*editors note: By running a measured course in May, I discovered that all of my pedometer mileage was off for Feb/Mar/Apr by .3 miles for every mile. For example, on April 22th I thought I ran 5 miles but actually ran 5 + (.3*5) or 6.5 miles. I left the logs as originally written.

Saturday, April 14 - 4 miles - Long run on Capital Hill - I ran from the house up to Lincoln Park, to the Capital, down the mall the the Air & Space Museum and back.  The walk - run intervals suggested by the training program are really helpful.  I didn't feel wiped out at the end of the run at all.  So much that I was up for hiking with Mac in Rock Creek Park that afternoon.  I should start running earlier in the morning though - both to acclimate myself for early training runs later on and to avoid the midday tourists on the mall.

Wednesday, April 18 - AIDS Marathon Orientation Meeting - I feel like my training is back on track.  It's a good thing too because if I hadn't had a couple good runs this week, the horror stories about dehydration and over training at the Orientation Meeting would have really freaked me out.
     The two program reps running the meeting were both experience marathoners.  They both ran their first marathon with the training program.  One has gone on to run others and just ran Boston in about 3 hours - WOW.  I'll be excited if I run the Marine Corps Marathon in under 6 hours.  They kept telling stories they thought were funny about what not to do.  Some were funny but I was wondering if they were really recruiting or not.  I still feel pretty confident.
   I am looking forward to starting the group runs.  I am also a little leery.  I have never run with other people and never thought I would be into talking while running.  I guess we will see.

Sunday, April 22 - 5 miles - Wow, I wasn't sure I was going to make it. Between the heat and my shins hurting I nearly gave up at 4. Finally, my stubborn tendencies are useful. This was the first really warm run I've done. The predicted high today is 85. I started around 9 am so I missed the real heat of the day but I was still soaked with sweat when I got home.
   I knew over a month ago that I probably wasn't wearing the right shoes, but it took shin-splints to get me to do anything about it. Also, last week I ran 3 times in a row on hard concrete and was punished for it in shin splints. I've learned that there is a lot of science involved with running shoes and I need motion control shoes - shoes that keep my feet from rolling around too much as I run. I replaced my shoes and ran on the gravel by the mall - much better.
   Today, I ran along the mall. To avoid running on pavement, I took the metro to the Capital and ran along the grass and gravel to the Lincoln memorial and back. Even though the cherry blossoms are past their peak, DC is beautiful this time of year. That turned out to be shorter than I thought so I ran home from the Capital to get the last mile.
   I can tell that "walk breaks" and I are going to be good friends. The marathon training program focuses on intervals of walking and running. Right now I am doing 3 minutes of running and 1 minute of walking because those two increments are on my watch timer. The marathon program likes to do things in 1:2:4 and 6 minute increments but I only have 1:3:5 and 15 on my watch. When we start the group runs, my pace group leader will keep time.

Saturday, April 28 - 6 miles - Today's run is the kind of run that is why I like running. The weather was perfect. There was a nice cool breeze and the temperature was in the high 60's. The sun was out and at was lovely. Down by the Lincoln Memorial, it was snowing flower blossoms. And, my shins didn't really bother me. The new shoes and less pavement routine must be working. I ran the same basic route as last week but straight from the house.
I've got to get out to the mall with a camera. The people hanging out are just fascinating. This week, there is a dog show near the Capital. They will be out again tomorrow. Check back next week for photos.
The reason I've been going for 6 miles before training even officially begins is to be sure I am in good shape for next week's 3 mile pace run. Since I didn't even start feeling tired until 4 miles today, I should be in good shape for next week. I am really looking forward to the group runs now -- not in small part because they will have water stations every couple of miles. I only carry enough water for 2 miles or so and today I forgot my office keys so I couldn't refill there. Luckily it was a cool day because there aren't that many drinking fountains on the mall.