I met my college roommate in NYC on Wednesday (long story) to see a show and then today, I’m back there for  work.

Last Week and Vacay in Fla.-

• Thursday- I got up early and went for a run in my friends’ (Deirdre & Kevin) neighborhood and then we all went for a hike, out to an early dinner, soaked in the hot tub and watched Hallmark movies… great start to the vacation (even if the temps were cool).

• Friday- No run today but we hiked at a preserve, followed it up by lunch out, some time in the hot tub again and then homemade pizza for dinner and more hallmark movies. Another stellar day (even the rain stopped before our hike.)

• Saturday – We decided not to run the Pirate 10k (too few participants). In stead I did my long run with one of Deirdre’s friends and of course, we went out to brunch after. In the afternoon, we drove to Dunedin where I met up with an old friend, visited the Fine Arts Center and the town and eventually we had a nice Italian dinner with Deirdre’s family. Vacation was progressing along smoothly. Still cool but better than NY.

• Sunday –My last neighborhood run (I so loved running without layers of clothing). After some pool time, we spent the afternoon listening to music with some of their friends and spent our last evening together having take out and watching, you guessed it, Hallmark movies. Very sad to have the vacation end but grateful that I had this opportunity.

• Monday –Morning flight … arrived home to rainy weather. (At least it was warmer than when I left).

• Tuesday – WFH today to unpack, do laundry and stop by the office.

the perks of working near Starbucks…

I did sneak out in the am to get some miles done in my ‘hood.

a very dreary day that felt colder than the actual temps.

After work, I finally had time to visit with my granddaughter.

• Wednesday – I took an early train to NYC to meet up with my college roommate who flew up from Fl. for the day. (Her return flight got cancelled so she had re-schedule and find a place to stay until the next day… )

The short version of the story is that I was scheduled to be in NYC today for work but the training got postponed until next week and we already had bought show tix.

Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate and it rained!!

The show was fantastic… the city beautiful even in fowl weather.

• Thursday – A WFH day and the only time I could run was after an appt after work…

Our STEM running group decided if possible to meet up at UAlbany on Thursdays.

it turned out to be just 4 mentors but it was nice to have someone to chat with while running

• Friday – Another WFH and mah jongg in the evening…

• Saturday – Long Run and Brunch.  The 6 mile run got done..

16 degrees when Barbara & I started but the sun was out which helped a lot

but I replaced brunch with shopping and making food for our party that evening and packing for my NYC trip the next morning.

obviously I was taking the pics…

• Sunday – I’m heading back this morning to NYC for work.

I had signed up to run a free local race..

pic from a previous year…

but instead I plan to run once I check into to my hotel and then go to Brooklyn for a walking tour of Dyker Heights…

This Coming Week on the Run – 

• Monday – dinner with 2 friends
• Tuesday – train home
• Wednesday – run
• Thursday – run, tennis holiday party
• Friday- college friends ZOOM, mah jongg
• Saturday – Long Run (and Brunch), holiday dinner out with family
• Sunday – walk/hike, birthday movie & dinner out with my BFF

This Coming Week on the Blog – 

• Tuesday – 2024 in Photos
• Friday –  5 Fitness-Related Items I’d like for Christmas/Chanukah

Happy Running! Training for any big or small races this fall? Planning any warm weather vacations? Please share.

I am linking up with Kim and Deborah for

I encourage you to do the same. Grab the graphic, drop your link on the host blogs and play along! Please be sure to always comment on the HOST’s blogs, as well as visit and comment on as many other blogs as you can.

It’s been long enough since the race that I can be objective…

My Topic today is: Five Things I Learned From My Third Marathon

1.You get what you put in.

In other words, if you don’t train well, the race will be harder.

For many reasons, I didn’t take this race as seriously as last year.

Mostly because even with decent training last year, the race didn’t go well.

I decided to do what I could and not re-arrange my life in order to get all the miles in.

As a result, I struggled from mile 2 to mile 26.2.

2.I can do hard things.

That being said, I was determined, no matter what, to FINISH!!

There were many times that I really wasn’t sure that I could do it.

I give credit to those spectators and volunteers who offered support the whole way.

3.It was much harder than the first one but not as hard as the second.

As they say, “anything can happen on race day.” Last year, my calf cramped and I had to walk the last 16 miles.

This year, five years older than the first one, I just felt less prepared for the distance.

So I walked a lot…

Maybe age does matter…

4. I have awesome friends.

Not only did they travel to NYC to support me.  But so many of my friends tracked me, encouraged me and posted congratulatory messages.

I am a lucky runner.

5. I do not want a redo.

Last year, I wanted to run it again to enjoy the race more and I also wanted to run it with my friends.

Now, I want to run shorter races (maybe regain some speed) and go to NYC next November and cheer on those friends.

6. I’m glad that I did it.

There would have been FOMO and many what ifs if I decided to defer until next year.

Despite all the negatives, running the NYC Marathon is an awesome experience in so many ways.  I don’t regret my decision to go and gut it out.

Happy Running! Have you learned anything from one of your big races? Please share.