A Traveling Runner

Spring break has ended, and now I must put my nose to the grindstone and continue along with my life. Second half of my final semester is upon me, and I am sure that it will pain me. But before I look ahead to hours up neck-cramping time in my lab making maps of trees, let me recount the glory that was my road trip!

My friend and I set out for Washington, D.C. two fridays ago. We only stayed a night (with another very gracious and hospitable friend), and time did not allow me to take a running tour of the city. I was saddened, but only momentarily because I realized I will be back there in a month! I am returning to D.C. in mid-April to present my research at an academic conference, so I will run the city then. It'll be much warmer in April, anyway. Also, let me note that EVERYONE runs - runners were simply everywhere! I even overheard people talking about running. Weird.

After we left D.C., we headed for Savannah, where we stayed with my friend's cousin, who attends the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD, for those in the know). We stayed two nights, and I was fortunate enough to get a chance to take a nice 4 mile run around this beautiful city, but I wish I had had more time! My friend called me about 20 minutes into my run, and so I turned back a little while later to as to not hold her up. Oh well! It was still a lovely experience.

After Savannah we journeyed to visit my sister in New Orleans! After driving for so long in a car, all one wants to do is MOVE. The first couple of days in NOLA were quite rain (as is expected in that city), so we tried to refrain from doing things that required prolonged amounts of time out-of-doors, instead choosing to do things like visit the French Market in the French Quarter! Fun shopping :)

On Thursday the weather gods informed me that I would get the chance to run in mid-70 degree weather, with lots of sun. Oh, and 93% humidity. Take it or leave it. I clearly took it. I ran four miles around through Tulane and around Audubon Park (which is lovely! and the egrets were out!) before I got a call from a woman at the transportation office telling me I was parked in the wrong location and had to move my car. Why is everyone interrupting my scenic runs through beautiful cities? Oh well, at least I got a chance to run in them!

Saturday I was in Asheville, NC, but the weather was kind of poor and I sadly had no chance to run :( I would have loved to have done some hill work there - so beautiful! The Smoky Mountains on the horizon would have been a lovely component to any run, but I suppose that will have to be saved for a later date.

After walking/running all of these cities (I literally can't count my all of my blisters, some of which have their own blisters...), I've developed a bit of pain in my right shin. I'm going to give it a couple of days rest... I am REALLY hoping it's just mild shin splints and not indicative of a stress fracture or anything. I'm going to take it easy, though, and we'll see how it goes. Hopefully by that time, this Massachusetts weather will clear up - cold and rainy is no good now that I've had a taste of beautiful weather!