Capitalizing on the Capital Running Scene

Ah, what the hell. Another post pre-Utah. What say you on my oh-so-geeky title?

This morning was an 11-miler courtesy of the New York Road Runners Interactive Online Trainer. I admit, I was semi-dreading this one. Last week’s run was anything but ideal, and I wondered if I might not collapse sometime during today’s run. Thus spooked, I armed myself with my keys, my boyfriend’s keys, and a cell phone. If I felt woozy or needed to stop for any reason, I was prepared to go home, go to his house, or call him and pitifully plead for him to please pick me up from whatever godforsaken path I was on at the moment. When I began my run at 7:08am, I sighed and then gulped unnecessarily, wishing it were 9:00am already. I’d be done by then! Done, I tell you! That’s another purpose for the phone, too–besides providing a means to reach emergency assistance (be it public or IP-ic), I could monitor the time. Unlike last week, when I think I probably ran nearly 11 miles instead of the nine that were prescribed to me. The dread, it was festering within.

Oh, but joy! What a wonderful, beautiful run. Not hot at all, the humidity non-existent, the sun shining gently. I’ll even cop to it–I was bit chilly when I first walked out the door. My first mile was less then ideal (12 minutes–geez, Slow Poke Rodriguez), but the rest of the run was beautiful. Rather than do my normal circuits filled with roaring cars and people who can’t shift a little bit to the side on a sidewalk, I headed first into a Maryland park, then into Rock Creek Park. I decided that I would try Beach Drive on for size, and I was so happy I did. Sure, it’s asphalt, and at some point I’d like to switch over to trail (I think we all can only take so much concrete punishment), but it was flat. My runs during the week are all on hills, and while it’s doing my legs lots of favors, it’s tiring when you’re trying to get some long runs in. I appreciate the fact that these hills will make me stronger, but I do adore those long runs on flat terrain. That’s partly why my Chicago eight-miler was also a joy. Flat, flat, like my chest was six years ago (I want my A boobs back, damnit). Considering New York is a flat course (for the most part), the training on hills will give me the oomph I need, but it’s nice to train on similar terrain once in a while, too.

I had thus far avoided Rock Creek Park for any kind of run. While I do want to do the trails, the hikes I’ve taken in there has been less than kind (I’m not exactly graceful, and one fall was particularly painful). Beach Drive was a nice alternative–I still got the quiet of the park without gnarled roots and uneven footing. The fact that lots of people were out and about didn’t hurt, either. I saw a few long run groups, and they were obviously Team in Training groups. I need to join some kind of group runs for when I do my longer runs (probably anything about 15 miles), but haven’t decided which running group to go with. However, today, it was just me, and that was fine. As is my cautious wont, I don’t run outside with music, so I was able to concentrate on the run and be tuned in to the environment I was enjoying.

So, not only was today’s run quite fabulous, but I also got off my lazy duff and ran into Washington D.C. for the first time. After living here for half a year (can you believe it), I finally put down some running miles in the D.C. limits. Perhaps next I can make it all the way to the National Zoo and meet IP for breakfast one day (whatcha think, babe?)? Hmm. If anything else, I’ll run my butt down there, then either run back up or take the Metro home. I need, I think, to get a water/fanny pack. Then I will complete my transition to dorky runner, as it has always been destined. As evidenced also by the post’s title.