November 3, 2012 (Updated December 1, 2022)

A Sunset D.C. Monument Run

by Anne Mauney, MPH, RD

11 comments

Good morning and happy Saturday!

I made a new running buddy friend yesterday! Meet Karen:

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Karen is a blog reader who moved back to the DC area a few months ago and emailed me earlier this week about meeting up for a run sometime. I always love making new exercise buddies, so of course I was on board! However, usually with my schedule (and whoever I’m trying to meet’s schedule) we end up having to make plans for a month or two later. But magically, I emailed Karen back yesterday and we discovered we were both around and able to do a 5 p.m.-ish run last night. Perfect! We met down on the mall to run somewhere flat and scenic. 🙂

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I’ll never get tired of these views!

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Karen and I decided to aim for 4 miles and settled in to a nice 8:45ish min/mile pace, chatting away the whole time. It was cold and windy but once we got moving it wasn’t so bad!

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We had a great run until about mile 3, at which point (and you other runners will understand this) my stomach decided it was NOT in the mood to run anymore. So… our run turned into an adventure to find the nearest bathroom, instead. Sigh. Don’t you hate when that happens?

I wasn’t worried because we’d run by a big line of portapotties only a few minutes earlier, so we headed back towards those… only to find them all locked. Oh, DC. How cruel! We next tried to go into a museum, but it had just closed. What to do?! We came upon another line of portapotties… only to find they were also locked. But as we were standing there looking dejected, another runner ran by, saw us, and yelled “The second to last one is open!!” I love the running community. 🙂 Crisis averted!

We ended up covering 3.5 miles instead of 4, but we both decided that was still pretty admirable for a Friday evening. By the time we were heading back to the metro, we were treated with this beautiful sunset peeking through the clouds behind the Washington Monument.

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Karen, thanks for the run and for being so sweet when I needed to cut it short. 🙂 Looking forward to meeting up again soon!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

- anne

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11 comments
  • Ashley
    Damn, I wish the views in my home town were that nice - the path looks extremely clean of other runners as well. So jealous!
    Reply
  • Kim@hungryhealthygirl
    Don't you hate when that happens! Looks like a great run despite the bathroom issue!
    Reply
  • Karen
    Really fun meeting you yesterday!! Looking forward to our next run!!
    Reply
  • Renie
    The scenery is wonderful Anne. Thanks for sharing
    Reply
  • Grace @ Grace Dishes
    That's so nice that you took the time to get a run in and meet a reader :) Have a great weekend!
    Reply
  • Jill K
    Looks like a beautiful "Sunset Run" :-)
    Reply
  • Michelle @Peachy Palate
    Yes I know the feeling all to well! Glad you found a loo! :) And that is one gorgeous Sunset!
    Reply
  • Kelly
    Hi Anne - this may be a random question, but coming from someone who is NOT a runner and who DOES have "bathroom issues", I'm curious how you runners tell your running partners you have to use the bathroom? Do you simply just say that or do you have to somehow explain it's of the #2 variety and that it's urgent? This is a serious question! I just get so self-conscious even around good friends and family, and unfortunately, I can't hold it too well, so it always amazes me that you guys are so open about it. I know, I know - we all do it, but still! And with a new running partner!
    Reply
    • Anne P
      Hey Kelly! I think it's a little different with runners because it happens to runners somewhat frequently, so if you're out running with someone they'll totally understand what you're talking about because they've been there, too. I just simply said something like "my stomach isn't feeling so great - gotta love when that happens - mind if we loop back to one of those portapotties and walk a little bit? i'm sorry to cut our run short!" I think it would be harder if I weren't out running to explain what was going on, and you're right, I think I would be more embarrassed/less open. It's honestly only happened to me while running so I can't be of much help, but if I were you I'd just say something along the lines of "Hey do you mind if we find a bathroom? I'm suddenly not feeling so great." They'll understand and that way you can tell them something without oversharing. Good luck!
      Reply
      • Kelly
        Thanks, Anne, that's a good way of wording it! I'll have to try to be more open about it all, and not feel so embarrassed.
        Reply