My run last night with RUNNYC was a bit painful, but I'm glad I did it. It was fantastic seeing a few of my homies and also the post run trip to POP BURGER was worth any amount of hamsting pain. I'd run miles and miles for some "Luscious mouth watering warm buns"! My fav is always the "Gobble gobble!" Turkey burgs. Wow! it's 9am and I already want another. ha!
Anyways, a good friend of mine recently sent me this article on Central Park. For any of you who share my love for this gorgeous oasis, this NYC runner paradise, give this interative map a gander. Maybe you'll learn a few new trails.
If there is one thing they remind us of over and over at RUNNYC, it's that "safety never takes a holiday"! I for one normally feel very safe running in Manhattan and Brooklyn. And I must admit that although I try my best to be on guard, sometimes I tend to drift into that sublime meditative running state when I'm on on my own.. and I'm not always ready for the unexpected. No matter where you are, you need to do your best to be prepared.
A good friend and former college teammate of mine recently sent me this article about a recent mugging in Central Park. So, as a much needed reminder to everyone out there, be alert and be looking out for one another as well.
Also, I think at this point everyone should be running with a Road ID. In the article above, it says that the victim had his cell phone on him but could not speak to the 911 operator. Luckily a few bikers were able to come to his aid and help him out. Having your personal information on you during an unfortunate situation such as this will help medical personnel identify you and contact your loved ones a lot quicker.
Have a great run today... and BE SAFE!!
Here's last night's run with RUNNYC (click the map link below). The figure 8 loop we ran was about 5.8 and with the addition of our warm up and cool down, a few of us added on an extra 1.8miles. The weather was perfect and the rain held out. I couldn't keep up with the front group, but I was pushing pretty hard for the 5.8 loop and kept it rolling in through the finish. I had an excellent run and was on quite a high afterwards. I even had some awesome company for my cool down and striders after the run. Thanks guys for A. making me cool down and B. being such troopers with the striders!
So, I also signed up for the Nike+ challenge, so I'm excited to use the Nike+ for the first time and check it out. Everyone who signs up will be assigned to a specific team (teams will be selected on March 15th) who they will represent for the actually challenge which goes from March 17th through April 8th.
Tonight's Training: Five miles on the West Side Highway. I couldn't get myself out of bed this morning (shocking!!) to get it done in the AM... so if I can't rock it out at lunch, I'm heading out afterwork.
...when I'm breathless I run 'til I drop. Hey!
Things got a little wet and wild on the Central Park loop tonight. I love running in the rain!! As my highschool track coach would say on miserable rainy days, "It never rains on a runner". I say this line frequently and people always tend to look at me like I'm crazy.
So, I ran the five mile lower loop clockwise with RUNNYC run club tonight (on map - light and dark blue combined loop). I came through in 37mins, which wasn't too bad considering I wasn't feeling 100%. The run started out great until Worku's group dropped my slow draggin' self. Just wasn't my night and they were pretty much cookin'! After the 5-er, me and my fellow (drenched) running chica, dropped the boys (lame) and added on an extra 1.7 lower loop for good measure (on map - light blue lower loop). We also threw in a few striders after the run on our way back to Niketown, because we're just that bad-ass! :)
The total run was a bit over 7miles (with the back/forth from Niketown), but we'll log it as 7mi!
(Once again, you can click the pic (on left) to see a larger map of the CP loops.)
And after I got back to Niketown and changed out of my sopping wet clothes, I got to spend the next 45mins on the train back to Brooklyn gazing lovingly at my BEAUTIFUL Blue Nike Structure Triax 11 trainers. If they feel half as good as they look, I'll be kickin ass and taking names all spring. Booyah! :) Phil, you're the best Ekin in the world! Thank you!! :)
I'm breaking these babies out tomorrow and I'll post the pictures then too. So, for now,
happy running to all and to all a good night!!
Some people get so bent out of shape over this little holiday we call Valentine's Day. A day that's supposed to be filled with cards, flowers, candy, hugs, kisses, chocolate and well, LOVE people!
Anyway, I realize this holiday is not as welcomed (and pretty much seen as "obnoxious") by people that may not currently have a significant other (been there). But really, there's no reason to get all bitter today. There's so many things out there to LOVE...
ok, so..... if you're still not convinced, let me give you my top five recommendations on how to "Feel the LOVE" today (with NO significant other required):
1. LOVE yourself!
Yes, be selfish, send a valentine to yourself and for one day stop being so hard on yourself for all your "shortcomings". Send yourself some flowers, treat yourself to a I LOVE ME massage, or allow yourself to indulge in one of your vices and let loose for the day. Just have fun and enjoy& appreciate just being YOU.
2. LOVE your running/training buddy
Do something nice for that person (or pet) who gets you through your tough workouts, who gets you off the couch, or who motivates you to work harder. Let them know how much you care and apprecaite them. Share the LOVE!
3. LOVE your workout today 
Run somewhere different, throw in a twist, take in the scenery, just really be present in what you are doing and don't go through the motions. No matter what level you are on, just appreciate and love the fact that you are able to run, swim, bike or simply just go at your training hard and DREAM BIG. There are millions of people in this world that can't even get that far. Just LOVE it out today!
4. LOVE racing season
For us Northeasterners, the fun stuff starts in the Spring. But even if you live in 365 days of sunshine take today to look at the months ahead and give love to your upcoming race calendar. Sign up for a few new races and just commit! We're all in a relationship, a committed relationship with racing and staying fit!
5. LOVE your feet
Seriously, show your feet you care! At the end of the day.... ladies, go get a pedi and throw in that extra $$ for a massage. Guys, well, you might want to purchase one of these. They're totally worth it! Your little buddies take such a beating everyday, so treat 'em nice!
Tonight, I will be "Feeling the LOVE" with RUNNYC and lovin' on my running buddies and central park. ....All in time to rush home for my date with the other love of my life, LOST!!!!
Wishing you all a fantabulous Valentine's Day! :)
My run tonight was excellent!! I didn't care much for the route the group did tonight (on map to the left: three counter clockwise lower loops -the light blue loop crossing at 72nd St ) but the scenery was enough to keep me going happily in circles. The snow was a bit hard on my hamstring injury since it didn't provide for much traction and on the east side the snow was blowing furiously (and somewhat painfully) into my face, but it was all worth it. From every angle, the view looked like it belonged in a picture frame. There was hardly any one out and the city hadn't started to even plow the roads, so it was quiet and peaceful.
It's extremely difficult to map out loops on www,mapmyrun.com, so I'm just posting a map of CP and you'll have to take my word for it that it ended up being close to 6mi with the run back/forth to Niketown (home base).
** Click on the map for a clearer view. The lower loop is about 1.7 and the run to/from Niketown is about a .5 mile.
Just when I thought it wasn't EVER going to snow in NYC again, all this wet flaky white stuff started to fall from the sky. 
Since Tuesday nights are typically my RUNNYC - RUN CLUB night, I thought I'd send a reminder that for all of February Run Club is giving away a free gift too all new runners (and not just those in NYC).
I've made so many fabulous friends through RUNNYC and the fantastic part about it is that we are all at different levels of running. Some might (and do) call my group of friends "the clique" but it just because we've banched off into so many other areas of interest (ex: wet-n-wild wednesdays, game nights, happy hours in the city, dinner and dance parties, etc...).
I'm not even someone who typically likes "group running", but the benefits of the support of fellow runners and experienced coaches are immeasurable. I got hooked early on after moving to the city since RUNNYC hosts phenomenial runs/parties around the city. It was an excellent way for me to run parts of the city that I would have never even thought to visit.
Overall the group attracts such a wide range of runners but there is always someone at/around your level to run with... and you just can't beat the bag check and post run-free food!
Check out locations in your area or hit up a group run even if/when you're in town for a visit.
It's always free!
So, what are you waiting for? Come Run With Us!
