Capitol Hill Classic

Last Sunday I ran my first 10k. Now I have ran a few 5k's and attempted two century rides (both the Trek 100) and completed one. All of these "competitions" with little to no training. What I mean by this is I ran the 5k's when I was consistently working out. When I rode the century rides (100 miles for all you non-bikers out there) I didn't train a bit. A bit foolish. My first 100 miler was on an old Schwinn bike. I got that bike in 5th grade, I was in college at the time of the race. My bike seat was too low and my helmet looked like a mushroom. I made it over 40 miles on the heaviest old bike I had. The second time I attempted a century I had a Trek Hybrid, the problem there was that my "shocks" were so loose I couldn't stand on my pedals going up hill. I sat for ever stinkin' hill I climbed and made it 100 miles. (You have no idea how many hills we climb in Wisconsin)
I waltzed into the 10k a bit nervous but swearing to myself I would run the whole thing, I mean it can't be that bad. I had been taking exercise and spin classes, I could do this. I knew there was no way I was walking any part of the course. Here's a quick summary of my run(thoughts are in italics):
Begin running at start line with about 3,000 people. Pace yourself, don't come out too fast, just steady as she goes. Hit mile number one- What???? I've only ran a mile? I have more than five to go? At this point I am running about a 10 minute mile. Hit RFK stadium and circle around. Where the HECK is mile number two?? Why are so many people passing me? But just keep running. Hit mile number two at around 11 minute mile. Start the run back up to the Capitol building in a roundabout way. More people passing. At this point I figure that people are interval running the course. Meaning: they run a bit they walk a bit, they run a bit they walk a bit. They pass you, you pass them, they pass you ect. Very demoralizing all that passing. You forget who you have passed. Go through intersection that's playing "Celebrate good times" Realize: Maybe I am having fun? I hit my "wall" at mile1.75 and get through (or over) wall at mile 4. Now I feel pretty good, I am in a rhythm and running running running. What ever made me think I wanted to run a marathon? Noelle you run for HOURS in a marathon. At mile 5 they yell "It's downhill!!!!" As they cheer me on. Downhill? All right! I won't need to walk it's all down hill, I can coast in feeling good minus the knees. Run downhill past the Capitol on my right and get passed by a guy juggling four balls while running (humiliation). I turn in front of the Capitol building and what do I see? People running back UP the hill on the other side of the capitol building! You have GOT to be kidding me. Back UP the hill???? It's gut renching let me tell you. I never wanted to stop and walk more at any other time in the run. Everyone around me was dropping like flies. Completed the race, ran the whole thing. Eat two bananas and a bottle of water in less than 10 minutes and almost puke on the worshipers in front of me at church 1/2 hour later while singing a hymn.
In the end I left church early and went home to take a nap. I woke up, got a headache and watched the Giro d'Italia and thought about a 100 mile bike race......

In summary: If I am looking for fun the 5K's for me if I want to push myself the 10k's the one.

Official Completion time: 66:32 Official Pace per mile: 10:43

La Barra Brava

Alright so I just realized I have been in D.C. two weeks. In that period of time I have seen zero touristy sights in the downtown area. Now, I have been to D.C. before so it is not like I have never seen the place, but really what have I been doing? Well, working for one, moving my car full of stuff from Syracuse to here, hanging out in my apartment, and attending sporting events.
I stopped by RFK Stadium to see a Nationals game and watched the Mets and Tom Glavine beat the Nats in extra innings. It is the first professional game I have ever been to (and I have been to a few) that the home team had lost. Although I must make a stipulation: I did not stay for the whole game.
This past weekend I went back to RFK Stadium for a D.C. United 'futbol' game. Now there is something fun to do. I have never been to a MLS game before and was excited about the prospect of not being indoors during a game (think arena soccer: Milwaukee Wave). I arrived in my section and was surprised to see how close I was to the field. About three seats to the left of the midfield line and maybe 20 or so rows back? Well the section in front of me grew into a large mass right before the game started with numerous people of every race and creed in matching shirts. This parade of shirts had painted faces, drums, plastic trumpets, gigantic flags, "DC United" banners and plenty of beer and cigarettes.
In the few minutes before the game started the group began to sing, but they were respectfully quiet during the national anthem. A few seconds before the game started they stepped on their chairs and a few moments after the game started they started to chant and jump up and down (which shook the whole section of chairs up past me even). They sang chanted and stood the whole game.
The family of four in front of me was not impressed. I was.
I had a good time, learned plenty of inappropriate songs in both English and Spanish (just because it's in Spanish doesn't mean the swearing doesn't count). I jumped up and down, threw confetti and streamers, saw a smoke bomb go off, sang with the group and cheered, saw plenty of beer fly through the air and was applauded with the rest of them by the D.C. United players. I will definitely go to a game again and I will be sure to be in the section behind "La Barra Brava" they made the best of my experience at RFK on Sunday.