Running Skirt

So I am not sure why I didn't post immediately following the run in Philidelphia. Perhaps I just wanted my foot to feel better, or maybe I was just lazy...In any case, it was a wonderful adventure. I arrived Saturday night with Danny, Akiva, and my friend Bracha. We stayed at a wonderful Marriot hotel just outside of Phili. I say that the hotel was wonderful because the beds were extremely comfortable and the rooms were very clean. Sunday morning I woke up very excited. I am not sure I have ever kept up an exercise program such as this and now I was reaching my thirteen-mile goal...

Running is a unique way to explore a city. I have visitied Phildelphia before but saw some select sites. On this course I got an overview of the famous sites, small stores, restaraunts, parks, boathouses, colleges...I didn't need an iPod during the race because I was so entertained by my surroundings.

At mile six Bracha met me on 20th street. It was great fun to run with her for a block before I continued on the next seven miles. Seeing familiar faces really does energize you. I know it was only thirteen miles, but it's still nice to share the experience with people that are close to you...and at the same time I was sharing this eperience with thousands of other people I didn't know yet still felt connected to. This was evident around mile 9. There was a huge hill and I was just about to slow down and start to walk when a woman next to me gave me some sports beans and told me I was going to be ok.

I guess the best line of the day was at mile 10 when someone on the sidelines yelled "Run Skirt Lady, Run"

I've kind of taken a bit of a break the past week and a half. My right foot was in a lot of pain at the end of the race. I suppose I wasn't watching my step and landed on it strangely. It's much better now and I think it's time to start moving once again. I need to come up withi a new goal. I think that will be to work on my time. I finished the face in 2:08 and I think next time I will finish in 2:00. I know I can do it. My goal this time was to get to thirteen and now that I now I can finish, I want to finish faster.

Throught these past few months people ask me if I feel healthier. I tell them it's hard to compare because you get used to a new baseline. But I feel good, I feel strong, I feel I can set more goals and complete them.

When I started running a few months ago I started outside. So that is what Iam used to. Perhaps it's harder in the sense that you have to set your own pace and keep it up, but I like moving around and watching the scenery as I go by. Unfortunately yesterday was a treadmill day. I didn't run in the morning and I got out of lab when after dark so I didn't have much of a choice.

Maybe it's becauase I don't have an iPod. Maybe it's because there wasn't a TV in front of me. Maybe it's because the guys' basketball game was finished. But I just got bored after a while. I finished my four miles and was happy to get out of there.

The good news is that I felt a lot less tight that on Sunday. So I suppose I should keep up these small runs to keep me in check for Sunday.

Yesterday was one of those days where one should be cuddled up on a couch with a cup of tea watching a movie. Outside was windy, rainy, and dreary and I blamed the weather for my groggy mood. At 1pm it was time to leave my apartment and try and get the day started. The rain didn't seem like it was going to let up, but I thought that maybe a run would give me some energy. But alas it did not. I felt achy and slow. I was wet and uncomfortable. After running two miles I decided to turn back for a total of four miles. I didn't complete my goal of six miles. I didn't accomplish much after that. All and all it was an unproductive day. I suppose we all have our bad days. I don't know how I ran twelve miles last week and yesterday's four seemed impossible. But I will take it easy this week, eat right, sleep well, and recharge for Sunday.

The last time I had run was Tuesday. I was a bit of a slacker last week and was nervous that it would be a difficult run. But perhaps the weather and the beautiful scenery propelled me forward. Autumn was in full bloom as we ran up the West Side Highway towards the Bronx. With the GW Bridge in the distance, the Hudson River to our left, and the beautiful red, orange, and yellow leafed trees that surrounded us, the run was very pleasant. I kept my usual pace of around 10 minute miles. Running just under twelve miles yesterday, I know that that in two weeks time there won't be a problem finishing this race. And when I complete my goal of distance I will have to think about my next step...Should I work on my time? Should I work on distance? I suppose I will focus on these things after Phili and in the meantime enjoy the next two weeks of running in Autumn.

So last night at the parade there was a float of people that were dressed up as Kiss. But apparently, it wasn't other people dressed up as Kiss, it was actually Paul and Gene Simmons dressed up as Kiss. How was I to know? :)

1. Run five miles
2. Go the the parade in the Greenwich Village

I ran this morning bright and early. While I felt it was tough, we kept the pace under 9:30 miles. Until the end when I got really tired I was able to keep up a conversation with Akiva which made the run much more enjoyable.

This evening I went to the Halloween parade. It was certainly an experience. Lots of strange and inappropriate costumes. Lots and lots and lots of people. Lots of walking. Lots of walking among lots and lots and lots of people in strange and inappropriate costumes.

My two goals for today are accomplished and now I'm off to bed.

Good night!