*Insert Clever Pun About Running for Office Here*

I would never think to call myself a runner at Ohio State (and probably still wouldn’t here in DC). That title was always reserved for people like my mom, who has woken up at 5:45 am to get a quick four miles in before work practically every day since she was born probably. Or for people like one of our faithful leaders, (cough cough) Julie Manuzsak who casually trained for and ran a marathon while juggling her internship, paper, and the rest of the WAIP grind.

But since moving to Washington, running has surprisingly been my go-to way to learn the intricacies of our neighborhood. Waking up before work or a Friday study tour to go out for a half an hour jog through the residential quarter around Capitol Hill has given me additional insight into what living here (as an incredibly wealthy lobbyist) might look like one day. It has also been an unmatched opportunity to people-watch. Our neighborhood in the morning is bubbling over with dads pushing strollers of adorable, hazy-eyed toddlers and flawlessly polished professional women in pantsuits walking their dogs at 6:30 am.

Then, roughly two weeks into my internship, when waking up before work got increasingly exhausting, going for a night jog along the Mall to the Lincoln Memorial or the Tidal Basin became a recent and necessary development. Now that the summer heat has slowly begun to creep into the city and make walking during the day slightly unbearable, running after sundown basically the singular way to be outdoors without immediately melting into a business-casual puddle. And to theater-geek out for just a moment, listening to the Hamilton soundtrack while running down the Mall along the lit up monuments, past the buildings that were inspired by this nation's history, is incredibly satisfying.

Following other ambitious WAIPers’ initiatives to get out and run has gotten me closer to some members of the cohort as well. There’s nothing like panting breathlessly up the Hill to make you feel more comfortable around someone. And if running isn't really your thing, I've found that taking long solitary walks to Lincoln Park to get some fresh air on weekends has really helped me embrace my true identity of a retiree who just wants to be alone and listen to her podcasts.

Phoebe Potiker