JJ: Safe Home (with PS and EN)

Who else besides me would need to run a point-to-point that started at my office and ended at my apartment? Nevertheless, it’s more by default than by definition that running home from work is always a solitary occasion. 

Always, except for last night, because TNT friends and faithful readers PS and EN accompanied me. PS is running the New York City Marathon in less than a month, and wanted to run over the Queensboro Bridge to get a sense of its challenges. I was happy to play tour guide, and EN came along because he’s always welcome. PS needed to run 8, but there was no way I was going to do that during my week of rest and recovery from the Baltimore Half-Marathon. So this was the plan–4 miles out (which would take us half a mile past my apt), turn around, drop me at my corner, and PS and EN would continue back into the city. Ideally, they’d have about 6 miles under them when they hit the bridge on the return, so they’d be at least a little fatigued when they hit that long sloped climb back into Manhattan (to best approximate how it would feel on race day). 

PS is looking fit and trim, she’s ready! She ran a 1:56 at the Philly Distance Run, so she’s primed to set a massive PR (her best time for 26.2 is 4:50). I am really excited for her! It was a treat to catch up with PS and EN; we all love to talk running while running. It was a bit surreal to have two friends next to me  on my route home from work. Many times I’ve wished I could run the route with a dear friend so I could show him where I spend all my time training. But this was something else; this was social, and it felt right-in-my-bones to be coming home with two people who have supported me through both success and injury. 

I’m on the Q32 bus now, composing this post on my Blackberry as I commute to work. I can look to my right and see the pedestrian path we used just last night. I remember when we turned around at 52nd Street and Roosevelt Avenue, how I pointed out the Manhattan skyline to PS and EN. Look, there is the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building. Just run towards the city now. Ten blocks later, as I peeled off from them at my home corner, I waved goodbye and pictured the views they were approaching. Yes, they would run through dingy and noisy Queens Plaza, but they would also see twinkly bright buildings on the Upper East Side from both Skillman Avenue and the bridge. Safe home!

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