Running, social media and Father’s Day

By | June 16, 2019

Yes, this is inspired by #BraveLikeGabe, but before I get to the serious stuff…

 

what do you call this game?

Although it may seem that Liz and my’s favorite sport is running, we actually have a far more amusing and cerebral habit: Englishing. AKA trying to make heads or tails of the differences in our language. This goes back probably to when we first met on the BookCrossing forums in 2005. The latest chapter which came up on FB this weekend? The names of this game. Said I’d ask it here since there are folks from various US regions and several countries.

Speaking of Facebook, we seem to be on a blogger adding run – YAY! I don’t have a page or anything for the blog but always happy to add anyone from here. You get museum nonsense in addition to running silliness, but if you follow me on Instagram, you already know that.

These two posts by Gabe’s husband Justin broke my heart. And all of the #BraveLikeGabe stories, photos and tributes. No one should be losing his/her life at 32, but especially not after a ten year battle with cancer. Way too damn young.  I feel like these amazing tributes, like #MilesForMollie are always after tragedy. Would love to see the amazing running community rally around positive things. One day.

Dad, rocking the curlhawk, because he never said no to his children’s silliness

Although I think the Run Down is mostly women, Happy Father’s Day to the fathers in your lives-and any of you who have done double duty as a single mother. My dad is gone almost 13 years, which is so hard to believe. We got another ten that we weren’t supposed to twice over – amazing chemo drugs that he was in a trial for and amazing doctors brought him back from Lymphoma and chemo related infections in 1989. Phenomenal doctors treated him after his heart attack in 1996 and he was cleared to go to the ALCS. Yes, mom called us off school for a religious observance for the parade when the Yankees won.  It was ultimately a heart weakened by chemo drugs that caused another heart attack in 2006. He collapsed making a clothing donation. That is the most Michael Carleo way ever. If your father is here with you, hug him close.

Weekly Run Down with Kim and Deborah:

  • Monday: soggy off day. Lots of steps though as I met up with Darlene for a walk on the High Line and trip to the top of the Vessel. In testament to the sentiment that we never do what’s in our own back yard, it was her 3rd time on the Vessel and my first.

magical nights

  • Tuesday: it was the wettest of runs, it was the most gorgeous of runs. I got a late start in the morning and only managed 1.5 or so miles on a gray and humid morning. Wanting and needing more, I went back out after a work event and it was as gorgeous as the morning was ugly. Oh what a night!

gorgeous night in Central Park

  • Wednesday: another beautiful day.  No formal exercise, but also no MetroCard so lots of steps to and from the Philharmonic’s Central Park concert. Almost chilly by the end and I was glad to be wearing long sleeves.
  • Thursday: planned off. Mom, Bob and I had tickets to Dinos After Dark, a members’ night at the Museum of Natural History. Some adults’ only time with my favorite fossils followed by a drive down the beach.

scouting putt putt

Shark River sunset

  • Friday: cool, breezy morning in Belmar, NJ. 6.5 miles from Belmar to Asbury Park and back.  I do not have nearly enough Springsteen on my iPod, but it was a gorgeous run along the water. Can’t beat beach running. My second 30K step day this week as mom and I later walked to dinner and went to play putt putt. Or mini putt. We found this the last time we were down, but never got to play

speaking of the beach

too windy to keep the umbrella up

  • Saturday: planned off day. Also finally beach weather. It was super windy and we couldn’t keep the umbrella up, which meant Cari turned crispy critter. I lasted about 90m at the beach before we went to explore Ocean Grove, a small town with a fascinating history. Also enjoyed some of its architecture on Friday’s run. Victorian seashore.

Spring Lake

Qua is important in our family Scrabble

  • Sunday: summer arrived at the Shore. Hot run south toward Manasquan although the boardwalk ran out at the south end of Spring Like and I really didn’t want to run inland. Didn’t get as long as I wanted, but was OK with that with Friday being longer than planned. PSA: it’s “easy to achieve” negative splits when you start out into a headwind.  I had to catch a mid afternoon train so we had brunch and then played Scrabble in the shade of the porch as I declared it too hot (really, too sunny) for the beach.

All in all a good week even if running was weird. Plan for the week:

  • Monday: off, triple booked
  • Tuesday: run or cross
  • Wednesday: possible run with training group, or cross
  • Thursday: office run group depending on what happens Wednesday as it’s the same people
  • Friday: off/cross.
  • Saturday/Sunday: long run TBC

 

25 thoughts on “Running, social media and Father’s Day

  1. Deborah Brooks

    there were some nice cooler mornings this week here too! Glad you were able to enjoy them. Thanks for linking up and have a great week!

    Reply
  2. Darlene

    Jealous of your beach time. Looked like a fun time. No bad days at the beach.

    I love to play Scrabble during our beach times in Florida. Yes have used Qua. Lol

    Lots of mini golf as we call it in Lake George. I stink at it but haven’t played in a while.

    Enjoy your runs. See you in August.

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      Same. I stink, but it’s so much fun.
      Can’t wait

      Reply
  3. Kim at Running on the Fly

    FOMO on your beach pics! It’s been pretty chilly here in the mornings, too. Granted it’s “perfect” running weather (blah blah blah), but it’s mid-June. It should be “warm” running weather LOL Thanks for linking with us, Cari 😉

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      LOL. You and a neighbor who love the heat. Can we each have our own weather patterns please? 😀

      Reply
  4. Chocolaterunsjudy

    Envious of your beach time. It’s so far away for us (and Mr. Judy isn’t really much of a beach person — even though he enjoys it if we’re there).

    I didn’t go to my parents for Father’s Day as I’m going tomorrow to take my mom for some tests. It will be many hours in the car. Actually glad we didn’t go yesterday, the weather was miserable here. Supposed to be rainy tomorrow too so it’ll be a ton of fun but you do what you gotta do & my sister will take her the next day.

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      We were supposed to have a washout yesterday and Sunday. It didn’t end up raining until overnight last night and into today. Hope you had a safe drive.
      Never thought about how far you are from the beach until a couple summers ago when my brother talked about just how far it is to Maine or Jersey shore.

      Reply
      1. Chocolaterunsjudy

        Yes, jersey shore is a pretty long drive, and ME too (although it depends on where you’re going in both).

        Love, love, love Ocean City, but it’s way down there.

        Reply
        1. cari Post author

          They used to go to Old Orchard Beach, just south of Portland so not terrible but not ideal
          Never been to Ocean City

          Reply
  5. Renée @runlaugheatpie

    I love beach running. I love being at the beach, full stop. I also love Englishing – I am often lost for American words these days and end up using English words. English people must think I’m taking the piss (see what I did there?) and Americans have no idea what I’m saying. At least not the ones who’ve not been around British people. The word “qua” means “regarding” in Dutch; I didn’t know it was an english word!! Fun fact “qua” scrabble which reminds me of crossword puzzles; I’m related to (somehow) Will Shortz. My grandmother was a huge fan, she was the crossword queen and loved Scrabble too. I was voted Most Likely to Not Play Well with Others, so I never really picked up her vocabulary habits.

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      Yep, Qua is a particle. It’s the word a dear family friend played the time he finally beat mom at Scrabble. There was a scrabble board with that permanently affixed at his wake and scrabble tiles frequently join rocks atop his headstone. I play it whenever I have the chance.
      When I lived in Japan with mostly British-English speakers vocabulary became fascinating. That’s when I first got this domain, which is confusing to a number of American English speakers. Jewelry is evil and I can’t spell it in either

      Reply
  6. Wendy

    We were able to enjoy my dad yesterday! I feel lucky that I’ve had him so long. He was 22 when I was born, so considering how “close” we are in age…Sometimes he makes me crazy but he’s my dad and he’s where I got my weird sense of humor from!

    Looks like you enjoyed your week! I love the beach.

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      It’s so funny what we “inherit” from our parents. Senses of humor, sports love, etc. Sometimes those are more fun to track than the actual genetic acquisitions
      Was a great week, thanks

      Reply
  7. Liz Dexter

    Looks like a good week and thank you for sharing about your dad, I do love how you honour and love and remember him. I didn’t have a good raising but I love seeing all the great dads among my friends. I am not seeing many people saying what their word is for what is clearly … CRAZY GOLF!

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      haha yeah, clearly it is not as controversial or variable as I thought it might.
      I know I was lucky, dad was and mom is amazing. My brother and I had opportunities and doors open. I think the best way to thank & honor them ongoing is to remember and (hopefully) do right by them

      Reply
  8. kookyrunner

    Loving your beach pics! I need to make a trip to the beach at some point this summer. Maybe when the weather gets better and we stop having so much rain!

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      Seriously. I haven’t even made it to Coney for a summer Friday yet and that’s my usual tradition

      Reply
  9. Laurie

    I call that game mini golf. What do you call it? I can’t believe that my dad has been gone for over 20 years now! Hubby and I did celebrate Fathers’ Day with my youngest son (who is also a father). Your beach photos remind me so much of my childhood. We used to visit my mom’s family, who lived in Lavallette for the summer and would make the trek up to Asbury Park at least once during our 2 week stay.

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      Putt putt or mini golf. Usually putt putt though.
      Lavalette <3
      My aunt used to have a place there so many childhood summers were there, Seaside. I don't think I've been to seaside since the night after Prom, *mumbles* years ago.

      Reply
  10. Debbie @ Deb Runs

    It sounds like you had a great time at the beach! Be careful with your skin, you don’t want to be Crispy Critter Cari! 😉

    My dad has been gone just over five years. He went suddenly from being very healthy to not being able to shake pneumonia and died in just over a month. Today would have been his and Mom’s 66th wedding anniversary.

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      I was so so careful with SPF 100 and still managed to miss a spot or six. I burn way too easily.
      How sad to go so quickly. But wow, 61 years.

      Reply
  11. Zenaida Arroyo

    Love the beach photos! It has been years since I’ve been there. Running by there doesn’t really count? My dad died in 1991 but I Sunday we celebrated the other fathers in my family.

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      Running by totally counts
      I actually prefer it in some ways
      Other than my brother who lives 2 hours away there aren’t really many father figures in our world so we kind of ignore it

      Reply
  12. Coco

    Is that a putt-putt vs. mini golf question, or is there another term I don’t know? We call it putt-putt, but I’m not too far from you. I need to get the beach STAT. I’m glad you got to have “extra” years with your Dad. Mine passed suddenly seven years ago, but at least we had just spent time together.

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      Putt putt, mini putt, mini golf, crazy golf. So many names for it.
      I saw the hyphen in the Wikipedia entry but since when I’m writing it, I’m usually talking about what I call it so I declare hyphen amnesty.
      Glad you had some time together. This was sudden, but yet bonus if that makes sense

      Reply

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