I started classes a couple of weeks ago and I’m not going to lie. This whole find time to run in between full-time work and full-time school is not going so well. Actually, finding time to do anything other than my job and classes during the week has proven to be rather difficult. I spend Friday evenings attempting to reconnect with friends I had to cancel or ignore throughout the week which really does not feel good. (Mea culpa, mea culpa). That being said, I have managed to sneak in a few runs and activities to keep me a sane person and hopefully somewhat on track for September’s race.
This past weekend I took advantage of the break in rain and checked out Sunken Meadow State Park out on Long Island. I am in love. I have been to this park a few times before when hiking the greenbelt as part of a family Thanksgiving tradition but never to run the trails. When asking my cousin where he recommended I run this weekend, he immediately replied Sunken Meadow. And being the swell guy he is, he even mapped out a path for me to make my miles. Cousins are the best.
He also recommended I arrive at the park early to avoid the picnicking crowds. I did not follow this advice and somewhat regret that decision. I saw somewhat because I really love people watching and there were all sorts of people enjoying the outdoors on a very sunny Sunday. There were families playing soccer and barbecuing up a feast, kids climbing up into the trees, impromptu baseball games using sticks for bats, and music. So much music.
As soon as I left the picnic areas and made my way for the trail, the crowds disappeared and I could no longer make out the Latin beats. Instead I was completely consumed by the LI Sound to my left and the hills up ahead. Having not run on a trail with any kind of elevation for a few weeks, they burned. But it also was so much fun just to get out and stretch my legs. The only other people I saw were a couple going through a proposal/break-up (I’m really not sure which and yes, it was super awkward for me to literally run into it.) and some disgruntled yogis (shouldn’t that be an oxymoron?). At the end of my jog, I cooled down on the boardwalk and breathed in some salt air while cooling off with the seaside breeze. All in all it was a lovely way to spend the afternoon.
How was your weekend?
