As I wasn't expecting to be able to do anything this Monday or Tuesday morning, I thought I'd go for a bit longer this morning. The weather was an amazing 70 degrees, no humidity. Almost perfect.
I went off slow, though not as slow as my watch was telling me. Fortunately I know every mile marker in the park, so I know if it strays a bit. Took the first couple at 9 min pace, into the park and North to Harlem Hill. Down West Drive I settled into a nice even pace, making sure I was never breathing too hard.
Around Tavern on the Green, they were setting up for the Achilles Hope & Possibility 5m.
Most NYRR races, people do for the 9+1 (9 races plus one volunteer) for automatic marathon entry. This race is more for inspiration. Debbie was going to run, but knee injury is stopping her running for now. Along with the regular runners are thousands of disabled entrants who work their way through the 5m for as long as it takes, with amazing determination. It makes our pains while running and general problems we face in life seem so much smaller. It also shows the impact a positive attitude can have.
Anyway, I continued South around the bottom of the park before turning North. Feeling good, I decided to do a couple of loops around the 72nd St traverse and the bottom of the park again, keeping a good pace between 8.40 and 8.45 before heading up the final challenge of Cat Hill toward home and stopping the watch at 10m. Allowing for the watch errors, it was about 1hr 28m, about 8.45 pace. Amazing how running a steady pace makes it so much easier.
Now for the reward - an afternoon of relaxing in the sun, with some friends and a grill.....mmmmmm
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