Biking NYC, Running Central Park

It amazes me that I can still find things to do here that I have never done before. Usually after living in a place for 4 years, you start to run of "new" things to do. Not that doing a repeat of stuff is bad - just that New York is so versatile that you really can find new things all the time.

I have biked in Manhattan before, but it was only to ride to work. This was a few years back - on the weekends during tax season I would ride my bike when it was warmer from the Upper East Side to the World Trade Center. It wasn't really a leisurly ride. It was a means to an end: a chance to get some excercise on my way to work.

But, today was different. A highschool friend of mine, Eric, was in town visiting from Florida. The night before, Fernando had said that he was planning on going on a bike ride on the river trail around the island with a friend. It sounded like fun and Fernando and I thought it would be a really good way for Eric to see the city. So, Saturday morning, Eric and I rode the train with bikes to the World Trade Center then began our trek to meet up with Fernando. We headed through China Town, Little Italy, Union Square, Gramercy Park, then Herald Square/34th Street, Times Square, Bryant Park, Central Park, and then hit the Upper East Side where we stopped for a bagel. Back onto the bikes we headed down to the 59th street bridge where we met Fernando. The three of us biked along the East River, past the United Nations and all the way to the South Street Sea Port where we stopped again - for Pizza. Then, we headed through Wall Street and up to Battery Park to see the Statue of Liberty.
At home, I mapped it out and we did 18 miles.

Sunday was another physically challenging day. I met up with Fernando early in the morning and we went for a run in Central Park. He ran 8 miles...I DIDNT. I ran as much as I could. My guess would be that it was about 5 miles. Then we went to meet up with some of his friends and threw around a football and softballs for a while.

I have to give my props to Maggie and Dan for making me get shoes. I used to run track in high school and for a few years after that. Well, I guess I can't really say that I "ran" track. My main goal was to be in good enough shape to look good in a bikini when the summer hit. I really wasn't too concerned with winning any track meets. Good thing, 'cause I never won! I was actually probably the WORST track person in the history of TC Roberson High School. My event was the 2 mile run (actually, they did it in kilometers but I can't remember how many it was and am too lazy to calculate it out). You always knew who I was because I would be at the end of the line (assuming no one had lapped me already). Well, I wasn't at the very end, there was one girl who was always behind me but she was somewhat mentally disabled. And even she beat me once. I remember that day - she was sooooo happy to have not come in last. It was almost as if I had done some kind of good deed - but I didnt LET her win. My nickname will never be speedy. Anyway, back the real story. My knees started to hurt after a few years, and I ended up stopping running. I haven't really run much since then. I have been bored with my workout lately and really wanted to change it up. Maggie was always running on the treadmill at the gym but I never ran with her because every time I tried my knees would bother me. Then, I was talked into venturing off my cheap tennis shoe kick and actually purchasing shoes that were made for running. Nike. Woo hoo.

I still didn't run. Then one day at the gym I felt like I had a boundless amount of energy. You know those days? You go to the gym and you just need to get all that energy out of you? Like its just too much trapped inside your body? So, it was one of those days. I got on the treadmill and ran about 3 miles. I figured I was going to hurt after that, but I didn't. So, I kept running when I went to the gym. It has really worked out nice since a) the gym closes at 8:30pm and is not open on Sundays - I can run after those hours in my neighborhood and b) Fernando runs so we can do it together. I always find that having someone to work out with is much better motivation than always going by yourself. Back on track - Maggie was my gym partner, but now she is gone. Boo hoo.

That a) b) thing I just did - that's all Maggie. You ever notice how when you hang around the same person a lot you pick up on their mannerisms? Maggie and I used to do that all the time. Instead of saying "By the Way" she would always say BTW. She always says "hells yeah" too. Funny how that works.