Hello - at the top of the lower end of the Metropolitan Branch Trail you get spit out next to the Dew Drop Inn onto 8th ST where there is a 2 way bike lane, a one way road for cars, and a sidewalk on one side. Genuine question, where is the runner supposed to go? The sidewalk is full of pedestrians and dogs most of the time who have the right away. I often have a difficult time getting around folks and I also dont want to run them over for walking. Alternatively, I see many runners use the bike lane. I have also tried this and feel like I am now the inhibitor and am at risk of being run down by a bike in their own space. Going over one block often has the same sidewalk congestion and 8th street is the official pathway for the MBT. Is there a correct answer here?

Also lol first world problems.

After running on the MBT many mornings for the past few years, the morning commute bikers (especially the good amount that are using motorized bikes/scooters) are the worst.

Not only do they absolutely bomb down the MBT with zero regard for others (I personally have been grazed multiple times and I know others have as well), but they act like it’s the pedestrians fault. There will be a serious injury or collision like the one near Penn Ave unless something is done (I’m honestly surprised this hasn’t happened already). Personally, I think there should be speed bumps on some of the main straightaways.

I honestly find it safer running along cars on side streets than using the MBT anytime in the morning. Especially as you get closer to the Noma metro.

Maybe I’m overreacting, but it scares the heck out of me when a bike zooms past me, no ring. Especially when another person is also coming from the opposite direction.

Unsure based on current fitness if I would make the Paris cutoff, so advice is appreciated.

After 2 years of running, I (31 F, 5’0”) still consider myself very much a beginner and run 2x a week. My MPW is pretty low, averaging around 6-8 miles during training blocks, maxing out at 9 and 11 miles. Last year I did the dc half in 3:39 and last month in 3:19. I also ran the army 10 miler a couple of weeks ago in 2:26.

I would LOVE to run the Paris half in March, but the cutoff is 2:50. Which seems nearly impossible in such a short time, but it doesn’t hurt to at least ask before telling myself no. Otherwise, I’ll do the dc rock n roll half in March instead, which has a 4 hour cutoff.

For strength training, I do a weekly 2-hour weight lifting session that targets upper, lower, and core. I’m working to do a pull up by the end of the year (currently at 10 scapula pull-ups). I finish my workouts with 10 mins of core, then by holding a plank for 3 minutes (goal is 5).

I had some medical issues this summer that prevented me from running for 4 months and only started back up again consistently in August. With only 6 weeks of training, I was quite pleasantly surprised that my HM time was 20 mins faster than last year. I largely attribute it to strength training, which started in July.

So the question is - how feasible would it be to go from 3:19 to 2:50 in 4.5 months with dedicated, optimal training? Should I do the rock n roll half instead and try Paris the year after? In 2027 I plan to run the Paris / rock n roll half, Juneteenth half and the dc half. Then maybe in Dec start planning for a full, but I’m trying not to get ahead of myself hahaha