Checking off two states in a single day!

I’ve got lots of travel coming up for work this month, which means I get to check lots of states off of my “50 state” goal list. Yesterday, I got to check off both Pennsylvania and Maryland in a single day, on two very different runs.

My training plan called for 4 miles on Thursday this week. I had a 7 am meeting, but a break from 12-2 so I was planning on getting the run done over lunch. Instead, I had a lovely long lunch with an old friend which absolutely a better way to spend my time! I woke up early on Friday morning and headed out to get my 4 miles done a day late. I’d done some research before I came out to Philadelphia and knew I was a little over a mile away from the Philadelphia Museum of Art, complete with the famous steps that Rocky ran up in the training montage of the movie. 🙂

There’s even a statue of Rocky at the base of the steps.

I ran out there, with the sun coming up over the city skyline. It was a great, chilly day for a run! There were lots of people out running and well protected sidewalk space for the most part. I got to the art museum and ran up the steps (of course). After several failed attempts at selfies on top of the steps, I walked back down. I decided that walking down was a much safer choice to keep me from injuring myself! There’s a little park around the museum and then a fantastic trail along the river that hooks into the park.

The sidewalks along Ben Franklin Parkway were so nice for runners!

The Art Museum is a gorgeous building!

It was so peaceful and beautiful on the river trail, that I ended up running longer than I planned for the day! I was at almost 5 miles by the time I got back to my hotel.

The river trail

The trail was more than a little hilly in spots

I worked a few hours and then got a train to Baltimore for the next part of my trip. When I arrived in Baltimore, it was grey and starting to rain. My hotel is right on the waterfront and I had a break of about 45 minutes before my meeting started. I decided to head out to finish out 6 miles, which Saturday’s prescribed run. I’d been planning on doing the 6 miles on the treadmill, unfortunately, because from everything I’d read before coming Baltimore isn’t the safest city to run around by yourself in the dark and I’d have to run either really early or really late Saturday because of my work commitments. Doing a split run that at least got to be outside is definitely preferable to 6 miles on the treadmill.

I quickly changed and headed out for a run along the waterfront. Somehow the gloomy weather enhanced the run. 🙂

There’s a great paved path along the waterfront.

Oh so many boats!

In Baltimore, I also ended up going a little longer than I was supposed to but it was just such a pleasant trot along the water. I’m very glad to have gotten my 6 miles done this way rather than the treadmill. I’ll do 4 miles on the treadmill today, which is infinitely preferable to 6 miles.

I will confess it is very tempting to hop over to DC to check it off while I’m so close. If I had a week hanging out in New England, I could check off lots of states since things are all so close here!

I hope everyone has a great weekend! Tomorrow I’ll be heading home from Baltimore and looking forward to getting back to my guys in Nebraska. I’m overdue for hugs and kisses. 🙂

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