Run 70

Today's goal was speed.  As part of my marathon training program I have different types of work outs, long runs for distance, hill runs for endurance, easy runs, runs at target pace, etc.  Today I did a 6 mile speed run.  So the goal was just to run fast.  To be honest I was concentrating pretty hard on running fast, so I didn't notice that much about my route or anything else.  I guess the only things I noticed and can share with you were my obstacles.  Running in the streets of NYC is not always the easiest route, especially durning rush hour.  I almost tripped on a pot hole.  I had to stop for red lights.  I was passing traffic, and sharing the bus lane. I was zig-zagging through people. Running around pedi-cabs.  Stopped once for an ambulance. One of my biggest pet peeves, is a group of people walking side by side, taking up the entire sidewalk.  My keys jingle in my pocket as a run, so that usually warns people someone is behind them.  But some times my pace startles people.  I pass them from behind and they get scared, like I'm about to mug them.  Or I almost collide with oblivious people, with tunnel vision.  It's sort of like this:   

Time: 4pm

Distance: 6.01 miles

Time: 43:49 minutes (7'17"/mile pace)

Muisc: Darren Hayes

Run 69

I wouldn't usually go out on a run, after the 7 mile workout I had yesterday, but according to my marathon training schedule I'm supposed to run 3 miles today.  So I ran close to home and did a quick and easy three miles up 9th and back down 8th avenues.  It still amazes me how compact NYC is.  Just in that short run I saw multiple areas of NYC.  I started in Hell's Kitchen, through Clinton, ran to Lincoln Center, over to the Natural History Museum and Central Park, Down to Columbus Circle and back to Times Square.  I passed 4 subway stops.  How does all of that fit into 1.5 miles? 


Time: Midnight
Distance: 3.69 miles
Time: 29:21 Minutes
Music: Jewel 

Run 68 Scary Run

Imagine the opening scene to any NYC horror film, or any episode of CSI or Law and Order, combine them all and you get the far west end of 155th street, where I started my run tonight.  All with in one block, there was a cemetery, an empty NYC street, railroad tracks, a bridge, a tunnel, a street that dead ends at a large garage door, graffiti, voices in the distance, stray animals, cars doing u-turns, a view of the river, all set perfectly to an Alanis Morissette soundtrack.  Contrary to common belief, NYC is mostly a safe place to be.  I am rarely intimidated to go anywhere at any time, but I'll have to admit that this scene spooked me out a little.  I had planned on getting to the beginning of my route and stretching out.  I ended up stretching as little and quickly as possible and then jetted out of there.  After this one block, I was back in civilization, there were people around, playing dominos on their porch, a.k.a. a NYC sidewalk.  Once I saw my first fire hydrant sprinkler, a smile was back on my face and the creepy begin was almost forgotten.  I did run by an old boarded up abandoned building that reminded me of my starting point.  I also got startled once by my own shadow, but for the most part the rest of the run was lined with pink flamingos.

Time: Midnight
Distance: 7.01 miles
Time: 1:01:14
Music: Alanis Morissette

Run 67 Marathon Fundraising

It's official, I started my marathon training program today.  It all started with a 12 mile long run.  The program has me running 6 days a week.  That is a lot more than I'm used to.  Hopefully I can keep up.  We ran from 125 street, through central park, over the Queensboro bridge, back over the bridge (which was the hardest part for me), up 1st Ave, back to 125th street.  It was a good run.  
On the business side of the marathon, I have finally committed to a charity and started to raise money.  I'm excited to get my fundraising going so I can concentrate on the running.  Here's the link to my webpage. Check it out,  make a small donation if you can.  I'd greatly appreciate it.  


 http://afamarathon.dojiggy.com/brianrunsnyc


Time: 9am
Distance: 12 miles
Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
Music: none

Run 66

I had planned today to be a very productive day, but some how the entire day slipped away from me.  I had been lazy all day, and come 8 pm I was now upset that I had wasted so much time.  I decided if nothing else, at least I can get a run in.  Once I got moving I was able to catch the end of the sunset and listened to my favorite musical as a ran.  Rather quickly my attitude had been adjusted and I was no longer feeling down.  Exercise, seeing NYC, and good music may not add up to the productive day I had hoped for, but at least I was able to end it on a good note. 
My GPS hasn't been working the past few times I've been out, but after tonight's run, I called tech support and got it fixed.  The majority of Manhattan is relatively flat.  Today's run was the opposite, I was running up and down the same steep hill.  
Saturday Night in Harlem is like a huge block party.  Usually at this time I'm working or at a Broadway show.  It was fun to see things from a different angle.  Like I mentioned before, people had their lawn chairs out on the sidewalk and were chatting the night away.  Some had food and snacks for the entire group.  I ran past a baseball game in the streets, just like my family plays wiffle ball in the yard.  I ran right through a sidewalk basketball game.  And as you know from the previous post, I smiled and chuckled each time I ran past another active fire hydrant.  At 9 pm the kids were still splashing around.


Time: 9 pm
Distance: 4.58 miles
Time: 39:52
Music: Passion

Run 65 Fire Hydrants

I'm back to running at night so that the temperature is bearable.  It's amazing the sights I see along my routes, tonight was no exception.  I saw stray cats, rats peaking out of sidewalk grates, a motel with Christmas reindeer lit up, new buildings, old buildings, abandoned buildings, families, friends hanging out, hoodlums, delis, Laundromats, a glimpse of Yankee stadium, restaurants, churches, parks, gardens, empty lots and piles of smell trash (thanks summer heat).  The variety of sites is endless.  But my newest favorite site are fire hydrants that have been tapped into, to relieve some of the summer heat.  Tonight I ran past at least 4 of them.  Every time I see one I can't help but chuckle, for some unexplained reason I can't help thinking about the clown fountain I played with as a child in the back yard.  The rigged fire hydrants are pretty much the same thing, just the NYC style. 

Time: Midnight
Distance: 5.48 miles
Time: 44:54
Music: Adele

Queens 10K July 1, 2012

It's July, It's hot.  Remember when all I could do is complain about how cold it was, well, now all I will be able to talk about is how HOT it is.  I'm from Arizona originally and spent years in Hawaii.  So most of my life has been in warm (HOT) climates. But this humidity thing, just kills you.  Today I ran a 10K in Queens.  Before the race we were giving a heat advisory!  I was not looking forward to this race.   Still worried about my toe and knee, a tad under the weather and of course the HEAT, I was not planning on doing well.  I just wanted to get it done and over with.  I just bought a new knee brace and wore it for the first time.  It was also the first "official" race where I listened to my own music.  The race was early, so it was only 84 degrees out, not too bad.  I started the race and felt pretty good.  After the first mile I was still feeling good, actually better than good.  My knee wasn't hurting, my nerves were calm, breath in control.  I decided that this might be a good race after all.  I turned on the turbo boosters and decided to run.  I still had some weak moments, there were a few times I wanted to stop or slow down, not for any good reason.  Nothing was hurting, just pure laziness was whispering in my ear, "you could walk if you wanted, it would be easier" but since I'm stubborn as an ox, I was able to keep running. I ended up finishing in 44 minutes and 38 seconds, which was a pace of 7:12 minute miles, not to shabby.  Overall I was 296th out of 5,442 people.  Marathon... here I come! 

Time: 8 am

Distance: 6.2 miles 10K

Time: 44:38 minutes

Music: Kaleidoscope songs