Monday, July 10, 2006

Beach Comber


So I've been away on the annual family vacation . . . to Hampton Beach, NH. It's the largest stretch of beach on New Hampshire's mere 18 miles of coastline. We've been going there since I was born . . . and even before that! My mother was taken there as a child with her family. So three generations have been going back there almost every summer for sun, sand, and sea.

The good news is I managed to get three runs in while there. Two with my brother, one with my nephew (sort of . . . he's so damn fast). It was good to have the company and it's a place of many memories, so I'm never bored as I jog along.

The weather was really stunning. Not too hot and always a sea breeze to keep me cool. Of course, the first run it was more like a head wind and I was pretty miserable on the trip back because of it, but I can't complain - it kept me cooler.

It's fun to watch the day start on the beach. Things are still pretty quiet (even on the 4th) and you see regulars with their coffee and doughnuts from Dunkin' Doughnuts (yup, Starbucks is a rare find up there) sitting on benches enjoying the morning air.

The days I didn't run I took long walks along the beach or lazed in a sand chair and read. The water is way too cold for me to swim . . . which is too bad because I would love to get out there and ride the waves with my nieces and nephews. ALAS! I'm a wimp.

So now I'm back and have two weeks before the big move and will need to release some stress through running. Tonight is margarita Monday, but I've been known to get out there running even after enjoying my share of a pitcher. So, I'm going to have to grin and bear the heat and humidity of DC. Not every day is a beach day!

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