A Monumental Run

Saturday I went for my first non-race long run of 2013.  I ran through Rock Creek Park to the waterfront, crossed the Potomac to pass Arlington National Cemetery, then back in to DC around the monuments.  It was a beautiful day, sunny and cool, but not cold, with a light breeze.  My feet and heart, felt light; instead of pushing myself, I glided along.  It was the kind of run I can always appreciate, but never get used to.

Sometimes I feel spoiled.  My runs take me by and through places many people only hope to see.  On Saturday I savored every moment of it, stopping to take photos like a tourist.  Below are a sampling, because a picture is worth 1,000 words.

A Good Morning

This morning I...

• Said "good morning" to a tiger
• Waved at an orangutan
• Blew a kiss to a panda

...all while breaking in a new pair of running shoes.

I can run through the zoo any time of year, but it's a real treat to run through on a nice spring morning when the animals are out.

Happy Thursday!!

"The Terror is Over. And Justice Has Won."

Tonight I'm:

• Proud to be an American
• In awe of the tireless efforts of law enforcement that led to the identification and apprehension of the bombing suspects
• Thankful my friends in Boston can safely leave their homes and begin to move on with their lives

I think the best way to celebrate is a long run by the monuments tomorrow morning and donating to an organization that will benefit the victims of Monday's attack.  If you're wondering where to donate, One Fund Boston is the most popular, but many funds have been set up to benefit individual victims and families, and the Red Cross and Salvation Army continue to provide their support.

#runforBoston

Most days I run for me.  Today I ran for Boston.

For the first mile, I ran in sadness.  I ran for the three people that lost their lives.  I ran for the hundreds of others who were injured.  I ran for those who escaped uninjured, but with haunting memories they will never escape.

I ran to the top of Deal Hill, took in the view, and had a private moment of silence.

Then I continued on.

As my legs loosened up and my thoughts began to flow more freely, I changed my focus.  I ran for the first responders, the brave individuals who disregarded their personal safety and ran toward the blasts to help others.  I ran for the blood donors, whose generosity more than met the demand for blood in the hours after the bombs went off.  I ran for the ordinary people who did extraordinary things to help others.  I ran for these individuals who, after an act intended to cause fear, created hope, and whose actions warmed my heart.

I finished my run feeling lighter than I have in days.

On the Boston Bombings

This afternoon 27,000 registered Boston Marathon runners, thousands of spectators, and the international running community lost their innocence.  Two people lost their lives.  Many others were injured.  While we do not yet know who was responsible for the blasts or why this was done, we do know that these horrific acts will not soon escape our collective conscience.

To many people, running a marathon is a significant life event.  What should have been a celebration became a nightmare come to life.

My thoughts and prayers are with the runners, spectators, and their families.  I know I'm lucky - everyone I know who was at or near the race is safe.  I can't imagine the unease and uncertainty those who have not yet heard from their loved ones are experiencing and, worse, the loss and devastation that those whose loved ones were lost or seriously injured today must feel.  My heart goes out to each and every one of them.

In the days, weeks, and months to come we will see how today's events shape the future of road racing.  What precautions will the USATF and IAAF decide are necessary to keep runners safe?  How will we honor the bombing victims?

There are so many questions outstanding and so few answers to them.  Running used to be my escape, my chance to leave behind the worries of everyday life.  Today, my catharsis is a reminder of the nation's trauma.  Tomorrow, I will go for a run.  I know I can't leave today's events behind, but I also know that the only way to move forward is to put one foot in front of the other.

Counting the Blooms: Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Miler Recap

I woke up early Sunday morning ready to run.  The sun was out, the temperature was in the low 40s, and there was a healthy breeze.  In short, it was perfect running weather.  I met Emily on the metro and we headed down to the mall.

We got to the start area of the Cherry Blossom Ten Miler, next to the Washington Monument, 20 minutes before the start.  Since neither of us were checking bags it was perfect timing.  We milled about, said hi to people we knew, and lined up in our start corral... or so we thought.  As it turns out, we (along with many other runners) were outside the fence from the start corrals, so we ended up starting with a bunch of runners pacing about a minute per mile slower than we intended to run.  Oops.  At least we had a chance to take a pre-race photo while we waited to get inside the fence.

There are some races you run for time.  The Cherry Blossom Ten Miler is not and never will be one of those races.  It's a crowded race along a course that narrows at points, making it a nightmare for people who a) want to PR, b) don't like crowds and c) start in the wrong corral.  Emily and I decided before the race to take it easy and enjoy ourselves - if some space opened up later in the race we would take advantage of it and pick up the pace.  For the first six miles or so, the course was this crowded:

Somewhere around mile 3, we started counting cherry blossom trees in bloom.  There weren't very many.  Emily started counting in the Count von Count voice, laugh and all, which really amused me but probably annoyed other runners around us.  The stretch on Hains Point is pretty but boring, so this provided us with some entertainment.

When Emily and I split up around mile 8.5 I picked up the pace and headed to the finish. The course had opened up and I was able to weave in and out of other runners pretty easily. I was prepared for the hill at mile 9.5 and kicked it in to high gear.  I crossed the finish line sprinting, feeling great, and completely unaware of my time.

After the race, Emily and I met up with some friends at Brunchnic.  Brunchnic is one of the best ideas I cannot even remotely claim credit for - everyone brought a dish and we had a brunch picnic on the grounds of the Washington Memorial.  Some non-runners staked out a spot and got the party going while the rest of us were racing.  It was a short walk from the finish line and a wonderful way to unwind and relax after the run.

Apparently a Sesame Street reference, a long run, brunch, and being outdoors on a beautiful early spring morning are all I need for a perfect Sunday.

Bunny Running

For the past few years, my friend Damon has organized a bunny run to raise awareness and funds for Easter Seals. I participated last year and, despite the fact that I landed in the states less than 24 hours prior, I knew I needed to run this year.

So what's a bunny run?

It involves running around town dressed like this:

We started off at Stoney's, giving everyone a chance to change and circle up before heading toward the monuments.  From there, we went to the White House, Washington Monument, WWII Memorial, then the Lincoln Memorial.  I had to split from the group after the Lincoln, but I hear they made quite a few more stops.

While running around DC's busiest tourist attractions dressed in adult bunny costumes is a blast, it also garners a lot of attention.  Last year we handed out flyers, while this year Damon created an easily searchable fundraising website through Easter Seals.  If you're interested in donating, you can do so here.

Wanderlust

Once again, I've gone MIA; this time I absconded to Turkey for a week.

I needed a break after spending the past two and a half months living in my office.  It was also a nice post-RnR Half treat.

I spent four days in Istanbul, walking somewhere between 8-12 miles a day and taking in sights like these:

I then moved on to Cappadocia for two days to do some hiking and see the cave homes and churches, underground cities, and Uchisar Castle.

The flight home was tough on my IT bands - sitting for 10.5 hours after being so active caused them to tighten up - but I tried my best to get up every couple of hours, walk around, and stretch.  I had to be ready to run the morning after I landed!