Down on the Boardwalk

 This week I experienced the Virginia Beach boardwalk the way that everyone should, with the one I love (my wife Kristin). 

Though I had been to Virginia Beach many times, I had never traversed the entire length of the boardwalk.  I was under the impression that it was a bit longer. Turns out that it is a short yet beautiful three mile stretch of concrete pathway, approximately 28 feet wide that is paralleled by a an asphalt bike trail on one side with sand and ocean on the other.  At various points along the path you find an assortment of statues representing the beach front culture that spans from ocean life, heroic memorials, mythological characters of the sea, and surfer life style.  I hope that anyone that visits that area makes time in their schedule to make the out and back journey in its entirety, the way it was meant to be experienced.

I decided mid-week that I would be running the boardwalk during our visit with our family that lives in Virginia beach this weekend.  When I presented the idea of making it a bit of a couple's outing by taking the bike and experiencing the boardwalk together. I was happy to learn that Kristin really liked the idea of it being an "us" thing and not just a "me" thing.

On Sunday morning 23 Sept 2012 we woke up with the beach front journey on our mind.  We packed a bag with sweatshirts, water, and a towel and made the short 15 minute drive to the beach.  Upon arrival we think that the parking was expensive ($10) but we were blessed with wonderful weather--overcast and 55 degrees, with a bit of wind.  I knew that it was going to be an amazing outing.

 

We unloaded the bike and made our way to the beginning of the boardwalk near "Rudee Inlet".  Before starting, we took a few pictures of the ocean, ourselves, and the surfer statues that longingly stare at the ocean.  She mounted the bike and I began to open a stride. The first thing that became evident as we began our trip was that the wind at the beach was definitely stronger than what it was in town and it was the perfect embodiment of what we all know as a headwind.  It affected Kristin a lot more than it affected me.  It seems that the runner has less of a challenge than a biker does when wind is involved. In fact it was almost the same type of advantage as up hills give to the runner.

I found the pace to be a slow grind for the full length of the boardwalk, which ends at 48th street.  But it did allow me great opportunity to take in the sights.  We even took a break just long enough to get a few pictures.  The statue of King Neptune is definitely the most photographed sculpture along this path, so much so that it was actually hard not to get tourists posing next to it in our pictures.

The funny thing about Kristin's wind disadvantage is how quickly it turned to an advantage when we turned back for our return trip.  It is a good thing that I saw all that I need to see on the trip down, because she worked me by averaging just under 7 minute miles all the way back to the inlet.  I am so glad that I was embracing the moment during the first half and not taunting her in her difficult times.  Though I think that she took some joy in knowing that she worked me over with what was a comfortable peddle for her.

I hope that we get a chance to traverse some miles together in this way more often.  I really enjoyed her company and am glad that we experienced this route together.  She made it an absolutely unforgettably enjoyable 6 mile jaunt.