Missing New York

I'm kind of sad today.  I had planned to return to New York City this year to run the midnight run in Central Park like I did on New Years Eve, 2010.  It turns out that I just couldn't do it this year.  My daughter is preparing to study abroad next semester and we have to have her all ready to go on January 8th.  I'm going to Key West in 3 weeks which is going to cost more than I thought it would.  College nearly cleaned out my savings even with the scholarships I received.  (If it wasn't for the scholarships, I'd have a lot less to spend on Key West.)
Anyway, I'm going to run the local New Years Eve run tonight.  It's at 10pm which isn't as much fun as midnight.  It is small town and nothing like the atmosphere in Central Park on New Years Eve.  There were so many people there!  It just goes to show that runners just love to run!  Runners celebrate every occasion by running!  The run is 4 miles and I didn't run very fast, it was so crowded at the start that it took 11 minutes for the first mile!  It did thin out somewhat but there was still so many people all around me!  There were fireworks, too!  I had run nearly 2 miles when the fireworks stopped! The 4 mile run took longer than it usually takes me to run 4 miles but it was over with so fast! 
As for real life - Weather Channel website says 27 degrees at 10 pm here which isn't too bad.  I will think about sunny days, palm trees and shorts while I run!!  I go to Key West in 2 weeks, 3 days!
Tonight, I will be missing and thinking about this:

My daughter, my sister and I in Central Park before the run

My friend, Nestor (who lives there), and me after the run

Next year, for sure!!  I'm going next year!!  New York City, I will see you this date next year!!!

Runner Nerd
longing for the fun in Central Park

Emerald Nuts Midnight Run

This was the most fun I have had running in a long time!!  I can't believe it's over already.  I can't believe the weather!  It was 41 degrees which makes for comfortable running. 
We rode the subway to Central Park and just followed the crowds of people heading to the area where the race starts.  Emerald Nuts was handing out 2011 crowns.  Of course I had to have one!!  It was a mob in front of the tent where they were handing them out.  I finally got up there and my daughter and I got them and one for my sister.  (when she saw the crowd she said she didn't need one.) 

Doesn't everyone need one of these?



My daughter, me, my sister before the run.



 

I met up with a friend who lives in NYC.  I'm surprised that we were able to find each other with all the people in such a concentrated area.  We started making our way to the start and had to go quite a ways before we could even get into the starting corral.  There was music playing, people in costumes, lots of those noise maker horns,a bunch of kissing people and  lots of chaos!!  There was a count down and then FIREWORKS!!!!  We finally got moving and finally got across the start line 3.5 minutes after the run started to the sound of Bon Jovi's "Living on a Prayer".  It was slow going and nowhere to go at the beginning and for most of the first mile.  It took me nearly 12 minutes for the 1st mile.  The fireworks were still going off, I think I had run almost 2 miles when they stopped.  There were spectators all along the course and everyone was screaming and yelling HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!  There was a water stop and a champagne stop!! (my sister told me later that it was sparkling apple juice.)  I planned to run with my sister, I told her I'd stay with her even though she thought she'd have to walk a couple times.  It wasn't far into the run and she  pointed out a person dressed like a cat and I  pointed out 3 men wearing ties with running clothes and then I did not see her.  I looked behind me, I stopped along the edge and looked for her but never saw her again.  So much for that plan!!   I continued on running and then saw my friend.  We ran along together for a while then got seperated.  Later on he and his brother flew by me.  I didn't want to run very fast anyway, I wanted to take it all in because I don't know if I will ever get to do it again.  When I crossed the 3 mile mark I guess I got caught up in the excitement and decided I'd pick up the pace and run the last mile faster.  Toward the finish there were more and more people along the edge and they were coming out into the road farther and farther and high-fiving runners and screaming and yelling!!  I'm guessing it was around a half mile to go when I got passed by a giant banana!!!  When the finish came into sight I didn't want it to end.  My time was 39:53 but seemed like it was only a few minutes.  I saw my friend standing at the end of the finish chute waiting for members of his running club.  I stood there to watch for my sister.  He asked me how I liked it and all I could say is that I am definitely coming back someday!!  I wish I could do it every year. 

After New Years Eve Midnight Run

Sooooooo, Here I am, back in my hotel room.  I can't believe it's over already.  I've been talking about this and looking forward to it all year and here it has come and passed that quick!  I think I want to plan to do this again New Years Eve, 2012 which will mean that I am graduated and will be calling myself a Respiratory Therapist!!!  Hmmmm......I think it sounds like a plan!!! 

We have to check out at 10am which is only a mere 5 hours away so I guess I should get some sleep. 

Happy New Year and happy running 

Runner Nerd

bringing in the new year from New York City

The final hours of 2010

Where did this year go?  Here it is, the final hours of 2010.  I'm sittin in my hotel room in New York City.  My sister and I decided on Christmas of last year to do this Midnight Run in Central Park.  It was a whole year away and now here it is!!  I've been looking forward to this all year.  I went and got my packet at the New York Road Runners place on 89th street this afternoon.  I got a long sleeve tshirt, socks, and a bag.  (I bought the bag).  It's not going to be super cold.  MSN weather says it's going to be 41 at midnight.  A friend told me that last year it was bitter cold.  I was walking in Central Park this afternoon; I've never been there before!!  I saw many runners and it made me want to be running too.  My daughter and I have been wandering around the city all day with my sister and brother in law.  My sister used to live here and still comes here quite often for her job so she knows her way around which is so helpful.  Last night we went out for dinner then wandered around.  We went to Times Square last night since tonight it would be nearlly impossible to get anywhere near tonight.  It was like another world!  It was late at night but when we came up out of the subway it was like it wasn't even night; it was so lit up!  I was like a kid!  I was so excited about everything!  I took a lot of pictures which I will post soon.  The streets right in Times Square were already closed last night and things were being set up and we could see the 2011 at the top of where the ball drops from.  It wasn't lit up but it was visible up there!

2010 was an OK year as fas as my running.  I logged just over 1200 miles, I ran 2 marathons, 2 half marathons and several other races of varying distances.  I did not PR in anything.  
2010 was a pretty good year for college.  I got 4.0 in all the classes I took.  I got accepted into the RT program which is what I have been working toward. 
I don't know what 2011 holds.  I will be a full time college student now.  I am registered for a half marathon on Memorial Day weekend and also plan on running the half at Grand Rapids in the fall and would like to try for a new PR.  I'm not doing any more marathons until I'm done with school.

Well, I have about an hour to rest before we are going to leave to head back to Central Park to ring in the new year with a run!!  What better way is there!! 

Happy New Year to anyone who happens to read this!!

Runner Nerd
reporting from New York City!!!