Milestones: My first Outdoor Run in NYC!

(If you are confused by the title, I will mention that yes, I have run outdoors in NYC but only in NYRR races/course events. The few times I ran outdoors on my own were spontaneous - ie not 'real runs' - because I was wearing a coat and carrying stuff. It wasn't like I was 'ready to run'. Those times include 1) From the L Train home after the Tunnel to Towers 5K 2) To Williamsburg for waffles after a run in Central Park 3) From the L Train home after the Rock Center Stair Climb)

I did something pretty amazing this weekend - On Sunday, March 13th, I had my first outdoor run in New York City! I needed to do a 5K (or more) since I had pledged to do so in the fundraiser for Christchurch. With that objective in mind, I decided to do a slightly longer course in NYC. Even though I had never run in my neighborhood, I knew almost immediately where I wanted to run: The same route where I had my first ever (monumental) bike ride not even 4 years ago - over the Williamsburg Bridge to Manhattan and back!

I threw on my running clothes (I wore red & black as the fundraiser instructed) and I represented Brooklyn with my t-shirt!

I saw my neighbor Jaci before I left and told her I was nervous. I *still* get nervous before every run. She paraphrased my own blogs! Using my own words against me! "What's the worst that happens? You just put one foot in front of the other." She's right and she's too cute!!!

I left my apartment, got to the bottom of my stoop, started up my heart rate monitor and my Nike + and just started running!

I ran past some of my favorite graffiti/art on Banker in Greenpoint -

and turned up Wythe-

I turned left on South 5th and then turned right onto Bedford to access the pedestrian ramp of the Williamsburg Bridge (note: this is a different ramp than the bike ramp I normally ascend. It is also MUCH steeper!)

It's funny - I had been on this ramp before, so I knew how steep it was even before I got there. And even though I knew it would be challenging, it didn't phase me in the least. I knew it was just one small part of the whole - just one segment of my entire trip. Besides, things that would have challenged me in the past and filled me with  "I can't" thoughts before have now turned into *opportunities* - chances for me to prove something to myself. What would have seemed an impossible challenge before are the same things that now motivate me! Before it was "I can't, it's too steep!" Now it's like "Hell yeah, that ramp is steep, so what?  I'm gonna DO IT! Look out!"

 

Back then it was: OMG It's such a steep hill! No way!

Now it's: Ok so it's a hill - I know I might slow down a little but while I'm on it, but I also know that the ramp is only temporary. I'm going to get to the top, but only if I keep putting one foot in front of another. It doesn't matter how fast, as long as I keep moving. Because if I stop, I'll never get there, right? So why would I stop? Besides, when I get there, I have the benefit of feeling awesome - knowing I conquered something great! In this case for the first time! Nothing tops that feeling. Nothing. (Bonus points if you read that and saw the analogy with the whole weight loss journey! If you didn't catch it, go back and re-read it cause it's totes true!)

I made it up that ramp. No biggie. I never stopped. I didn't have to! And I continued on with my run.

I only wish I could have photographed what was to the left & right of me as I ran over the bridge, but unless I were to totally stop, it would not have photographed well enough to show you, so you will have to try to visualize this - When you're headed to Manhattan on the Williamsburg Bridge, if you look to your left, you see the Manhattan Bridge and the Brooklyn Bridges in the distance. And if you look to your right, you see the Queensboro/59th Street Bridge way up in the distance. It's nothing short of breathtaking. I love New York City and I *love* all these bridges. I thought about how beautiful they are and how lucky I am to live in this city. And then something else occurred to me - I've driven over all of these bridges in my car. And since giving up my car,  I've biked over every one of these bridges. And then it occurred to me on this, my maiden running journey across the Williamsburg Bridge, that I had a new agenda: to RUN over all of these beautiful, historical and famous one-hundred year old (plus!) bridges!

It was such a great thought I couldn't help but smile as I ran. Sometimes I think "How did I get so lucky to be right here, right now and to be me? How?!" This, dear blog readers, was one of those times...

And then, before I knew it, I was closing in on my halfway point! I had just run over the East River and was running down the ramp to reach Manhattan!

Holy moly, I did it! I made it nearly 3 miles to Manhattan!!!

While enjoying my moment, I happened to see a friend pass by on his bike. I told him of my feat and high-fived him. Then I asked him to get a proper photo of me in front of the bridge:

And a moment later, I headed back up the ramp - Brooklyn bound!

This ramp wasn't nearly as challenging as the one I took coming the other way -

I tried to get a photo of my running shadow as the J Train rumbled past-

And I had to capture this graffiti, since it's 4/6ths of my name:

Hasidic women walk across the bridge -

Unintentional angle, but a very cool shot -

And before I knew it, I was running back *down* that super steep ramp!

Running down isn't nearly as fun as you might envision. It's kind of uncomfortable in the knees. I had to take it slow - fighting off the gravitational pull to accelerate on the descent.

And I made it back to Bedford Ave, which I ran all the way to Greenpoint!

It was the usual Bedford Ave crowd, but I ran past all of them. I ran past the hipsters. I ran past dudes in skinny jeans. I ran past girls with big glasses. I ran past people with funny hair. I ran past smokers (holding my breath). I ran past what looked like a motorcycle gang. I ran past people walking multiple dogs. I ran past the L Train passengers emerging from the subway. I ran past multiple brunch crowds that spilled onto the streets as they waited for a table. I ran past the obvious suburban visitors - I ran past all of them. I ran and ran and ran until I made it home.

I got to my apartment and stopped my Nike + and heart rate monitor. Jaci heard me arrive, so she came out into the hall to congratulate me. She rocks! The entire trip took just seconds over an hour, and was 5.8 miles round trip! That was great time! I celebrated with a post run banana-

Here are my heart-rate monitor stats:

• Total Time: 60 minutes 14 seconds
• Minutes in Cardio Zone: 59 minutes 47 seconds
• Percentage of Time in Cardio Zone: 98.89%
• Average Heart Rate: 161
• High Heart Rate: 174
• Total Calories Burned: 578
• Total Miles: 5.8
• Pace: 10'27" 

What a great acheivement and personal milestone! Part of me couldn't believe I did it (I ran to Manhattan! And back!!!) and part of me thought "I could totally do more! That was no big deal!" But I had really done it! And just months ago - heck, just weeks ago! - I would not have seen this in my near future. But I did it! And I'm going to run over those other East River bridges too!

As my WW leader, Melanie said, "Welcome to the dark side"... Thanks Melanie. I suppose I'm in good company :)