Finished 9 Mile Long Run – Total Miles for the Week…27

Logged some good miles this week.  I have to admit though I was exhausted after finishing the 9 miles on top of the A-Cross the Country Relay this week.  In fact, I fell asleep as I started typing this last night.  A sign it was time to “hit the hay.”

It was pretty cold yesterday so I started the run at the gym on the treadmill.  Then after 2 miles and warmed up, I hit the pavement.  Just ran circles around the  mall so I could dive in if it started raining.  Not like the kind of weather these women had to run in for the team relay.

Half way through my long run, Kristina called me.  She was really bummed out that she did her 9 miles and felt she didn’t make very good time.  She’s training for her first half marathon and I keep telling her not to worry about the time.  She is so competitive though and wants to not only finish but finish with a great time.

I talked to her while I ran and tried to get her focused on the fact that she just finished 9 miles…further than she ever has gone before.

I’m not sore today but just a little tired.  Today is cross training day.  That is bicycle time (indoors).  It is cold today with rain and snow – high of 40.

In less than a month I’ll be in New York – love going there in April.  It’s early spring there – still cool but nice enough to be outside.  Central Park in April is wonderful.  Last year Jim, Alex and I were there for Easter.

This was a beautiful afternoon last April in Central Park.

Above is Poet’s Walk.  A very famous part of the park – used as backdrop in a lot of movies.   Kramer vs. Kramer, Maid in Manhattan and hundreds of others.

On a beautiful afternoon like this one was last April, you don’t have to walk very far to hear music.

I love how New Yorker‘s just find a spot in the grass and take in the day.   I think it was between 50 and 60 degrees – not too warm and not too cool.

More music – percussion ensemble.

Bethesda Fountain in Central Park is in the most beautiful setting.  A flight of stairs (Bethesda Stairs) unfolds and the fountain is the focal point of the view from the top.

More music…

…And boating too.

You could spend days exploring Central Park.

We plan to do that but also the reason for the trip is the half marathon.  We will be running through it – 2 laps.  Here’s the map of the course.

Can’t wait…lots of great times ahead.  I was 48 when I ran my first half in April 2010…same place same race.  I thought that was an achievement.  I’m now 51 and coming back stronger and better.  Since that time I’ve finished 4 half marathons and 1 full marathon.  What I thought would be my one and only became an event that changed my life – running has become a part of who I am.  Love that!