Cherry Blossoms & Best Friends.

I just got back last night from a wonderful weekend away in the nation's capitol. For the second year in a row, my best friend from college and I have been lucky enough to get into the lottery that awards you a spot in the Cherry Blossom 10 mile race. It is one of the prettiest races I've ever run, winding around the Washington Monument and the cherry blossoms all in full bloom.

We started out Friday night checking into our hotel, about two blocks from the White House, and headed to Old Ebbit Grill from some dinner and cocktails. Sorry these photos are dark. I decided against lugging my dslr on the trip and am now regretting that decision.

best friends + cocktails = happiness.

It was so fun to catch up. Living hours away from all of your very best friends totally sucks.
Anyone else in the same boat? It had been about five months since we'd seen each other, so we definitely made up for lost time.

Saturday morning we headed to the National Building Museum, the site of the race expo, to pick up our numbers. We encountered a line that looped all the way around the museum grounds. A bit crazy, and much less organized than last year. 

Once we were all set with race day prep, we hit the streets of downtown DC for some shopping. It's what we do best. I have been on the hunt for a blazer, a la Megan from Across the Pond, for months now. I think it was fate that as we walked up 14th street to the National Museum, we passed a Zara. See, Rhode Island isn't blessed with a Zara, and I was planning a trip up to Boston soon, but...this was fate. Wouldn't you know they had exactly what I was looking for?

Some of my purchases.
Light pink blazer, perfect for spring & cool summer nights, and stripes...I'm a sucker for them lately.

Saturday night entailed a pre-race pasta dinner and dessert in Georgetown.

Little side note: When I headed down to DC on Friday, I was considering not running the race. With my crazy schedule lately, my training had not been what I'd hoped for. Best friend, above, convinced me I should just run it anyway, so I did. Not worried about time, not concerned if I had to walk. Just run it for fun.

Washington Monument at sunrise & Cherry Blossoms as I ran my 8th mile.

And although my legs might tell another story today, I'm so glad I did. The morning started out cool, in the 40's, but as the sun rose, it warmed up quick and I had worked up a sweat by the third mile.
Blue skies & sunshine, can't beat that!

My favorite photo of the weekend, taken with my phone during the run.

We've already scheduled our next girl's weekend for the summer and I can hardly wait.

Anyone else have a little spring getaway this weekend?