classic! Luckily Pacers owns this event and their setup for pickup is awesome! I already went to one of their stores to pickup my bib and packet and its a week out! I love not having to worry about that the day before a race!
Its going to be a gorgeous race, it starts at Mt Vernon and ends in Old Town Alexandria! Course Map
Its funny, I wanted to do this event last year, only I was trying to do the 5K, but I couldn't because it was during my annual trip home to Albuquerque. When I went to pick up my packet and she handed me the Ten Mile bib, I had a moment where I realized how far I've come.
From 5k to Ten Miles, and beyond. Its kind of amazing.
It was also incredibly crowded. Considering they did a lottery, I can't even imagine what it would be like if everyone who tried to get in had gotten in. O_O There were times when I was running on the sidewalks or the median to pass people. Running on the median on Rock Creek was similar to passing on a busy country road. There were people running both directions, because the course went down past the Kennedy Center and doubled back. There were other people on the median trying to pass people, and that traffic was two ways as well. It was kind of insane. I was super careful, but still kind of lucky I didn't trip on something.
I like to keep track of little things in my head, snapshots of moments in time while I'm running. Sometimes I remember to jot them down later, sometimes not.
Mile One: VNV Nation: Homeward Bound. Somewhat prematurely appearing in the random order. This song has a habit of showing up near the end of my runs usually. ;)
Mile Three: The GPS in my phone was incredibly faily. It was working up until this point, and then it suddenly told me I had run 70 miles. I'm pretty sure I didn't.
Mile Five: Shiny Toy Guns: Major Tom. Mandy gave me a Vanilla Gu to try out and I had just downed it and was hauling serious ass. The course started to slant slightly downward in a really nice way, and I felt AWESOME. Drifting, falling, floating, weightless, calling, calling home.
Mile Nine: I think. I never saw the Mile 9 sign. But I knew I was close because I came around the corner and there was the monument, and there were people everywhere, cheering. And then there was a big hill in front of me, and I sprinted it. I picked someone up in front of me that I wanted to pass, and I went for it. I don't know if I actually passed them, but I crossed that finish line feeling proud.
It was definitely not my best race.
I have a number of issues plaguing me: a healing sprained ankle, a dumb head cold and on top of those, I got down there late and the lines at the porta-johns were AWFUL. I really needed to go, but there I was in line when they said my wave was starting in 90 seconds, so I said forget it and bailed for the starting line.
I made it to the end ok, but yeah, let's just say when I crossed the finish line, I kept running...straight for a bathroom :)
It was a good race. I felt good. I still feel good. I've been letting up a bit since the Half-Marathon because of my left foot being weak and I was concerned I wasn't going to finish this thing, honestly. But I did really well and I'm proud.
The funny thing about head colds, is you think its going to be AWFUL to run through, but something about the endorphin rush makes it just go away. I've run on many occasion with a stuffed up head and it disappears until the end. I was so sick in Jamaica that as soon as I stopped running, I sneezed like four times and was totally congested again. ;)
It wasn't that bad this time. I definitely woke up feeling really congested and kind of awful this morning though. Also, back to bosu therapy for my left foot. Someday it will heal!
Next week is the George Washington Parkway Classic! Luckily Pacers owns this event and their setup for pickup is awesome! I already went to one of their stores to pickup my bib and packet and its a week out! I love not having to worry about that the day before a race!
Its going to be a gorgeous race, it starts at Mt Vernon and ends in Old Town Alexandria! Course Map
Its funny, I wanted to do this event last year, only I was trying to do the 5K, but I couldn't because it was during my annual trip home to Albuquerque. When I went to pick up my packet and she handed me the Ten Mile bib, I had a moment where I realized how far I've come.
From 5k to Ten Miles, and beyond. Its kind of amazing.
Current Mood: 
accomplished
accomplishedCurrent Music: Covenant - Get on
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