Nurse on the Run

One of the biggest things on my that’s what boys are for list is fixing things.  I don’t know how they do it, but many boys innately know how to fix everything.  If there’s a boy class somewhere, I would like to take it.  However, at the moment, I need a boy, and quick!  I couldn’t get my Garmin to stay on earlier this week, and after attempting to reset it and recharge it, it fell apart in my hands.  As in, the top part completely came off.  My poor Garmin, in two pieces!

Well, that wasn’t going to be any good because I had a run to get to!  I did what any normal person would do and found my duct tape.  As long as I taped it tight enough, the power would stay on.  Glorious.  The hardest part is getting it to stay in the charger, and this is a bit what my concoction looks like:

I will not be deterred!!

Soooo if any boy wants to attempt to fix my Garmin, please let me know.  My only other solution is to attempt to super glue it, but I’m not sure if that’s the best idea.  In the meantime, I’ll probably be buying a new one (a 305, unless someone convinces me otherwise) and sticking with the duct tape.  In other news, my curtains are still hanging, so behold the power of tape.

Since I actually got my Garmin to work, I headed out for some runs!  I mean, I could still run without my Garmin, but I’m probably a bit too dependent on it after running with it for four years!  Oops.  On Wednesday, I headed over for a longer-ish run on the WSH, possibly one of my favorite places to run.  I headed north and passed a biker (twice!) who waved and smiled at me (twice!).  I like it when people are friendly!  It was a fabulous run and I tried to keep the pace under control, which I managed for a little bit.  I’m loving these longer runs so much, it’s just easy to get into a state of mind and go.  Perfect.

Wednesday, January 19
10.27 miles in 1:19:59, avg pace of 7:47

Thursday’s run involved one of my favorite things…literally running errands!  I had to pick up my number and such from NYRR for the Manhattan Half tomorrow morning (did I mention I’m running that?  Because I am…), so I incorporated it into my run since it’s just off of Central Park.  I made the visit to NYRR closer to the end of my run, which meant I ran counter-clockwise around Central Park, which I haven’t done in a long time!  I’m not sure which way is easier, but it was fun to get a different look at the park.  Since most people run clockwise, I got to see lots of people too…including a guy who FLEW past me going counter-clockwise as well.  He was flying!

I picked up my number at NYRR (red corral!  yay?  I’m scared…) and then headed back to the park to finish up my run.  I believe Robin and I stared at each other for about five seconds before realizing who each other was, and then we waved excitedly and said hi as we crossed paths.  I love when I see other people running!

Thursday, January 20
8.22 miles in 1:03:27, avg pace of 7:43

Today involved a bit more surgery on my Garmin (so sad!) and then I headed over to the east side for a short run since I didn’t want to be too tired for the half marathon tomorrow!  For the record, the west side is SO MUCH BETTER than the east side since the path wasn’t cleared about 96th St so I just ran back and forth until it was long enough for my five mile run.  How boring and repetitive!  The WSH is amazingly clear and I wish it was a block from my apartment!  So sad.  At least it was a short run…

Friday, January 21
5.1 miles in 40:31, avg pace of 7:57

Now for some more resting up before the half tomorrow…calling for some chilly temperatures in the teens, but my Chicago blood should pull me through!  I have no idea what is going to happen at this half, sooooo I’m going to go out and see what happens.  And hope my face doesn’t freeze.

Has your Garmin ever totally collapsed on you?  What model would you recommend?  I’m eyeing the 305…

and

How much do you love duct tape??  What have you fixed with the magic tape?

I never claimed to be a normal person.  Then again, who wants to be normal?  Certainly not me, as normal is boring.  Right?  Right?  I’ll just keep telling myself that.  In the meantime I will share some of my most recent (okay, all time) obsessions with you.  Feel free to judge me based on them, although I’ll admit that I find them to be quite fabulous. 

ice cream/froyo

You may not know this, but I used to eat ice cream on a nightly basis.  When I worked evening shift, the first thing I did (after crying myself all the way home) when I got home was scoop myself a bowl of ice cream.  This was glorious when a half gallon of ice cream cost $2.50 in Pennsylvania, but in NYC the same half gallon is $7!  Holy goodness!  I haven’t bought ice cream since I moved here.  That being said, self serve froyo isn’t exactly cheap.  But it’s fun with so many flavors sooooo I can’t really resist.

Anyway, I bribed myself to run after work on Sunday by promising myself froyo, which worked like a charm.  Soooo I stopped by 16 Handles at the end of my run…delicious.  Well, 1/4 delicious.  I had a few bites of it when I got an invite to a place called…

GATSBY’s

In December, I stumbled upon a bar in SoHo called Gatsby’s, which immediately made me geek out and take pictures with my little elephant man, as his name is Gatsby.  I’ve been obsessed with elephants ever since I was little, and Gatsby is my little buddy who I take everywhere.  (I’ll do a post on him one of these days…)  Anyway, when offered to make a visit to this said Gatsby’s establishment, I couldn’t turn it down.  Even if I had to work the next day.  (I know, I know, who am I?)  Anyway, I think the bar itself was a bit disappointing and perhaps I should have left it up to my imagination, but I do think it was fate that they had Delirium beer, which happens to have an elephant on the label.  FATE, I tell you.  I live for Gatsby photo ops.

RUNNING

I probably don’t need to tell you that I’m obsessed with running.  I have a bajillion running shoes (Brooks Ravenna, for the win) and get really excited about new running shoes, especially if they’re in a new and exciting color.  I gawk at the idea of spending $40 on a new pair of non-running shoes (sometimes I refuse to believe I’m female), but I have no problems with spending $100 on a new pair of running shoes every 350-400 miles.  Running, especially long runs, has gotten to the point where I don’t blink an eye when I need to run 14 miles.  Or 18 miles.  I’ll probably have to mentally prep to run 20 miles, but I don’t freak out about it nearly as much as I used to. 

This worked out fabulously for my 15 mile run on Saturday.  I didn’t start running until the afternoon, which might have thrown me off before, as long runs need ROUTINE or else I freak out.  Not anymore.  I’m just going to run 15 miles, no problem.  Two hours out on the roads?  Let’s do this.

Saturday, January 15
15.1 miles in 1:55:06, avg pace of 7:37
Splits:  7:53, 7:35, 7:45, 7:46, 7:48, 7:48, 7:44, 7:32, 7:40, 7:33, 7:27, 7:26, 7:14, 7:49, 7:35

Okay, I may have pushed the pace a little bit too much, but I swear I felt good.  I know that’s beside the point and I should run slow(er) anyway, but I tried.  I really did.  I’m happy that this pace feels good (although an extra eleven miles is a long way to go), but 7:14 pace, which is about current goal marathon pace, is still bit of a stretch.  What have I gotten myself into?  Plenty of time!

This run (plus a twelve hour shift) definitely set me up for a recovery run.  I took is easy in Central Park, telling myself to hold back.  Worked out pretty well and my legs felt well enough to work again today. 

Sunday, January 16
4.33 miles in 35:44, avg pace of 8:15

Sounds good to me…hopefully these legs will carry me through another twelve hour shift before I get FIVE DAYS OFF.  Take that, everyone who just enjoyed a three day weekend.    That’s all that’s getting me through my shift tomorrow.  Well, that, coffee, and the cute little kids I get to take of…

What are you currently obsessed with??  Fill me in so I don’t feel so strange myself.