Sunday, March 29, 2009

what i did at work today

NOTHING! i didn't go to work today. woo hooo!

instead i ran 8 miles because i'm running the cherry blossom 10 miler and haven't trained since the richmond half in november. it's gonna be ugly. but it was a lovely spring day (finally!), despite the light drizzle. and along my route - 4-mile run to the gw parkway trail - i saw:

a blue heron. i felt a little bad for it, standing so gracefully next to waterfall draining from the water treatment plant (or at least that's where the pipe comes from)...

a pelican. it dove straight for the water and after a splash and a short struggle, came out with a fish...

a cute couple, probably in their mid forties or so, that didn't know how to roller blade. well, the woman did, but the man looked like a six year old on skates for the first time. precious...

some fishermen. they told me they'd caught some catfish. i took my first fly-casting lessons earlier that morning so i just HAD to ask if the fishing was any good...

and then i got to the 14th street bridge, my turnaround landmark. i turned and there they were, across the potomac, explosions of pink popcorn. i couldn't resist. i ran across the bridge to join the throngs of people enjoying the budding cherry blossoms.

i tried not to stand too close.

on my way across the bridge, i saw two of my friends biking back from the rained-out kite festival in the middle of the 14th street bridge and tried not to freak out as the passing traffic made the concrete structure bounce.

across the bridge, at the jefferson i saw:

rows and rows of porta potties...
a wedding party climbing into a limo, looking rather chilly in strapless gowns...

an adorable child in a blue fuzzy sleeper, complete with hood capped with star antennae. turns out it was my friend's nephew...

one chat and a bathroom break later, i was on my way home. that was pretty uneventful. all i saw was my breath. and the blue heron.

9 comments:

Shawn said...

What a fun run! I wish I could have been with you - only driving along beside you in my car, not running. I would love to see the cherry blossoms. And that guy on the roller blades.

Nicea said...

I'm imagining the cherry blossoms. Are you with me in thinking that spring can't come too soon?

annie said...

auntie - it WAS a fun run and i'd love you with me any time. you can ride my bike!

ma - i'm totally with ya. it's still COLD here. not AS cold as winter, but still cold. boo.

Jamie said...

Blizzard this weekend in Butte. High today is 32. What? Spring?

I can't wait to get outta here.

I thoroughly enjoyed your post, Annie! I used to love bike rides in DC. You're awesome for running. I have no talent in that arena. My brothers and dad have the running genes in our family. The longest I've ever run is 3 miles and that was TOUGH!

Whitleypedia said...

Whoo hoo! Annie Gedicks, you rock!

Nicea said...

We woke up to three or four inches of snow this morning! It's dang cold with the wind blowing.

Sherry Carpet said...

i miss you, cuz. fun to follow your day!

Sherry Carpet said...

PS - hilarious "sampler" for your profile. will you embroider one fer me?

annie said...

oy, you people with your snow. seriously, i don't think march understands that its supposed to be warm now. it's still cold here, but at least it's not snowing!

sc: i miss you too :)