At first glance, St. Thomas‘ pristine beaches and ideal weather leads visitors to believe they landed in paradise. That’s until they step off the plane or cruise ship. After climbing into a taxi to get to Red Hook or Charlotte Amalie, attitudes begin to change.

There is no denying the beauty of the island. But when visitors look out the window, they see a St. Thomas excluded from brochures.

I saw many homes that appeared to be abandoned or falling down. School children boldly walked on the side of narrow roads to get home. Islanders in general, did not seem happy. I wanted to know why. I found some answers in the words of a taxi driver named Stanley.

Before coming to St. Thomas, I never considered the Virgin Islands to be a part of the United States. It’s not that I dismissed it; I simply never thought of the island. Stanley told me islanders like to know what is going on in the mainland. They like to talk about it and debate. But they cannot vote in any of its elections. While it seems as though islanders see this as an injustice, Stanley said people have no desire to become a state.

St. Thomas relies on tourism. Taxi drivers (see taxi rates) know which ships are docked and what times passengers need to board. The main shopping area in St. Thomas is Charlotte Amalie. It’s designed to remind visitors of the island’s Danish history. Visitors are encouraged to buy duty-free jewelry, rum and tobacco. Each visitor is allowed $1600 in duty-free goods.

But by 5 pm, the area shuts down. Stores abruptly close and its windows and doors are boarded up for the night. Even some of it’s famous restaurants close down when the ships horns summon its passengers back to the bay. This entire experience is not authentic. It was created for tourists.

I wanted to watch the local news. Stanley told me Channel 2 (CBS) and Channel 8 (ABC) had local affiliates on the island. Although their news is much different from what I’m used to seeing, I found the newscasts and its local commercials very informative.

One of the commercials was about incest. Incest. That topic is definitely not mentioned in any brochure. The commercial seemed to be a public service announcement attempting to educate islanders about the topic. The narrator kept repeating: “Incest is illegal.” It had dramatizations of an older woman, a middle-aged woman, and a child saying it happened to them. And again, the narrator repeats: “Incest is illegal.” It encouraged people to contact authorities and report the abuse. My jaw dropped.

Could it be that this is a new concept to people living in St. Thomas? I wonder how islanders receive sex education. I didn’t know who, or how, to ask. I’m still baffled.

On Channel 8, a topic about sexual assault echoed the same theme. This time, a counselor was interviewed. She again repeated that it was wrong and should be reported. But she also mentioned that sex is difficult to talk about on St. Thomas. She was promoting a public event geared toward high school students to educate them about what is and is not considered a sexual assault.

Many of the local commercials promoted restaurants and shops. I noticed that most of the people featured were white. Yet, according to the CIA World Factbook, more than 76 percent of residents in St. Thomas are black. Why the disparity?

The island bends over backwards for tourists. But in doing so, it seems it has lost some of its identity. I had a hard time figuring out what the island is all about. I had a hard time understanding its culture. What are it’s traditional dishes? I still don’t know.

I got to know Stanley the best during the last hour of the trip. I asked him question after question. I learned the most about the island’s culture from him. In retrospect, I wish I would have gotten to know Stanley better. Instead of staying in the tourist areas, I would have asked him to show me his island. Perhaps meet his family. Learn what he and his neighbors care about after the tourists leave. That would have been a treat.

Popularity: 1% [?]

I brought my camera with me during my 13.1 mile run down the Vegas Strip. I only looked at my watch a few times, and surprised myself by finishing in 2:13.50. It’s not a personal best, but this was one of THE BEST races… ever!

I dressed as Elvis, complete with sun glasses and side burns. But I failed to account for the cold December Vegas weather: temperatures in the low 30s. And I wore shorts.

Luckily, I packed a white wind breaker and wore it under my costume. It helped, but I certainly was not warm.

I left Patrick near the starting line so I could find the Running Elvi. We were all supposed to run together. But I could never find an organized group. The only regret I have during this race is not being at the starting line with Patrick.

I finally found a place near some Elvi with strollers featuring pictures and music of the King. I enjoyed listening to the tunes and I must have completely missed hearing Cher sing the Star Spangled Banner (bummer– I love Cher!). Soon, we crossed the start line where a band played and old-time show girls stood near large cages with two white tigers. Awesome!

As we ran south from Mandalay Bay, I began wondering why I was doing this. I hadn’t gone a mile, but I couldn’t feel my legs. A few strides in a different direction and I could be inside– sitting at a casino. And I’d be warm. I kept thinking of something I heard about the Vegas race in the past: once you run it, you’ll never walk the strip the same way again. I wanted to know how that felt.

I watched the sun rise as I ran around the Las Vegas welcome sign. One runner fell, but I was too far away to help. I began feeling a nice stride. But I was still cold.

Although I brought my iPod with me, I never turned it on. I knew that would be the case during the first mile. The music, excitement and wonderful cheers from spectators encouraged me to simply take in the scene. I brought my camera with me on the run so I could document all the crazy things. I loved seeing other running Elvi!

I made some friends during my run. By Mile 7, I met Kevin McCarthy. I ran up to him because he was wearing a Rock ‘n’ Roll Virginia Beach shirt. I said, “Great race!” And we talked the rest of the way. It was helpful to run with someone who had my same pace. He kept me going. If I were running alone, there were several times I would have stopped.

The only times I walked were when I got water, Cytomax, or had a GU. I never stopped to take a picture. I simply ran with my camera held high in the air. I took more than 300 pictures during the run. While many of them were blurry– several turned out perfect. I love looking through them to relive the race.

By the time I reached mile 12, I was convinced I would have to stop and walk. But Keven encouraged me to keep going. Next thing I knew, I was sprinting. I mean REALLY sprinting! I was running about as fast as Jillian has contestants run on the treadmill during The Biggest Loser. And I finished strong.

I started racing past dozens of people as I rounded the last .1 of the half marathon. Soon, I crossed the finish line and got my medal. I made it! And in true Vegas fashion, I promptly got my picture taken with a show girl and her blue boa. Can’t wait to see those pictures!

This is a race I’d love to run again! I failed to train properly, but it didn’t matter. The tall buildings on the strip seemed dwarfed while I ran the half marathon. I felt I could conquer anything. And the mid-30 degree temperatures didn’t deter the ran whatsoever.

After the race, I went to the First Aid tent to get ice for my knees and right leg (IT Band area). I was a bit out of it when they gave me the ice. I placed it on my knee and realized it felt warm. I looked at the nurse and said, “The ice is hot. Can I get cold ice?” I then realized the ice wasn’t hot. My leg was so cold that it felt warm. Weird.

I stretched a bit, ate a banana, changed into some sweats, and warmed up inside before meeting up with my group. Patrick, Steve and Kelly all finished with excellent times and for Patrick, it was a personal best. After the race, we all ate at The Buffet at the Wynn! I’m so proud to have accomplished this race, and do so dressed as Elvis!

PHOTO GALLERY:

Popularity: 17% [?]

I’m training for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon at Virginia  Beach. The race is September 6, and the finish line is on the beach!

My goal is to complete this race and just enjoy myself. It’s my first Rock ‘n’ Roll race which means there will be 20 bands playing while I run past, and there will be 17 cheerleading squads to help me keep moving along.

After crossing the finish line, I’ll likely spend an hour stretching and recovering. Then I plan to go back to the hotel for a shower and to change. After that, I’ll be attending the Finish Line Beach Party. And that night, there will be a concert on the beach. I’m excited to have such a big celebration for completing the race!

Virginia Beach Race Course:

I’ll be running five races this year:

APRIL 5: Cherry Blossom 10-Miler

MAY 3: Frederick Half Marathon

SEPTEMBER 6: Virginia Beach Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon

OCTOBER 10: Baltimore Half Marathon

DECEMBER 6: Las Vegas Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon

Right now, I’m staying focused on my Virginia Beach Half Marathon. It’s 13.1 miles. Doesn’t seem like a lot, but I could truly hurt myself if I don’t train correctly.

I’ve been having problems staying hydrated and keeping up my momentum. I need to drink more water, and even carry water and GU with me while I run. I also need to get some better music for my iPod. I’ve been listening to the same music for nearly three years. It doesn’t keep me moving anymore. I’m thinking about downloading Katy Perry’s “Waking Up in Vegas,” and making that the main theme.

I’m sticking with Hal Higdon’s Novice II marathon training guide. I’m basically training for a full marathon. My two half-marathons will fit in nicely with the schedule. I am also doing TNT Fitness personal training (circuit training) twice a week. My trainer, Rani, works with me and about four other people at once. It helps to train in a group setting.

I plan to record my journey by recording a short video after my long runs and uploading them to YouTube. I’ll continue to post my newest videos in this blog, and on my homepage. Sorry about the quality– it’s cell phone video. But it makes it easy for me to stick to my goal.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8. GOAL: RUN 8 MILES. COMPLETED: 8 MILES. SUCCESS!

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5. GOAL: RUN 5 MILES. COMPLETED: 5 MILES. SUCCESS!

MONDAY, AUGUST 3. GOAL: RUN 3 MILES. COMPLETED: 3.5 MILES. SUCCESS!

SUNDAY, JULY 26. GOAL: RUN 6 MILES. COMPLETED: 4.5 MILES RUNNING, 1.5 MILES WALKING. STATUS QUO.

Popularity: 29% [?]

I experienced my first Embassy event tonight in Ireland. Thanks to Things To Do DC, I was able to experience authentic Irish food, music, and dance. Of course, I didn’t dance. This is the second event I’ve attended through Things To Do DC. (The first is the bartending event). There must have been about 150 people who came. My favorite memories of the night:

The Irish dancers who seemed to float all over the floor with their tap shoes.

The live band that included a Banjo, Mandelin, and Recorder (aka Fipple Flute).

The incredible food. Okay– mostly the salmon. I never had salmon so good!

Popularity: 58% [?]

I did it!!! I ran my first race!!! I’m sooooooooo happy!!!

Saturday morning I met my friend Suzie in Bethesda. We drove to the Building Museum to pick up our race packets. We got our t-shirts and bibs. We also spent some time looking at running shirts, socks, and gathered some information about other races around the country. Suzie bought a stick to massage her legs. She also got some great shirts that said “Will run for wine,” and such. After we grabbed lunch, I rushed to work.

I had to work late Saturday night. Well, I didn’t have to, but I was really interested in my story and wanted to spend extra time making it look perfect. Plus, it’s the longest story I’ve done at WUSA 9 to date (at 1:45). I left work feeling very proud of my story.

I got home after midnight. I started to freak out. I was tired, nervous, and hadn’t even had time to look at my race packet. The stress set in. I hurriedly got ready for bed. I felt there was no time to do anything. I set my alarms for 5 a.m. and shuddered at the fact I could only get a few hours to sleep. I just wanted my race to be perfect.

Luckily, Patrick slowed me down. I asked him how he felt the night before his marathon. He said he felt the same way. Nervous– like there’s something important we forgot to do. He told me to spend a few minutes reading my race packet. I was glad I did. I realized it didn’t say anything I didn’t already know. So I could rest easy.

My alarm went off at 5 a.m. I didn’t want to go. I wanted to quit and ignore all my training. But when I started to put on my race outfit (my favorite workout shirt) I got excited. I couldn’t wait. I had Patrick take some pictures of me and then we headed to the Rockville Metro to meet Suzie.

The Metro opened at 5 a.m. for the race, and the trains were packed. We got off at the Smithsonian exit and followed the crowds of people toward the starting point. By that time, I had to use the restroom. The lines to the port-a-potties was over an hour long. There was no way I would be able to get in there and get to the starting line in time. So, I just held it, (I know, I know– way too much information).

I lined up with the Red Wave, and was soon running with the pack. Well, not really running with the pack. Everyone was passing me up like I was standing still. I tried running as fast as I could without going too fast. But it wasn’t enough. Why was this happening?

It took me about three miles to realize the Red Wave was for people running 9-minute miles. Um… I was running 11-minute miles. I miscalculated my running speed and was nearly getting trampled over. It took more than five miles before people with my pace caught up with me. Until mile five, I hadn’t passed anyone.

At mile seven, my tummy started hurting. It was because I didn’t have a chance to use the restroom earlier. I realized I would have to stop and use a johnny-on-the-spot. I lost nearly four minutes. But it was worth it. I was able to up my pacing. I took two water breaks and a Gatorade break. But the two miles felt impossible.

I was happy to hear the sound of cow bells. Some of the spectators brought them, and signs. Most were for specific runners, but a few of the people cheered on all the runners. They brought tears to my eyes. Every time I felt I couldn’t run one more step, I would look up at one of these people and make eye contact. They would say, “Keep going!” “You’re almost there!” “You can do it!” It made me feel like I could.

I wanted so bad to stop and walk, but I didn’t want to disappoint those cheering me on. It was tough. Right after I passed mile nine, there were people handing out little cups of beer. One woman shouted, “You need carbs!” Yes, yes I did need some carbs. The beer tasted horrible, but it gave me a boost.

The last mile was the hardest. I kept looking for the finish line, but it felt like it would never come. I thought to myself, “I’ll never do this again. What was I thinking?” Finally, I rounded a corner and saw it. A huge black and pink sign with tons of people. It was the finish line. I was so proud to have made it to the end.

I crossed it and took a look at my watch. I ran the 10-miles in 1:46:21. For me, that’s a great time– faster than 11-minute miles. I proceeded to walk and started searching for water. Not to long after, I found Patrick. He took some great pictures of me in front of the Washington Monument.

Soon after, I needed to replenish. I had a couple bananas and then we went to Chop’t in Chinatown. I had a huge salad. Then, we went back into the Cherry Blossom craziness. We walked from the National Mall to the Jefferson Memorial. We had never seen so many people at our favorite monument. We enjoyed ourselves and took a bunch of pictures. The best part? A vendor was selling roasted nuts. I was in heaven!

We rode the Metro home and took some time getting ready for our big dinner. Patrick took me to The Melting Pot to celebrate. We spent more than three hours enjoying Wisconsin cheese, our salads, lobster and meat, and then… and then… White chocolate with strawberries, marshmallows, and cheesecake. It was incredible. We got home around 9:30 p.m. and just crashed.

I had Monday off, so I slept in and relaxed. The running coupled with the relaxing and satisfying meal left me feeling amazing. I had no stress– no worries. It felt like all the toxins were out of my body. I spent the day cleaning the apartment and calling up friends and family to tell them about the race.

I’m still very proud of myself for finishing my first race. Now I’m looking at other races to train for. I’m still on my runner’s high and all I want to do is run, run, and run. And then go to Melting Pot!

Popularity: 42% [?]

Patrick, Rob and I went to a three-hour bartending class today at the Professional Bartending School in Arlington, Virginia. We went with the Things To Do DC group. Our instructor, Tim, taught us about the history of Highball Drinks (how it started in the 1800s with the railroad), how to mix properly, how to garnish drinks, and how to pour (which is a fun science).

I have to admit… I’m a novice to this. The entire process of making a drink has always been a mystery to me, and anytime I’ve tried to make one on my own, it gets poured out immediately (it just tastes awful!) So this is my chance to learn. The only problem– we were learning with water and food dye. There was no way to taste and make sure we made the drinks properly. Even so, it was great practice. I’m actually comfortable behind the bar! (At least when there’s no alcohol or drunks!)

The best piece of advice I got was the four-second rule. There’s an ounce of liquor poured into each drink, and you can usually get the proper amount by turning the bottle completely upside down and counting 1… 2… 3… 4.

Tips and Tricks

Highball Drinks:
-Fill a highball glass with ice
-Pour one ounce of liquor (by tipping the bottle upside down and counting to four)
-Fill with mix
-Put on some garnish
Popular Highballers: Rum and Coke, Cape Codder (which I’ve never tried), Bay Breeze, Woo Woo (the first I’ve heard of this), and Tequila Sunrise (my first drink ever!)

Rocks (Liquor/Liqueur) Drinks:
-Always prepare these on the rocks, unless “straight up”
-Mix in a Mixing Cup with Ice
-Pour into a cocktail Glass
Popular Rocks: Black Russian (Yuck!), Rusty Nail, Vodka Gimlet, Kamikaze Cocktail (very, very good)

Sour Mix Drinks:
-Base ingredient in all sours is Sour Mix
-Use a mixing glass and add ice
-Talls have soda added
-Serve in tall glasses
-Almost always include a garnish
Popular Sours: Tom Collins (I’ve never tried), Margarita, Whiskey Sour, Blue Hawaiian

Martinis and Manhattans
-Always ask someone how they want their drink
-Always pour Vermouth first, then liquor, and stir with a long bar spoon.
Popular Martinis and Manhattans: Vodka Martini (including the James Bond– Shaken, not Stirred!) Manhattan, Cosmopolitan (for us Sex and the City fans), and Sour Apple Martini

Shooters
-Add Ice to Mixing Cup
-Add Ingredients
-Swirl, Strain and Pour.
-Nothing fancy… these are fast drinks
Popular Shooters: Um… well… these all have nasty names, so I can’t repeat them. Sorry!

Popularity: 43% [?]