Announcements: September 27, 2009
Congratulations! We have made it to week 12! Wow! Where has the time went? I am so proud of everyone for being so dedicated and good role models! Julie said we had a great walk / run Saturday! And that our half marathoners were a bit nervous about 10 miles but look great when they finished! Congratulations on double digits! Kudos to the Houston full folks also tackling 14 miles, which is a half marathon plus one to grow on! And a big shout out to the San Antonio Rock n' Rollers for hitting the trail for 18 miles! We have taken a step up the ladder of mileage, so our bodies will feel a bit fatigued in the next week or so! Don't be alarmed when you legs feel heavy. This coming Saturday is the Go Run Crazy Cajun 5k / 10k and Children's Fun Run! And is also a low mileage day for us! Don't skip the Crazy Cajun to do extra miles! Down days are important! Follow the plan! This is how we push ourselves without injuries!
I missed this past Saturday because I was selected to go to Washington D.C. to attend seminars at The National Archives, The National Portrait Gallery, and The Library of Congress! I had a great trip! I lugged all my running gear and did my 18 miles around The National Mall! It was a beautiful trip and an awesome run! I was a bit nervous about traveling and running 18 miles on my own ( no running buddies, no coolers, no route, no restrooms, no trailer, no mile markers, and no ice chest full of chocolate milk) but I plan the work, and I worked the plan! I dugout my gamin watch and my fuel belt (which holds 4 bottles of 6oz fluids) and study The National Mall on gmap. I did have some Go Run Luck, a cool front came in overnight, so it was 68 degrees with light rain. I hit the pavement at 5:00am. I was a bit intimated by the dark wet city streets but within 3 minutes I was on the Mall's huge granite path and running towards the Capitol. I got chills when I got up close (very close) to the Capitol. The only negative thought in my head was, "please Lord don't let the Capitol police think I am a terrorist!" Since I looked pretty tough with my two watches and my fuel belt (which could be mistaken for a suicide belt) my phone and camera. But since running around the Mall is very popular, me and my gear was nothing new! As I ran around the Capitol I did sing "I am just a bill, on Capitol hill." And I do bare witness there is a hill at the Capitol. I went around the Capitol on the Senate side and ran by The Supreme Court and The Library of Congress then back around the Capitol on the House side. Then I headed back down the granite path with the Washington Monument in view. These honorable buildings and monuments made me feel very small like the tiny people on Gulliver's Travels. The rain was heavy at times but it was a welcome refreshment. I passed all the Smithsonians and ran around the World War II memorial with it's gigantic water fountains. Then I headed towards the Lincoln Monument (again my heart dropped). It was tempting to run the steps of Lincoln but I reminded myself that I had 14 miles to go! I turned at the reflecting pool and headed back towards the Capitol. By the time I reached the Capitol the sun was coming up, so I stop and took pictures to record this unique experience! When I got to Supreme Court on my second loop I ate my gel and listen to the song Amazing Grace that a protest group was playing (just two protesters and very large speakers). The Rock n' Roll people cannot beat that! I passed lots of runners and walkers on the Mall and even saw Marine units chanting and running in formation. By the time I made back to the Lincoln Monument, I could see the Korean Monument (7 foot life like Korean Soldiers walking through a field with their guns, backpacks, and rain ponchos.) Once I got to the Lincoln Monument I decided to go behind the monument and ended up on the large bridge headed towards Arlington Cemetery. Now I was crossing the Potomac River and seeing Robert E. Lee's Home and the JFK's Eternal Flame. Again I got chills! I ran right up to Arlington Cemetery. Most of the cemetery is behind gigantic tree shrubs but I still saw the graves of our brave soldiers. I got a huge lump in my throat. I said a prayer and headed back to the Mall. Just past Lincoln I looked to my left and I saw the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall) and The Women's Vietnam Monument (a nurse holding a dying soldier in her arms). I had 4 miles to go but felt like I had not ran at all. I thought about running around the White House but I didn't want to push my luck and I knew that the Secret Service probably would not give me chocolate milk once they arrested me for running to close with my fuel belt and gamin. So, I just stayed on the Mall and finished my last few miles. I ran for 3 hours and 25 minutes but it felt like nothing because of the softness of the granite path and all the spectators (The Capitol, The Musuems, The Supreme Court, The Library of Congress, and The Monuments). I walked back to the hotel searching for chocolate milk and found a CVS a few blocks away. I was tired but refreshed! I started out the run as a nervous tourists but ended the run as a proud American and thankful for all those brave people who have the courage to protect us.
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