Wk 8 - from Empire State building to The White House

[chusan51]

Luckily there is a train between the two but my Wk8 R2 was in the early hours and included a run down 5th Avenue, around the Empire State building and through the most polluted streets I've run in, but with amazingly tolerant pedestrians and taxis who stop to let you run across the avenues. The excitement of knowing you are running around such an iconic city takes the pain away and the 28 minutes fly past.

Just did Wk8 R3 this morning, from Capitol Hill to the White House and around in several confusing circles until I found my way back to the rented condo - much tougher to run here in Washington than in NYC as traffic was heavy and it involved lots of running on the spot waiting for lights to change, but again the amazing views took the pain of the first 20 minutes away - the last 8 were hell, out in the boring suburbs and no great views to ease the leg cramps and ankle pain from uneven sidewalks.

But who cares? I'm done, and Friday I go into Wk9, and then fly home to complete the last two runs around Harrow park - not quite so glam but its progress.

[BettyJane Graduate]

I would have prefered to go further up 5th Avenue and run in Central Park. I hadn't started running when I visited New York last year, but would love to go back one day.

[chusan51 Graduate in reply to BettyJane]

me too, the plan was to run in the park but I was at Lex and 45th, and it was so busy towards the park, so I ran south. Truth is I was pleased not to run in the park - day before I had seen the joggers, half of whom were topless and looked like Colin Jackson when he was in top form, so dodging between the fully clothed commuters drinking a starbucks as they walked felt less intimidating Central Park for my warm up for the New York marathon in 2 years

[SBG356 Graduate]

What a great setting for your penultimate run chusan51! Thats dedication for you too, to keep running even when away.... Harrow may not be so glam but no better place to graduate than at home! You will soon be in those skinny jeans too......

Good luck for Friday and your final week; I'm just a few runs behind you and cant wait for that green badge!

[chusan51 Graduate in reply to SBG356]

It;s a terrific feeling to have gotten through this program and still to be enjoying it. I did 7 hours walking in Washington today after my run and I am feeling the pain now, but still focussed on wk 9 starting friday. Even looked at skinny jeans today and although heals would not get beyond the ankles yet, they will in a couple of months.

We should all do a skinny jeans run once we graduate.

[DeliaItaly Graduate]

Wow Lucky you! I am impressed Wishing you an uneventful flight home and on to graduation in Harrow.

[Pearsey]

Well done chusan51 on your runs in USA-you did really well. Now back to reality and Harrow Park. I would be running there if we hadn't moved 2 years ago to Poole. My son lives in the road where the park is. Good luck with your Graduation run-will be me Friday next week. Hurrah! Aren't we good to have completed the runs? :-). Yep-looking at skinny jeans too, lol! I agree we should all do skinny jeans once we graduate, ha! ha!

[chusan51 Graduate in reply to Pearsey]

Harrow park in good for running, nice and flat and we can plot out a 1km loop so keeing track is easy. Sounds like your son is my neighbour, we live right by the park too.

[Pearsey in reply to chusan51]

L Road by any chance???