#30 - Run a New Half Marathon

I cannot believe I am done with my list for 2014 already!  I had 12 done by April 27!

Nike Women's events usually have a wall with
everyone's names near Niketown.

While I'd love to just up my goal for the year, instead I'm going to focus on one of my big goals: nailing down a research question for my dissertation so I can take dissertation seminar in the spring.

So, if there was something on this list you really wanted to do this year, I'm probably still down... as long as it's free or you're paying.  I can't wait to be off this student budget!

Anyways, #12 was a fantastic time.

The start

A couple months ago, someone from this crew, I don't remember who, started an e-mail about entering the lottery for the Nike Women's Half Marathon in DC.  I was hesitant but then I remembered how much I like this gang of girls... and that instead of a medal, these races dole out unique Tiffany necklaces.

It took us 2 tries to get into the Nike Women's Half in San Francisco but 5 of us ran it in 2010 and it just this year got knocked down to 2nd on my list of favorite 9 and 2/3 races that were 10+ miles I've done (behind Ragnar, obviously).  (Sure, I'll tell you the story about the 2/3 sometime, but it's not a happy story.)

It just took us one try to get into DC.

I headed to DC from Nashville, still a little sore from climbing.  I met my old UM roomies Laura Masters and Andrea Meewes Sanchez out for what was supposed to be a chill night but ended up being fairly epic.  We even wound up playing Cards Against Humanities with some dudes we thought were random but just happened to be 5 other Michigan grads reuniting for the weekend.

After very little sleep, we met a high school friend of mine, Melissa, for a lovely brunch, and then picked up our packets.

The packet pick up was swift and easy and had some really cool features that probably aren't that exciting to read about but were REALLY COOL in person.

We had a nice dinner and made it to bed at a reasonable time.

The fast ladies got going way earlier than Andrea & me.  I have to admit I got a little nervous at one point but seriously, when you're slow, you're never late to these things.

That blue box :)

The course was flat and scenic.  I loved the start right past the Capitol as the sun was rising.  The bridge to Arlington and looping back to see the Lincoln Memorial was pretty special too.  I was really impressed at the number of people out cheering us on with silly signs, and I loved the drummers in what would have otherwise been a dismal tunnel.  Plus, the necklaces are pretty lovely.

We all finished, some of us (Andrea!) in record time (not me)!  Then we showered, considered napping, popped some bubbly instead, and headed to brunch...

On our way to "schmammered"

Epilogue: Brunch included bottomless mimosas and STRONG margaritas.  We followed brunch with bar hopping, including a whiskey flight for Andrea & me.  Somehow Masters, Andrea, & I stayed out until midnight or something.  Man, I love those girls.  But seriously, Andrea, let's not make unreasonably late nights our thing, even if we only see each other ever few years :)

"I thought he deserved a serious face."

Monday Masters & I got to do some sight seeing and then met Katie, Beth, and Sarah for brunch and some giggles about our Sunday Funday.