May 20, 2014 (Updated November 23, 2022)

Washington Monument Reopen + A Track Workout

by Anne Mauney, MPH, RD

20 comments

Exciting news, my friends: the Washington Monument is officially back open for business!

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It went under construction after being damaged in an earthquake back in 2011 and there have been fences around it and lots of scaffolding ever since, so you weren’t able to get close to it. So fun to be able to go right up to it again!

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My friend Karen and I met up for an early evening walk on the National Mall yesterday to enjoy the beautiful day and see the monument. It was perfect out – 75 and sunny! Such a fun break from the workday. 🙂

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On the running front, I was up bright and early this morning as usual to meet up with my friend Sokphal for our standard Tuesday morning run date!

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We decided to head over to the track at Washington & Lee High School to mix things up and do some speedwork. I used to do track workouts all the time (remember the baby blue UNC track?) – I actually kind of miss them!

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When we got to the track, we ran into our mutual friend Clay! Clay is a DC area running/triathlon coach that I first met at an event last fall, just before I ran the Richmond Marathon, and we had a blast talking all things running. Sokphal was looking for a running coach so I connected the two of them and they have been working together ever since! She was even able to BQ (Boston Qualify) this spring with his training help. 🙂 So proud of her! He’s great, btw, if you’re looking for a coach in the DC area – here’s his website with his packages/rates. Fun seeing you, Clay!

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Anyway, back to the workout! We ran about 1.5 ish miles to the track as a warm up, then sped things up once we got there, doing about 2 miles fast around the track, then jogged the 1.5 miles back.

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The run back was along the beautiful Custis Trail – it’s so nice and green now!

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GREAT run. It felt good (well, not really GOOD… gratifying, I guess – you know what I mean) to go faster. We plan to do this more often!

Splits:

  • Mile 1: 8:47
  • Mile 2: 8:10
  • Mile 3: 7:21 (woot!)
  • Mile 4: 8:35
  • Mile 5: 8:45

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On to the rest of the workday. Are you a fan of track workouts?

Have a good one!

—

Of interest:

- anne

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20 comments
  • Divya @ Eat. Teach. Blog.
    I loveeeee track workouts, but I feel like I got really spoiled in college with our UCLA Drake Stadium which was amaaaaazing. No other track will ever live up to it, hahaha. But I do miss my workouts there!
    Reply
  • mary @ minutes per mile
    love the track! this makes me miss sweet old W&L. Tip: I always tried to avoid it on Tuesday mornings -- it's crowded with 50+ Capital Area Runner people!
    Reply
    • Anne
      There actually weren't a ton of people there this morning - not sure why!
      Reply
  • Jana @ Bananas for Balance
    I love track workouts! I do one every Tuesday morning too and am already seeing results so it's extra incentive to get there. Our workout today was 4 x 800s and 2 x 400s, short and sweet!
    Reply
  • Anna @ ThatDAMMRunner
    I love track workouts! I also like short and sweet! Did you do intervals this morning or did you just do 2 miles straight through?
    Reply
    • Anne
      Just straight through - less thinking. ;)
      Reply
  • Brittany
    I've been doing sprint workouts (I really love a few I've found on rugby training webites) for about five years in the DC area. I actually love mixing it up and sprinting on the turf... highly recommend for a break from the pavement pounng! For people in the District, Galludet University has a great track open in the mornings : )
    Reply
  • Sara @ Running Around The Charles
    Nice track workout... I haven't really ever did a track workout but after my half marathon this weekend I want to revisit my workout routine and add some stuff in such as speed track workouts and some strength training again! :) Sara
    Reply
  • Roadrunner
    Awesome to see the monument reopened! Thanks! And, on track workouts: they are painful but necessary, as you know! Can't run fast in a race without speed work in training...
    Reply
  • Stephanie @ Whole Health Dork
    I actually have a track about 1/2 mile from my house. There are usually high school sports going on whenever I'm there so I don't run around it, but I need to check it out on the weekends for sure! Do you switch up the direction or do you always go counter clockwise?
    Reply
    • Anne
      We switched the direction halfway through!
      Reply
  • Jojo @ RunFastEatLots
    I've been meaning to do track workouts, but I never do! I guess me and the track were just never meant to be. I do speedwork around my neighborhood
    Reply
  • Bre & Ree
    The scaffolding was terrible! I visit DC once a year in August to visit my parents so glad to see that the monument is back to it's old self. I don't have a track near me, but I've turned a loop around my neighborhood into a pseudo track so I can get my speed work done. I'm excited to get to DC this summer because the running there is absolutely beautiful! ~Bre
    Reply
  • Jenni @ Fitzala
    Love track workouts- I get such a great high off of them! And they don't take long :) Thanks for the link love!
    Reply
  • Lisa @ Exercise eat repeat
    I am not the biggest fan of track running. i used to go once a week and never really got into it. I much prefer road or trail running. It looks like you are having some wonderful sunny weather and it has not been too bad over her either.
    Reply
  • Dietitian Jess
    I need to get in some speed work before my next half marathon, I just hate track running, but it definitely pays off! I'll be in DC over the summer, can't wait to check out the monument reopened- It has been closed every time I've been to DC previously.
    Reply
  • Lauren @ The Bikini Experiment
    I think track workouts are great. I like the environment and there's opportunities to work in drill and strength exercises. Looks like you are having some good weather there too!
    Reply
  • Sokphal
    Didn't know the monument was now open! And I live here! Great run for "Tempo Tuesday"! Loved seeing Clay as well! I actually don't know what I'd do if we saw each other in regular clothes. :)
    Reply