settling into a routine

By | June 14, 2020

beautiful sign amid the chaos

One of many many boarded up shops due to the COVID19 closures and recent looting fears. This one chose to make the best of it, and it was a wonderful sight on my morning walks.

as was this #HeartsNY piece

I really love this campaign and hope people keep it up, because it’s something we all need even when the world isn’t actively imploding.

this made me laugh. So hard.

 

This Friday marked 13 weeks working from home. While we all knew it wasn’t going to be the week it first seemed, I don’t think we expected it would be this long. There is no end date on the immediate horizon, so as much as I hate the cliche, the new normal is quite true.

I was happy to cement my new routine of morning run/walk a little further this week and it’s working well. A large upside is I have more time and structure to read, which always makes me happy, and a good break from screens. This summer’s crime fiction binge is Diane Capri’s The Hunt for Jack Reacher and a few of the related titles in Lee Child’s opus. I don’t love Reacher as a character, but this new to me series is fun. Also took the time to read Robin DiAngelo’s White Fragility and look forward to tackling more in this vein.

new shoes. Even better, new laces

The running was nothing exciting, but it was pain free which made me so happy. Sunday I broke in my “new” (Cyber Monday purchase) shoes. Amazing how long the running out of miles shoes last when you cut waaay down on running. These are my last 1080s so I need to find a new shoe that works for me soon. The shoe’s accessory? Caterpy tie dyes. Boring (to me) shoes are illegal and I’m so glad to have discovered Caterpy at the marathon expo.

Weekly run down with Kim and Deborah:

  • never miss a Monday: even though I ran Sunday, it really was more of a walk so I ran Monday. Much of my northern route is closed as a security perimeter around Gracie Mansion. So I had to wiggle west and content with more traffic as we hit Phase I. A decent, pain-free run.
  • Tuesday: baby ducks! A beautiful morning walk before it got too hot.
  • Wednesday: Elizabeth and I met for some miles, and smiles. It’s so nice to be able to run safely with people. A little bit of the old normal.
  • Thursday: was supposed to be a washout, but no one told the clouds. A beautiful sun-kissed Met Museum on my walk before work. I love that the fountains are back on.
  • Friday: northern route still closed, so I went south to get in a couple of miles before work. Beautiful dry summer morning.

I miss you River!

my old summer night haunt

now vacant

  • Saturday: I was really missing the Hudson RIver. I still haven’t figured out sunsets without the buses being an option, but I did walk back and forth across Manhattan. Sounds fancier and further than it is — it’s only about 2 miles from my apartment to Eleanor Roosevelt, where I met a friend for some wonderful walk and talk. It wasn’t that I ever ate at the cafe, but I knew I was going to miss cutting through here to get to the Hudson, the easiest way from me. Needless to say, COVID and usual construction delays meant nothing has started, so we could still walk through. It looked surreal, but also gorgeous. Why is there a traffic circle in a park? Go ask Robert Moses. Riverside Park is a beautiful mess.  I then headed back to Carl Schurz for some reading. All in all about 7 miles, which felt good.

We do indeed

  • Sunday Funday Runday: I had no plan other than running. I went out a little later than recently as my body said pause and I listened. I decided on Central Park and wanted to explore the little pool (appropriately named, The Pool) that Elizabeth and I visited briefly a few weeks ago. It was lush, stunning and serene. Can’t wait to run it with fall foliage. The northern end of Central Park is just amazing. My legs were tired after Saturday’s long walk, so I called it good at 5K and went to get coffee and a breakfast sandwich to read in the park in the tee shirt I bought after last year’s Mini. Sometimes we need the simple things.

24 thoughts on “settling into a routine

  1. Coco

    Sounds like you had a good week. Love the “love” sign. Big YAY for running without pain — that’s huge! I definitely need you take me off the road through Central Park – I’m afraid of getting lost on my own!

    Reply
  2. Kim G

    That Time magazine cover made me laugh out loud because it’s literally 100% accurate, lol.

    Running without pain is a huge deal and I hope that can continue for you!

    Reply
  3. Jessie

    So glad you were able to run without pain! That’s amazing.

    You seem to be getting out and about so much, despite it all! Way to go!

    I’m always in awe of any picture of NYC not super crowded…!

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      if I can stay pain free, I do not care if I never run another mile faster than 11mm. It’s so worth it.

      I’ve been trying to get out for my sanity. Luckily my neighborhood has both Central Park and the East River and it’s generally not crowded. I don’t know how much you explord northern parts of Central Park, but it can be a true oasis. Total 180 from how crowded it can get south of 72nd. Best of both worlds in normal or pandemic times

      Reply
  4. Beckett @ Birchwood Pie

    Yeah, let’s call it “current normal” and when it’s over I’ll go back and count up how long it was. High 5 for pain free running, let’s make that the new and permanent normal!

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      YES! I will absolutely take that as a forever new normal. Thank you!

      Reply
  5. Darlene S Cardillo

    Being with friends again is the best.

    I miss NYC so much. Can’t believe I’ll miss at least two season…maybe three. They are talking about converting our training into webex …so that mean’s no lab trainings.

    Waiting to hear about Billy Joel and any NYC race. Need to use my hotel pts lol and see my pals.

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      I’m holding out hope for Ted, maybe. I so love that race.
      Hope to see you soon!

      Reply
  6. Chocolaterunsjudy

    Running pain free is always the best.

    Even though it doesn’t feel like it, this too shall pass. I’m not sure that things will ever go back the way they were, but my guess is eventually . . . they will. It’ll take time, though.

    And then something else will happen, it always does. There’s always something!

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      I think they’ll nornalize, but not be the same. Similar to changes after HIV/AIDS and 9/11. Once they’re in place for some time, they’ll feel normal.
      Always something indeed

      Reply
  7. Deborah Brooks

    Glad you got to hang with a friend this week too. I am loving all the photos you are sharing on IG of the city. Mayhem just about sums it up! Glad you had a good week and way to crush the runbet so far! Have a great week ahead

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      Thanks so much for starting that. It’s a huge incentive to just go a little faster/longer on the morning walk. I know you didn’t have a super busy Brooklyn Bridge since it was winter, but wish I’d gotten down there to get you a pic of how surreal & empty it was during all this. That was one of the most surprising sights. Thank you – you too!

      Reply
  8. Kimberly Hatting

    Glad to hear about the pain-free running 😉 Did you find that you weren’t aware of the “no-pain” ting until well after you were done? My left hip had been acting wonky recently…and I just realized (on my 13.1 -miler) yesterday that said hip hadn’t felt anything in awhile. Hmmm…why did I not notice earlier? LOL I love it when those kind of surprises happen 😉 Those new shoes look nice, and the laces are adorable 😉

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      Yay sore body parts on mute! I was aware of my feet being annoying for maybe the first quarter mile, and then crickets. It’s so wonderful not to think about the hip, knee, IT Band after the chirping. So glad you’re pain free too.
      Thanks!
      I had forgotten which shade of blue I bought six months ago so when I opened the box I went “yeah , it’s fun laces o’clock”. I ran in a pair that didn’t have Caterpy and of course I had to tie my shoes all the time.

      Reply
  9. Wendy

    I just finished White Fragility and I’m having all the thoughts…a little bewildered for sure. I need to let it marinade. I’ll hit up some of those other books on that list, too. Whatever I need to do.

    Those laces are fun! Glad to see you’re back to regular running.

    Reply
  10. Marcia

    So glad running is agreeing with you and yay for seeing a friend! Love all the little signs of LOVE. Truly its what we all need right now. That is a great shirt!

    Reply
  11. Zenaida Arroyo

    Those are cute laces! I have a few pairs of LockLaces and have been meaning to use them but just being lazy. 🙂

    I cannot believe it’s been this long that we have been working from you. Clearly I had no idea it would be this long. I started summer school today and it was also online.

    Reply
  12. Laurie

    Summer is the perfect time for a crime fiction binge. I seem to be readins such serious stuff right now. I need some levity! Those laces are so cool!

    Reply
  13. Liz Dexter

    Ooh those laces! I have taken a risk and ordered some of the newer Saucony Guides online as I’ve bought all the Omnis and Hurricanes in my size it seems and only have one ongoing pair and one reaching end of life. Of course I haven’t got them out to try them yet! Hooray for running routines and also for more reading. I’m reading The Vanishing Half at the moment and having trouble putting it down.

    Reply
  14. Renée

    Running pain free is the bomb. I know that I will likely never improve my speed or get another PR again and I don’t care. I’m going to run or even run/walk however I like. My own pace. I just need to keep the pain levels low or no.

    So glad you got to see friends last week. Love!

    I hate “the new normal” too. It’s not a new normal. I think the new normal is still in the works. This is adjustment for something else. It’s just taking a while. I think a lot of people are thinking about how they could make their lives different, to not “go back” to how it was per se. It’s certainly been making us think about what’s important and what could be let go.

    Reply
  15. Debbie @ Deb Runs

    It sounds like you had a great week and took advantage of the gorgeous weather! I haven’t seen any baby ducks in our creek yet, but I’m sure they’re in there hidden away in the foxes. I just have to catch a peek when momma takes them out for a swim.

    Reply
  16. Lisa @ TechChick Adventures

    The laces are so fun! I find it interesting to see the progression of state reopenings in each area. I would say a lot of office workers are back to work now, or will be heading back in July. I hear a lot of them are willing to stay home though! Getting very used to their new routine and lack of commute!

    Reply

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