Beautiful Day

Man, it's gorgeous outside. Especially for early November. We're just past-peak for folliage and I really want to do some kind of a trail run, perhaps in Virginia, so I can absorb all of this ridiculous weather and take in nature's bounty. It's got to be 60 degrees out. Sooooo lucky! I think a good 5 miles would serve me well today. My quads are no longer screaming at me; I've been soaking in the tub with Epsom salts and walking a lot, which helps. A lot of folks swear by Advil, but I'd rather not take it unless I'm really super inflamed, or hurt. It's like my PlanB.

Tomorrow is my soccer playoffs! It's bittersweet because it's the end of the season and I've met some really amazing people who've become good friends throughout the course of playing. There's something about getting up and suiting-up at 9:00am on a Sunday that bonds you together.

For now, I'm inside Commissary, on cup of coffee #2 and it's almost 1pm and so far no cigarette!! Don't think I'm not thinking about it, peeps, 'cuz I am. Damn. Ok, back to work for me.

Peace.

Daylight Run

4-5pm

I ran with T along N street heading west over to 19th, and then up 19th to New Hampshire, then down M and up 23rd to the P street bridge to head into Georgetown. We took a little sketchy path to the left, under the P street bridge and jogged on a trail along the water and ended back up behind the community center and outdoor pool on 24th and N. It was definitely a circuitous route, but a pretty one, and unexpected at that. From there we went up M and over into Georgwtown proper and crossed over and down to the left of the Four Seasons onto the paved path next to Rock Creek Parkway. We hit a fork in the trail and instead of heading up into Woodley Park, we veered left up into Mt. Zion Cemetery and up the hill back into Georgetown and ended up at 27th and Q. Q to P, back across P street bridge, and over to 20th street for
a Tangy Sweet stop; this time I went with a medium green tea flavored frozen yogurt, "fully loaded", with pomegranate, blueberries, and fresh mango--delicious!

Next run: Saturday!

The First Run

In an effort to quit a most mephitic and nasty habit, I've recently announced to those near and dear that I'm going to run a half-marathon. This enterprise existing mostly in my own head had relatively little chance of execution. I decided to let the idea marinate. Thinking about running wasn't getting me any closer to fitness, nor had I made any attempt to quit smoking. So here I was, in the nascent stages preparing to think about thinking to run, a legend in my own mind, visualizing the finish line, as it were, without even having pushed off the starting block. Not one to explore the liminal grey areas in life, my decision-making pendulum swings from one extreme

to another: either smoke myself into oblivion, or, run a half marathon. Of course. Because this makes perfect sense in my imperfect brain.

Yesterday was my first run. I have a personal coach; her name is Tracy. I tried to bail on our run on three separate occasions throughout the afternoon. The best of the excuses was the impending rain which turned to an actual drizzle! I texted her from the relative comfort and shelter of my car. While smoking a cigarette. Tracy replied: "you are going to feel great afterwards". Damn her!

At 6pm sharp we trotted off into the darkness, as daylight savings ushers in the night as early as 4:50pm here in DC. She is already sweating. I didn't expect to sweat. At least not in November. I mean, just how hard must one run in order to work up a sweat while the sun isn't shining? Sheesh. Within five minutes I am perspiring. We are actually talking, too. My brain is telling my body that I am going to die and yet my body seemingly ignores it. Which is a very good thing. We did a good 30 minute run up Massachusetts Ave around Dupont Circle and up Embassy Row and turned on California and went back down Connecticut to Florida, then up Phelps and back down the Spanish Steps to Massachusetts and over to P Street where Tracy bribed with with a pumpkin spice Tangy-Sweet frozen yogurt.

Who says running isn't fun?

The best part was the jog back home downtown, watching the commuters bundle up in their scarves and trenchcoats while I ran free in shorts and a t-shirt. Free. Free. Free...