Evening run on the w&od

I went for a run this evening, starting east on the w&od from Herndon. Down to Route 28, make a U-turn, and then back through Herndon to the Herndon Parkway and then home. I started just before 7pm, the ambient temp was probably 88F (a minor heat wave is going on here, high today was about 96F). Finished 11.07 miles at a 9:48 pace, including that aggravating stoplight where the w&od crosses Elden St - it is Sunday night so the cars keep coming and coming and coming.

The trip on the trail to Route 28 was lovely. The sun was going down, beautiful pink-tinged clouds with dark purple backs, and jets making contrails in the sky. I counted three in a row, they must have come out of BWI judging by their height and direction. A few planes were landing into Dulles and crossed in front of the setting sun, wheels down, ready to touch down. As it turned twilight the bats came out. They were swooping and diving all along the trail eating their fill of bugs. Neat creatures, bats. You can eat my share, ok?

A few other people on the trail - moms with small children going for a before-bedtime walk, and a couple of other joggers, and a few bicyclists. One middle-aged couple riding a bicycle-built-for-two which looked like a racing bike.

All in all a very peaceful evening.

trying something new

Today I tried something toally different let me tell you how it went.

Instead of waking up and going for a run,
I woke up and drove downtown to work. At 5:30 there is hardly any traffic.
I stashed my gear at the office and went for a run. I ran over to the Capitol and back on the Washington Mall which was exhilerating. It was 44F, the sun was just coming up, and lots of fast people were out for their morning exercise. What fun!
I got back to work and took a shower in the work locker room.
I went up to my office and put on my tie and got down to work, more than an hour earlier than I usually get into the office. And i didn't have to get up more than a moment earlier.

How about that!
The only downside is that I am sure tired about now.

Speaking of that, going to call it a night.
Peter

Charlottesville marathon

Wow, what a great race!

I finished Charlottesville marathon @ 5:18.

The course was hilly; my watch recorded 1,867 feet of ascent and 1,883 feet of descent (don't know quite why they are different).

It was a beautiful course - rolling farmland, cows, woods, & picturesque vistas. Lots of Red Bud in bloom, which I like a lot. What beautiful countryside!

I estimate about 1,500 marathoners, and maybe 2,000 half marathoners.

The course was lollipop-shaped. The half marathon shared the 6.5 mile stem of the lollipop with the marathoners. All runners started at the same time out in front of The Charlottesville Running Company, who is the main event sponsor. The first couple miles had lots of downhill,
so the last couple miles were uphill - truly a pain.

It was sunny the whole day. Starting temperature was 42F, the finish temperature was 74F. The heat spiked up in the last hour.

There were plentiful water & gatorade stops. Lots of helpful, friendly race volunteers. The halfway point pink ladies were all in pink - pink shirts, pink hair, pink everything. There were cyclists patrolling the course looking for injuries.

There were very few toilets. Lots of trees with some privacy, but few toilets.

I iced my legs down well right after the race, and again at home later. They are somewhat stiff and sore todat,, but not exceptionally.

All in all a fun race.

To go faster I need a) more sleep regularly; b) longer runs to build endurance, and c) to lose some of the weight I have gained over the last few months. Those three will help me go much faster.

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Peter
http://peter-peter-blog.blogspot.com/