Running the National Mall in January

Dear readers I am sorry, it has been far too long since I last blogged about running. I swear I still do it! And talk about it offline for that matter…everything but blog about it apparently. (Negative 10 points for using annoying office jargon there? Go me.)

I want to tell you about the run I went on yesterday morning as a matter of fact. It was COLD out – my phone told me 21 degrees at 6:15 am, and there was some serious wind chill on top of that.  I was solo for the experience and could have easily rolled over, re-cocooned, and gone back to sleep, but I felt like I NEEDED a run if you know what I mean, and I’m so glad I went!

See details on MapMyRun.

I put on my second wintriest wear (fleece high neck top, a version of these pants, these gloves, and this headband, in case you care) and scooted out the door into a blast of cold air – the kind that hits you in the face and makes you gasp a little bit – before I could change my mind.

I started quick for warmth-creation purposes. By about five minutes in, I had hit my rhythm, breathing in-in-out-out, in-in-out-out with the music in my ears. And by 10 minutes in, the morning and the cold and real life were long gone, my mind was 100% elsewhere, and my body was moving on autopilot.

I ran all the way down to the Lincoln Memorial, wind gusting in my face the whole time. From Lincoln I saw the sun rise behind the Washington Monument over the Capitol on the first official day of Obama’s second term (woot!).

As I said, it was super-cold, so only a few particularly hardcore runners were out (I love the camaraderie of a miserable morning – everyone says hi to everyone), and the Inauguration clean-up crews were out in full force, gloved and hatted men loading up port-a-potties and fencing leftover from the day before.

And as I was striding along the Reflecting Pool, I had a wildlife sighting! To my left up the little hill I saw what I first thought was a gi-normous squirrel, but it was a fox! He ran up the hill, onto a tree stump, and looked around for a bit as I ran by just 10 feet away. It was one of the few times I’ve wished I ran with a phone or camera. Foxes are SO COOL.

The way back was much better – oh hello tailwind! The first half of my morning runs are always a bit of a blur, I think it’s because of the darkness, but the second half I’m usually more awake and aware. In front of the National Gallery I got into a little race with one of my fellow morning runners…actually, that’s not true, I’m strongly opposed to racing on mileage runs, I just run my own pace…what happened was he tried to race me. I won.

Then up the Hill, in front of the Capitol (people in business suits: what are you doing? It’s too early for you!), and back East Capitol. The run totaled to about 6.8 miles. Here’s the map if you’re interested.

I ended in front of my house and walked around the block for a cool down while singing along with some ZBB. Then hallelujah for hot water! And hairdryers! And coffee! It was an excellent morning.

Morning Running: The Accountability Factor

I try not to make a habit of talking to inanimate objects, but this morning when my alarm went off I couldn’t control the Noooooooo…shhhhhhhhhh…I’m still sleepy!!! that came out of my mouth. Impervious to my pathetic pleas, the relentless chirp-chirping continued until I finally gave in. Oooooook, okokokok…here we go. 

I could have called across the hall  SpeedyKate, I don’t wanna run, go without me. But I was awake, with no good reason not to run (tiredness does not qualify as a good reason), plus I knew that SpeedyKate pushed back her ideal start-time to accommodate my preferred sleep-time, so damn roommate accountability (which I am actually super-happy about) got me going.

I think that a lot of people imagine that as a runner/blogger I hop out of bed every morning, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, joyously lace up my shoes and embark on a run surrounded by rainbows and sunshine and pop music. Ha.

It's more like: I ungraciously roll out of bed, bleary-eyed and half awake, put on the closest non-smelly running ensemble, and throw myself out the door with a hope and a prayer that it’s not that bad.

And to be fair, usually it’s not. This morning's run wasn’t bad at all! If I’d been alone it could have been a very different story, but in contrast with my curmudgeonly introverted office-work style, I always prefer working out with company. SpeedyKate and I chatted, and at the end of 40 minutes we’d run about 5 miles. 

The secret to this morning’s success was the accountability factor. I strongly recommend:

• Living with someone who runs your pace as often as you do. (It’s taken 25 years, but I am finally living this dream!)
• OR
• Making running plans with friends. 

Seriously guys, it makes all the difference in the world. You will be waaaaaay more likely to actually roll out of bed if you have to meet someone. Plus the run itself will be better because even if you’re tired, at least you won’t be tired and lonely!

(View route on MapMyRun.)

We finished our run, spent some living room time doing abs and stretching, and then proceeded to start our respective days. Wash, rinse, and repeat until...forever? 

Lunchtime Running

Last week I ran on my lunch break and it’s my new favorite thing. I can’t believe I didn’t start this sooner!

Usually I take a break around 12:30/1pm. I go for a walk, call my parents, or maybe run some errands. Then I get back to work and eat at my desk. My break can take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour…so why not run in that time?

In an ideal world I would run late afternoon/evening every day, but post-work activities always get in the way, too often forcing me to drag myself out of bed for an early morning workout (uggghhhh ick), or skip my run altogether. (Read my When To Run for more info.) 

Lunchtime running, however, allows me to achieve the perfect balance! I get to sleep in, read the paper, and eat breakfast at home. My evenings are free to go see movies, hang out with friends, go out to dinner, see my refugees, etc. And if I’m only running 5 miles, that’s just 40 minutes, a totally reasonable amount of break time.

Again, how have I not been doing this all along? It’s like time has expanded allowing me to fit even more craziness into my already insanely busy schedule!

My office is near the Mall, but recently I’ve been doing the treadmill thing. (No, Hell has not frozen over…) One of my co-workers is getting into running, so we do this together. She can run/walk on the treadmill next to me while I run for 40 minutes - it’s a win-win, we chat the time away and keep each other motivated. It gives a whole new twist on the working lunch! (Ba-dum-bum-crash!) (Sorry.)

 

Like so many DC office buildings, we have a small workout room in our basement, plus a locker room. So far I’ve pioneered the dirty afternoon look…aka I just kinda wipe myself off, slap on some deodorant, and call it a day. But I could shower if I wanted to.

And, if you need another reason to run at lunchtime, it makes the day feel so much better! I’m not as late-afternoon-antsy at my desk, I walk fewer “laps” around the office, and I can concentrate better. All things good!

Do other people do this? Am I just late to the lunch-running-party? 

A Morning Run

Now would be a great time for me to say something wise about running. About why I love it…or why I sometimes hate it…but really I don’t have many words today.

So instead, let me tell you about my run this morning. It wasn’t anything miraculous, nor was it intensely awful…it was just a run. Because runners know that most runs are relatively unremarkable, running is just something we do every day.

My cell phone alarm played its obnoxious tune at 7:20. I groaned, but really 7:20 isn’t that early – so I had no good reason not to get up. I brushed my teeth, threw on some pants and a sports bra, and turned on my TV to keep me company through my abs workout.

It was on the Cooking Channel, so Molto Mario taught me how to make an Italian soup while I went through my plank and 8-minute abs routine.

At 8:00, I headed out the door. The November morning chill went straight through my clothes, reminding me that soon I’ll be winter-style bundling in layers of fleece. I walked to the end of my block as a psyche-up warm-up, then acquiesced to the inevitable and picked up my feet to run.

I was ipod-less this morning (I forgot to charge it), so I was all kinds of alone with my thoughts.

I ran through Rock Creek Park, then up to Massachussettes Avenue and back to Dupont. My total run was just 26 minutes (3.4 miles), a duration I would have scoffed at a year ago, but is now a reasonable run for me. I finished my run and walked up and down my block to cool down, marching a bit to stretch out my legs and glutes and doing 20 tin soldier dynamic stretches for my hamstrings.

Once back inside, my nose immediately started running and I started sweating (that temperature change gets me every time!). I foam rolled and stretched a bit more, chugged some water, and got in the shower. By 8:45 I was wearing jammies at my kitchen table, reading the paper and drinking coffee, as if nothing had ever happened. (Getting dressed is the last thing I do before I leave for work at 9:20.)

And that was my run this morning. Nothing special, nothing crazy, just a normal morning run.

If you can’t see the map below, click here.

Fridays

Fridays can be rough. Friday mornings in particular. Because TGIF, but at the same time, at least 8 hours to go. And yes, I am counting down...

To make my Fridays better, I do a few things:

1. Sleep in. I can wake up at 8:30 and still get to work on time...ah the beauty of living within walking distance of my office.

2. Coffee. I always drink extremely large quantities of coffee. But on Fridays, after a week of drinking gallons of bad office coffee, I like to treat myself to an Americano. Have you tried this drink? It's the best coffee ever. 

I had my first Americano when I took a creative writing class at the Junior College the summer after sophomore (or maybe freshman?) year of high school. I felt like such a grown-up, going to the coffee-cart during our break. But the woman had just run out of regular coffee! 

Can I make you an espresso drink instead? she offered. Me: Ummmmmmmm...(blank stare, terrified eyes, gah! what do I say?) 

Here, I'll make you an Americano, it's just like coffee. (She was probably more confused by my confusion than I was. I should mention here that I looked exactly the same at 15 as I do now.)

I took a sip, and my love for Americanos was born. Just espresso and hot water, but somehow mixed together they make a smooth rich coffee experience that I cannot imagine life without. Sold. Done. For life.

3. Post-work workout. For some reason I feel far less rushed on Friday evenings. Anything that's happening is happening later (in the "going out" dept.). I love taking my time, doing a tempo run or long workout, leisurely stretching, abs, etc. 

After that I may or may not feel like doing something social. I'm not going to lie, I'm often content with going home to a movie and chillaxing, just looking forward to my weekend. 

On that note...HAPPY FRIDAY!

A Sad Lack of Motivation - Winter Edition

Since returning to DC, I've been struggling to run. It's winter here! And for some reason my motivation is severely lagging. I mean, it's not like winter comes as a surprise (thank you Earth's annual rotation on its tilted axis...), and it's not as if I've never run in the cold before (I spent 4 years in Boston!).

And the ironic part is that in Boston, I was always the one on my team who insisted on running outside. Cold? Run outside. Windy? Run outside. The only thing that would force me inside was severe snowstorms, or impossibly caked ice on the sidewalks. 

So now what's the deal? It's not even below 30 degrees! But I wake up in the morning and think, Hell no I'm not going out there now!

And then I get off work - in the dark. I know that I have to run. And I know that I'm going to run. I just don't want to run. 

To deal with these doldrums, I have doubled my efforts to enlist friends to run with me. Because running alone in the cold every day is awful. But running with someone in the cold is bonding through shared adversity. 

So, as I said, I will be running this winter. Of course, I would rather be on the couch with a good book and a cup of hot coffee, but not until I run. My legs are stiff, and my toes are cold, but I will be out there, bundled up against that frosty wind. Because I love running, and nothing will stop me. Because I know that come warmer weather, I will be glad I did. 

"One morning in Boston, it was snowing so hard that I didnуt think anybody would be going training, but I went down to the track anyway. Billy Smith was there, though. He opened the door and said: "The road to Mexico is out there."

-  David Hemery, who went on to win the Gold Medal in the 400m hurdles in the 1968 Mexico City Olympics

RW Article: Is Cold-Weather Running Bad For You? 

When To Run - An Exhaustive Scientific Study (or Exhausting - depending on my mood)

It’s Thursday, which means that I should be blogging about a book. However, this past week, though heavy on running and eating, did not involve a whole lot of reading. I just finished The Poet of Baghdad last night, and will be starting on Saving Fish from Drowning by Amy Tan today. So look forward to that post next Thursday.

In the mean time, I’ve been considering the pros and cons of running in the morning versus running in the evening. People assume that to be a runner, you must hop out of bed every morning at ungodly-o-clock, and skip out the door for a refreshing and lovely run. 

Bzzzt! Wrong. At least that’s not how it works for me. I would love to be that girl with the flipity pony-tail and trendy outfit, cruising along at a brisk pace without a care in the world every morning. But let's be real - I am more of the roll-out-of-bed with a groan, grab the least offensive-smelling pile of clothing, and throw myself out the door (both eyes may or may not be open yet) kind of person.

But maybe it’s just because I’m not used to running in the morning. I mean, who’s to say that once I get in the habit of a.m. runs, my quality of life will improve ten-fold? Doubtful…but possible.

Let’s do this scientifically, shall we?

Flashback to Mr. Garrett’s class – freshman year of high school (where I once lit a trashcan on fire accidentally…proper disposal of chemicals…whoops!).

Anywho, nobody died. Here we go!

Objective: To determine the best time to run.

Hypothesis: One time of day is preferable to others.

Materials:

-       Me.

-       Running shoes.

Procedure:

1. Run in the evening for a few days.
2. Run in the morning for a few days.
3. Weigh the pros and cons.

Data:

Running in the Morning:

Pros

-       I spend the rest of the day doing whatever whenever, and eating whatever whenever, because as far as I’m concerned, I have already accomplished everything I need to do that day.

-       It’s light outside.

-       There’s not much traffic.

-       When I run in the morning, I shower in the morning. This results in clean blow-dried hair for work. But wait...I’m not impressing anyone at work…so this might go into the pain-in-the-ass category…which makes it more of a con than a pro.

-       When I get off work, I can meet up with friends, go to evening events, or just lay on my couch - totally guilt free!

- Races are usually in the morning, so it might be good to be used to running at that time.

Cons

-       Getting out of bed.

-       Eating breakfast at work. (Of course, I could get up earlier to run, which would give me time to eat breakfast and read the paper at home before work…but well…see Con #1.)

-       My legs feel much heavier and tighter in the mornings. I can’t run as fast.

 

Running in the Evening

Pros

-       Re-energizes me after a mind-numbing day at work.

-       Gives me something to look forward to in my day. (This is also a con…see below)

-       I am much more likely to have a good run in the evening than in the morning.

-       I have time in the morning to relax, eat, and get stuff done before work.

 

Cons

-       Running at night can cause insomnia.

-       I get off work at 6. So I don’t start running until 6:30ish…which means that by the time I’ve cooled down, stretched, and showered, it’s 8…and so I don’t sit down to eat dinner until 8:30 at the earliest.

-       I sometimes spend my day thinking about how much I don’t feel like running!

-       It’s dark. (Damn you daylight savings!!! Seriously, only like 2% of the U.S. population is farmers…so why do we still do this clock change shebang???)

Analysis:

So there you have it. The pros and cons.

To address the possibility that I may just not be used to running in the morning, I refer to the fact that I have been doing morning runs for the past week…and they haven't gotten any better. I have done the morning run thing for extended periods of time. I worked at a summer camp where we had a staff meeting at 6:30 every morning, and from there worked all day until lights out at 9:30. Thus, every morning my alarm went off at 4:50 am. I saw the sun rise every day that summer, which is kind of awesome, but kind of awful at the same time...

Some days, I’m really glad I got my run over with in the morning. But some days when I run in the morning, I miss running after work. I don’t know what to do with myself because I feel like I should run, but I actually already have. Weird, I know.

Conclusion:

Ok, the truth is that this whole “study” was a farce. Because I already knew my conclusion. Yes, I realize that all signs point to the fact that I should run in the morning. Except for one all-important fact: I don’t like to! Of course I can, and due to evening activities, I often do. But in an ideal world, I would do all my running in the evening (well, if we’re talking ideals – then I would do my runs at 3pm. However, employment gets in the way a bit).

Here is a progression chart to illustrate (in order of goodness):

1. Great Run (pm)

2. Ok run (pm)

3. Great run (am)

4. Ok run (am)

5. Bad run (pm)

6. Bad run (am)

What I’m saying is that my best-feeling morning run is only as good as my ok-feeling evening run. Got that? And a bad morning run is a whole new level of awfulness!

(The biggest reason I hear from other people for running in the morning is that if they don't do it first thing, they won't do it. Personally, I'm going to run. Period. No matter what. So that's not my issue. But it is worth considering if you're debating your own pros and cons list.)

Thank you for bearing with me through this “very scientific” analysis. Everyone has their own preferences – those are mine.

Here are some other opinions on the subject:

Late Afternoon is Best for Exercise
Research shows that the optimal time to exercise is when our body temperature is at its highest, which, for most people is 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. (body temperature is at its lowest just before waking).

Tips for Running in the Morning (if you must, you might as well do it right!)

Morning Runs - Morning is the waking time, the being time, the small part of the day when we remember who we are.

When To Run - RW Article

Eating for Your Morning Run - this is a major issue for me! And probably one of the main reasons I don't like running in the morning. Empty stomach = tired, hangry, and a bad run.