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Anathon

July 17, 2019 (Morning)

Exercise Type: Run

Comments:
Got to run with the amazing Lil' G! Given how excited she sounded in her running log last week when she crossed the park for the first time, I decided I would show her a bit more of what the eastern side of DC had to offer, without venturing into any neighborhoods that might be unsafe. We met at 8am which was really the only sane time to run given this heat and were still already dripping with sweat before the run even started. We crossed the park pretty directly from the Gunthery, popping out at Whitter Street and 16th.

I had thought about showing her the other secret Rittenhouse Street across the park or exploring the grounds of old Walter Reed Medical Center, but instead, I just started wandering north along Georgia Ave with a spark of adventure in the back of my mind. I didn't want to admit to myself what I had in mind for fear it would turn out to be too far away, but before I knew it we'd arrived at the Maryland border with Silver Spring and made our way up Eastern Ave toward the top of the city. It was then I decided that we simply had to go to a secret destination I had once discovered with my friend Andy Beast Garin on an epic run many years before...perhaps even when I was Ana's age. I'm pretty sure the first (and only) time I went there was in the age before GPS on phones, when I had to consult a map beforehand and remember the twists and turns as best I could. In any case, we finally found this secret historical landmark, hidden deep in the woods, guarded by untold bushels of poison ivy for good measure.

After pausing to inspect the sacred site and pose for photos, we made our way back down through Rock Creek until we hit upon the construction blocking off Wise Road. I tried to see if there was a trail we could take to avoid it, but we came immediately to a creek crossing for which the closed off bridge was the only way across... or so I thought. It was at this point that Ana mentioned, casually, almost as an afterthought, that she'd always wanted to cross a creek in a place where there were no stones to hop across on. As one might image, a minute later I found myself up to my waist it muddy, possibly sewagy, creek water, with my trusty sidekick/instigator not far behind (she at least had then sense to take off her shoes and hold them above her head as she crossed). Being the responsible adult in this situation, I went first, and as the the water rose first time my belly, then my rid cage, and then almost to my shoulders, I began to wonder just how tall Ana was. As the video shows, the water only ended up reaching the bottom or her braids. She must have watched me and found better places to step than I, or else she's lighter and didn't sink into the mud like I did. The first thing she said when she emerged sopping wet on the opposite bank was "no regrets!" so I felt like the run had been a success. Afterwards, we continued our run much refreshed and made it back to the Gunthery drilling creek water and sweat onto Mr. and Mrs. Gunther's hardwood floor, but no matter. All in all, a delightful run.

Total mileage includes my half mile between the Gunthery and my parents' house.