2013

Prospect Park did not disappoint. I'm not a resolution maker. I'd rather health, happiness and general goodwill should be the norm. Happy New Year!

running zen

Much like when I forget my Garmin, if a run is not recorded or discussed, did it even happen?  A good friend of mine is out of town, which leaves me with no one to rehash my runs with.  Mentioning it here will have to do.

Sunday's run is notable not for my speed (I was slow) or the distance (7 miles - which is currently qualifying as a long run) but because I achieved the elusive zen state were it feels effortless.  This hasn't happened since the Brooklyn Half.  My runs have all been perfectly fine.  I've gone out, run the miles and it's all been very satisfying.  But the good run, when miles are melting away and you look around with awe because you don't even remember getting to that point - that is what Sunday's run was like.

I ran the outer perimeter of Prospect, along the sidewalk.  For all of the hundreds and hundreds of miles I've logged in that park, I have no idea why this didn't occur to my earlier.  It was downright peaceful.  No crowds or distractions.  Just enough people passing by to keep things interesting without anyone actually being in the way.  I need to remind myself to keep trying new routes, it can make a world of difference.

(The humidity finally easing up may also have played a small roll in this...)

The Great GoogaMooga

The internet buzz seems to say it was a bust. I however, completely enjoyed myself.  We skipped Saturday.  After running the Brooklyn Half, we opted for an afternoon at the beach and headed to Fort Tilden to unwind.

So Sunday was Googa day.  We headed to Prospect around 12:30 and the lack of signage does deserve to be called out.  Not a single arrow pointing GO THIS WAY.  I've logged hundreds of miles in that park and even I couldn't tell by their map where exactly the entrance point was.  Not that it really mattered, you just followed the swarms funneling to Nethermead.  Once inside we grabbed pulled pork sandwiches at Num Pang (so good) and found shade under a tree to set up blankets.  It was that easy.  Joined by a friend and her kids, we took turns venturing out for more food and drinks.  Sure, there were lines, but nothing seemed all that unreasonable.  Food, music, shade - we loved it.