Capitol Steps

I'm usually an afternoon runner, but for some reason I've experienced an unusual inspiration to run in the morning here in DC. There's like 50 million runners who run around the Capitol and Mall. They're everywhere. And, this morning I joined the madness.

It was a beautiful morning to run. Not too hot. The sun was starting to rise. Oh, and there's a huge national icon in plain sight everywhere you go.


I ran down to the Washington National Monument and back to the hotel. I had to adjust to stopping at all the stoplights, but that wasn't too bad because I could catch my breath that was evading my lungs. I still have a hard time adjusting to humidity in places after living in West Texas.


As I mentioned, there were runners everywhere. In fact, I saw a whole running group of about 30 runners who were stretching. That's so over rated. As I was waiting on the crosswalk light to change, some dude (a runner) asked a girl (another runner) if she was doing any races any time soon. I don't even think he knew her. I really think he just wanted a chance to show off, because he said, "I just finished my 23rd marathon the other day."

I was really tempted to say, "Oh yeah, well I just finished my 24th last week," even though I've never actually ran a full marathon. But he didn't know me from Adam's house cat. He probably would've challenged me to a sprint to the top of the Capitol steps or something, and then my sarcasm would've been revealed.

My hotel is right next to this lovely classic looking firehouse. I heard a truck go out at least five times last night. Oh, actually I hear one going out right now! I hope it's not the hotel.