On a chilly but comfortable D.C. December morning, 6 out of 7 survived our second Saturday session with Team in Training, a four mile jaunt up the C&O Canal in Georgetown. Our seventh runner Jessie was out of town but likely ran faster and farther than the rest of us on her own.
The group, which all arrived in punctual manner after some late arrivals last week, started at the foot of M Street and headed West past the entrance to Georgetown University before doubling pack along the dirt path and finishing up at the Georgetown Running Company for a breakfast of bagels and hot chocolate.
As a group we were all extremely pleased with our efforts. Brandon and I led the group out with two others while the rest of the pack followed closely behind and finished with some gas left in the tank. One guy had running goggles on which I'm convinced give you super powers.
The highlight of the morning may have been our visit to the running store where most of us picked up some fresh kicks on discount. Dealing with some smelly bodies and feet the knowledgeable and patient staff watched us take strides to help us choose the perfect pair. My poor shoes were in particularly bad shape and have been abandoned (RIP) for the next generation of Nike.
According to our training schedule, we've all now completed a total of 17 miles over two weeks not counting any bonus work anyone might have done. Looking forward it seems like a meager distance, but the hard work has only just begun and the support and confidence of those around us has gotten us off to a strong start.
Some more things learned:
Use the potty before you leave the house. An early morning four miles in Georgetown on a muddy trail doesn't provide many options.
The city is a much different place in the early hours of a Saturday and is going to be a joy exploring over the coming months. An empty M Street is an oddly pleasing sight when it's typically jammed with cabs, shoppers and party goers in the evening.
Friday nights are going to be much more subdued as we move along. If this past one was any indication (minus two nameless individuals), they're going to involve a lot of chick flicks and Mario Kart:
Yea, Love Actually. Ashwin's fave.
For now, most of us are headed our separate ways for the holidays but will hopefully stay on course and reunite for our next Saturday session on January 3 ready for the step up into even more challenging distances.
Keep checking in, we'll have some outstanding video clips and more bio pages up shortly.
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