Washington, DC may seem like a place you’d never want your kids to visit, and with good reason. Kids are very impressionable and there are just way too many bad influences hanging around Washington street corners, especially Pennsylvania Avenue. There are plenty of destinations that kids will thrill to that won’t upset your future ideological expectations for kids by exposing them to whatever political party you decree to be responsible for all the problems facing America. If you pick right, your kids can actually come away from Washington, DC without even being aware that it is the center of gridlock in the American government.

The National Zoo

Not a local zoo. Not a county zoo. Not a state zoo. But the National Zoo of America. And with good reason because the National Zoo in Washington, DC is a kids’ fantasia of incredible animals that will take their breath away. The National Zoo is famous for its Giant Pandas, of course, but don’t think that those cuddly creatures are the only attraction that will delight you and your children. The National Zoo in Washington, DC is home to big cats, reptiles, ocean creatures, exotic birds, and pretty much any other type of animal that you kid is crazy about.

American Museum of Natural History

The American Museum of Natural History is more than just a collection of artifacts, mannequins and dinosaur bones. This traditional stopping place in Washington, DC has really gone high tech over the years, featuring the exciting planetary experience called SonicVision, an incredible new space show called Cosmic Collisions, and one of the most amazing IMAX film experiences in the country, featuring an ever-changing collection of must-see films. No kid will leave thismuseum complaining about how museums are boring.

Six Flags America

Bet you didn’t know there was a thrilling theme park just a half hour’s driving distance from the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument. Midway through your trip to teach your young ones all about American history and the importance of becoming politically aware, take a day off to have just good old fashioned vacation fun. All kids love Six Flags theme parks and just because Six Flags America is almost near enough to see the Capitol’s dome from its highest point doesn’t mean it isn’t the kind of place to make your kids forget all about the boring places you’ve been dragging them to. Six Flags America might well be better known as Six Flags Superheroes as many of the most thrilling thrill rides have names associated with DC Comics heroes. For instance, a trip on the Superman: Ride of Thrill rollercoaster is a guarantee to pump new life into the bodies of older kids and teens who have seen just one too many marble structures. In addition to the requisite thrill rides, Six Flags America also has tamer rides to get your smaller children back into shape for returning to the standard tourist fare in Washington, DC.

This is the third installment of Q&A with the CLT business units. We have previously interviewed our Kids team CLT group and the Outdoor team . This week features the candid responses of our Running CLT business unit!

From the left: Renea W. and Eleni D.

Question: Why are you passionate about running?

Renea: “Oddly enough, I’m not much of a runner these days. I’m more into cross training, hip hop-zumba classes, and playing volleyball.”

Eleni: “Running gives people a sense of accomplishment. No matter how bad of a day they’ve had or what’s going on in their life, after running a couple miles or even just 1, they can say that they have completed a goal. My mom who is 62 and she participated in and completed the Full Zappos.com Las Vegas Marathon last year. Although her body hurt afterwards, she was so proud of herself for finishing that she hasn’t stopped talking about it.”

Question: Other than running competitively or for exercise purposes, when have you run the fastest?

Renea: “The last time I ran real fast was back in the ’80’s (high school track). I was running from a girl who eventually passed me and kicked my butt in the race! My track career was
officially over at that point!”

Eleni: “I was walking with a friend when, from out of nowhere, a big giant horse looking dog started coming towards us and started barking. I pushed my friend in front of the dog and took off. All that dog saw was my dust!!! Sorry Lakisha, but somebody had to go for help!!” :)

Question: If you had to choose between being able to run and being
able to fly, which would you choose?

Renea: “I would rather fly because (a) I wouldn’t be stuck in traffic, (b) driving is so overrated (everybody’s doing it, and not very well!), (c) it would give me a greater sense of freedom and (d) I would save a ton of money on airline tickets and gas!”

Eleni: “I would definitely have to say Run. I would need a cape to fly. It’s not a good thing to have when there are planes and elevators or big fans around. As Edna Mode from “The Incredibles” said “No Capes”!!”

Question: What are you most excited about now that summer
has arrived?

Renea: “The fact that I’m going back home for a week (Alaska) and won’t have to deal with 100 degree temperature!”

Eleni: “Sending the kids out of town! WOO HOO!! Momma loves you but I need a break!!!”

Question: What are your 3 biggest pet peeves?

Renea: “People asking questions they already know the answer to, the SLOW clap, and drivers talking on their cell phones.

Eleni: “People who order cheeseburgers & then say with “no
cheese”(what!?!?!), patting me on my head, and Kool-Aid with only one
cup of sugar in it…YUCK!!

Question: Which summer blockbuster movies are you most excited to
see?

Renea: “There are a few…Sex and the City, Indiana Jones, and Iron Man.”

Eleni: “Kung FU Panda, Wanted, and THE HULK!!”

Question: What are your top 5 songs for the summer?

Renea: “I don’t really have any favorites…anything with a good beat!”

Eleni: “(1)“HONEY” by Erykah Badu, 2)“THE RIVER” by Noel Gourdin,(3)“CUSTOMER” by Raheem Devaughn,(4)“SUMMERTIME IN THE LBC” by The Dove Shack, and (5) Any oldies song between the years ’72-78 (The Isley Brothers mainly).”

Question: What do you love most about your job?

Renea: “The laid back atmosphere, the people I work with, the “culture” and being one of the first people to see the catered lunch carts go
by!” :)

Eleni: “Everything! The ATMOSPHERE IS OFF DA HOOK!! The vendors are friendly, and ALL of my co-workers rock!!!”

Start a training diary, it really helped me become a more serious and better runner.

When I first started running, I really wasn’t that serious about it. I’d run now and again, sometimes fast, sometimes barely jogging, and then there’d be big gaps in between where I did nothing. A few months into it though, I decided if I was going to run I needed to take it seriously.

So, among other things, I bought a blank book and started to write a training diary. Writing a training diary is a great tip for runners, as it really does focus your thoughts and goals. Also, because you can actually see your progress (and days which aren’t so good!), you feel like you’re really getting somewhere.

First thing to do to start a training diary is to buy a book. You can buy books that are set up as training diaries, but I preferred to organize my own so I bought a blank book. Once you have your book, set it up. Starting from the front, on every page, I set up columns for Date, Distance I Ran, Time I Ran In, Weather Conditions, Where I Ran and Who I Ran With. Then, starting from the back of the book, I have a section for Goals (these change weekly, so this bit has quite a lot of information in it).

About 15 pages in from the back, I set up a section for Races. Here I record when races are and if I participated in a race, how far it was and what my time was in it.

Other things you can add to your training diary if you like include the Pace Ran (there are several pace calculators online), Calories Used, Weight Loss (or gain) and other information pertinent to you. The great thing, with a blank diary, is you can set it up to be exactly what you need it to be.

There are also several places online where you can write a training diary. The problem with this though is, if the site goes down, you can’t access your diary and, if it disappears altogether, you’ve lost your diary completely. You could also set up a training diary in Microsoft Word or Excel. I prefer the feel of the actual book in my hand though and like to take it with me in my running kit when I go to races.

One thing having a training diary did for me was to help with injury prevention. I’ve pulled muscles in my knee three times while running (same knee), and couldn’t figure out what I was doing wrong. When I finally looked back at my diary, I discovered all three times I’d pulled the muscle was when I had been running courses that were hillier. Without the diary, I may not have figured this out.

So, if you’re serious about your running, buy or set up a training diary. You’ll immediately feel more organized and more like a ‘real runner’ and, if you’re like me, that’s half the battle.