7.30.2007

A STEAMY WEEKEND IN THE NATION'S CAPITOL

I forgot how much more enjoyable it is to run in a city as opposed to residential neighborhoods, or otherwise suburbia. All of my marathon training runs prior to this weekend's have been in and around East Haven, CT, neighborhoods (except for the few I did in Cape Cod). This weekend's runs in Washington, DC, were a much-needed change of pace (no pun intended). What seemed like a 45 minute run on Saturday morning was actually a 90+ minute run. Not only is city running more exciting, it attracts more runners. Being among, literally, hundreds of runners makes long runs feel much shorter than they actually are.

A few noteworthy highlights:

Running sandwiched between The US Capitol Building and Washington Monument (absolutely breathtaking)

Being brought back to years past by the reminiscent smell of the Metro coming up through the streets from the tunnels below

The oppressive heat and humidity -- there's no relief, even at night

4 comments:

Em said...

The smell of the metro coming up through the streets brings you back to years past? I'm not much of a city girl. I'd much rather do my 90 minutes on a trail through the woods. But that's why running is such a beautiful thing. You can do it anywhere and it can appeal to anyone!

Ryan said...

I lived in Arlington and then in Falls Church, VA from 2001-2005. I spent a lot of time in Washington. The smell of the Metro tunnels is so distinct that it brings me back...

Congrats on placing.

Dan said...

So you got attacked by a dog at starbucks, eh?

Ryan said...

Yeahhhhh. I was finishing my Sunday morning run in Washington and on the way back to my friend's apartment I ran into Maria Bascetta and her dogs. One of them got me good and blood was everywhere...