grateful for running

By | February 6, 2022

words of advice, via Mom

Baseball, cheesecake and naps. Not a cheese cake person, but there was ice cream.

this week is always hard on the heels of grandma’s anniversary last week.  My beloved aunt, who was really like a second grandmother and took care of me fro when I was five weeks old, died January 31, 2013 and Dad would have turned 83 on February 3. It’s bittersweet, but I chose to focus on the memories of the 25+ years I had with both. So glad to have this week and month in the rear view and glad the weather let me get out and play. Toss up this week whether running or fresh air was the mental health medicine. Probably both.

this. Always this.

January was surprisingly miles heavy despite a number of oh fuck it, it’s too cold to go out days and feeling like I wasn’t running as much.

GoTheDist:

  • 364,821 steps
  • 176.1 miles run/walked
  • 97.36 miles “run” (includes last weekend’s penguin pace)

Other than running where I was .26 miles short (amazing, considering January 2021 was half in Florida), I’m up on 2021 which is nice to find especially since I wasn’t targeting it. We’re not going to talk about how far I already am off my reading goal.

Kodiak clearly read my post last week!

This made me laugh so hard when I was placing an online order. Although butterscotch syrup might make Kodiak more palatable!

Weekly Run Down with Deborah and Kim:

 

frozen blue skies

  • rewinding to Sunday: I did indeed get out to penguin. Found that it wasn’t as icy as I feared and where I chose to run on the snow, it was navigable if not exactly runnable. It was a beautiful day with the sun making all the difference

magic Monday mornings

  • never miss a Monday: lots of Central Park running this week with the river path not exactly navigable. I will never complain about extra Central Park runs, especially when the sky was so spectacular.
  • Tuesday: busy work day, but I got in a strength class with Coco to celebrate 1200! to keep the 30m/3m streak and daily strength challenge alive,       .

sun-kissed snow

mischief managed

  • Wednesday: when a friend asks if you want to meet to run Central Park you say what time? I didn’t plan on six miles before work, but you know what it’s like when you get to talking. All good, except for that I was ready to gnaw my hand off well before lunch!

rain run!

perfect to honor this beach lover

  • Thursday: office run group was a schedule casualty, but I knew I needed to run. Summer 2020 I realized that 2.3.39 was 6.2 miles and it became my longest run following the IT Band mess. That was the “plan” for Thursday with 3.9 as a fall back since I knew 8.3 wasn’t happening. At one point I looked at my watch and couldn’t believe my pace, nor how few miles I’d gone. I wondered what was wrong. And then I realized it was accidentally in a walk when it didn’t auto pause at lights. Oops. I stopped the watch at 2.3 and saw it had switched from a run to a walk mid workout. Never seen that happen before. So while my pace was off, it wasn’t that far off, and the distance was what I expected it to be. Hey watch, no stressing me out! I did some mental math and figured Fred would get me the 2.5 I needed with a slight run past home if necessary. Well that turned into 3, oops.  I cannot math on the run before or after coffee, apparently. After all the layers, funny to wear only a tee under the windbreaker. This is the jacket I bought on a whim before 2019 Fred, and seriously top running investment.
  • Friday: Less ravenous than last week’s ten, but I need a better Friday breakfast plan if Thursday is turning into a mid-long run regularly. Off day except for a walk at lunch and some strength. My body needed this day off after two back to back six mile runs.

at least the view was glorious

  • Saturday: wasn’t feeling a run, and it was the rare run where getting out the door didn’t overcome that. Had a headache and just bleh. Once I started walking, well.. you know how that goes. Called it good at five and focused on my hydration the rest of the evening. Not even stressed – could have happened in three weeks when I have to run 13.1 I think those runs just happen.
  • Sunday: spectating friends running the Manhattan 10K and a walk with a visiting friend. Outside time is just the best. Headache is gone so I do think it was poor sleep, hydration.

23 thoughts on “grateful for running

  1. Darlene S. Cardillo

    Love your Central Park pix. Keep them coming. See you there in 3 weeks.

    I had 96 miles in January which is a lot considering how cold it was.

    But getting out the door is the hardest part as we know. At least Elizabeth had sun today. And less windy than yesterday. Hope she did well.

    I’m a ice cream person. You know that. No cheese cake either. Blech.

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      I just missed Elizabeth at the finish, but she had a great race. Was colder today than yours mostly because of the wind.
      We really need to do that ice cream run one day since it’s your religion and I love Governors Island

      Reply
    1. cari Post author

      Playing outside is just the best. As long as there’s no icy rain I’ll go out

      Reply
  2. Wendy

    Very impressive miles for January! I suppose that living in NYC, you do a ton of walking. I’m working to remedy my pathetic mileage this month. I’ve got some spring races to train for. I’m still using my pool running day as my ‘4th’running day, tho. It’s giving me all kinds of benefits, including one less day of pounding.

    I like baseball, cheesecake, and ice cream, not necessarily at the same time, lol. Not a napper tho, because I have enough trouble sleeping at night as it is…

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      Normally yes, but we’re still work from home so not as much as I could be walking. There are days like today though where I don’t feel like I walked much, but apparently it was six miles!

      I loved the soft-serve ice cream in helmets as a kid. We’re getting a minor league baseball team next season and I wonder if they’ll have them.

      One less day of pounding for the win, but could not get through marathon training wihtout naps

      Reply
  3. Jessie

    Gorgeous sunrise pic! I love cheesecake, but actually don’t remember the last time I had some…I saw a recipe to make it in the insta pot so I might have to try that.

    Great week, way to get out there! Morning runs definitely get that metabolism going, I usually have a second breakfast before lunch 🙂

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      Thank you. The weather was fun if cold this week.

      Shalane and Elyse having me onto the second breakfast idea. I think my body has acclimated to four morning miles, but those extra two were asking a lot of my metabolism.

      My sister in law was telling me about instant pot cakes. I’m definitely curious if you try it.

      Reply
  4. Kimberly Hatting

    I love that quote about making everyone understand your journey. Total truth! Cheesecake, YUM!!! I’d love the opportunity to run Central Park, and would definitely be replying with “What time” if someone asked me about running with them, LOL.

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      so when are you coming to visit 😀 We could do a run between museums too, or public art

      Reply
  5. Kim G

    Love the quote you featured at the beginning of your blog post <3

    I'm not a huge baseball fan, but give me all the ice cream and cheesecake, lol.

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      I found that somewhere, and had to steal it.
      No baseball is OK –he also loved our Giants

      Reply
  6. Deborah Brooks

    Super impressive miles this month! Not a cheesecake person either but I love cheese. Weird huh? Love all of your NYC photos and really hope I get to come back up sometime soon

    Reply
  7. Chocolaterunsjudy

    Hugs on the losses but cheers to the memories! We have many losses in January, unfortunately.

    Sounds like ultimately it was a great week!

    I do like cheesecake. Not my fav, though. My mom used to really love it — she basically doesn’t like anything anymore. Getting old can really suck, but I wish you’d had more time with your loved ones. For my Dad it was carrot cake. Another thing I like, will eat, but do not crave. PB & Chocolate all the way — and my parents didn’t like PB. Things that make you go hmmm . .. .

    Reply
  8. Coco

    I’m glad you’re at a place where the happy memories can get you through the sad days. (((Hugs))) I love all your NYC pics. I miss scenic runs but can’t quit Scooby. 😉

    Cheesecake used to be my husband’s favorite. I’m not sure if his tastes have changed, or if I just stopped making it. 😉

    Reply
  9. Jenny

    Baseball and naps, yes! Running really served you well this week. Love your pictures- you really make NY look beautiful in the winter!

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      I have to say it is beautiful right after the snow falls. It then turns to slush and mud, but there’s just something about the park

      Reply
  10. Marcia

    Love your frozen pics, although I well know how challenging it is to get out in said frozen weather. Impressive January miles for you girlfriend! Both my grandparents died in January. Makes me reminisce about all the time that passes day by day, getting us from there to now.

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      This weather is just…. special.
      Same with mine, although I don’t remember my grandfather as much as I was only 12 when he died.

      Reply
  11. Shathiso

    Give me cheesecake any day! Love it even more than ice-cream! Very impressive mileage for January and your views are always so glorious! Sending you lots of hugs and strength – so many beautiful memories to hold on to xxx

    Reply
  12. Jenn

    <3 <3 <3 I'm sorry that this was such a rough week. Sending you lots of hugs from down here.

    I am glad you had a lot of ways to take your mind off things. Cheesecake isn't really my favorite either, so three cheers for ice cream.

    Reply
  13. Michelle

    Excellent mileage! My miles were anemic – hopefully, Mother N will be kinder.

    I so love your Central Park pics – always makes me miss NYC.

    I’m sorry it’s been a tough week – lots of hugs to you my friend.

    Reply
  14. MCM Mama

    Nice job on the miles! Love the pictures of Central Park. I haven’t been to NYC in a long time – hopefully sometime soon after Covid settles down.

    Hope you have a better week next week.

    Reply

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