Race to Deliver: 4M Race

I ran a 4M race today with colleagues to help raising funds and promote awareness for God's Love We Deliver (GLWD)! The orgniazation prepare and deliver nutritious meals to people who are sick and unable to prepare meals for themselves.  For more information about GLWD, please visit their website.

It was a cold morning with temperature below 40F (4.4C), wind was pretty gusty and it felt like 32F. I had two layers and long sleeves all the way, but the temp was cold enough that my joint felt too cold to move. I could hardly wiggle my fingers when we were waiting to start. 

I ran a decent first mile passing through the Cat Hill on the start. I was starting to feel a little warmer but my hands were still frozen cold. The second mile was pretty flat and steady.  At the end of the 2nd mile I came across someone who dressed the same as me - our jacket, pants, and even ear warmer were the same colors.  Usually it's quite easy to notice and remember the person who dresses like you, or running as the same pace as you.  Needless to say she took notice of me as well.  

Incidents like this in races usually leads to competition.  Somehow she decided that I am her competition and she started racing with me.  I knew this because I saw her passing me, falling back behind me, and passing me again repeatedly in the next 2 miles, literally from the initial encounter to the finish line. It was funny as the third mile was 3 rolling hills and we 'battled' through the hills one after another. We had different approach to ascends and descends so we exchanged lead a few times.  Every single time when I passed her at a steady pace, I could see her passing me again within 10 seconds. 

At 3.5 miles I was getting a little tired and her lead widened.  Towards the end everyone started to speed up so I did my best to follow the pace as well. She looked around and saw me coming and she pushed through as well.  My shoe laces were loose suddenly but I ignored it. (If it were earlier in the race I would have stopped).  We sprinted the last 200-300 meters at almost 2'00" quicker than our race pace!  She ended up beating me by about 2 seconds "at the finish line" (I have no idea what corral she was in and what time she crossed the starting line). I was "beat", but my results and pace were much better than I expected so I was happy.  

The advantage of joining a race instead of practicing by yourself is all about motivation, whether it's keeping up with the people running next to you, or even starting a little healthy competition, it only helps pushing your physical and mental limits and letting you realize how much more you're capable of. 

Finally I met up with colleagues and enjoyed a delicious brunch on the Upper East Side. 

First Cross-State Run

Today marks my first time crossing a state border on foot!  It's quite a nice experience.  I took the trail and exited to the street level on 156th street, then run a good 1-2 miles uphill through the streets of Washington Heights.  Then at 178th street, turn left and head down the block for the pedestrian ramp for the bridge. Then climb a steep ascend on the ramp onto the bridge.    The bridge is only a little bit over 1 mile, although by cars you'll feel a lot longer with the queues to get on it and the heavy traffic when passing through it.   

The middle of the bridge, or the NY-NJ border is a great place to take a break, enjoy the view, and snap a picture or two.  You'll see the great Hudson River separately NY and NJ and the landscape of the two states. 

Post Election Day

The city is quiet. Awfully quiet. In a city that is home to millions of residents and commuters, this is extremely unusual and awkward. Morning commute is generally quiet but there are usually a few casual conversations and even some laughter here and there. But not today, everyone is looking down and seems to be in his/her own world. People are glued to the paper or articles on their phone, and their face displayed a bit of melancholy.  

The subway platform was orderly and organized.  Unlike the usual days, no one tried to aboard (or stuff themselves into) the crowded train when it arrives or selfishly bump into everyone trying to step off. 

Just when everyone gets comfortable with this state, a little  boy joined the pool of commuters and started singing his favorite nursery rhymes to break the silence. 

"The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round...The wheels on the bus go round and round, all around the town..."

He missed a few words and notes, but he obviously enjoyed it and had a good time. His little pure and innocent voice was angelic, but hurts when you realize that he is going to grow up in a continuing divided country.