Random Running Thoughts

I can't formulate a good post today because I amt too depressed about the Hobby Lobby decision, so I thought I would leave you with a few random running thoughts that were going through my head yesterday while out on my very hot run.  But first, here is Evan helping to take out the trash.  We are really into chores at our house and have decided to start him really young.  :-)

And now my running thoughts.

1) The National Mall is not a great place to run when it is 90 degrees and sunny.  There is NO shade.  It is blistering sun for miles and miles.  With a few trees thrown in there, but not many.  And it is HOT.  It's like running through the desert or something.  Especially during the lunch hour.

2) When I was in college and running in really hot weather and feeling like I was going to die, I would imagine that I was a Marine running from captors through the hot African desert and I couldn't stop until I reached the U.S. base.  Back in high school I wanted to join the Marines and in college I did Army ROTC for a while - so I was more into military daydreams.  It tended to work though because I ran a lot faster then.  I need a new motivating day dream these days, especially on those hot days when I pushing a 50 pound stroller up a huge hill.  Any ideas?

3) People think I am not a serious runner because I run in a skirt and all my running outfits match.  I get a lot of comments about how running in a skirt is so "girly".  Yesterday I past (as in, I was running faster) two guys running and I heard one of them say, "We just got passed by a girl in a skirt".  I wear a skirt because I find it much more comfortable than shorts - I hate how the shorts bunch between my legs.  That never happens with a skirt.  And yeah, I like my running outfits to match.  So what.  I am still a decent runner and train hard.  It's like that Verizon commercial I've seen on Facebook about running like a girl or throwing like a girl - girls can be strong at sports too and even girls that like to have cute running clothes can be just as tough as girls who wear scrubby shorts and tank tops.  People need to stop judging others based on appearance.

4) Running through DC in the summer is like running an obstacle course.  There are a million people around and they are walking all kinds of crazy so you try to dart in one direction and they go that way, you try to go in the other direction and someone on those rental bikes comes flying down the street.  Yesterday I almost got hit by a car because he was making a left hand turn on red and didn't look for pedestrians - only cars.  Luckily I am overly cautius and never dart out into traffic, but still.  Look before you turn!!!  Don't walk 10 across the sidewalk and then not move when someone says excuse me!

5) I am one of the few people that follow the rules when it comes to crossing the street.  I wait for the little man.  Always.  Even if no cars are coming and the road is completely clear, I still wait to cross the street.  So what if I have to wait an extra 40 seconds, it's not worth running into traffic.  Even when you have the little man, you still need to be careful (look at #4).  I just always like to wait to cross.  No jaywalking for this little lady.

6) You know you've lived in DC too long when you are trying to run by the White House and you hear a very loud motorcade and see a huge throng of people by the gate and you are more annoyed that they are blocking your way than you are interested in seeing the President's car.  Or whoever important person is being escorted by a motorcade.  I will be sad when I have to switch to running in Baltimore though - I love Baltimore but it's not really a running city. 

7)  When I get back to my desk after running I am sweating buckets.  And eventually I just put my work clothes back on.  And I don't even shower when I get home - I just shower the next morning.  Gross.  It doesn't bother me though.  I usually wash my face because it is covered in salt, and I use wipes to "wipe" myself off.  That's it though.  So far no one has complained about me smelling so I think I am safe.

8)  Even when I change my clothes back, I sometimes keep my tennis shoes on. 

When it's not raining I like to get off the bus early and walk a little to my house and my tennis shoes are much more comfortable than my work shoes.



And one non-running random fact:

I made these delicious Asian Lemon Chicken Tenders last night. 

My picture doesn't do it justice, but it was so tasty!  Ivan devoured almost all of it and the sauce turned out to be really good.  It wasn't nearly as difficult as I thought it would be - so that was a big plus.  It was another successful Pinterest find.

************
What are some random thoughts going through your head?

What did you have for dinner last night?