Blog

Wow! (subtitle: YES WE DID!)

It’s been an exciting week here in NYC what with a Friday Halloween, the NYC Marathon and then last night, the biggest celebration of them all. If I were writing more often, each would deserve it’s own post, but as it is, I’ll tackle them all at once.

First things first: What a night! By the time yesterday rolled around (long before that, really) I was very emotionally invested in the Obama-Biden campaign, and I certainly wasn’t the only one. There was a lot of pent up anger, fear, nerves, hopefulness and excitement ready to blow. We had a few people over to have a few drinks and watch the returns and it wasn’t long before any anxiety turned to excitement. It was about one second after 11PM EST that the networks called it for Obama and it was about three seconds later that the screaming and cheering and honking started outside our window on University Place. We quickly got our stuff together and headed over to Union Square, where the crowd was already in the thousands. The main activity was this massive flag that covered most of the southern end of Union Square and was being held up one the outsides like a tent.

There were tons of people under the flag, singing, dancing, chanting, screaming, hugging and just plain celebrating!

It felt like the biggest party ever, but we knew there were tons of similar ones all over the country. What a night! We danced around like madmen and -women last night, but now the real work begins – thankfully we have a great man (and team) in the White House to lead the effort.

Marathon Sunday!



Some images from the marathon – the women’s lead pack, the men’s lead pack and volunteers handing out water and Gatorade around mile 7 in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

I had such a great time out watching the marathon. First, I’m so happy for all my friends who ran – for some it was a more trying day than expected, but every single one of you finished the race and that is really what matters most. I’m proud and so excited for you.

It was a beautiful day for running (I heard it was a little windy at the start, but 50’s and sun and clouds – can’t ask for much better than that!). As planned I started the morning out in Park Slope to see the women’s and men’s leaders and then try to catch my friends. Unfortunately, I missed most of them. Sorry guys, I tried, I really did. I did see Emily, Liam and Michael run by and then headed uptown to meet up with them again and run some of final 8 miles with Emily. I met Emily on First Ave near 98th Street, she was a little behind her schedule, but looked good and was in great spirits. I jumped in and ran with her up through the Bronx and back down 5th Avenue, into the Park and right down to the “1 mile to go” sign near the bottom of Central Park. I had a blast running with her, even if it did feel a little strange to be out there without a number and having run 18 miles less than most of the people around me. I know that some of you may think it’s not right to be out on the course when I wasn’t registered – you’d be correct, it’s not. But Emily wanted me out there and I made sure to stay out of everyone’s way and didn’t even drink a drop of water or Gatorade that “belonged” to the registered runners. It was worth doing on Sunday, but I’d be hesitant to do it again.

That’s one lesson, I guess, but my real lesson, the one that I’m going to use to carry me through the winter, is that I really, really, really love to race. It’s an electric feeling to be chasing that goal and to be doing it with a crowd of people. I walk all over the City every day, but seeing it while racing through it is a totally different perspective, one I crave. As much as it’s hurt recently to be sitting on the sidelines with an achy body while other people are training for, and racing in, the fall races, being out there on Sunday reminded me why I need to concentrate on getting healed up and trained so I can get back out there and do it myself.

Strength – November 1

Run – November 2
Distance: 7 miles
Time: ~1:25
Course: NYC Marathon miles 18-25
Conditions: Cool (low 50’s), sun and clouds