Reading, and running. And more reading

By | May 12, 2019

So much reading this week. I finished Tommy Tomlinson’s excellent The Elephant in the Room, am reading Tom Piazza’s Why New Orleans Matters ahead of a visit to New Orleans and on Tuesday night went to Dr. Jill Biden’s 92nd Street Y event for Where the Light Enters. I love having allthebooks going at once, but really wish I could get into audio books for reading on the run.

Other posts this week:

Weekly run down with Kim and Deborah:

  • Sunday: aka where I left off last week. Not only did I not run, but I went to a restaurant and sat down to eat. Eating in my lap gets old eventually. A low key day with cut & color was good ahead of a late night with the Lortel Awards. Mental days off are as important as physical.

here we go loop de loop!

  • Monday: never miss a Monday in a big way.  I usually don’t bother posting my run maps, but this one just makes me laugh. I don’t know the long routes ex-work so this was some extra loops to pick up mileage. Especially the little curlicue at the bottom right.  This felt good. The bridle path was good cushioning, and it was wonderfully serene and muddy.  Was seven miles, despite Strava seeing it as 6.99 and ergo 6.9. Mileage thief!
  • Tuesday: off. Well sort of. No formal exercise but weather that facilitated walking to a morning meeting and to Dr. Biden’s book launch event after work. 18K steps was enough for me not to call it an off day. Staying out of politics here, but it was really interesting to hear her interviewed by Tara Westover due to their very different experiences with and in the American educational system. Has anyone read Educated? I read and reviewed one of Joe Biden’s books, haven’t pushed myself to read his second about Beau’s death. Curious to see where Jill Biden’s shakes out in terms of love, loss & politics. I liked her line from the dialogue that she told him she couldn’t live his life, she needed to live her own life and therefore continued teaching. She is believed to be the first Second Lady to hold a full-time job.

oh dear

  • Wednesday: my foot was tender from crappy (non running) shoes so I stuck to an out and back on the bridle path with a loop around the reservoir. Legs felt good.
  • Thursday: office run group, Harlem Hills edition. We were nowhere near as fast as last Tuesday, but faster than last Thursday. Harlem HIlls still suck less than Cat Hill, and in some ways the first of the West Side Rollers. These hills will pay off,  yes they will. I’m really loving the weekday night medium long ish runs.
  • Friday: off. Heading up to mom’s and sore ankle needs a break. It’s fine & not running related, just too much walking/commuting in crappy women’s shoes and all the rain = aching joints.
  • Saturday: meant to be a long run, but I was feeling off. Turned into a three mile walk/run and I was OK with that. Listening to my body. There’s been plenty of mileage this week.
  • Sunday: off.

Plan for Week:

  • Monday: run
  • Tuesday: run or cross
  • Wednesday: cross/off
  • Thursday: office run group
  • Friday: maybe run, likely off with last minute conference planning
  • Saturday: New Orleans bound!

Blog likely hit or miss until I return. One day I’ll be a phone blogger. 🙂

24 thoughts on “Reading, and running. And more reading

  1. Wendy

    I can’t get into audiobooks either! I like to read and ponder, I guess. I read Normal People in a day. THAT was a good read. I just finished The Rise of the Ultra Runners. It comes out this week. I’ll be reviewing it on Friday on my blog but it was really good.

    Have fun in NOLA!

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      Funny, I texted Liz from the book store I was in upstate that I’d spotted Rise of the Ultra Runners in a shop, yet it supposedly wasn’t out here yet. Long live small, indy bookshops. I didn’t get it though – no space in my bag or on my shelves for a hard back. Can’t wait to read your review when I do get a copy

      Reply
  2. deborahbrooks14

    I tried a few audio books and liked them for when I was on walks. I am excited to read some meaningless beach books this week. Thanks for linking up

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      I need to get my summer reading game on. Reading the new Alafair Burke from the library but otherwise it’s all non fiction

      Reply
  3. Kim at Running on the Fly

    I don’t do much “phone blogging,” either. If I have downtime (as a passenger in a car, for example), I might attempt reading a short blog…but it’s hard to read if I have to be constantly enlarging and curser-ing up& down (and back & forth). Not my idea of enjoyable reading LOL Thanks for linking with us 😉

    Reply
  4. Marcia

    I’m not a huge audiobook fan as I’m all about controlling the pace at which I read. Ha! OMG to phone blogging. There’s no way I’m doing that. Have fun with your mom!

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      YES on pace. and being able to flip back when I’ve zoned out

      Reply
  5. kookyrunner

    I have the WordPress app on my phone but I don’t really use it. It’s just easier for me to do any blog work from my laptop, especially when trying to add images.

    So fun that you’re going to NOLA this weekend – have a blast!

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      I contemplated bringing my laptop, but once I realized I wouldn’t need it for anything work wise, I decided I didn’t want the weight or one more device to charge.

      Reply
  6. Rabbit Food Runner

    I can’t do audiobooks when I run but I am allll about them on commutes. This weekend I had a 4 hour drive (2 there, 2 back) and made a good dent in my new book “The Girl Who Fell From the Sky.” And I don’t think I’ll ever be a phone blogger – the app is too clunky for me.

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      I”ve heard such good things about that book, might have to get it for my trip. Thanks for the reminder. and DITTO re: app clunkiness. I tried once from Florida and ended up borrowing my mom’s laptop instead

      Reply
  7. Darlene

    I’ve heard good things about the Elephant in the Room..have to add it to my ever growing list of books to read.

    Yes mental health breaks are very important.

    I’ve only listened to audiobooks while driving but that was before podcasts. I don’t when I run…I try to just relax and take in the scenery or listen to music

    Did you go to the Book House in Stuyvesant plaza?

    .
    Enjoy New Orleans! Hope you get in a fun run.

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      Yep! Book House was wonderful trouble. I found Finn’s Rise of the Ultra Runners and Meb’s new one, but didn’t have space for hard covers. Bought some stuff for the kids. Elephant in the Room was amazing. Just posted my Goodreads review. So fun to hear a man’s weight loss memoir
      Mom loves audiobooks so we did 1.5 on the drive to Florida. I just can’t get into them and definitely not for running. Maybe on the treadmill if I need to distract myself. Might have helped Tuesday

      Reply
  8. Chocolaterunsjudy

    NOLA is likely to be extremely hot & humid at this time of year (but hopefully not under water, I know they’ve had some flooding — usually it doesn’t make it to downtown).

    I do enjoy audiobooks, actually! Just started this year. But I don’t listen on the run, as I like to take notes (depends on what I’m listening to, of course).

    As long as you don’t run too many of them, hills always do pay off!

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      Yeah, I’m going to be running indoors all/most of this trip. Hopefully knowing & planning for that will keep the ” I hate the treadmill, can’t stay on” moments away

      Reply
      1. Chocolaterunsjudy

        I don’t mind my treadmill at home (sort of). I think a lot of it has to do with your mental talk. Calling it the dreadmill, for instance, almost guarantees a dreadful time!

        Have fun. It’s a great city.

        Reply
  9. Zenaida Arroyo

    Bummer about that 6.9 miles run. One time I think I was at 8.97 or something like that. I was annoyed for a bit but then just let it go. 🙂

    I am not a big fan of audiobooks since I prefer to sit down and hold the book I am reading.

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      It didn’t seriously bother me, just made me laugh most of all. How on earth is 6.99 6.9? StravaMath is a hysterical thing

      Reply
    1. cari Post author

      It is a thing — but this thread is reassuring me I’m not the only luddite 🙂
      I can & do read Kindles, but yeah there’s nothing like a physical book

      Reply
  10. Debbie @ Deb Runs

    I hope you had a great trip to New Orleans! That’s one part of the country that I haven’t had the chance to visit.

    I’m a one book at a time reader, but my husband often has a couple going at once… I think I’d get confused. LOL We’re both old school with wanting to hold a real book, though.

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      I had an amazing time. I still need to recap that part of it.
      I can be a one or multiple book reader. Generally depends on subject matter if they’re going to confuse me.
      I like Kindle for portability

      Reply

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