How far will I run for a Tiffany's Keychain?

The answer is: 13.1 miles -- or actually 14.12, as was the case this morning. I did the Virtual San Francisco Half Marathon -- basically you run a half marathon anywhere and record it with the Nike Plus band. For your troubles, you get a finisher's shirt and Tiffany keychain (via the mail). Using my Nike Plus, I ran 14.12 miles. I wasn't sure if the Nike Plus was accurately recording the distance (yes, I have a weird distrust of using technology while I run). Lately, it's been saying a run faster than I think I actually am, so I padded the run, just in case. Turns out time wise it was typically what I run for a half -- actually a little more. Starting at the apartment, I ran past the National Cathedral, down Mass Ave to R street, took R to 16th Street, made a right and ran to the White House where I made a left to 15th and then down to the mall which I lapped almost 2 times and then ran to 13th and F where I caught the metro back home. It wasn't too bad, all in all. I logged my run on the website. It's been a fairly active weekend. Now I only have the San Antonio Half and a barnburner run. But first, pumpkin soup!

Biking Hell

This Saturday I went to the Shenandoah Fall Foliage Bike Festival in Staunton, VA, birthplace of Woodrow Wilson. I went on a 34.4 mile bike ride -- which was described as gently rolling hills. I feel like Charlie Brown and Lucy with the football. I stupidly believe that the hills really a gently rolling -- to me that means not very steep and not that many. The course was hilly -- steep hills or long low grade hills. The last 5 miles, I pretty much had to walk up all the hills because me legs couldn't take any more! Still, the scenery was beautiful. Incidently, what the photo doesn't show it the 50 foot dip between the two hill tops or the wind that seemed to kick up every time I had to go uphill. It was freezing. Next time, I'm going to bring gloves.

Staunton, VA did have a very cool drive-in -- Wright's Dairy-rite. It was very 1950s with curbside service. Loved it and had a very nice chocolate shake to boot.



YUMMY!

Running, Running and More Running

The last weekend of September I went up to the Hamptons with Michelle and Michelle for the Hamptons Half Marathon. We rented a cute little cottage in Sag Harbor and drove around the different Hamptons (west, south and east). Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate. It poured the morning of the run! Still, a-running I went. It wasn't too bad -- there were moments where the rain stopped. But towards the end, I noticed some white stuff on the knee of my running pants. It was curious because I hadn't gone through any fields of white fluffy stuff -- turns out it was suds! I think when I do my laundry, rinsing twice might be a good thing. Still finishing was fun -- and I still managed it in under 2:30. And afterwards I celebrated with some good seafood -- the best fish I'd had at a place called Cherrystone's, beer, wine and chocolate. Let's face it, that's why I run.

I have another race this weekend. It's a virtual half, but I haven't been training as much as I should be. I'm beginning to get tired of all the running. Cross-training is something I really need to start doing.