Well I made it to New York City this afternoon.
To be honest NYC is not my cup of tea – too many people and too much traffic! I already miss Maine and I only left it at noon 
.
However, I did get to cross off running in Central Park off my Running Bucket List!
I did the first lap around the park fairly easy probably around a 9:00 minute pace and then on the second lap, when I got to the reservoir, I did a lap around that, just to say I did it and then went back to the loop.
It was still pretty warm and humid – being 83 degrees at 6:40 when I was just about done running.
There were so many runners it was almost as though I was running in a never-ending road race, I got passed a lot, but I also passed a lot of runners, so I didn’t feel too bad. However, there was almost always someone else to set your sights on to try to keep up with or pass.
I did have to laugh though – I started to go by this female runner in an orange shirt and blue shorts who was wearing a pair of Nikes, at around mile 10 and for the next 3.0 miles we didn’t let the other go, when she sped up, I would speed up and when I sped up she sped up. I think we got a little competitive or she just didn’t like the idea of some old gray-haired guy in orange Adidas going by her 
.
Running this fast after that many miles was something that I wasn’t planning on, but I felt pretty good, but I was also starting to get a little tired and I thought about letting her go, when I saw the sign for 7th Avenue coming up (my turn to go back to the hotel), so I picked up to around a 7:00 minute pace (I still remember what they are like) until I turned off for 7th Ave, she kept up, but was starting to breath a lot harder, but so was I. I gave a little wave and said thank you and she smiled and gave a little wave back .
That was a lot of fun though – my race for the week.
I could enjoy running in Central Park, but the rest of living in New York, just doesn’t appeal to me and I miss being home in Maine already. Oh I said that already didn’t I – can’t guess that I am a country boy at heart – city life isn’t for me.
The Adidas Adizero Sonic 3 did everything that I could have asked of them on this run. No problems with my feet at all and they felt great while running in them.
But it was cool to cross something off the Bucket List this year.
How many things have you crossed off your running bucket list this year?
Do you like living in a major metropolitan area, something a little smaller or do you prefer a more rural setting like I do?
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Aaron Smith
August 24, 2012 at 10:23 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Looks like fun!
I’m a crowd person though…
Harold L. Shaw
August 25, 2012 at 7:23 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Hey Smiddy, I finally figured out that am not a crowd person and that I prefer the woods and hills
I am just a lot more relaxed with fewer people around.
Christine
August 24, 2012 at 10:23 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
It sounds like you had a fun run in Central Park! I love running in Central Park. There are so many different routes you can take and there are so many people out in the park being active which can be good and bad at times
I don’t know how long you are in the city but another great place to run is along the west side highway. Gorgeous path along the river. Have fun in NYC!
Harold L. Shaw
August 25, 2012 at 7:22 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Hi Christine – I did have a fun run in Central Park, I was going to get up early and do one lap this morning, but my legs felt tired, so I played it smart and had breakfast instead. Only here for 2 days, so probably won’t get on the West Side Highway. Maybe next time.
jlgentry
August 25, 2012 at 6:21 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
What a great post. I worked in the City for 10 years and got to stay over quite a few times. I almost always started the day early with a run in Central Park. There was almost always someone or something interesting going on that made each run unique. This post reminded me of those good times! Keep running.
Harold L. Shaw
August 25, 2012 at 7:19 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thank you Jerry – glad I could bring back some good memories for you
.
AmyC @ running escapades
August 25, 2012 at 6:57 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Very cool Harold! I would love to cross that one off my bucket list too
Harold L. Shaw
August 29, 2012 at 1:48 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
You got stuck in Askimet and I didn’t realize it until just now. Thank you – and I am sure that you will. It was a great experience, that I won’t forget.
trikatykid
August 25, 2012 at 3:15 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I felt that way about Portland, which is nothing in comparison to NYC.. I am a country girl at heart too. I will visit the city if someone else does the driving
Harold L. Shaw
August 25, 2012 at 9:39 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
When I first made was arranging my reservations, they thought I was flying in from the left coast, so it was kind of fun
I didn’t used to mind driving in the city, but at after watching the drivers drive around, I am glad that someone else was doing the driving, guess I have lived too long in the country 
trikatykid
August 25, 2012 at 9:41 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Maine is a great state .. hard to be a city folk if you’re from Maine.
NH at least has Manchester!
misszippy1
August 25, 2012 at 5:21 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
CP is one of my all-time favorite places in the world to run! I love the beauty of the park, the people watching, the sightseeing…
I have always said I’d like to live in NYC for one year. Not with my kids, though, so this is perhaps an empty nester item for me. Then on to Colorado to enjoy that kind of beauty and all the trails it has to offer.
I always think it’s great to hear people who love where they live. That’s how it should be!
Harold L. Shaw
August 25, 2012 at 9:36 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Amanda – I could get used to running in Central Park, but living in the City would not be my cup of tea, too fast paced for me, but it was nice to visit this weekend, I got to admit it was a lot of fun and I got to meet some great people.
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