A Mile or More in My [Running] Shoes
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#flashbackfriday
My Father. Canberra Marathon 1992.
I think of him every time I go for a run.
When I was 13, I announced to my Dad that I...
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Life Update.
People always say that when you break up that it’s time to focus on you, that it’s time to be the person that you want to be: to get...
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I did yoga last night and I’m proud of myself. I always talk about how I need to cross train but don’t. I have done yoga a handful of times in my...
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Have decided
I am going try and be “glass has water in it” person, as opposed to declaring the glass “half full” or “half empty”.
It is a glass. It...
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GPOYW: Me with my two favorite guys in the world edition
My dad, me, Mr. B
I left work a little bit early today, but I was feeling flustered. I knew the only thing that would help me feel better was a run.
So I got home and immediately changed into my running clothes before I could change my mind. I arrived at Central Park with plenty of daylight to spare and started running. My initial goal was 5 miles, but I hid my watch and set out for an attitude adjustment and 3 laps around the lower loop.
I did some awesome thinking and reasoning and I reminded myself of some pretty exciting things. For example: You’re running the NYC Marathon this year. Before I knew it, I was rounding the bottom of Central Park toward Columbus Circle for the third and final time. I took a glance at my watch as I pressed the stop button and then hit reset. (You know when you look at your phone or something to check the time and a second later you can’t remember what time it was… Yeah, I did that with my distance and time.) When I got home I plugged my little Garmin in and it was like Sunday post-race all over again…
What? How?
I guess it doesn’t really matter, but this sudden emergence of my inner speed demon has thrown me for a bit of a loop. I’m just going to chalk this one up to pent up frustration and a much needed emotional/mental cleanse.
Hey snow! Thanks for showing up in NYC! Now that you’re here, I think I’m going to frolic run in you… Ready or not, here I come! (Photo by caitlinwoodruff)
Just ran 4.07 miles in Central Park in 35:25… SAY WHAAAAT?!
I guess I must have really needed that.
By a 5 mile sunset run along the Hudson.
A run was much, much needed. And you know what? 5 miles and 48:38 later, today is already much improved and there’s still plenty of time to turn it all around.
I knew my mom gave me one of these bracelets for a reason….
I went for a nice little 4 mile run this morning down the trail near the house I grew up in. It was really cold, and my lungs had a hard time getting on board with the run, but after a day of travel and eating crappy food, it was just what I needed.
Sure, it’s not the Hudson River with views of Lady Liberty and the sprawl of tall buildings further uptown, but I almost prefer this. It’s peaceful and familiar and even without the leaves, I think it’s gorgeous.
Spending the morning in bed watching the marathon was inspiring and I’m so proud of everyone I know who went out there and dominated the streets of NYC. I felt like a bit of a slacker. Watching it all go down made me think ahead to next year when my feet will be pounding that pavement and I will be running over those same bridges. It made me feel so excited.
I’ve been on a search for a running watch for a while, but not knowing exactly what I wanted out of a watch, I couldn’t commit to buying anything. After pining away after the Garmin Forerunner watches for the past year, I finally bit the bullet today and got myself the Forerunner 210 and oh, it is love…
I also picked up a Spibelt because I constantly find myself wishing I had a place to put keys, money, or my phone while I’m running. Problem solved. Because I wasn’t feeling well, I wasn’t going to go out and about to play with my new toy today, but then somebody suggested that I just go “sweat it out” so I did just that. I wasn’t sure how far I was going to run or how far I would be able to run with this sinus pressure and congestion, but I managed to eke out 4 slow miles.
It was an absolutely beautiful day for a run. Sunny and cool. There were people everywhere and a ton of runners out and about. Having all of the information one could ever want at my disposal while running was exciting and I can’t wait to run again. Now I’m going to go play with my new toy and shower before settling in with little Chino and catching up on my DVRed shows…
I definitely don’t regret that run (or the purchase). Even though I don’t feel cured, running always makes me feel better.
#seenonmyrun
I still think my little corner (moxy’s too) of NYC is the best…
I just signed up and like she says, if you’re a runner and you are going to be around, you should too! My bib will bear the name of Captain Vincent Brunton of the FDNY.
If you are going to be in NYC over Labor Day weekend, or think you might be, you should sign up for this run/walk.
This is the third year of the Run to Remember and the third year I will participate in it. The finish heads you straight up the west side of Governors Island to face Lower Manhattan and the site of the former World Trade Center, a beautiful and moving view. With this being the 10th anniversary year of the September 11th attacks, the organizers are looking to have every victim represented on a race bib. I picked Andrea Haberman, who I never met but grew up 3 towns away from me and was very active in Girl Scouts growing up (like I was).
As an adopted New Yorker I try to listen to my fellow citizens, who lost family and friends and neighbors and endured the dust and the police and the fear, and let them set the tone for commemoration. It’s only fitting. But this is what I do to remember.
Apart from the obvious significance of the event, it is flat, fast and lovely and you get to go on the island hours before anyone else.
When I woke up this morning, the first thing I did was to check the weather. 84 (feels like 94) with 70% humidity… I thought, “Welp, it’s not going to get any cooler out.”
I threw on my shorts and tshirt, and my socks and shoes, and took to the rail trail near my parent’s house. (The rail trail is an old rail line that was converted to a tree and nature-surrounded paved path for runners, walkers and bikers.)
I ran a quick 3.5 miles up and down the trail and then around the block. I got home feeling a bit woozy. The humidity really took it out of me, but it was nice to get out and get my legs moving. Maybe I will try to head to the gym with my dad if he goes later to do some strengthening.
My first night back in my hometown was spent with family friends at our favorite hangout. I had an Oberon since they’re non-existent out in New York, and I had my favorite ravioli dish. (Sorry, no pics. I’m not sure I would be able to explain the “but it’s for my blog” thing to my parents and their friends.)
I will probably grab some lunch with my sister a little later. Maybe another non-New York thing like Panera (I know, super generic, but I worked at Panera in high school and during the summers in college, so it tastes like home).
That’s all that’s new here. I just thought I should post, since I’ve been bad about posting lately. Classes are officially over and the summer is mine to enjoy.
Absolutely beautiful day for a run! After a leisurely morning filled with a trip to the dog park, pancakes, and reading, I decided it was time to get back outdoors to enjoy to sunshine. (As added insurance, I dressed in running clothes first thing this morning to prevent myself from backing out of a run.)
I took to the sunny streets of New York and headed south along the West Side Highway to Battery Park where I turned north and headed up the Hudson River on the Esplanade. I looped around Pier 25 and turned back toward home. There were people everywhere and while crowds usually annoy me, I found myself pleased to be taking in all of the young families, couples, bikers and fellow runners soaking up the sun.
I set out to run 3 miles because I have been a bad little runner and I haven’t done nearly as much running as I should be doing. (Naughty, naughty Caitlin…) My iPod is still kind of wonky and logged 3 miles, but when I came home to map it, it was closer to 3.35 miles. (This was a bit of a relief because according to my iPod I ran a 10:50 pace and even though I had to slow to weave around packs of strollers and picture-snapping tourists, I felt much faster than that - adjusting for the distance, I ended up with a 9:44 pace.)
Now it’s time to shower and beautify before we join our friends to watch the Derby and drink mint juleps and peach-infused bourbon punch. Wooo! (I need to be on my best behavior though because tomorrow morning I’m volunteering at the Japan Day 4 Mile Run and the report time is 7:00 - ooof! Pending my mental state tomorrow morning, I’m going to run my 4 mile virtual run after I finish my volunteer duties.)
EDIT: Bah! I almost forgot! Go wish my best friend Melissa over at settingthepace good luck in her first half marathon tomorrow morning! I’m so proud of you Melly and I’m thinking happy race day thoughts for you! xoxoxox
