Yesterday was the annual Cherry Blossom 10 Miler. This was my 4th running for this race and it is one race I always enjoy running and yesterday was no different. It was a bit cold at the start although it was forecast to warm up so when I got ready to head down I threw on just some shorts and a long sleeve technical shirt to run in. I grabbed an old fleece to keep me warm at the start line which turned out to be a good idea as a bit of a breeze made it a bit cool.
I started the race in the red wave, the first wave behind the elite runners, and I managed to be in the front part of the wave so fewer people to have to run around. The start was nice and fast and I quickly got into a pace that was comfortable. I did end up having to run around a few people who did not seed themselves properly - if you are an elite runner why are you plodding along at a 11 min/mile pace before mile two? In general I was running with a great crowd, friendly, polite and keeping a great pace. When we hit mile 6 at the top of Hains Point Park we did hit a strong winds right in our faces. It made it cold and was creating some chop on the Potomac but did not show us down.
The last few hundred meters, up and over the rise by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, was great as I had left a bit in the tank so I kicked it a bit to cross the finish at the Washington Monument. I had two guys come up to me after - one saying how my kick motivated him and a second to say how he had been spotting me all through the race, due to my orange shirt, and how great a race I ran. It is always nice to get some compliments on the course. Finish time was 1:17:33 - more than 10 minutes faster than my first Cherry Blossom in 2009 and another personal best for the course by 1:42. It was a great race.
The race was not the best thing about the day though. After grilling some burgers and squash for the girls for lunch the 4 of us headed to the Mason Centre forthe Arts to see the Russian National Ballet Company perform Swan Lake. Kris had wanted to see a ballet after I told her about Alice in Wonderland that Laura and I had seen at the Kennedy Center, so I got her 4 tickets to Swan Lake for her birthday.
The performance was wonderful. The company has some wonderful artists, both dancers and set designers. The lady dancing Odette impressed all of us. We all thoroughly enjoyed the performance and it made a great end to a great day.
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