That is a beautiful area you're running through and it's amazing how the environment can inspire, isn't it? I live just outside of DC and sometimes I'll do my long runs like a running tour through the District. Instead of deciding how long or how far I want to go, I pick out which sites I want to visit. I've ran a lot of races down there so sometimes I'll do the Cherry Blossom Ten Mile race route, The Army Ten Miler route, or a portion of the Marine Corps Marathon route or something like that. With the Pentagon being there and the town filled with prior military, one always finds someone running somewhere so that's inspiring, too.

Like MikeDaMarine and another gentlemen said, it's definately a Marine thing when I picture myself running in formation and fall back into that frame of mind. My oldest son finished his gig in the Corps as well and after boot camp he confessed that he looked at me and figured if I could survive it, he could too. Little weasel. I told him I may be a fat old white guy now (I-Can't-See-My-Feet Dude) but back in the day I could have taken him. I DO know I'm running more now than back then, so sometimes I also imagine myself running with him. He does ok to about 5 mi. or so, but as we add miles he starts to fall out. Yeah, how do you like the old man now, laughing boy?

It's tough to accept the fact that I'll never have a really good pace (I'll-Get-There-When-I-Get-There Man) but I played baseball, football and hockey as a kid so I constantly have to remind myself that I'm not a natural distance runner, especially when I go to races and see people "warming up" at a pace faster than I can sprint. Pencil-necked Heathens. But the races are fun to do and it's a real sense of accomplishment when I finish (Where's-My-Bagel-And-Banana Boy).

BTW: If anyone wants a REAL kick in the pants and you haven't done so yet, get some friends together and do a relay. 12 people, 200 miles, 24 hrs. Now THAT will make you feel superhuman!

Chunky you aren't kidding about the 24 hour relay. I did one back in 94 at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro. 10 man teams. Some rocket scientist had stated if you can run a 24 hour relay, a marathon should not be a problem. I haven't run a marathon yet. I will though. I am glad I ran it just to say I did it.

Being one of the slower guys out there, my challenge was to run sub 9's as long as I could, our wager was the first one to go over 9 minutes bought lunch the next day. I lasted for about 4 hours until one of my teammates broke the 9 min mark. Funny things happen while running at 3 am.

There was a local High School cross country team out there that won the whole thing, those little @#$%^&*'s ! pretty much ran sub 6's the whole time.

Our team ended up running 186 miles in 24 hours.

Glad I won't have to do that again.

ansmitty,

I've got chills just thinking about it. I have heard nothing but great things about the MCM. Should I still be CONUS next year that is my goal. I plan on running two marathons next year. I've got a few friends that work in the DC area, they have told me that running through the monuments is one of the best parts of the job.

Semper Fi

That gave me my laugh for the day!!!  I thought I was the only one out there feeling  I would keel over at any minute!! I wobble back and forth between that feeling and the "I am an Olympian!!" feeling. I've allways run alone, but this last summer one of my girlfriends decided to take up running and we occasionly run together. And this has been a huge help, we talk so much I don't even think about my breathing. i think this proves it's alot more mental than i was taking into consideration.   I love running!!!!!!