The things I do for family...

Yep, on my tip toes

Today is my cousin's 25th birthday!  It is for that reason, and that reason only, I ran almost 6 miles outside today.  It is about 3 degrees here (ok, 30, but still) and I had already ready mentally committed to getting today's training run in on the treadmill. In fact, I had mentally committed to not running outside in temps under about 45!  But Vic wanted to run around the Mall today so run around the Mall we did.

We set out with no grand plan in mind or distance in mind. That was actually nice, I usually know how far we're going to run and then start feeling "over it" when I'm about two-thirds of the way through the run, whether it's a 3 mile run or 6 mile run.

Miles 2 & 3 miles were a real struggle for me.  The first mile was fast but then I was hating life by the second mile. Eventually I got into it and actually really enjoyed the run.

Other than the first few minutes when I turned my tracking app on before Vic was ready...my pace was actually pretty consistent (except that darn 3rd mile).

Because of the tracking app issue my overall speed is incorrect but I feel pretty confident it was below a 10 min/mile!

Training plan - 36 minute run

My plan - treadmill run, shooting for something longer than 36 minutes

Actual - 5.7 mile birthday run!

A collection of random pictures

Last weekend my parents were in town while my Dad attended a conference. I took pictures. I also don't really have anything else to blog about because I only went on 1 trip this week and it was fairly uneventful. Hence:

Friday night my Mom, Dad, Sister, Sister's friends and I went to dinner.

I ordered the "Chesapeake Cioppino". Everyone else's entrees were a reasonable size. I was served the Ocean.

Saturday we went to Eastern Market. It was my Mom's first time ever. From Eastern Market we walked to the Botanical Gardens and along the way we noticed this nifty flower.

 There were also flowers at the Botanical Gardens.

 A large majority of the flowers seemed to be Orchids.

This is not a very good picture but I particularly liked this Orchid.

 From Eastern Market we walked across the mall to the National Gallery of Art. 

We particularly liked the free audio guides! I need someone to tell me what to look at in art museums.

 From the National Gallery of Art we walked all the way to Georgetown (approximately 5 miles).

I bought this Fishy luggage tag in Miami and it makes me happy. 

Don't let these pictures fool you....

It's not Spring here! While the Tidal Basin is lovely and the Cherry Blossoms are (almost) in full bloom it's only about 50 degrees here (the average is 60 for this time of year). I had every intention of foregoing my coat going forward but when my taxi came at 5am and it was 33 degrees outside I thought it might be good to grab.

One of the benefits of being up at 4am is that I can (sometimes) be home by 2pm. That afforded me the ability to take some time and make a lap around the Tidal Basin with Jenny. Please see photographic evidence of said adventure below.

 I love the stars in the middle of the blossom.

 Told you I was there!