Training Day!

Today was a 6 miler.  See, last week, the jump from 4 to 5 miles was not particularly horrendous.  So I figured... not a problem.  Not big deal.  6 miles?  Ppssshhh.

Ok, let's review how I went into these 6 miles.  *Very little running during the week.  *3 glasses of alcohol the previous night.  *Lots of food eaten last night.  *Lots of food I rarely eat eaten last night.  *Dancing for a couple of hours at the Go Go's concert on a sloped hill.

Now let's discuss the end of these 6 miles.

TIRED.  SORE.  HOLY SHIZA THAT'S A LOT OF MILES AND I'M ADDING 20 MORE?!  AM I NUTS?!

Yes.  That sums that up.  This all being said... I still haven't gotten the "runner's high", but the sense of accomplishment at the end... wow.  Just... wow.  It may not be a lot of mileage to some people, but it is to me and I'm doing it.  I'm the one making this happen.  I'm the one using positive thoughts to push me through.

And then there was my new group.  Singing for the last three miles.  How they ran and sing... well... I have NO clue, but they did.  It cracked me up.

And now for your entertainment...

 Air and Space Museum.  Also... note the weather.  The only thing we won't run in is lightening.

 See that big white thing far off in the distance?  We have to run all the way to that.  After already running 2.25 miles...

 MADE IT!  Oh man... now we gotta run BACK.

 Note the insanely red, insanely shiny face.  Also note the pb&j sammies.  Please also note that pb&j has NEVER tasted so good.

LOOK HOW SKINNY I AM!  Ok, not skinny by society's standards, but ppppssshhh, who needs those?  ;).  This running thing may have something to it...

Volunteer Day!

Derrick joined me today!  I love my friends!  Aren't they just amazing?!

We were told to go to an overpass/bridge and tell people to cross it.  We went to the wrong bridge.  Do you now see why we are friends?

This being said, we are so cool for doing it.  Ha!  And I FINALLY got my shirt.  Woohoo!!!  That's uber exciting if you ask me.  I'll have pics next week of that beauteous being.  And I realized just now I didn't get a pic of D and I.  I'll rectify that next weekend as well.

We were at the sight of where he got his engagement pictures, so we had fun chatting about that.

Now... onto the pictures.  I know, your favorite part.

 I call this the Georgetown Clock Tower.  Somebody knows what it really is... I don't!

Graffiti on the walls!  Some were really nifty.  Others?  Not so much...

Training Day!

Today made for a 5 mile day.  I have never run 5 miles before, so this was quite the experience.  I also have not been brilliant about my maintenance runs, so I definitely need to get on top of that.  This being said, I met some really nice ladies in my pace group.  They were fun and uber understanding.  I'm working toward ensuring I have a consistent 14 minute mile (which I currently do not) and so kept drifting ahead in pursuit of this goal.  Upshot is that the next run I'll be running with a different crew - but I'm looking forward to getting to know everybody and cheering everybody on!

Today was also Race for the Cure, which meant I got lost trying to re-route myself to the training site.  Yes... only me.  We did a slightly different route than we usually do as a result and I did rather like it.  It was down to Haines Point.

And now... for some pictures!  These are in no coherent order, so be forewarned!

 May I get a ride please?!  (Only about 1.5 miles in at this point...)

 Or I could get a ride on one of these...  Food, beverages (of the adult variety!), and access to potties (that aren't porta).

 Duckies!  I'm making friends with the wildlife everywhere!  Bet you didn't expect that of this California Beach Bum...

 The gals I ran with!

 Getting lapped!  Go fast people!

 The gal I ran with

 That would be a river

 Just starting out... see how happy they look?!

A Washington monument and one of the reasons I'm doing this race... this is my home now and where better to do it?!

New Goodies

I got a new toy and a new support system!  Woohoo!!!

New toy first.  What is it you ask???  A new camera!!!

 Isn't it just so cute?!  It is soooooooooooo tiny and lightweight.  I wanted something that wasn't too top-of-the-line as I don't want to cry and berate myself if I drop it, but also something useful for running around - whether it be training or hanging with the pals.  As I'm trying to document the bulk of this journey as I go, I needed something a bit more accessible than my massive blackberry that costs an arm and a leg and I would sob if I dropped and broke it.  So this really is just the perfect little bugger for me.

And next up... what else did I get???  A book!!!  Shocker of the century I know.  I was thinking about the foods I would need to be eating in the coming months and realizing that I really have absolutely no idea how I should be nourishing my body as I go.  So clearly, I needed some help.  I am not going to be able to afford a nutritionist and the amount of time it would take me to do all online research (read: free) would be ridiculous, as I would have to vet all of the sources.  A book became my choice.

Amazon.com reader reviews highly rate this book, i.e. people like to bash things when they can, so when they take time to write something nice, I pay attention.  So this came in the mail today too and...

I'm about 10 pages in and Clark makes sense to me.  She writes in a way that I understand and explains why she suggests the foods she does.  I'm not going to get obsessive about reading tonight as I have class soon and I want to go step by step.  So first, I'm going to change up my nutrition for this upcoming week and then read the book over the weekend, seeing what I need to do from there and how I need to be nourishing my body pre-long runs.  Any which way, so far I'm liking it.  I'll give a more comprehensive review as I actually try out the plan and see how it helps with the energy.

I continue to take this seriously and with great verve.  I'm excited and nervous and know that the next few months are going to be amazing, even if they kick my booty from here to next Tuesday.