Ducks and goals...

I love Sunday mornings.  Especially Sunday mornings that begin with a friend who enjoys the same things I do...stretching the legs and spending time with our kids.  This morning Brie and I started bright and early with the kids in tow...rather in the lead resting comfortably in their respective jogging strollers.  The plan?  Head down to city dock, feed the ducks and return in time to get a shower and drive to Sunday School.

It was chilly, there's no denying that.  But it was a nice change.  That crisp morning air just lends a little something to the aura of Annapolis in the early hours before the whole city wakes up and tourists flood the streets.  The quiet is also conducive to sharing all the gossip that must be shared.

The run downtown was kind of slow (umm, yeah, actually the whole run was kind of slow).  Both Brie and I are aching...her knee my hamstring.  But we are bad ass and just keep going.    And somewhere along this path I hit the 800 mile mark.  That's right folks, 80% of the way towards logging 1000 miles this year.   That just feels awesome.

When we got down to city dock and Brie pulled the bread out from under her stroller the kids were ecstatic.  I don't remember ducks being so thrillling when I was three, but they must have been.  Ducks fed, we continued down city dock, alternately racing the kids and carrying them (well me carrying the diva).  Brie also spent time telling B what was special about the Bear and the Bull, two almost ancient sailboats that are still in operation.  All in all it was a success...and then we had to hightail it back to Brie's so the diva and I didn't miss Sunday School.

I thank every opportunity to run with friends, particularly my BRB.  It makes the solo runs and the races easier later on.  In particular, its made my goals easier to envision this year.  All's well.  Happy trails!

Stats -
Miles:  5.42 (plus 2.34 walk with the diva to get her ready for her first race)
Time:   1:05:48 (average pace of 12:08 per mile)
Location:  Annapolis, City Dock
Feeling:  hamstring is pinching again

Sticky air and sailboats....

No, the two don't really go together (at least not this time) but I got you to wonder for a moment didn't I?

Last night's bridge run was uber sticky. The temperature was a nice 83 but the humidity was 85% and the feels like was 93...ergo sticky air. I knew this going in, after all we had a torrential downpour only two hours before my spectacular bridge crossing, but I just laughed at the air and said "bring it."

The run was definitely nothing to write home about. Since (as I pointed out earlier) it has recently rained, I was the only runner out there and have no "girl in blue" story to recount today, nor anything even remotely interesting. In fact, the scenery was so tremendously ordinary that I counted the fishermen on the Jonas Green Park pier - 28...and a dog and a really old lady. While rainy weather sends the runners in it apparently brings the fishing enthusiasts out.

So, while crossing the bridge four times and shaving 2 minutes and 30 seconds off my previous bridge run, I had an internal dialogue about what I would write about. Here's where sailboats come in.

To provide you with a little comic relief during this otherwise boring post, I decided to tell you about a sailboat Jason and I recently considered buying. As many of you know, we are looking for an older 24'-30' for weekend cruising on the Chesapeake. Something sturdy, doesn't require work and will last us several seasons if we treat it well.

This brings me to a 1976 Catalina with loads us recent work, a new engine and lots of upgrades. The sailboat was in really great condition and would require us to do very little but sail it for at least two years pending any disaster.

So with all these pluses, why didn't we buy it? I'm glad you asked...it was the current name of the boat. Yes, even though you can change a boat's name with a little paint, Jason just couldn't think about this boat without groaning.

I'll hold you in no more suspense, the name of the boat was Driftwood. While you sit there thinking about why this would be such a tough name to handle and come up with images of a boat beached and turning into something you might like to display in your garden, let me recount the real reason. Have you ever been to Camp Lejeune? If so, you know where I'm going. Marine Corps bases aren't known for nearby sophisticated shopping areas. In fact, quite the opposite. They are known for rows of barber shops, tattoo parlors and strip clubs....oh and rental furniture places.

Now you've guessed it. The absolute closest commercial establishment outside the main gates of Camp Lejeune is none other than The Driftwood, a strip joint (which I imagine on certain evenings may have very sticky air, but I can't speak from experience). And so our search continues.....