DC 8 Miler

So the other day we decided we need to get out of our neighborhood again and run. All winter long we were stuck to the neighborhood streets...same house over and over again. It's like that scene in the move National Lampoon's European Vacation...when Clark gets stuck in the traffic circle and he says over and over again, "Look kids Big Ben!" that has been our running. Boring! We thought how fun would it be to run downtown DC?!! We live here but it is still truly awesome to run in DC on the National Mall.

We set a date and then had to change it because the weather has been awful here...freezing rain for our run day...boooo! So we changed it to the next day and it was absolutely beautiful out! We loaded up and headed in town. We had more than 3 people in our car so we took the HOV, thank goodness because the regular traffic lanes were backed up and stopped! We parked in our not so secret parking lot, also known as Roosevelt Island. Usually people skip this little gem because it is off the normal path. It is a beautiful place and if you ever come here, try to see it.

The run started off really great...then I took a wrong turn and went over the wrong bridge. We were trying to go over the Memorial Bridge onto the National Mall...oops.  I went onto Custis Memorial Pkway Bridge which was about to take us into working DC! Well we figured out really fast we were on the wrong one and turned around quickly and chalked it up to extra miles!

We finally found the right bridge and headed downtown DC to the National Mall. We decided to take our first picture on the bridge looking at the Lincoln Memorial. So I take out my pocket camera that I never use but made sure to charge it and bring an extra SPI belt to carry it in and we attempted to take the first picture...I forgot to put the card in the camera..So no picture! Oops again! But on we run..we arrive at the Lincoln Memorial and one of the ladies needed to use the restroom so Lisa and I ran around the memorial for extra and met back up with them for our first photo!

On we ran...the next stop was The Washington Monument (under construction) and The White House.

Then we ran on and ran past all the museums and then we decided to run into The National Sculpture Garden. I have never been in there and thought it would be cool! 

The girls found it ironic and funny that we "the locals" were having tourist take pictures of us! So once we hit the sculpture garden that put us right at 4 miles and the perfect spot to turn around and head back. We had a great time running back people watching and at one point Lisa and I pulled away just a bit from Ginger and Jen and they got stopped at a light so we ran on. Then Lisa and I had a few minutes at the Lincoln Memorial to run the stairs and go take a picture! 

We were all reunited again once we finished picture taking and headed back over the bridge and the WIND WAS AWFUL...I was running my hardest across that bridge and I felt like I was getting nowhere. I even have wind burn on the side of the my right arm!!! Crazy! Once we were off the bridge we turned and were down below by the water and the wind was gone! Thank goodness! Once we got back to the car we stretched and headed to lunch and toasted our fabulous fun run!!

Here is an outtake photo that cracks me up every time I look at it..it is Jen trying to stand up after her knee popped and I am sure people were wondering what was going on...the wall is only 2 feet tall if that! What makes it even more funny..the way I am just looking at her instead of trying to help her...but I promise I did offer!