Canopy of Pink

Well, DC tourist season has started. Around this time of year, April, is when the masses of people come out from the woodworks.This crazy season began last weekend with the National Kite Flying day on the Mall. The cherry blossoms are in bloom and visitors from all over have come to see them as well as smell them. :) I love walking to work and seeing them and even running around the Tidal Basin to see them (though the tourists get in my way a lot). But I am just tickled to death that winter is over and spring is here!!! I love that God makes all things new. I love that he gives new life...to a regenerate sinner like myself as well as to plants and animals he has created. He is a good and gracious God to allow us to enjoy his creation and thus turn it around to enjoy Him for it all. I think Spring is my favorite season. It symbolizes a newness.

Well, yesterday was the 10 mile Cherry Blossom race. I did it last year and thoroughly enjoyed myself. This year I didn't train as much because I was a late registrant, and the weather has just been too cold to run outside. (yes, I am a wuss) I was nervous all last week, dreading the thought of running 10 miles on a Sunday MORNING! Ugh. But, I woke up at 6:30 and headed down on the Mall by 7. And let me tell you, it was GORGEOUS!!! It was 52 degrees by the time we started running and the skies were clear and the sun was shinning. I did the race alone, but I didn't mind. I had my ipod on to keep me focused and running hard. As we got in to our respected categories (I was in the blue bib category), the announcer came on to give us information about the race. He mentioned the weather and how beautiful it was. We were running around Hayne's Point which is on the Potomac River and he said that we would be running underneath a canopy of pink with the cherry blossoms in bloom.

The race started at 7:40 and we were off. My first song that came on my ipod was Hanson's "MmmBop". (I know. I know. I know.) but really, it's a good poppy song to run to. I like running to poppy songs. It was a good song to start the race off and get my pace right. As we started on our first mile, I was pretty good and thinking that I could do this and just really pumping myself up for the rest of the 9 miles ahead of me. Running with over 1200 strangers is so exciting! It was a rush as we were all setting our own pace and in this thing together. Each of us have our own styles of running and finishing and it was so cool to be in that crowd as we passed by the bystanders who were cheering us on.

Arlington Cemetery came and went and we were on our way down to the Kennedy Center. It was around the Kennedy Center and over Independence Drive that we hit mile 5 and the song "Life is a Highway" by Rascal Flatts came on. Perfect song for the middle of the race! Finally, the middle of the race!!! Phew...almost there...come on 5 more miles. I loved the mix I had set up for my run. I titled it "Cherry Blossom 09". I know, so original, right? I had songs on there like Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Rascal Flatts, Kelly Clarkson, Mariah Carrey...and so on. Again, I like poppy music.

Mile 6 and 7 were the hardest for me. I didn't know what mile I was on, but figured it had to be either 6 or 7 and it was driving me nuts. We came around to Hayen's Point at mile 7 and for the rest of the way back we were under the Canopy of Pink. It was breath taking (well, I couldn't really catch my breath at this point, but if I had, it would've been gone) the view was amazing. It was on the river and the Cherry Blossoms were so perky as if they were cheering us on to finish well. Mile 9 had finally come and I could see the Washington Monument up ahead!! Almost there, I thought! I can't stop now! I'm almost there! The spektators started crowding during the last half of the last mile and it was so great to have them there. Though I didn't have anyone specifically cheering me on, it was still nice to have people encouraging you to finish strong and well. The last half of the mile was up hill to as we were passing by the Holocaust Museum.

I saw the finish line finally and told my legs to run a little bit faster to sprint it in. They hated me at this point as I couldn't really feel them, but I didn't care. I wanted to finish strong. Finally, I passed over the finish line in an hour and 40 minutes. That's a 10 minute mile. Last year I ran it in an hour and 25 minutes which is an 8 minute mile. I was a little disappointed in my time, but just glad that I could run it.

The race is always fun and so thrilling to do it with a million people. But the best part about running is the satisfaction of finishing it and knowing you did your best and you finished strong and well. And...at the end, they give you muffins and banana's! :) I mean, I just ran 10 miles. I am certainly not going to feel guilty about eating carbs after running 10 miles. :) Yay for muffins!! I hurt. I was sore. My legs were stiff and hated me. I felt like they were permanently detached from my body. But it felt so good! That's the best kind of hurt and soreness. Knowing that you worked hard for something and seeing the bruises from it.

running. it's my addiction.

♥