Lebodome: A 68.3 Square-Mile Gym Membership

From Scott Leibowitz. Find Scott on Twitter @Lebodome or email him at [email protected]

For most organized sports, people have great and detailed stories of how they first started. Maybe it was that cute girl who loved basketball players that encouraged you to work on your jump shot, or as a kid you just loved having a catch with your dad so you excelled at little league. However, in all my years (that isn’t many) I have never heard anyone tell me they started running because they just knew it was meant for them or how fun it is. Running is just… well, just running.

In my case, it was because my high school was too small for a football team and I was too slow/uncoordinated to play soccer in the fall, so cross country was the best way to get in shape for winter basketball. Despite hating every practice and meet I participated in, I am quite thankful to have learned the art of going for a jog. It has so many benefits that I won’t list them here (that and I am not qualified to be an expert in health matters).

Best Jogs in D.C.

I will say it is one of my favorite D.C. activities. I have lived in Foggy Bottom, Chinatown and now Adams Morgan, and in each of them I have discovered different running routes. The routes have their own unique aspects, which makes running a bit more fun. Here are just some of my favorites.

The People-Watching Jogs. My personal favorite. I have seen some of the most unique Americans while running around the beautiful monuments, from mobs in cowboy hats to tourists staring at the metro map like it was writing in Sanskrit. The Mall, as a loop, is great, with it being two miles from Capitol steps to the Lincoln Memorial. For more downtown people, try the Pennsylvania Avenue bike lane and enjoy sweating while watching people in suits struggle. It’s great.

BLOG UPDATE: Thanks to great readers we have found out that running in the bike lane is not only unsafe and frowned upon, but actually illegal. Thanks, Nicole. As a runner I would love a runner’s lane one day…

The Scenery Jogs. If you know where you are going and in the mood for a few miles, a jog to Roosevelt Island is always nice. Also running along the Potamac River during the Spring is gorgeous, especially during Cherry Blossom season. These runs tend to be longer and more grueling, but, in the end, are more rewarding.

The Zoo Jog. This has become my new favorite. Being that the National Zoo is free for all visitors, if you run to the zoo, you can take a short break by just walking around there. Nothing breaks up a weekend long run like some pandas. Plus, this run also has great people watching.

D.C. is a town full of runners. While some people love to run for the solitude of it all, others enjoy groups, and for that I recommend the DC Road Runners. Also, for any information about races, loops and other running info, check out the Washington Running Report. So lace up your sneakers, get a good strech and smile when you’re out there, because what could be better than running… besides just about everything else…

So Borderstan, where do you like to run?? Would love to hear your routes, thoughts and funny stories from the pavement.

Links! Links! Ice Cold Links!

• HBO documentary about real life people trying to be Superheroes. Funny stuff.
• The world champion Yo-Yo’er.
• If you love cats don’t watch this. If you dislike cats, enjoy. (NSFW)