This week’s running class left me feeling awesome. Since I was tapering for the Bronx Half, I was pleased that the week’s workout was a 5 miler at a tough but doable pace, with a 400 meter hill sprint at the end. (This was supposed to simulate a race finish and going full force on tired legs. Worked.)
I left class feeling totally ready for the race. My plan was to do a couple more easy, short runs before Sunday, and I’d be good to go.
Then people started to sit up and pay attention to Irene. Bronx Half: cancelled.
At first I thought this was overreaction, but apparently this is serious business. Hundreds of thousands of people evacuated, subways shut down, businesses shuttered. The Whole Foods in our neighborhood stayed open through the night last night and closed down for theweekend this morning. We stopped in to stock up on beer around 10 last night and this was the situation:
I know, right? Never seen a Whole Foods looking so ransacked.
Daniel and I decided to try to be normal and went out for Ethiopian at a wonderful place in the neighborhood called Awash.
Vegetarian combo. Seriously good food. Ate way too much, but we had to reinforce our energy supplies before the storm, right?
I had no plans for my run this morning, but I knew I wanted to get in some miles before bunkering down in the apartment for the rest of the weekend. Apparently, every runner in NY had the same idea because Central Park was totally packed. Toward the end of my loop of the park, I ran by Ali, who had a giant smile on her face. I’m guessing this means I encountered her before she vomited a Gu.
I did 6 intensely humid miles. The sky was spitting a bit the whole time, so this run was mildly uncomfortable, but it felt good to be out there. There was a sense of urgency coming from the other runners and bikers, many of whom were probably trying to get their workouts in before evacuating. Despite the palpable determination, though, there was still a sort of eerie calm due to the fact that the park was pretty much devoid of pedestrians, children playing, tourists, and the like. It was an odd feeling, to say the least.
I’m totally bummed about the Bronx Half, but I’m going to wait til Irene gets the heck out of NYC to start thinking about the next half marathon (Staten Island!). For now, waiting it out and hoping to emerge from our building on Monday morning to a wind-battered but otherwise unharmed New York City. Knocking on wood.
Stay safe, East Coast friends.
