Here I go again!

Very hot morning in DC! Biked 3 miles to meet up with my friends, at 7 supposedly.. 7:20 finally everyone was there - we barely made it in time after the long cab ride to Mt Vernon, in Alexandria. The race started slow, along the very green George Washington parkway that runs along the Potomac. A gorgeous course, and the road is nice and wide. The first 2 miles were slow, passing lots of people, but my right shin was feeling tight and almost cramping up... right after mile 2 I saw Camille and Dave right in front of me! I couldn't believe it and got worried that I was going so slow! I think they started a bit too fast, that's what it was... finally by mile 3 or so it had loosened up and felt much better for the rest - and I passed Camille and David finally! My stomach was not feeling well, and I had to go to the bathroom since the very beginning, so I was a bit uncomfortable the whole time. It was very hot, so I poured water on my head at the water stations. I took a gu at around mile 6 cause I was feeling a bit low in energy, not sure if it worked. I didn't feel really bad, but I didn't feel really good either. I felt I was going slow the entire time... but this wasn't my target race so whatever... what matters is I finished! My time was close to 1:24, official results are not posted yet. Here are some of my splits:

Mile 2: 17:01

Mile 3: 8:40

Mile 4: 8:43

Mile 5: 8:41- 5-mile split was 43:04

Mile 6: 8:33

Mile 7: 8:10

Mile 8: 8:34

Mile 10: 15:50

Pretty good negative split, I won't complain. Not a PR but considering I haven't been back from injury that long ago, I'll take it.

Camille finished in 1:30 and David in 1:36 or so. They were happy.

Tendon didn't hurt, heel didn't hurt, overall a good day but while I was running that's not what I was thinking!!! I like point-to-point races too, though it's also entertaining to watch the faster runners come your way when a race is out and back on the same street, and also to see the slower runners behind you, ha!

Lessons learned: 1. When meeting up with other runners to get to a race, call them in the morning to make sure they're up, and leave some cushion time between race start and meeting time. 2. Don't eat ice cream with dulce de leche the night before a race. 3. Don't wear those insoles again, they give me blisters.

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Results are posted but not age group results yet... I was 771st out of 4 thousand runners... that always gives a good perspective, being on the top 25% is not bad.

Ran the Capitol Crescent trail from Connecticut Ave. to the Bethesda metro - it's such a great run, so flat, quiet, through the Congressional golf course... lots of birds... Legs are a bit tight but not so bad. Got blisters on the bottom of my feet though, so I won't be using those insoles for a while, or maybe will try wearing them in the Adidas... Metroed from Bethesda to Dupont Circle and ran to the office from there. Nice and slow, good recovery run...

Today is our last class before the final next Monday... yikes...

Ran from home to the office. Hot day! Felt slow. Maybe I should start having something to eat before leaving. Also very thirsty. Need to start drinking more water. Blisters hurt a bit, I hope they go away fast. Tendon hurts a bit. Icing now.

A friend of mine sent me this, I'm usually not a big fan of stuff like this, but some of the things here are pretty good... I particularly need to keep in mind numbers 13, 26, and 42.

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no
for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's,we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

Rainy, right calf tight.

From Chevy Chase to work, via CCT-Wisconsin-Mass-Park-R-28th. One hill on Wisconsin before getting to Friendship Heights, then another one just before Tenleytown, another by the Cathedral, then downhill all the way on Mass, and a nasty hill to get out of the park, then downhill again. I like the uphills and downhills, and Mass Ave is nice... Wisconsin is not - need to try to find a nicer route. When i'm done w/school for the semester I'll do the entire thing on the CCT, that's about 10 miles.

Cloudy, very nice temp.

1 hr 3 min, including some light stops. 5 min faster than last time.

Right calf a bit tight the first 2 miles, then it loosened up. Tendon didn't hurt. Some blisters leftover from Sunday's race, nothing bad.

Just entering my morning weight... I am only 4 lbs away from my target weight.

Will run this afternoon after work. Getting excited about the race Sunday, it's so nice to see my co-workers exercising and having fun! Happy Friday!