Running With Perseverance

It felt wonderful to be heading out in just a long-sleeve tech shirt and shorts–no jacket, hat or gloves required! And, I’m only mildly concerned about the warm temperatures forecast for Sunday, hoping that the day will start cool before it warms up to the 80F they are calling for.

But, this is getting ridiculous:

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

Click below  for an important announcement from the Race Director to Participants and Volunteers of the George Washington Parkway Classic, regarding contingencies for potential federal government shut down

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We are continuing to monitor the potential government shut down and possible solutions to holding the race even if a shut down does occur. We are working with our municipality partners regarding the event, and have been told we should have an answer by mid-day Thursday, April 7.

My concerns are not just about my race.  (I’m not that selfish or that obsessed, and there is a worst-case scenario contingency plan to move it to May 1st if nothing can be worked out.) As summarized in this Washington Post article:

The closure of the government, the chief industry of Washington, would affect tourists, the Mall and its museums, hundreds of thousands of federal workers and government contractors across the country, and thousands of D.C. residents who would lose city services.

Nationwide, about 800,000 federal employees could be furloughed, some deprived of their BlackBerrys and other devices, according to senior Obama administration officials familiar with the plans.

National parks and Smithsonian museums would shutter. Ford’s Theatre, a national historic site, would be closed to the public and its programming canceled. The Washington Monument would also be closed.

And, as for the National Cherry Blossom Festival parade scheduled for this weekend:

The Interior Department, which oversees the National Park Service, said in a statement: “Visitor activities that require a permit, including public events, will not be allowed or will be canceled or postponed. Visitor centers will be closed and access to park areas denied, including the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, Independence Hall, Alcatraz, and the Washington Monument.”

From what I understand, the current standoff relates to only 1% of the budget for the current fiscal year which is already half over.

Congress, enough is enough! Republicans, we know you want to cut the budget. Democrats, we know you want to retain important programs. Do the hard work that we are paying you to do, negotiate a compromise, and pass a budget.

Keep the federal government–and the GW Parkway Classic–running.