Doubling Up and Running Down

By | September 27, 2020

suburban bliss

It has been so long since being away over a weekend necessitated doubling up on a weekly run down post.  As much as I love my city, I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed escaping for a long weekend. Family, apple picking, a porch to sit/read on, a patio to eat on… City life is my home, but sometimes, especially when I haven’t left the city in six months, suburbs are therapy. I was glad we could find a way where I could safely visit with Mom & Bob, although it was nice to get home and remove the mask for a while.

There were two races this weekend and I’m curious to hear how they went. I’m not sure I’m ready for a group run yet-even one with many tiny waves – especially as the infection rate has inched up here. But I hope for NYRR and NYCRuns’ sake that they go off without a hitch.

Alas, I didn’t have a chance until this second Sunday to write this, so some details are lost. Linking up with Kim and Deborah, and promising a reading catchup too. I did learn this month that while I don’t love hills, I can do bridges and they won’t kill me.

Week of September 14:

end of summer pedi

  • planned missing a Monday due to needing a down week. Got to enjoy the new chair to watch the Giants lose. Again. On the plus side, taking out my AC and getting a fall hued pedi ushered in some lovely running weather.
  • Tuesday: usual morning five mile loop is a little more peoply with some schools back in session.

sparkly city!

  • Wednesday: it gets dark early! After work meander.
  • Thursday: off.  Early and late meetings.

come to me apples!

board games in the age of Covid19

  • Friday: off. First two days off in a while. Not for need, but because I was escaping and didn’t get up on time. Unlike Thursday, which was a complete off day, there were some apple picking steps and a walk into town for dinner.  Friday night board games has always been A Thing and we weren’t going to let Covid get in the way, especially since mom finally found the rules to Tribond, which we loved as kids.

mid-run silliness

balanced breakfast post-apple picking

all the apples

all the things they became

  • Saturday: part of the reason I took off Friday was that I wanted to run the new TZ Bridge while home. It is stunning, if breezy on a fall morning. I can’t speak as a biker, but the path seemed wide enough that everyone could use it without crowds. Early morning hours helped. The rest of the day was applicious. We had a failed apple jam turned rock candy, but there was apple pie, better apple jam and much eating of the overage.

football watching in the age of Covid

  • Sunday: actually tried to watch from the porch since it was so nice out, but there was too much glare. Giants lost, again, and I had a gelato bet to pay on from Monday’s loss so Mom & I walked into town before I went home. I won’t lie – if I’d brought my laptop, I’d probably still be there.  It was so

Week of September 21:

goodnight moon

  • never miss a Monday: this run drifted to after work, but that was stunning twilight and reminded me of while I became a morning runner in quarantime, after-work runs can be lovely too. One of these days I’ll be out for both sunrise and sunset.
  • Tuesday: the other reason I needed to run the bridge Saturday and not Sunday was I knew I couldn’t run Tuesday with meetings that went from 830a-9p. Hello chair, ass fusion.

adventures in udon in the instant pot

  • Wednesday: luckily no early meeting and I scooted out for a slightly shorter than normal run, but it was so good to get a move on. For the second day I made udon in the instant pot. Could they have turned out more different?!? Both edible. I finally found a pharmacy with flu shots in stock and got mine done.
  • Thursday: another early meeting made for an after-work run. I don’t usually run the river in the evening, but it worked out better timing wise, and I enjoyed nature’s water color. The return loop south was kind of challenging from the headlight glare from the FDR. Definitely need a better solution if I’m going to do more riverside evening runs.

hi Dino friend

  • FriYAY: what does Friday mean anymore? Trying for a little normalcy with some Friday museums, which were always a habit. I was pleased to see there were tickets available for AMNH, and I went to spend time with some of my favorite dead friends. And yes, some social media silliness, because life is too short not to be silly. While I loved suburbia, this was a clear why city life is good for me, I decided to go to a museum and walked there after work. It’s not impossible in the city, but it’s not as easy either.

Four Freedoms Park public art project

    • Saturday: itching for a different run. When I ran to Queens over Labor Day I passed the bridge to Roosevelt Island and wanted to, but knew I didn’t have another three miles in my legs that day. Friday night I plotted a route that would get me to RI, which I hadn’t run in three years. The run was great and luckily cooler than the Squirrel Stampede. This public art project was a pleasant surprise as I thought it finished in August, but was extended and I just caught it before it comes down at month’s end. My math and route planning were slightly off, so one loop of RI left me with eight miles, which was just fine. Timing was perfect and I caught the ferry home. I really love the new Astoria extension. I do not love this Zensah mask, even in cooler temperatures. It’s fine for shorter distances, but not eight miles. I’ve definitely become a bridge and ferry person in these times. After a long stretch, I went for sushi. Pleasantly surprised to need to wait – I’m so glad they’re busy. The city just extended outdoor dining year-round and I really hope this works for all the restaurants.
    • Sunday: going for a walk to stretch tight hip before watching all the football. Some things are just the same as last year. ETA: went to JackRabbit looking for resistance bands as I lost mine somewhere between mom & Bob’s and my house. Found this quad loop which looks amazing/intense and exactly what I need as even if I go back to the gym, not using shared bands.

 

22 thoughts on “Doubling Up and Running Down

  1. Kim G

    So glad that you had a great long weekend away – it sounds like it’s just what you needed to recharge!
    I’m a little nervous about the NYRR and NYCRUNS races – I think it’s too soon but hopefully everything goes okay (fingers crossed). I lived on Roosevelt Island for 2 years after I graduated from grad school – it was a pretty unique place and I liked it!

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      Me too. At least they’re geographically separate when they’re on the same weekend. I ran past a building where I’d looked at an apartment, it was an eerie deja vu. It was out of my budget and I’m glad I stayed on Manhattan, but it would have been something different for sure.

      Reply
  2. Deborah Brooks

    It is nice to escape for a weekend! Looks like a fun time. I also love to run over bridges. When I finally get back to NYC we can do that together! I do pedis in the winter time just less often otherwise it’s just too gross lol. Glad to see you logging the pain free miles on the regular. Our new covid board game is RummyKub

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      Yes! 59th Street is super convenient to your hotel. That would be fun
      Ooh I love Rummy, need to look into RummyKub. Not familiar!

      Reply
  3. Darlene S. Cardillo

    So glad you got to escape and visit your mom.

    I do miss racing and NYC.

    Happy you take a lot if pics so I’m living through you.

    I do keep checking NYRR and nyruns.

    Reply
  4. Marcia

    How nice to have a geataway and look at that apple bonanza! How fun to make all the things. The IP udon looks good too!

    Reply
  5. Wendy

    Glad you got away–isn’t a change of scenery so nice? And it makes you appreciate home too.

    Believe it or not, I’ve got a live race next weekend. Should be interesting!

    Reply
  6. Chocolaterunsjudy

    Sounds like you’ve ben keeping busy! I’ve had delivery sushi a few times, Mr. Judy sticks more to Chinese (combo Chinese/Japanese restaurants). Probably because it’s cheaper.

    I’ve never lived in a big city, but my guess is I really do prefer suburbia. Love to visit, but enjoy being in nature too much. Not that you can’t get nature in the city, obviously, but it’s more work!

    Glad you were able to escape for some fun with your mom & Bob.

    Reply
  7. Coco

    Nice that you got some time away. Love the apples and what they became! Apple pie is the best! Working in my basement I don’t realize how dark it’s getting until I climb up the stairs and can see out the kitchen window — this week I was at my computer past 6 a few days and each day surprised how dark it was already. My morning runs are dark unless I make Scooby wait until after 6 am to go out. I don’t necessarily see more people, but I have noticed more traffic on the road.

    Reply
  8. Kimberly Hatting

    Sounds like such a nice getaway! I’m jealous of all those apples! We have an apple orchard maybe (?) 30 miles away, but I have never been…my bad.

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      This is the orchard we used to go to as kids, so it was super fun to find it open for the season. We went midday Friday and it really wasn’t crowded. The farmstand didn’t have cider, but they had cider donuts and I was AOK with that

      Reply
  9. Jessie

    So glad you were able to get away! I know you’re a city gal, but the fresh air and green space is a nice change, I’m sure!

    You have quite the collection of masks. Maybe more than me 🙂

    Reply
  10. Lisa @ Mile by Mile

    So glad you were able to get away! I am also nervous about in-person races. I kind of want to see how they go for a few months and maybe I would consider it in the spring.

    Reply
  11. Shathiso

    So happy you got a nice break away from the city. That balance is so critical – city living offers so much but sometimes a bit of down-time is just what the body needs especially when you get to spend some valuable time with your parents too. I’m yearning for in-person races, but not sure what I would do if one was actually announced! I suspect I would still be quite hesitant to sign up.

    Reply
  12. Jenn

    That udon looks pretty damn good!

    The Dolphins and the Hurricanes both won so that was pretty great. And we will be apple picking in just over a week, and I cannot wait!

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      I was in town one day for NYG/Dolphins. That was a fun live game. One of the few stadiums I’ve been to for two sports since I went to a Marlins game there too. I’m a Notre Dame fan so we’ll not talk about Miami :p
      Enjoy your apple picking. Udon tasted much better than it looked, luckily

      Reply
  13. Zenaida Arroyo

    I love your weekend getaways! You always do something fun.

    I’ve never had udon but that looks yummy.

    Great color for your pedicure.

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      Thank you! Love my purples
      Udon is one of my favorite fall foods. Comforting, but not heavy

      Reply
    1. cari Post author

      Enjoy! I grew up in the suburbs but after experiencing city life in Japan and Spain I realized It’s what works for me. If I needed more space it would be different

      Reply
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