Hurrah for low humidity

Start time: 7/31/10, 6:00am
Location: Belle Haven Park, Wilson Bridge, National Harbor, Old Town Alexandria
Distance: 10 miles
Average pace: 10:12min/mile
Total Miles For July: 60 miles
Total Miles For 2010: 392 miles

I missed Thursday’s run this week (and Wednesday’s spin class), which was a little frustrating since I’m trying to get back on track. But I shuffled down to Belle Haven Park (home of the start/finish line for the disastrous Potomac River Run Marathon back in 2009) to meet up with the group. John was going to run 8 miles, while Steve, Jim, and Michael were tackling 16. I was hoping to land somewhere in the middle, maybe 12, which is what I did two weeks ago in that horrible heat. I wasn’t feeling great even from the start, though, which is not a good way to start a run.

We headed up to the Wilson Bridge, then ran over the Potomac into Maryland and the National Harbor site. It was strange seeing the Awakening statue there, after so many years of it being on Hains Point, but otherwise it’s just like any other (insert name) Town Center in the area. A lot of steep hills leading up to and away from the bridge, though, and when we went back over I was pooped. John headed back to the start at that point, while we took a detour through Old Town Alexandria (where someone else’s bathroom break meant we got an extra-long walk break, which was nice). Once my watch hit 10 miles, though, I was done. I thought we were just around the corner so I said I’d walk it in… oops. Actual distance, about half a mile. Once I realized my error I ended up jogging in most of the distance.

John and I went over to Dunken Donuts afterwards and bought some coffee and doughnuts for everyone, and then hung out chatting until they got back. It was a nice way to spend the morning.

(9:26, 9:45, 9:41, 10:52, 11:00, 10:10, 9:50, 11:08, 10:05, 10:00)
(and boy, can you tell exactly where those hills are (and bathroom break) or what?)