October 20, 2011

9 Miles on the C&O Canal

by Anne Mauney, MPH, RD

27 comments

Hi from home — Washington, D.C.!

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I was reunited with two favorites this morning:

    1. My beloved C&O Canal trail
    2. My girl Heather!

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I had a 9 mile training run on the docket for this weekend, but I decided I’d rather flip flop my Thursday shorter run and my Saturday/Sunday long run due to our friend’s wedding festivities. I didn’t want to have to run 9 miles and then dance in heels all night — or run 9 miles hungover after dancing in heels all night. 🙂

So, I did my long run this morning instead! Win. I love not having class to rush off to. Fall break is the best.

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I emailed Heather earlier this week to see if she would join me for the run. We first became friends a couple years ago through our blogs when we were both living here in D.C. and have been friends ever since! Last summer, she moved off to CO and I moved off to NC — she just moved back about a month ago. Yay!

It was wonderful to catch up with her back in our old stomping grounds. We did 6 miles together and chatted away the whole time! She’s a great runner AND an RD so we always have lots to talk about. 🙂 Thanks for the run, girl!

After 6 miles, I dropped her off and headed out to finish the last 3 on my own!

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I was tired after 6 miles, especially knowing I had 3 more solo miles to go, but doing an out and back run meant I convinced myself that all I had to do was run 1.5 miles, then turn around! Made it seem much more manageable. 🙂 The awesome sunny and cool fall weather helped, too.

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Here are my stats:

    • Mile 1: 9:16
    • Mile 2: 9:16
    • Mile 3: 9:08
    • Mile 4: 9:01
    • Mile 5: 8:59
    • Mile 6: 8:44
    • Mile 7: 8:57
    • Mile 8: 9:17
    • Mile 9: 9:10

Success! Total run time was about 82 minutes. I love running on the C&O Canal. Especially on such gorgeous, sunny fall mornings!

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I carried a little mini water bottle with me on the run since I forgot to bring my CamelBak with me this weekend. It worked out well and was small enough it didn’t bother me to carry it.

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I’m off to get some school work done — we have a big group presentation in my Medical Nutrition Therapy class on Tuesday and all our materials are due Monday, meh. But I’m going to go pick up my (hopefully) correctly sized engagement ring later this afternoon! I also might head to the mall to look for a new dress for our friend’s wedding this weekend — all my wedding appropriate dresses are from like 2006 and have been seen by everyone approximately 29408230948 times.

Happy Thursday! Did you guys fit in a run this morning, too? How’d it go?

- anne

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27 comments
  • I ran 8.5 last night. That running path looks super gorgeous, like it would make any run enjoyable!
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    • Good for you! And yes - it does :)
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  • Man we were spoiled this morning - SO beautiful down there!! I already want to go back, but this time with a camera and hiking shoes. ;) Loved catching up with you! Now, I'm exhausted. Hah.
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    • Haha I bet! I'm still impressed you met another friend for a run first. And glad that she wore you out before meeting me, miss speed demon. ;)
      Reply
  • No run this morning, but I did teach class at 6am! PS I love taking shadow pictures too :)
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    • Cool! What do you teach? (Shadow pics are the coolest)
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  • I just did a quick 2.5 mile run in this gorgeous weather. I love running on the C&O canal too. I managed to do two long runs there for my marathon training! I'm tapering now. Enjoy your time in DC.
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    • Good luck with your marathon!
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  • I love the C&O Canal! We love to go walking there for miles with our dogs. We haven't been in months--must be stunning with the fall foliage!
    Reply
    • It was! You should get back out there!
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  • What a beautiful running trail! I visited DC for the first time this past summer and loved it there. Such a fun and pretty city.
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  • I just got back from a 5 mile tempo run and man was it WINDY out there! Gorgeous time of year to run but I seriously think I was running backwards the second half of that run.
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  • I ran at Gravely Point this morning. It was such a pretty morning that I got lost in my run and went further than expected. I love when that happens!!
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    • That's the best! Love Gravely Point, too.
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  • What a beautiful place to run! I'm taking a break from running to let a muscle repair itself. Boo.
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  • I went to early am yoga & did strength training :) Still recovering from a side injury, so I can only run every other day or so! Good luck shoppin'!
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  • I went to yoga. It was EXACTLY what I needed and I tried a new pose too!
    Reply
      • the feathered peacock pose!
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  • Anne P, you are a running rockstar. Guess that makes me a groupie? Nevermind. :) Hope the ring fits!
    Reply
    • Lol! You're too cute :) I'll have to do some air guitar riffs in your honor on my next run ;)
      Reply
  • Your running route looks gorgeous! I'm running in approximately 20 minutes. Mine is going to be a lot colder and less gorgeous - is is only about 40* here in MN. I'm still looking forward to it!
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  • it's amazing that you have such gorgeous trails in the DC area! Lucky!
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  • Went out and did 4 quick miles before class! Loved your teaching abroad post, I'm studying in Galway, Ireland this semester and love hearing about other people's past experiences living abroad.
    Reply
  • That is a lovely trail, so jealous. 36 degrees in the burbs of Atlanta this morning. Anne, I am up to walking five miles now and boy was the cold invigorating.
    Reply