Work was the pits yesterday. I think I just assume that our clients will ALSO be busy with their personal stuff like I am and that we’d be slow during the holidays. That never happens. Like clockwork, December tends to be a busy month. I wrapped up a kick-off conference call with a new client and just needed air. I had to go uptown to pick up my race bib for today’s race anyway so I started out on foot walking from Herald Square to Grand Central (about 10 blocks) where I planned on catching the subway uptown to New York Road Runners. But something happened to me in those minutes and I just felt that with every step I walked I felt less stressed. So instead of getting on the subway I continued walking uptown and additional 20 blocks. (20 blocks is approximately 1 mile).

Passed Bliss Spa on my way. Thought about asking if they took "walk-ins". But then I remembered I don't "pamper out the small stuff"....I sweat out the small stuff =)

Passed Bliss Spa on my way. Thought about asking if they took “walk-ins”. But then I remembered I don’t “pamper out the small stuff”….I sweat out the small stuff =)

I popped in to get my race number and then thought i’d continue the walking “therapy” so I headed up a block and entered Central Park at Engineer’s Gate which is where I entered the Park on 11/3 during the NYC Marathon at my very emotional mile 22-23. I felt such a sense of peace and contentment. Being reminded of that awesome marathon day allowed my mind to stop focusing on my current workload woes and instead reflect on my accomplishments and how amazing 2013 has been.

Engineers Gate! Hi Fred Lebow! Consecutive numbers bib!

Engineers Gate! Hi Fred Lebow! Consecutive numbers bib!

This little squirrel scare the bejeezus outta me while I was deep in my reflecting zone

This little squirrel scare the bejeezus outta me while I was deep in my reflecting zone

I walked an additional 20 blocks and then jumped on the subway back to work since at this point my lunch “hour” was well beyond an hour. So 2.5 miles of walking and almost 2 hours out of the office and I was good as new. Sometimes that’s all you need. I returned to my desk and saw the most beautiful gift that was left for me by one of our vendors. Score!

Godiva chocolate...the perfect gift!

Godiva chocolate…the perfect gift!

I completed my work for the day and then headed home.

This morning my alarm woke me at 5:00am. Good thing I set 2 alarms because I did the SAME  thing I did the morning!  Last time I checked, Saturday is NOT a weekday.

I bundled up in my running gear layers and headed to meet my running peeps for our 15K in Central Park. 7am flurries turned into a steady snowfall just as the 8:30am race began. It was magical. I was so happy….smiling from ear-to-ear. I love snow. I love running. I love friends. WIN-WIN-WIN!

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9.3 miles done!

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aid stops were serving water Slushies and Gatorade snow cones. LOL!

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It’s a masked runner peep sandwich. Photo: L. McGarry

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in the corrals walking briskly to the starting line

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Pretty as a picture. Photo: E. Negron-Perez

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We had to conquer the infamous Cat Hill TWICE on this course. Photo E. Negron-Perez

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Running Peeps!

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It’s a PR but only because I haven’t run a 15K in 3 yeas.

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Gatorade slushie and an apple post-race

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one more running peep!

I ran a good race, a PR by 14 minutes actually. But last time I ran a 15K distance was this race in 2010 when I was a lot slower overall). My Garmin said 9.5 miles (instead of 9.3) so average pace 9:48. My official time was only 4 seconds different but because the distance is 9.3 My official average pace was 10:00 on the button.  I definitely hit a wall today around mile 7. It was tough getting up Cat Hill the second time. I didn’t eat much this morning before the race and didn’t eat anything at all during the race. At one point I could hear my stomach growl.

1214splitsI’m now home and thawed out and refueled (The box of Godiva is almost gone!) and watching the snow come down.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Question: Have you ever run in the snow? Do you ever just feel so overwhelmed at work that you need to walk 50 blocks to clear your head? LOL!

I did it! I got to the gym today for 30 solid minutes of cross-training on my lunch break. 20 minutes on the rower and 10 minutes on the elliptical. “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery and today is a gift.” (that’s a quote I happen to love). I am so grateful to have had those 30 precious minutes to sweat out the small stuff. It’s been building. =)

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gym selfies and such

Traffic lately has been brutal. It’s part of what comes along with living in a city that has more than 8 million people I suppose. As I was sitting in traffic yesterday morning I started to think about how I could make it seem more appealing. So from now on I’m going to call it Traffique. It just sounds better.

I signed up for one more race this year. I caved! My friends are all running the Ted Corbitt 15K in Central Park on December 14th, and since it was only $23 to register I pulled the trigger. YAY! I’m actually looking forward to it and sorta hope it snows. Central Park is so beautiful with snow.

In other news, say goodbye to my little umbrella friend. She was sparkly silver when I got her and I loved her for being so compact and reliable. But today she broke. And she cut my hand twice! Apparently she likes to remain open and when I try to close her she pops back open again. She almost impaled me! I actually think that if there were a comedian watching me getting on the bus this morning they’d have enough material for an entire show. (I had a travel mug of hot coffee spilling at the same time as I tried to get lil’ silver umbrella to behave all while my bus driver insisted on driving mach 1 through a construction area that was bumpy as sh-t…It wasn’t pretty).

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Just got this email from our office manager. YIPPEE!!!

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Happy Thanksgiving’s EVE! And enjoy your festivities tomorrow. Remember to savor each and every bite. Then come back and tell me what your favorite part of the meal was. And I hope nobody has to get stuck in traffique!