I don’t have a week of runs to run down since I spent most of the week in post-travel quarantine, so linking up with Deborah and Kim to talk other adventures in fitness.
What do manatees have to do with fitness?
I looked at them and said if they can float, so can I.
Of course it’s not that simple. But I have been trying to learn to float on and off for probably twenty years. I learned to “swim” aka keep my head above water and not drown as a kid, but never properly learned until a friend of a friend who had swam competitively decided to teach us some strokes in high school. I’m decent with the breast stroke but generally revert to doggy paddle. Pool for me = cool off rather than exercise, so that has always been fine, but I always loved how relaxing people looked when they were floating. I’d start, my butt would sink and I’d panic and put my feet down. This time after my water runs and aquarobics I decided if I couldn’t learn to float in a salt-water pool I never would.
It took me most of the two weeks, but I finally fought past the sink/panic and can sort of float. Now let’s see if I remember this the next time I’m near a pool. I’m pretty sure I’ll never be as chill as manatees just hanging out there.
I have to say, pool running, noodle aquarobics were definitely what kept me healthy running the frequency I did in Florida. Glad to have had that bit of cross training
and what kept me sane during quarantine? Marcia’s workouts and the Peloton app. Special thanks to CoCo for being my workout concierge as I figure out the app. My glutes are thrilled with the focused workouts and the dumbbells I got from a neighbor who moved are happy to be put to use. I enjoyed one of Selena’s running classes in the same way I loved Mile High where the music made it easier to pick up the pace.
Full review coming when I play more, but so far so good.
The Runs:
Monday: farewell to Delray Beach
Friday: shakeout to and from the COVID-19 testing site
This isn’t the place for that, so I’ll just offer love and hugs and an ear if anyone ever needs one.
By far the highlight of my week was celebrating my fourth running anniversary, but it was overall a really solid week of running. While on my runs I found myself reflecting even more on the year that was 2020 in running.
That shakes out at 80 miles/month over the non-injured half of the year. Thanks again Marcia for coach voicing me to stop doing what hurt. Might there be a hundred mile month in 2021? If not for the upcoming post-travel quarantine I’d say January might be a candidate as this was a solid week.
I’m used to all the challenges appearing in January in line with New Years’ resolutions, but in all the years I’ve been a Kindle user, I’ve never been offered a Kindle Challenge. It looks easy to hit and I’ll take a $5 credit. Benefit of some down time to start the year was three books read through last weekend and another nearly two this week. Best so far is Samantha Allen’s Real Queer America. Saddest? Alex Trebek’s The Answer Is (and yes I sniffled through Friday’s episode)
As a way of preparing for quarantine, I started my free Peloton trial and so far it’s fun. I really liked the foam rolling class (Thanks, Coco) and am excited to try the strength training ones when I’m home and with the new to me dumbbells. I like the idea of the free two months to really decide if it’s going to work for me. I have a feeling Deborah’s 12 of the Most Useful Features post is going to be very helpful!
Speaking of quarantine, had a bit of a digital scare this week when I got an alert from the New York COVID app that someone who tested positive was within six feet of me for over ten minutes… on December 27. I’ve tested negative in the interim, so wasn’t particularly worried, but the alert was nerve-wracking. That was a weird message to get almost two weeks later. Oddly I was only in two places that day and with one other person. I’m guessing it was someone somewhere in Central Park, because I wasn’t within six feet of anyone otherwise, and the only person I was with didn’t get an alert. Before I checked the date I assumed it was my travel day, but it wasn’t. I still haven’t decided if I’m glad for these alerts, sanity wise, but glad to know contact tracing is in place.
Linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down
good morning work week
never miss a Monday: wasn’t sure about this after Sunday’s hard run, but really wanted to get the work year off to a good start so I did a short, chill run to the beach. It’s ~ 3 mi and in my pre-coffee brain I went past 3.1 thinking 3.2 was 5K. There are worse things than an extra tenth.
Tuesday: up for a chilly sunrise around the marina and some errands.
thank you for 2020 for making me a morning runner
Wednesday: happy runversary to me! It’s funny looking at Facebook memories, I think it might have actually been January 7, but I celebrated it in the past on the 6th, so the 6th it is. Six miles, on the sixth before the world got ugly.
bonus reindeeraforementioned table
Thursday: my achilles requested and received a break from the intracoastal bridge. It’s always fun to explore the streets of this area. Aside from being out of winter, one of the best things about being here is space to eat and work and how cheap everything is. Living on salads (and, full disclosure, PB&J) and so happy. It’s even more colorful than this pic looked. And it has been *lovely* to have a table to sit at for lunch. (Spoiler, I still didn’t make it out on lunch despite thinking about cross training swim/stretch). I actually have a choice of two tables, two desks, although I’ve mostly been working from an arm chair on the terrace, because who wants to be indoors? I’m going to miss space and the ability not to eat at my desk. It’s not enough to get me to move most likely, but I’m very curious to see what rents look like when my lease is up and what I can possibly get for the same amount of money.
Friday: I wish I had a waterproof fitbit as with my pool running I probably had my step goal combined with some errands. Regardless of whether it “counted”, I really enjoy the pool cross training and it was likely a large part of what made this week’s volume work.
best mask sign
Saturday: no plans beyond vaguely “long” and wanting to avoid the expected busy sidewalks by the beach on a Saturday morning. It was “chilly” so it was never really busy, but it was nice to re-visit the New Years Eve route through downtown Delray. As a bonus, found the green market and this amusing sign. Ended up at just more than eight miles and my first long run below a 12 minute mile average in a long time. I haven’t done speed work and haven’t been trying to get faster, but I love some flat terrain. Would have been faster except I walked the uphill portion of the intracoastal bridge. Much cooler than last Sunday made this much more pleasant. I spent the afternoon with the pool (deck) to myself as it was not at all pool weather, but no way was I going to miss a chance to be outside and reading.
Sunday: short, flat shakeout meets errands. Upper right quad a little tight, and good excuse to do the foam rolling class again. More reading and, sadly, packing, as I prepare to go home.
January 6, 2017 was a cold and rainy day and I dreaded the idea of walking forever on the gym treadmill for steps. On a whim (and without a sports bra), I decided to speed up the pace a little.
January 6, 2021 I set out for four miles, but that turned into 6.1, 1.525 for every year of running because you can always do a little more than you first thought.
In between the two days I have run: one marathon, eight Half Marathons (I think), two 15Ks, 2 ten milers and countless NYRR and NYCRuns weekly races between 5 and 10K.
[bctt tweet=”Celebrating four years of running and setting 2021 goals in the #RunnersRoundup” username=”travellingcari”]
thank you for 2020 for making me a morning runner
I never marked my third running anniversary as I was injured and cranky/pissed off, but here are my posts for my first and second anniversaries as well as my third raceversary. Oh how much the world changed right after that post and my race totals are the same a year later. At least no one is looking to anyone for an explanation on why did you stop racing?
The IT Band injury started 2020 off poorly, mileage wise, and then I essentially took April off when I got tired of running through pain, yet I still ran almost 800 miles last year. I really love #GoTheDist for making those posts so easily findable, and for this fun twitter exchange with former New York Giant Osi Umenyiora last week. It’s crazy to think I’ve run 2,806.36 (like kids’ age, that decimal is important!) miles in the last four years. I’m really proud of what I’ve accomplished and what I know I can continue to.
Who I am:
I can see myself as both a marathoner, and someone who took 12 minutes to run .61 miles that first day. Sometimes I see that person in the same run. I actually think that’s normal. I’m happy to have found running again as an adult, and grateful for the enjoyment/outlet it provides me. And of course love all of you who it brought into my life.
I am a morning runner. This is new in 2020, but it’s one part of the year I hope I keep because I really love it.
I am a consistent runner. Or maybe I became one, but from July-December my mileage was steady even through weather extremes, and I didn’t let those extremes derail me. OK, maybe two things to keep from 2020!
I am an obsessive tracker. 1,853 consecutive days in MyFitnessPal and a year plus before that until I missed midnight one crazy day. 8-10 years step tracking (more on that below). I’m not sure whether those are good or bad, but they are.
Who I will be:
When I was doing weight watchers and other weight loss initiatives, I focused on mini goals (apparently to such an extent that it’s still big in my tag cloud). It’s way easier to wrap my head around a small goal than a giant one. Also, who knows what 2021 is going to bring? A lot of my 2020 mileage was courtesy of working from home for the bulk of the year. That will change. But I found when looking back at the goal posts that I really enjoyed re-reading them, so here are some mini goals for 2021 and my fifth year of running:
keep up the prehab. I truly believe that’s how I stayed pain-free the second half of 2020 with the consistent, higher mileage (for me) months. The knockoff Theragun was a great purchase, but foam rolling and stretching are wonderful tools too.
Increase my strength training. I inherited some dumbbells when a neighbor moved out and I want to do more. Or at least more consistently. I’m beginning to think about the Peloton app for that since I have wifi at home and our insurance reimbursement may even cover it.
Start the year on pace for 900 miles. That was originally my hard goal for 2021, but as I mentioned, I have no idea what running will look like once we return to the office. Even if I’m ready to return to the gym to shower at that point, there’s not really a branch close enough to facilitate run commute. So 75 miles/month until we return to the office and then re-evaluate.
Find a non-race goal to work toward. I have no idea if I’m running an in-person race in 2021 and don’t tend to treat virtual races as races. But I want to work toward something. What that something is? I don’t know. Maybe it ties in with strength training.
Re-evaluate my relationship with the step spreadsheet. This partially happened last year, but I didn’t realize it until late. I think the Fitbit is a great tool to motivate to go that extra bit, but it’s also crazy making. Beat last year, last month. Does it matter? It’s like when I threw the 30m goal out the window early in my running journey. I’ll still track my steps, and want to be better about going for walks on non running days, but does the step goal matter as much? We’ll see.
GoTheDist 2020
mostly because I want to have it when I look back next year.
and hello 2021, you’re certainly off to a beautiful start.
I’m going to do a fuller look at 2021 goals and 2020 closeout later this week when I celebrate my fourth running anniversary (!!) but short version is here.
I ran 790.67 miles on the year and ran/walked 2072.49. Really proud of both of those. I thought 2021’s 71 books wasn’t enough as it was far from my goal of 100, but it turns out it was an increase of two from 2019 so yay! I love Goodreads’ Year in Books feature. I’m still shooting for 80 in 2021.
Quick post here as I’m really enjoying the screen break this week has provided before the return to work tomorrow.
as some of you know, and also may have seen on Instagram, I decided to escape the city for a little bit. Like last time I found a way that seems to have been safe. Planned missed this Monday: as a travel day and then setting in. Some walking errands to get settled but overall the start of a wonderful disconnect and much-needed screen break.
Tuesday: four+ miles making sure the beach hadn’t run away since I was last here. I landed in a good routine of run or walk in the morning and do some pool running and aquarobics in the afternoon. Much more fun than just stretching and foam rolling.
Wednesday: morning walk, afternoon swim, read and visit with the resident manatees. Not really resident, but resident in the inlet when the water is cold.
christmas “ham” is traditional, is it not?head start on 2021
Thursday: on New Years Eve, you run for Christmas trees. Or at least I do. Really I meant to see this tree on my last visit but didn’t make it, and figured this was my last chance this holiday season. I didn’t quite make sunrise which the sun reminded me is not a smart move. Definite positive splits and needing to drink a lot on the last mile, but still a fun run.
running has brought some amazing people into my life
FriYAY: hello 2021. Kicked off the year with a short/recovery fun run to the beach. Where else would I kick off the year? The clouds allowed for a pseudo sunrise, which was great since the drawbridge kept me from making it to the beach for sunrise. It was so much fun to participate in this virtual fun run that Kim organized. While we can’t run together, I feel a lot closer to distant runners and am so grateful to all of you. Afternoon featured a four mile round trip walk. What to, you ask? Dairy Queen of course. o:)
Saturday: off, other than manatees and reading. 3 books read so far in 2020.
hello my feathered friendgood morning Delray
Sunday: Sunday long run Day. Didn’t have a plan, and only wore the watch for distance. I just set myself on cruise control and went down a path similar to my birthday run as I knew it would give me good distance. The turnaround was a little further than I thought, so I slowed pace to a walk intervals in peak sun, and found a Walgreens to buy Propel. 8.5 felt good.
Plan for the week: mark four years running on Wednesday. With what? I have no idea. USPS making giveaways annoying so we’ll see.
I don’t have it, and everyone I know is safe and healthy, I just can’t think of another description for this surreal year/holiday. I also don’t have a ton to say so have more pics than anything else.
BINGO!
Although I wouldn’t really call it hoarding, so much as buying more than normal due to being home way more than normal.
blank slateHappy Cari
You’re not supposed to have food rewards for a good run. What are the rules around drink rewards? Such a wonderful treat during a post-run soak.
never miss a Monday: river path was too icy so a surprise weekday visit with Fred and morning Central Park run. Made for some nice variety and since it was overcast there was no solstice sunrise to miss.
good morning Central Parkoh frozen wonderland
Tuesday: knew it would be a long zoom day and it was a beautiful morning so I headed to Central Park for a walk and thanks to cloud cover a bonus “sunrise” at my new favorite spot.
watercolor sunsetHarlem Meer floating tree
Wednesday: start of my Christmas break. Intended to get out sooner but a sunset run and Christmas Tree made it worth the delay as I got in Zooma’s 12Ks of Christmas with the Harlem Hills for the first time in eons. Got some fun compliments on NoxGear which was a surprise and it seems common here.
2020 version of Christmas Eve fish
Thursday: before a 3P Zoom movie date with my niece and nephew, I went out for a shakeout as my legs were sore and I knew Friday would be a soaker. Rewarded with some pink Christmas trees. The world needs a smile. We do some variation of the seven fishes in a normal year, this year? Warm enough for sushi which made me very happy, even though it ensured no white Christmas. Salmon is my essential fish any time.
Friday: speaking of smiles. The rain passed early afternoon and I was going stir crazy so I decided to visit the Twig and finish the Holidays on Fifth courtesy of a map. Santa comes via sleigh and Frosty via plane? Works for me.
holy giant inflatable!
Saturday: the best day of the week despite the drop from 50s to a wind chill of 12F. Frozen al fresco brunch with mom & Bob and I’m so glad we were able to find a way to see one another to do Christmas in this upside down year. Rocking a new hat from mom that I love, but wasn’t quite warm enough for the frigid temps. Also great to support a local restaurant. And then a chance to visit with Santa. That is one huge inflatable. 5’2 for scale, but still.
Imagine indeedfrozen wonderland
Sunday: ran to and walked with Elizabeth to spend time together in person for the first time since she ran the marathon. So lovely and necessary.
coming up on my fourth running anniversary (!!), I have a runfession… I was a fair weather runner.
I never really thought that because it wasn’t that I didn’t run if it was too hot/cold, but rather I escaped to the gym. This summer, that wasn’t an option and this winter I’m not ready to go back so the choice was run or not and… I’m running in all weather and it’s fine. You adapt, adjust. I think it’s because I just really want to run, would be different if I weren’t loving running right now.
Second runfession…I never understood the appeal of Smart Wool. Even before I was running, I was given a pair as a gift and they’re still in their packaging. I’m not a sweater wearer, and didn’t understand the appeal of them on my feet. I think you can see where this is going, especially if you saw my snow pics on Instagram.
My wonderful Elf gave me a pair of Balega Natural Fiber Performance and I opted to try those knowing Thursday would be a slush fest en route to the less-trafficked park and… many puddles later my feet were warm, dry and I ordered three more pairs. Yes, a chunk of my holiday shopping has been for me, myself and I, why do you ask… ;-D
It really is all about the clothes, not the weather.
now I just need to find my missing Yaktrax
Despite my comment about the Grinch last week, it kind of caught me by surprise that Christmas is less than a week away. Ooops. Like everything else this year it feels anticlimactic. Merry Christmas to those celebrating in whatever form it looks like this year.
planned missed Monday due to running Saturday and Sunday. Complete soaker of a day so the choice was a wise one. Some nice mail in hand-made masks I’d ordered arrived. Bottom right ended up accidentally on brand for the week.
seen on evening walkwell it’s 2020 so you never know!
Tuesday: late start, but I wanted to run because I knew I had another marathon day of meetings so I got in a quick southern loop. Wonder now if this tree still has any leaves. Schedule worked too to take a short walk after work to do some errands. Nice to see my neighborhood get in the spirit, and of course laugh at this PT sign. With so many of us in PT this year it was just fitting.
good morning world!snow kissed
Wednesday: sleep? What’s sleep? had about two hours and took advantage of that for a sunrise walk before Winter Storm Gail arrived. My insomnia hasn’t been as bad as others of late, but when it’s there, it’s THERE. Luckily the day wasn’t too heavy and I was able to duck out after some meetings to take in the first snow.
5’2 meets Mr. Plow’s driftsforever gorgeous
Thursday: SNOW DAY! Well, no, we’re working from home, but I’d already requested the day as PTO so it was a snow day for me. I waited for it to mostly stop snowing and then I went out to have some fun. A run? Sort of? Really just enjoyed every second of playing in the snow. My feet weren’t an issue at all and wearing leggings, Cuddl Dudds base layer and my new Brooks ugly sweater (last year’s was more fun), I was fine. I really think the difference is getting out the door and running, v. standing around and waiting for a race to start. Yep, I still don’t particularly miss races. I briefly contemplated the NYRR Founders Run celebrating Ted Corbitt & Fred Lebow, but it’s in Brooklyn and I’m not yet taking subways. I still don’t see myself going out in a soaking rain, but we’ll see how the winter shakes out.
it’s christmas time… in my kitchen
Friday: off, errands and a book. Nothing exciting, exactly what I wanted in a day off.
spotted cross training for Christmas Eve
Saturday: after Thursday’s fun I was eager to get back out and play in the snow again. My route was all over the place as I ran on road (clear, boring), the bridle path (snowy, but not packed), reservoir (well packed, thanks skiiers!) and great lawn (mostly clear) taking in a gorgeous Saturday in the park. My quads were feeling it in the muscles required to stay upright, but I think my PT has paid off as I never really felt unsteady. I had no plan as I’m still not really training, but 6 ish felt good so 6 ish it was. Unlike last week I wasn’t willing to stay out after dark due to the ice.
today marks nine months working from home. Our office announced it on Wednesday, March 11 and we had a transition day on the 12th to gather what we’d need “for a week” before starting to work from home on Friday the 13th. I quit tracking the weeks when I ran out of fingers, and nine months kind of snuck up on me. Time is a ridiculous mess in 2020, but it’s ridiculous to think I could have gone through an entire pregnancy in work from home time.
I’m generally happy working from home and glad to be safer than in an open plan office. The new desktop made my life so much easier (as did some other purchases) and the Instant Pot has made lunches manageable. The floor lamp and general natural light is much better than fluorescents, and I’m not as drained after being “on” all day, but I miss my colleagues. It’s going to be weird when we all see each other for the first time in probably a year by the time we’re back.
***
You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch. No, I did not watch the live action Grinch that aired this week. It looked creepy when I saw the ads during the Minions special a few weeks ago. 41 going on 5, why do you ask?
2020 has been weird in so many ways. I’m personally chuckling that it might have made me a little less grinchy. I don’t think I’m actually a Grinch (and I think The Grinch is more misunderstood), but I never really got into the holiday mania. Sure, I’m usually the reason there’s penguin and a reindeer in mom’s nativity, but going gaga for Christmas? Not me. I even contemplated getting a tree that wasn’t a Charlie Brown Twig. Oh 2020.
My accidental theme for this week, the old cheer 2…4…6…8, who do we appreciate, for reasons you’ll see below.
In non Grinchy news, Jenn, Darlene and I ran a 5K “together”
Seasons of Light. Photo (c) Jenn
I mentioned this race earlier this fall but then promptly forgot about it (and didn’t do Ted due to quarantine :() but when Jenn messaged that she thought she’d do it Tuesday, I decided to as well. Would have loved to be festive in my Brooks shirt, but it was insanely cold and can’t layer in that, so warm it was. First flurries of the year and nice to be back on my riverside path even though there was no sunrise to be seen. I’m still not a huge virtual race person but I really love the post-race hijinks we’ve gotten up to for Freihofer and Bix7 and what Liz and I did to commemorate our run together two years prior. I look forward to continuing those shenanigans in 2021.
prestochange-o!
I joined the short hair club again. I really, really wanted to be done with the dyed brown and while we couldn’t accomplish that all in this cut, it’s so much less. And lighter! Head-on pic to come when I get one that isn’t wind-blown. Grateful for an outdoor haircut as I’m not sure I’m ready to go indoors yet.
I didn’t run on Monday, but I never planned to, so I didn’t miss it in that sense. Nice morning walk to the Met Museum, reminiscent of early quarantime as that was my routine when I wasn’t running.
Tuesday: four miles including the aforementioned 5K.
Wednesday: bupkus. Could not get going and didn’t really care.
a return to midtown
Thursday: office run group meets midtown holiday lights. I hadn’t been to midtown since March and it was surreal to be only a block from my office. It was nice to see some old favorites and new additions to the holiday lights landscape.
winter sunsets are the best
Friday: actually took a lunch break for the aforementioned coffee and then a lovely walk on a mild day to and from the new Target to find my new favorite Peppermint Mocha coffee. Will walk for coffee! My steps are still 95% running, but no judgement on anything this year.
like a painting
Saturday: oh what a beautiful runset. I dilly dallyed all day but was absolutely rewarded by this scenic run. Temperatures were a perfect low-mid 50s and legs felt strong. Didn’t really have a plan but 5K felt like five minutes, five miles like 5K and then I randomly heard a young girl doing the 2,4,6,8 cheer and I knew what I was running. Actually slightly more to get home as I finished the run looping the Great Lawn as it was dark and that’s even/better lit than the reservoir. Dinner was sushi for probably the last time this winter and a strong hope they make it through to warmer weather.
Spring in December
Sunday: I don’t run two days in a row, especially not morning after afternoon/evening run. I was all set to go out for a walk to enjoy this nearly 60 degree day when I looked at Monday’s forecast (icy rain) and said absolutely not. So shift the off day to Monday and enjoy a four mile riverside run. Legs felt good and I could have run longer, but opted not to push it.
A solid week even though it felt weird to be off my typical Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday routine. Be safe everyone.
do you even drive South if you don’t hit Fort Pedro?
I’m ba-ack.
And no, this isn’t going to be three weeks of run down because I’m lucky I remember on a normal Saturday what I ran on Tuesday. Some notable moments from my sojourn as I link up with Kim and Deborah: (and no I have no idea why my font changed colors twice).
a quick meetup on my drive south. Weird times make those even more wonderful. Maybe on the third time we’ll even remember to take a photo!
trails in Rocky Mount were just gorgeous
I ran in three states, North Carolina was new to me and despite being my coldest run yet, was absolutely stunning. I was grateful to Deborah’s RunBet to get in a run before day two of the drive.
post-run jump in the pool fully clothed, as you do.this is 41. Matching is still overrated
I ran 11.23 KM to the beach on my birthday, which was a wonderful first. Also a first, the wear something new on your birthday being a bathing suit.
Beach runrises are the best.
“slower than gravy”runners are the best people. Collage courtesy of Kim.
I finally got to wear the shirt I bought for a Turkey Trot I never ran a few years ago. So good to run “with” so many of you.
I did not regret rarely looking at my laptop while out of town. Alas this means I’m about three weeks behind reading. EEK.
I was fried. Nothing wrong, just 2020 and I made the decision to just let all the things go for a month. No musts. I realize that came from a place of major privilege and recognize it’s not an option for everyone. I am grateful it was one for me and I am feeling recharged.
I ran 80.59 miles in November. Yes, I looked at the mileage for the last day so I didn’t end up short.
for the year:
4,322,681 steps
1918.41 miles run/walked
710.24 miles run
I’d like a 90 mile month to hit 800 on the year, but that is unlikely with post-travel quarantine restrictions, so 750 is just fine. Wherever I end up, I’m thrilled given the IT Band issues the first half of the year… and 2020.
*HUGS* too all who need and here’s to a strong month before we kick 2020 to the curb.
after virtually no podcasts for a while because I couldn’t stand to be talked at, I went on a bit of a binge this week. Among the highlights:
Ali on The Run On the Job series with Danae Dracht. I’ll be honest, I don’t love the OTJ series, but I will always listen to someone talking about museum life, and this was a very good episode.
Beach Too Sandy, Water to Wet: 100th episode, Worst of Beach… episodes 1-50 and Halloween. I’m a fairly recent convert to this podcast so it was nice to catch up with a best of episode.
On the reading front, I wanted to do non-fiction November with Liz, but I can’t focus. I did read a book though. Michael Connelly never fails with a fun crime thriller, and Fair Warning was a good read. Goodreads is annoying me the way Garmin does some of you with its detraining. I’m well aware I’m 27 books behind schedule. Go spork yourself, Goodreads, it’s 2020. I did realize that I hadn’t read a single one of the Goodreads Choice noms, which made me a little sad. A few have made their way to my wishlist for some time off reading.
How did I finish Fair Warning in a week with my utter lack of reading? 2.5 hour line for a COVID test (negative, thankfully). Not symptomatic and no known exposure, but numbers here are up a little and I wanted to be sure ahead of some possible travel.
Weekly Run Down with birthday-girl Deborah and Kim:
never miss a Monday: four miles on a beautifully mild Monday morning. Shorts and a tee shirt in November!
Tuesday: too distracted by the stunning leaves to keep pace for RunBet, but still a glorious 2.5 mile walk before work.
Wednesday: 63 and 92% humidity in November. So weird. Wanted to enjoy this last day of summer, but had a lot of mental don’t wanna going on too.
Thursday: it rained much of the day, but I got out for a night run after work. Wet leaves are soo tricky so I stayed on the flat part of the river path.
new meaning to iced coffee!new use for a hair dryer!
Friday: guess what, it rained. My day was not at all boring, however, as I learned coffee can freeze to the back of a fridge. I couldn’t figure out why the door suddenly wouldn’t reliably close, and then I realized the coffee was frozen and the ice block was pushing the shelf out. Oh Friday the 13th never fails. Luckily it was an easy “fix”
Yeah, slightly jealous of Fred’s cool maskglorious day in the north woods
Saturday in the Park: luckily much cooler than the fourth of July. It was a beautiful day between lots of rain, yet I struggled to get out the door. When I did, it was magic. The park was somewhat busy and I wanted a people free run. Not Covid related, but more not in the mood to dodge strollers and jump over leashes. So I went north via Fred and on 102 turned into the North Woods where I scampered around the trails (seriously, my Strava is a hoot!) before heading down the west side and into the Ramble. The entire run was gorgeous and it was one of those days where playing outside was just magic. The North Woods are definitely a 2020 “find” for me as I never had time to explore that area before and one of the things this year I’m grateful for.
I tried to write coffee, and gave up and drank more coffee. Who else had way too much coffee and screen time this week? Just a short run down on a week I was grateful to the outdoor weather.
this sign made me laugh so hard
All I’m going to say about the election is this telegraph sign on the old Piermont Station felt way too relevant.
never miss a Monday: another day where getting out the door early wasn’t happening, but I got in four miles in before work which is always a good start to the week. Not a good start to the week is staying up to watch the Giants lose yet another heartbreaker in prime time. I think America is happy to have a 1-7 team out of prime time after two weeks in a row, my eyelids are also happy for a 1p game.
quiet corner of Central Park
Tuesday: hiked the ramble to try and get the clock to move. Stunning to get off the beaten path a little and away from cell signal. Always fun to look at the places I’m usually looking from and be somewhere where there isn’t much cell signal. Nice to front load the week with runs and a walk for Deborah’s RunBet.
Wednesday: grateful for running. Grateful for a boss who didn’t mind my opting to run a little longer v. getting into work on time. 10K to try and focus the frazzled brain cells.
full color, and fall fell
Thursday: nice walk before work, enjoying the fall colors and burning off some energy/anxiety. Glad I got out, since I didn’t get for a run later.
Ferries Forever
Friday: was off work and had time for a run on a beautiful summery fall day, but my head wasn’t in it so I called it good at 5K. This week/year, no judgement allowed. Everything just is. I met some friends for lunch and rather than an uber home at rush hour, opted for a shorter uber and a ferry from Clason Point. The route is stunning if a little strange as it takes you right past Rikers, but can’t have a better sunset than on the water.
elbumps and yoga failsHudson House!
Saturday: the plan was to surprise mom for her bday. Bob ended up needing to tell Mom, but it was so good to all be together. It’s going to get more complicated with winter, but so glad the weather more than held out for my brother/family to come down too. And yes, we were twinning accidentally in masks. Calories don’t count when you’re celebrating and we had a delicious dinner at the restaurant where they got married (and are regulars).
glowing trailslong overdue trailfiesomehow still hungry for brunch
Sunday: my favorite thing to do when home-especially in fall-is run the Old Erie trail, and so I did. Shorts and a tee shirt in November, with relatively few people. Not COVID/mask related, just really treasured the peace and quiet. It was almost exactly a year ago I last ran to the train station, and my next plan is to go long in one direction and get picked up at the far end, because I want to know how far that trail has been maintained. Somehow I was hungry again and we went to brunch at one of my favorite diners to enjoy this stunning November weather before coming back home.
