running into September

By | September 6, 2020

Re-reading an old post, I stumbled on this Instagram post where I commented on running making me a morning person. Never more true than this summer when I fell in love with runrise. I won’t lie, glad to be able to sleep in a little later with (slightly) cooler temps and later runrise, but that was something fun to learn about myself. I’ve also realized with some recent evening runs that holy crap, I can’t sleep after running. No wonder I’m generally sleeping better since transitioning to morning running (COVID anxiety aside).

It also led to August’s crazy mileage: 91.46.ย  Another bump on last month’s most ever while not marathon training. 17 days running, a couple back to back, ranging from 3.1 – 9 miles with most in the 4-5 mile range. I was thrilled with this month.

GoTheDist August:

  • 461,624 steps
  • 206.78 miles run/walked

hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to Queens I go

This week I also celebrated my work anniversary. 13 years. Never thought that would happen when I began as an intern. Not because I wasn’t happy, but I was 27. Who thinks they’ll be somewhere for nearly half their life? Never more grateful than this year with all the staff cuts related to COVID19. One of my favorite campaigns that we worked on was called #SeeYourCity which, as it sounds, encouraged New Yorkers to explore their own city. I decided to do a little of this on the anniversary to visit a new installation at Socrates Sculpture Park. Could I have taken a 5m ferry ride? Sure, but what’s the fun there? Definitely the first year where I haven’t done anything for the summer long weekends,ย  so decided to add a little exploration to this one.

I never marked my three year runversary in January since I was injured so this turned into a little bit of that too as I eagerly route planned. I’ve run the 59th Street bridge since the marathon, but never coming to Manhattan from Queens so that was a pretty awesome feeling, even if my legs were more trashed at 8 miles than they were at 16 ten months ago.

I got my hairs cut!

Between comments from some of you, and talking to local friends I realized a hair cut wasn’t more risky (personally, not judging anyone else’s comfort level) than other things I’d been doing. I LOVE IT. The length is the same as my last haircut, but I let her put in layers, which I used to hate but now kind of love. It’s still about three colors, but we’ll see how that grows out. Kind of relishing having not dyed hair for the first time in almost 25 years.. until I get bored and color it again.

Weekly Run Down with Kim and Deborah:

  • never miss a Monday: relatively cool and less humid morning made for an “easy” five miles to close out August. My days are much better when I get out the door early, although that was harder this week because I wasn’t getting enough sleep.
  • Tuesday: speaking of not getting out the door, I didn’t even make it to the Met which is my morning minimum. The day was rescued by a run after work to kick off September.
  • Wednesday: another day without a morning walk. Clearly I need the sleep, letting my body have it.
  • Thursday: office run group. We’ve found a loop that allows us to meet at a decent halfway spot that nets ~ 5 miles for both of us. Nice to catch up even if we don’t think weekly is going to work.

Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters

  • Friday: I texted my boss on Thursday to ask if she’d done the Met yet. She hadn’t, and we made a plan to meet Friday to see the Jacob Lawrence and Making the Met shows, but also really just to take in being IN THE MET! I don’t usually spend hours, but like I said on Instagram, I realize how much I took being down the street for granted. No formal exercise, but museum steps and then a lovely evening sitting by the water and reading. Want to take full advantage of those before evening light is gone.

Hi Robert Moses’ NYC

  • Saturday: aforementioned workversary and nine mile long runย  to Queens via Randalls Island. This pic is one of many walk breaks on the ridiculously long Randalls Island-Queens pedestrian path, as is the top photo. The view is worth it, not sure my legs agree. When I saw the final pace I wasn’t happy, but then I realized it was inclusive of all the walk breaks especially on 59th Street, which I essentially walked with running interludes. The flat and downhill ones were great and indicative of what I’d been thinking — the 12/13s in summer were weather related more than ability. Although if I can run pain free forever? I’ll take the 12s. I really haven’t done hills so my legs saying OH HELL NO to the bridges makes sense. I’ve never run this part of Queens before, and it was great to see/do something different along with the western perimeter of Randalls Island. Can’t wait to explore more of that in the coming weeks with fall weather. Rest of the day was sushi and riverfront reading. Loving Dan Doctoroff’s Greater Than Ever as parts of it overlap with our office’s work (our CEO reported in to him during his tenure as Deputy Mayor).
  • Sunday: off. New ferry route goes to the Brooklyn Navy Yard, which means Wegmans! Think I’ll sit in Brooklyn Bridge Park for a bit and read by the river from a different angle. This week is going to be busy and I want to enjoy the down time.

28 thoughts on “running into September

  1. Liz Dexter

    Museum steps are great steps to have – hooray! And lovely pics and travels by foot, too. Loving the haircut – I have only not got mine done because I don’t need it rather than out of fear, if that helps!

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      You’re rocking the lockdown locks better than I could. I just couldn’t deal anymore. Thank you!

      Reply
  2. Deborah Brooks

    Great that museums are opening again. So my husband started as an intern at his job 30 years ago! He now runs the place. Funny huh?! Who knows maybe you will be running your company one day soon/\.

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      That is awesome! We have a good culture of keeping interns too, although none has been CEO…yet. Our current CEO was hired from within, and I think that’s awesome in addition to him just being a very good guy. I think it speaks highly of organizations when they cultivate talent that way. Great institutional knowledge.

      Reply
  3. Jessie

    Congratulations on the work anniversary! 13 years is remarkable!

    People seem to love Wegman’s! I’ve never been to one ๐Ÿ™‚

    Glad you had some nice runs this week!

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      I don’t think they’re west of western New York yet. This spread downstate is fairly new. They’re wonderfully crazy, but really just a grocery store. Thank you!

      Reply
  4. Chocolaterunsjudy

    Love your haircut! I’m trying to make an appointment for mine, haven’t heard back yet. ๐Ÿ™ I’ll probably let it go for months afterwards again.

    I’ve had my car for about 2/3 of our marriage . . .

    I have a lot of trouble with sleep if I run in the evening. I used to run in the afternoons sometimes, sometimes early evening — but then I can’t wash my hair. It all circles back to the hair, LOL!

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      I can go to bed on wet hair, but mine has never been as long as yours. Dirty little secret – no pun intended – I don’t always wash my hair post runs. Depends on how sweaty it was. Wow on the car’s longevity. Good luck finding a hair cut!

      Reply
  5. Beckett @ Birchwood Pie

    The funny thing is that I was a late evening exerciser for most of my adult life until I went to grad school and had to do it in the morning or not at all. Looking back I do not know how I did it. Congrats on your August 90! Nothing like having your mileage exceed the average daily temperature! I know that I write a lot about my paces because that’s where I am in my running journey, but it truly doesn’t matter. Pain free matters a lot!

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      Yep. Paces mean different things to everyone. I look at it on Strava, but usually forget it within about 10m. Then again there are times I forget my entire run when I go to write the post at the weekend. I think the paces will be more memorable once I see some consistency. Love that re: mileage > temps. We didn’t have too many 90s days this summer. Humidity OTOH.

      Reply
  6. Kim G

    I’ve only had one haircut since the pandemic started and it was great! It felt so good to go out and do something “normal”.

    Congrats on your 13 year work anniversary! It’s always a wonderful thing when you find a company that you actually want to stick with because of the people and the nature of the work.

    Reply
  7. Kimberly Hatting

    Congrats on the work anniversary. I just celebrated my 14th anniversary last week. Thatโ€™s my longest gig ever (since I stayed home with the kiddos when they were little). Great mileage !!!

    Reply
  8. Wendy

    I enjoy my runrises too, but like you enjoy them when they happen a little later! That will be the plan now with the change of seasons. Nice job on that 9 miler!

    Reply
  9. Lisa @ TechChick Adventures

    I know what you mean – I have been at my job for something like 20 years now. I have forgotten how long it’s been! Unfortunately my company doesn’t make a big deal out of those things ๐Ÿ™ I will be going to the salon for hair coloring this week. I’m not looking forward to it only because it takes so long, and I think of all of the other things I could be doing! ๐Ÿ™‚ Your haircut looks very nice!

    Reply
  10. Lisa @ Mile by Mile

    Congrats on being at your job for so long! I’ve been with my company for 11 years, but my position has changed quite a bit during that time. I am hesitant to get my hair cut because I don’t have a regular place/person I go to. Since I’ve just been wearing it up every day lately, I am planning to trim it on my own. If I really mess it up I’ll suck it up and go somewhere!

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      My position has shifted as well, but I’m still broadly in the same department, although its name has changed. I’m truly lucky to love what I do so much. If my hair were longer I’d go the DIY route too. More margin for error there.

      Reply
  11. Zenaida Arroyo

    Congrats on your work anniversary!! This will be my 12th year working for the same district and school.

    I like your haircut.

    Great mileage for August. Congrats!

    Reply
  12. Coco

    Yay on the work anniversary and bigger yay that you could mark it by visiting some exhibits! Iโ€™d like to visit some D.C. galleries if I can figure out how to get there โ€” Iโ€™m not getting on Metro, and parking is usually impossible, but maybe not these days.

    I havenโ€™t needed more sleep this week, but have been more tempted to stay in bed and enjoy the cool air coming in the window. ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Reply
  13. Shathiso

    I have to laugh at our similar we are — so I started work at my current workplace when I had just turned 26 and I’m still here! So this October it will be 14 years! I too never thought I’d be at one place for so long. Of course like any place, it has its ups and downs, by I do enjoy it for the most part. Well done on a very solid mileage month for August (both walking and running!).

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      We really are the same person, 7000+ miles apart!
      Same same, nowhere is perfect but overall I feel like I’m making a difference, which is so important especially now.
      We’re going to take ovet the world!

      Reply
  14. Michelle D.

    Congrats on your work anniversary!

    And hooray for being in the Met again! Museums are re-opening here and I would love to get into town soon to visit one or two.

    Your new cut looks terrific on you!

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      Thank you!
      I hope you’re able to museum soon. And yes, museum is a verb ๐Ÿ˜€ We used to have a campaign, I ___ Therefore I Am, and museum was my second favorite (after dinosaur).

      Reply
  15. Jenn

    I love your hair! And that you had your anniversary! And that you love sunrises!
    All the love!
    I also love getting to see your museums. We are a little lacking in that here, but there is some new street art in Jacksonville that I want to go check out. We just have to work with what we have.

    Reply
  16. Marcia

    Congrats on your 13 year workiversary! You have an awesome job and I know just how perfect it is for you. I did finally get one haircut since COVID and I runfess she did not take enough off, and of course I neglected to tell her. It’s been only maybe a month and I’m already wanting another one. Ugh. Your cut looks beautiful!

    Reply
  17. Debbie @ Deb Runs

    Oh, I like that you renamed your early morning run to see the sunrise a “runrise.” Congrats on your 13-year work anniversary! That’s amazing!

    Reply
  18. Darlene S Cardillo

    So we have the same work anniversary. I don’t enjoy my job but I do love that it took me to NYC and I got to meet you and Elizabeth.

    Hooray for museum openings! Of course, I am living virtually through your nYC runs and walks.

    Love the haircut.

    I’ve had mine cut 3 times already but basically because I haven’t given into the grey….yet.

    Reply
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