December 5, 2013 by Darlene

I <3 New York

Third time’s a charm.

My friends Eileen, MaryPat & I had planned to go to NYC last January and then I got the flu and couldn’t go. Then we planned to go in June and I broke my foot and couldn’t go.

So I kept my fingers crossed that nothing would happen and I could go yesterday.

We took the Megabus down (for $7 ea) and discussed our activity options on the ride. If the weather had been cold or rainy, we would have gotten tix to a show or Radio City. But it was forecasted to be 50 degrees. Yay us!

So we decided to be typical tourists and visit all the decorated windows and other decorated locations – Rockefeller Center, Saks, Trump Tower and walk around Central Park.

After a pit stop at Starbucks, we headed down Fifth Avenue and started by buying some touristy items (my friends not me).

buying tacky PJs

Then one of our many photo ops.

with a fake Statue of Liberty

We continued down Fifth trying on cheap hats & scarfs at every corner (I think we eventually all bought something.)

at Lord n Taylor’s

We looked at the windows at Lord and Taylor’s and then headed to Rockefeller Center. Unfortunately, there was equipment everywhere since the lighting of tree ceremony was to be last night (Featured scheduled guests to perform in the star-studded show included: Mary J. Blige, Toni Braxton, Mariah Carey, Kelly Clarkson, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Goo Goo Dolls, Ariana Grande and Jewel.)

A quick stop there and then off to Central Park for what else? A carriage ride.

After the relaxing ride, since we had reservations for a late lunch, we walked back down Fifth to do the rest of the touristy things on our list.

inside Trump Tower

We visited Trump Tower and then we went inside FAO Schwartz. MaryPat played the BIG piano and I stole a photo.

They take pics before you can play the piano and then they try to sell them to you. We didn’t want to spend the money so I snapped a pic of the screen with my iphone.

Then we looked at the windows at Saks –

Yeti at Saks

And all of a sudden, while we were on line, the tree at Rockefeller Center lit up!!! So cool. They were testing it and so we did get to see the lighting of the tree!!

no I didn’t take this

We continued our walk to Bryant Square, browsed in some of the shops and watched the ice skaters.

42nd & 6th

Then we headed back down Broadway towards Times Square to get to our restaurant, the Glass House Tavern (I ate there in October).

we did have some of these – I had duck w/quinoa & pannecotta for dessert

The meal was very good…just the right amount of food (I even had room for dessert.)

“Believe” was the theme this year at Macy’s

We had decided to take the train home instead of the Megabus to have more time in the city (an extra 1 1/2 hrs). So we headed toward 34th street to see the windows at Macy’s and of course, get our pic with Santa.

Finally, it was time to head to Penn Station.

view of the Empire State Building

A fun day in the Big Apple. We laughed a lot. The weather was awesome. A great time was had by all.

MaryPat has FitBit and it said that we walked 9.5 miles!! (Is my RWRunStreak broken cuz I didn’t run?? I think that it should count as a 1 mile rest day!!!)

I do hope that the next time I am in NYC, I will be running in Central Park!!!

Happy Running! Besides the NYC Marathon, what is the best race to run in Central Park? Can my 9.5 miles walking count as 1 mile in the Streak?

December 3, 2013 by Darlene

November Recap

Still running (even with a sometimes painful foot)

NOVEMBER GOALS:

RUN (regularly)!!! YES. At least 3x a week.

it’s getting colder…

Do not overdo and listen to my body…REST when necessary!! YES. At least 3x a week.
Start daily planks! I should give up on these. Only did a few.
Attend 2 yoga classes! YES. Attended 4!
Complete a 15k race. YES!

15K

Run at least one other race. YES. 2 others.

Delmar Turkey Trot

Stuff the Sleigh 5K

Continue running longer on the weekends. YES. 6-8 miles.

8 miles on the Nisky bike trail

Run a new route. Nope.
Run at least 50 miles this month. YES. Ran 79 miles!!

No theatre this month but I saw several movies (Enough Said, 12 Years a Slave, Philomena – all good)
Ate out fewer times this month, I think (2 Tuesdays after tennis, NYC,with mah jongg friends, with tennis friends, Thanksgiving)

Mah Jongg Chinese dinner

tennis dinner

Ran with some new running partners

Adrienne & Heidi

I got matched with a running buddy (through IRUN4)

a 9 year old with special needs – he is now my motivation to run

Went to Central Park & saw the NYC Marathon finish line as well as hiked the High Line.

at the finish line (closest I will get)

with my college BFFs

DECEMBER GOALS:

RUN (regularly)!!!
Do not overdo and listen to my body…Do NOT run if foot pain gets worse.
Attend at least 2 yoga classes!
Walk or run at least 1 mile a day while at work.
Cut back on the sweets and eating out.
Start knitting again (socks or something else)
Run before work at least once a week.
Run a new route.
Continue to run some of my long runs with others
Run at least one race.
Continue running longer on the weekends (to train for January 10 miler)
Complete the RW Running Streak (run at least 1 mile everyday from Thanksgiving to New Year’s)
Run at least 70 miles this month.

Happy Running! How was your November? Anything exciting planned for December?

November 5, 2013 by Darlene

Running Update

Last Week:

Monday – lunch out, 3 miles after work
Tuesday – 1 mile walk at work, tennis after
Wednesday – 3 miles before work, dinner and movie out with friends
Thursday – 1 mile walk at work, ~~lunch out, 3-4 miles after work~~, nails, REST
Friday – ~~REST~~, 4 miles after work on the rail trail

70 degrees!!!

Saturday – day in NYC with college friends – walk in Central Park, lunch in Chelsea market, walk on the Highline

at the NYC Marathon finish line

with 2 college friends on the High Line

Sunday – 8 (tough) miles on the Nisky bike trail

cold (38 degrees) and windy

This Week:

Monday – DAY OFF, tennis
Tuesday – tennis
Wednesday – 3 miles before work, yoga after work
Thursday – hair appt after work
Friday – 3 miles before work, mah jongg after
Saturday – REST
Sunday – 15K race

Happy Running! How is your running going? Any upcoming races?

November 3, 2013 by Darlene

Living the High (Line) with Runner’s Envy

As I mentioned in my previous post, on the day before the NYC Marathon, I was heading to NYC for a college roommate reunion.

us in 2010

in 2000 (love those LONG dresses)

in 1977 (WIDE-LEGGED pants) and so skinny

My friend Judy and her husband, Mike were driving down & let me hitch a ride rather than taking the bus. We left Albany at 7:30 am and I was hoping that we would be lucky to get there without hitting traffic.

I was hoping to at least have time to stalk the finish line in Central Park before heading to Chelsea for lunch.

Well, we were lucky, we arrived there in no time – around 10:00 am.

They dropped me off at 67th and Columbus so I could walk into the park. (They went off to visit a sick aunt in the hospital). They would pick me up at the same location at 11:15.

There was a 5K just finishing up in the park. There were runners with numbers on. I started to get RUNNERS ENVY.

me a the finisher’s wall – so cool

Then I walked to the marathon finish line. It was very crowded. There were lots of visitors who wanted to catch a glimpse. Friends and relatives that were here to watch the race. Of course, there were runners who were racing tomorrow. Runners and people from all over the world.

just had to get a photo near the finish line

I walked around the area for awhile just soaking up the excitement.

bleacher area near the finish line

Then I strayed and walked around the park more.

That’s when RUNNER ENVY got really intense. No matter what path I took, there were runners.

I tried to ignore them but they were everywhere.

Why didn’t I wear my running clothes? Well, of course now I know that I should have. But not knowing what my friends were going to do, if they would drop me off near the park, how much time would I have, where would I run in the park….

So I just walked around admiring the fall foliage.

There were a lot more leaves on the trees than where I live.

Eventually, it was time to go and I said a sad good-bye and vowed to return…and run next time!!

Fred Lebow’s statue was moved near the finish line.

I returned to the corner where I was supposed to be picked up. I waited and waited. Eventually my friends called to say that their car was either towed or stolen!!! They said would call me back when they found it!

Well, we had noon reservations in Chelsea Market for lunch. My friend Andrea & their daughter Danielle (from California) would be waiting there. I called Andrea and they told me to take the subway instead of waiting. (I was at 67th, Chelsea is 15th.) It seemed like a good idea but I had no idea where to get the subway, what subway, where to get off. Eventually I found out that I had to walk to Columbus Circle (Broadway & 60th) and take the A train to 14th.

I have NEVER taken the subway in NYC alone. But it was really easy. I was pretty proud of myself. When I got off the subway, I walked a few blocks & quickly found the entrance to Chelsea Market (which was super interesting) and found the Green Table.

I arrived the restaurant to find Andrea & Danielle already there.

an organic restaurant that Danielle chose

It was a little stressful because we feared that the car was stolen, my Ipad and car key was in the back seat, we would have to take the train home and Judy & Mike would probably be in a bad mood for the rest of the day.

me and Danielle using the Find My iPhone app to locate my Ipad

But we ate anyway.

an egg casserole – small but healthy

When we were done, Judy & Mike arrived. The car had been towed, they found it (paid $185) and this time parked in a parking garage.

The rest of the day was spend leisurely walking on the High Line.

Judy in pink

The High Line was quite crowded since the weather was PERFECT.

me & Andrea on a rolling lounge chair

It was quite interesting looking at all the views, plants, art work and people.

reminds me of the statue in Sarasota, FL

There were lots of places to sit.

here folks are watching traffic?

It was a fun time for the 3 of us and we did a lot of catching up while we walked.

2013 group photo (I’ve been friends with Andrea for 40 years & Judy for 39 years)

Andrea had to return to NJ but Mike, Judy, Danielle & I decided to return to Chelsea Market. It was fun to walk around it – differnt shops and lots of restaurants. I bought a cannoli (my lunch was way too small and way too healthy).

Finally we had to leave Danielle and drive back up North.

I usually go to NYC with my tennis friends just to see a Broadway show. This was a nice diversion.