I am not super familiar with Pokemon Go, but I remember when it was A Thing a few years ago. I didn’t realize that was still true, so I was taken very much by surprise when I ran into Go Fest on what’s typically a fairly sleepy Randalls Island. That, and 62 degree temperatures! made for a fun long-ish run, a sentence not often said in August. Linking up with Deborah and Kim to talk about the last couple of weeks.
Running:
definitely not Manhattan
nor Summer Streets
but coming home is lovely
Last week was our annual trip to Stowe and it’s really fun to have time away/together. I see mom & Bob with some regularity but usually when I see my brother, sister-in-law and the kids it’s a birthday or the holidays – nice to have a trip where we have no external forces and can do whatever appeals-like corn mazes, gondola rides, mini putt and Return of the Jedi on a rainy night. Running is always more fun when it’s 58 degrees-even humid, and there’s just some magic in not running on the asphalt.
I continue to run a mix of the gym and outdoor when home. I don’t mind the treadmill and see it (and the rower on off days) as valuable tools, but I prefer to run outdoors -probably always will. Was grateful to see Saturday’s forecast of 62 with a wind and I can honestly say I’ve never had a more fun August NYC run. OK, I lie – Wegmans on the cusp of opening during one of my 20 milers was fun, but that was a different kind of fun.
Am I ready for the Bronx 10 miler? Absolutely not. Can I get through it without injuring myself? Yes. 8.5 was tiring but not so that I couldn’t have pulled another 1.5 out if I needed to – especially on race adrenaline. Going to try for 9 next week so that vacation is a taper. I really thought I had a weekend between my return and the race. Oh well. And yes, Hal Higdon app absolutely yelling at me for inverting my runs.
Arting:
a Pirouetting rhino isn’t on every corner?
I’m not sure what I think about AI Art, but this was cute
BPL for Book of HOV
Stowe Craft critters
The well-known, full-size dancing hippo moved from Lincoln Square to Pershing last year, but I was walking home from dinner and pleasantly surprised to stumble on a smaller set Wednesday night. Art can be serious, but it can also make you laugh, which this and the Stowe critters do annually. Book of HOV was an accidental stop on Friday when a friend and I went to Brooklyn to see the Pablomatic show at the Brooklyn Museum and decided “why not” walk down the block. Having just seen the Hannah Gadsby exhibit, the library screens playing Picasso Baby was amusing. We’ve been doing a ton of work on Hip Hop 50 and I love the messaging of the exhibit – local boy done good – so it was fun to enjoy the exhibit in a non work context. I’m not a huge Jay-Z fan, but Empire State of Mind is a fun throwback to when my Yankees weren’t the Stinkees.
Recovering:
after ten trail miles in two days
when it’s too hot for mom’s porch
my favorite recovery tool
I loved running on the trails but I don’t regularly run back to back so after a run / walk to warm up and row, I took advantage of the hot tub before the long drive home. Priceless. Mom’s porch is my favorite place to sit and read, but it was a scorcher so I retreated to my other favorite. That was the den/playroom growing up and now it’s a bookworm’s playroom. Brooklyn Public Library recently made all NYS tax payers/workers eligible for a free digital card, but you have to go in person to get a “real” library card. I had no plans of doing so – I’m not there frequently enough to borrow hard copy materials – but when we went to Book of HOV. There’s a souvenir Book of HOV card but to this 80s child, there was no question.
Recent Reads I Enjoyed:
- Where Are the Children Now? I first found Alafair Burke when she co-wrote a series with Mary Higgins Clark, and I love that she revisited one of my favorites.
- Bernie’s Mitten Maker, a fun/quick read by the woman behind the mittens heard round the world at Biden’s inauguration. Jen Ellis had given them to Senator Sanders years prior through his daughter in law who ran her daughter’s childcare center. Vermont is small town, and glad to buy this from a local book shop in Burlington.
- Slow AF Run Club, I didn’t love this, but was glad to get to read it. I enjoyed his take on the running world and it would have been very helpful when I was starting out.
Any recommendations that you’ve read?
What a fun getaway with your family! I used to be an avid Pokemon Go player and I’d “walk” and hatch my Pokemon on my long runs. :p I finally deleted the app a few years ago, much to my kids’ delight. Ha! You’ll be great at your race! Have fun!
I think like Fitbit and similar it was great for getting folks up and walking, which is always good. Fun to hear the language of the catches all around me.
I think sometimes will I even see my siblings when my mom is gone? We will most likely be in 3 different states, my brother forever on the west coast (or so I think). Heck, I actually rarely see my sister because we’re usually there at different times (on purpose).
Anyway, hurray for a great vacation!
The weather was so lovely for yesterday’s run, wasn’t it? Not sure why I was so draggy, but I still enjoyed that weather for a change!
No real book recommendations right now. I tend to read a lot about hiking in the Summer — even if right now I’m not really getting to hike. The current one is kind of sad, a woman who hiked a path (I think the Buckeye trail?) and just recently was killed by a Grizzly in Yellowstone. Which is how I heard about the book. I have mixed feelings about it, knowing what ultimately happened to her.
I heard about Amie . So frightening as I definitely saw plenty of bear while there. I’m not sure I’d have felt comfortable running in either park even if the weather had cooperated in Yellowstone. Running in Jackson was great though.
Jordan and I will see each other – it’s just not easy as you know. So close yet so far.
That vacation sounds amazing!!! Trail running, reading, hot tub… and time with the family of course. And a run in 62 degrees sounds perfect. You’ll be ready for your ten mile race- you’re getting in some nice longer runs.
Both my kids were very into Pokemon Go at one point, but I never got into it. It must have been funny running into Go Fest like that.
Yes I cracked up at your recent reading/cooking post when I was writing this. Summer is so good for reading.
Love your brother niece nephew vacation.
Believe it it or not I’ve never been to Randall’s island.
The weather yesterday was delightful even with the welcome rain.
Looking forward to seeing you again. Sept 18!!
Oh we need to fix that. It’s not at all convenient, but such a treat especially when CP is crowded
Oh, gosh, I did Pokemon GO for a very short time, though it was fun. And it seemed to get kids outside and moving!
Looks like a really nice vacation Cari! How wonderful to have this time with family.
Yes! And now those “kids” have kids. The cross generation questing was fun to watch.
It really was fun. Nice tradition.
Forgot to mention that I was loving the new Ruth Ware book-a good page turning mastery. I did not know Pokémon go was still a thing either. I will take those 50’s running temps any day! Glad you had a fun few days with the family
Exactly. Fall in the morning, with summer daylight. I could get behind that.
Will look for her new one.
Your vacation in Stowe sounds like a true vacation! Yay!
Love the dancing rhino!
I noticed your 8.5 miler on IG — way to go!
It really was. That’s what I love about Stowe. Just be-ing. Agenda is whatever seems a interesting/kids are into. No “to do” and no needing a vacation from the vacation.
Thank you!
It’s nice to run in different places… and I agree running outdoors is a lot more fun, but sometimes the tread really comes in handy (for various reasons). Sadly, I don’t have one – or access to one – right now.
Sounds like a fabulous family trip! I’m glad to hear the 8.5-mile run left you feeling satisfied. It’s always nice to reach those long distances and not have much remorse 😉
LOL! I play Pokemon Go when I’m walking, and I got so many notices for GoFest! How funny!
I was thinking about a ten miler here in September but I think I’m going to do the 5K instead.
Love all the art. It must be so great to have such easy access to so many installations and exhibits.
My husband still gets his daily Pokemon Go catch (or whatever the heck you get for playing every day)!
What a lovely trip! My friend Louise is STILL into Pokemon Go – she’s got a wristband thing and we have to do wiggles when we go on a walk so she can collect them but as she says, it gets her out and about and moving. I still don’t really understand it all, though. Plenty of recs, but you’ve already read the Dean Karnazes I’ve just read …
Your time away with family sounds so relaxing and pleasant!
I remember when Pokemon Go became a thing. There was such a hype around it! I had no idea it’s still popular.
Enjoy the upcoming race prep. I couldn’t agree more about treadmills vs outdoor running.
Yay for family time – there’s nothing like it! I had an unexpected afternoon with my brother when I visited the farm two weeks ago and it was so nice!
I love all the art and how cute is that Stowe critter?