Run 87

With out getting too dark or morbid, I had an interesting realization on my run today.  I ran past a funeral home and wondered where do people get buried if they live and die in Manhattan.  Space and land is not one of the commodities of NYC.  I've seen and run past cemeteries in Manhattan, but don't ever recall seeing headstone from this decade?!?  Trying to research and come up with an answer was not very easy.  All my internet searches lead to cemetery tours and record/location searches.  I called a few funeral homes and got a small brief understanding of what happens.  I did find out that in 1851, all cemeteries on Manhattan, south of 86th street, were closed to new internments.  At that time large cemeteries were build and opened in all the other boroughs.  So if you live and die in Manhattan, your final resting place ends up being in Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, or even New Jersey.  

Time: 6 pm
Distance: 6 miles
Time: 49:01 minutes
Music: The Wild Party

Maine

It's hard to run the streets of NYC when you are out of town.  I went on an incredible trip to Maine.  It was filled with white water rafting and hiking.  We were up early and stayed up late.  The days were busy and packed full of activities, but since the marathon is just around the corner I tried my hardest to stick to my training schedule.  In between bobbing down the Penobscot river and hanging for my life from Mt Katahdin. I was able to get in 2 good workouts.  Running through Baxter State Park was a treat.  Instead of looking out for taxis and busses, I was on the look out for moose.  I was pretty tired from the day's activities, so my pace was nothing to brag about, but I at least I got some miles logged. 
Rafting was a rush.  We were going down class 5 rapids.  My raft completely flipped over on our first rapid.  After that we were pros and nothing phased us.  We were the rowdy daredevil raft and the other rafts just glared at us with a mixture of annoyance and jealousy on their faces.   The hike was no walk in the park either.  It was 10 strenuous miles, including a section called the knife's edge, which was a narrow ridge straight down on both sides.  It was breathtakingly beautiful.  Over all a fantastic trip full of great memories.

  

Time: 7:30 pm
Distance: 8.1 Miles
Time: 1:04:05
Music: Sunday in the Park

Time: 5pm
Distance: 11 miles
Time: 1:34:53
Music: Natasha Bedingfield, Kimberly Caldwell

Run 86

I wasn't paying very close attention as I was waiting for the subway and ended up getting on the wrong train.  Instead of ended up in Inwood like I planned.  I ended up in the Bronx.  I was a tad annoyed when I realized it, but after looking at my map and realizing I could just run over the nearest bridge, I felt a little better.  Then, as I took off, and saw the sky was turning colors for another sunset run, all feelings of annoyance were gone.  I saw a lot of fun things today.  First of all I saw a group of young men playing a game a neighborhood basketball, that fun thing about it was that for their hoop they were using the bottom rung of a fire escape ladder, hanging off their building. Talk about using your resources.  I also found a mountain bike course in Ft George Park.  I also ran 6 dead end streets, each ending in a riverside park.  Lastly, to top it off, I found a barn in NYC.  We really do have it all here.  

Time: 7 pm
Distance: 6.8 miles
Time: 59:35 minutes
Music: Anna Nalick

Long Training Run #2

Today was not only my birthday, but the second time I've done a 20 mile run.  Last time it went well and I was surprised at how well I was able to keep the 8 min/mile pace, so this time I wanted to try and push myself and took off with the 7:30 min/mile pace group.  It was definitely harder than last time, but I was able to keep up.  I was in the back half of the pack, each lap we regrouped and started over.  I started to fall behind durning the 3rd lap and I lost sight of the group on the 4th lap.  I ended the day with a 7:35 min/mile pace.  The best part was that my body wasn't as taxed as the time before.  I felt pretty good the next day.  Bring it on, marathon! 

Time: 7am
Distance: 20 miles
Time: 2:27:11
Music: Shuffle

Run 85 Affirmation

I've always avoided discussing things like religion and politics, not just here, but in real life too.  Mainly because I think everyone has the right to their own opinions and those personal beliefs should not be judged or infringed upon by others.  When your beliefs start taking away my rights and effecting me, that's when it becomes unfair and gone to far.  With Facebook on fire with chikn and boys scouts, I had a pretty emotional charged run, there was a lot on my mind.  I planned to share my opinions in this blog today.  I was forming a fairly aggressive post, but as I ran I listen to the band Savage Garden.  I have always been drawn to their lyrics and highly agreed/connected with them.  I know this following song well and it has alway been one of my personal anthems.  It came on and I started to cry.  So instead of ranting, I will just share a song.      

I believe you can't control or choose your sexuality 
I believe that trust is more important than monogamy 
I believe that your most attractive features are your heart and soul 
I believe that family is worth more than money or gold 
I believe the struggle for financial freedom is unfair 
I believe the only ones who disagree are millionaires 

I believe in Karma what you give is what you get returned 
I believe you can't appreciate real love until you've been burned 
I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side 
I believe you don't know what you've got until you say goodbye 

I believe forgiveness is the key to your unhappiness 
I believe that wedded bliss negates the need to be undressed 
I believe that God does not endorse TV evangelists 
I believe in love surviving death into eternity 

I believe the sun should never set upon an argument 
I believe we place our happiness in other people's hands 
I believe that junk food tastes so good because it's bad for you 
I believe your parents did the best job they knew how to do 
I believe that beauty magazines promote low self esteem 
I believe I'm loved when I'm completely by myself alone 

Time: 4 pm
Distance: 10.4 miles
Time: 1:19:13
Music: Savage Garden

Run 84 The elusive Cloisters

I moved to NYC 3 years ago.  Shortly after I moved here I read or heard about The Cloisters Museum and Garden.  I put it on my to-do list.  I thought about going every now and then, but it was far away, way up town, hard to get too, and a whole slew of other excuses. So here I am 3 years later and I still have never been, with an unchecked off item on my to-do list for 3 years, pretty embarrassing.  Today I finally made it happen.  I ran through the Cloister gardens and they were just as beautiful as expected.  I will now have to say that it might be my favorite park in NYC.  I initially planned to just run the loop road through the park, but it was gorgeous that I did a second loop on some of the pathways through the garden.  There was an overwhelming scent of blooming flowers, people walking their dogs, picnicking, tanning, napping, reading books, biking, jogging and taking in the panoramic views.  If you live in NYC and have NOT been here yet (like me), do what ever you can to visit soon. 

http://www.metmuseum.org/visit/visit-the-cloisters/

Time: 3 pm
Distance: 7.06 miles
Time: 1:01:24
Music: Miranda Lambert

Run 83

If you ever look at my map, (which seems to be having issues lately, too many routes??) you would notice that this route is extremely similar to a route I did recently.  Well, Riverside Drive keep splitting, so I felt it was necessary to run the same route but take the other fork each time, instead.  It was a really nice run along side Riverside Park again.  You didn't have to twist my arm to go.   I also was able to hit a few side streets that were missing in my quest.  I tried to squeeze this run in before meeting a friend.  My friend ended up calling before I was done.  I ended up way uptown, 155th Street, just as she was ready to meet in Midtown.  I hurried home and was easily forgiven when I explained what I was doing.  

Time: 8:30 pm
Distance: 6.62 miles
Time: 59:36
Music: Sugarland