Good stuff. This week marked the beginning of Summer Streets in NYC, in which Park Ave and several downtown streets are closed off to traffic. Vendors set up tents, water stations, and impromptu salsa dance floors. Apparently they made dumpster pools, although I didn't see them. Don't be fooled; these are not dumpsters in which you can dive into the waste of several local restaurants and bathroom trash cans. They actually fill brand new dumpsters with water to make them pools that you can actually swim in. Hi, I'm white trash! Literally! Har har.
Let me tell you, it was an incredible feeling to run down the middle of Park amidst the tall buildings. Reminded me of standing in Times Square with Kristine and Liz for the Revlon 5K (actually, the Revlon 5k was cooler not only b/c it was Times Square but because Ciara sang Heal the World). It's oddly empowering. To top it off, as my group was crossing the street to start the run a man running by us said "Thank you for training to save my wife's life!" How incredible is that? Just another reason I'm proud to be doing this program!
Here's a photo I took of what it looked like.
Anyway the weather was great and the route was so much fun, from 52nd and Park all the way downtown basically to the Brooklyn Bridge, then back up. I continued on into Central Park and up Cat Hill (shoot me) then back down and over to 52nd and Park. I ran with a buddy who is doing the Hampton's half, so she finished up at 7 miles. Then I met a nice woman from the Brooklyn team who was very clearly in the advanced group judging by her body and the fact that she's run 4 marathons already. Yet, she decided to run with me which was nice, until the Brooklyn head coach ran by us and asked her why she was running so slow. She said she was taking it easy today. Meanwhile, I'm trying to slow my breathing and spilling water on myself after Cat Hill. Don't mind the slow train wreck running by. Salt in the wound. But it was nice to have someone to run with.
Being advanced, she kept going when I turned around to head back, and this is when I realized the distances are really starting to wear on me. It's getting really tough on my body. My hips were really sore, which is usually okay but my right hip started to be so bad that I almost had to stop. My coach reminded me that Park Ave is seriously slanted which could have been what caused it. But now I'm starting to see what this program is doing to my body and I'm a little scared. I hope I can pull through the pain. I just need to listen to it, ice it, and stretch it, and hopefully all will be well. Twelve miles, check:o)
I'm also psyched to share that my friends Liz and Nick have signed up for TNT in Boston!! They are running the Disney marathon. I can't think of a better way to cross the finish line than with Mickey cheering me on. How much fun would that be!! I'd probably start crying with joy at the finish and run to Pluto for a hug. Good luck guys!
Next, the BRONX HALF. Don't be fooled by the rocks that I got.
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