Going on a lion hunt...

Let's be honest, outside the national zoo DC does not have lions.  So what could I possibly be talking about?  Have I finally lost my mind (not out of the realm of the possible)?  No, I'm thinking back to my sorority days in college....specifically pledging hell week.  My small, private school was pretty strict about hazing, so you had to be pretty creative (and overly careful) about what you could and could not do with pledges.  I remember my pledging year being blindfolded, stuck in the back of a car and driven around with the promise of being dropped in the middle of no where with only a roll of quarters to make my way back to campus (it was a cover obviously).  My sophomore year, as a big sis, it became my turn.  I teamed up with another big sis and we took our pledges on the "lion hunt" or rather our version of a semi-blindfolded photo scavenger hunt.

Tonight, to make my run a little more interesting I went on my own little "lion hunt" or rather photo scavenger hunt around Capitol Hill.  Because I run through residential areas, I see a lot of gardens.  You probably would not be surprised that there are a lot of beautiful front yard gardens among the rowhouses around the Hill (I can't really tell you about the backyards because teh act of obtaining that information could be considered illegal).  It appears to me that people find relaxation and recreation in their front yards.  What I had not previously thought to consider is that they also find a place to meditate within their front yards.  Yep, Capitol Hill is totally zen.  The number of gardens paying homage to Buddhism is actually astounding.  Below are pictures of just a few of the gardens along my four mile trek trying to find a spot for meditation among the semi-busy streets of DC or perhaps just showing the Buddhist spirit. 

It occurs to me that many people find a way to meditate in different ways - for me its running, for some its yoga and for others it may be reminders of the culture symbolic of the act of meditation.  So Capitol Hill, keep on relaxing.  Happy trails!!!

Stats -

Miles:  4.03

Time:   32:42 (average pace of 8:06 per mile)

Location:  Capitol Hill, Stanton Park, Lincoln Park

Feeling:  No problems with the achilles tonight, nor anything else either