An Easter Egg Hunt

While running around Roosevelt and Randalls Island on Saturday, my sense of symmetry was tickled. How wonderfully tidy would it be if tomorrow I ran around the opposing base of these bridges? And so it was decided: Sunday’s 10-miler would be a Hell Gate run, around Astoria Park. It wasn’t an easy run–my legs were still full of junk from Saturday’s 22 miles, but what I liked was that my average heart rate was 142 bpm over an average 9:33 pace for the workout. The last time I ran that pace for 10 miles, on March 17th, my HR was 1:55 bpm. The time before that was March 8, 2009 (I was on blogging hiatus at this time), two weeks before I got injured–and my HR was 1:51 bpm. Even though all three workouts were of various distances and terrains, I am choosing to be encouraged by the most recent HR.

The route to Astoria Park and back was beautiful. Everything was blossoming, even the smallest front yards along 37th Street were cheery with daffodils, crocus, forsythia or cherry trees. When I took my ceremonial turn around the Astoria Track, it was full of walkers and joggers, and the field was alive with kids kicking around soccer balls. It was Easter morning, and all of Queens was outside, relaxed and happy. Joggers were everywhere, and dutiful husbands trudged along the sidewalks, arms laden with bakery boxes and grocery bags packed with things like milk and mint jelly. On my way back along Ditmars Boulevard, a church rang its bells, and smartly dressed believers hurried up the steps. When I arrived to my corner I still had half a mile to go, which ended up including the best Spring gift of all: a magnolia tree, as tall as a house and in full bloom, stretched proudly across the sidewalk at Skillman Avenue and 45th Street. Beautiful! That was my Easter Egg Hunt, the flower-by-flower discovery that my neighborhood had been resurrected. The long grueling winter had ended, and life had returned to my favorite running routes. Hallelujah!

10 miles ran in 1:35:32. Average pace 9:33; fastest mile 8:48; slowest mile 9:55.

Easter 2009 // Easter (Monday) 2008) // Easter 2007

Songs I ran to (E Is for Easter Eggs): “E-Pro” by Beck, “Ecstasy” by Rusted Root, “Egg Man” by The Beastie Boys, “El Diablo” by DJ Bitman, “Emperor’s New Clothes” by Sinead O’Connor, “Empty Hearts” by Josh Ritter, “End of the Line” by The Traveling Wilburys, “End of the Movie” by Cake, “Engineering Masterpiece” by Lady Southpaw, “Engraved Invitation” by Ben Harper, “Escaping” by Blues Traveler, “Esta Melodia” by Marisa Monte, “Estoy Aqui” Shakira, “Eternity” The Waifs, “Evangeline” by Matthew Sweet, “Even Better than the Real Thing” by U2, “Every Breath You Take” by Police, “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” by The Police, “Everybody’s Trying” by Poi Dog Pondering, “Everybody Knows You cried Last Night” by The Fratellis, “Everybody Needs Somebody to Love” by The Blues Brothers, “Everyday” by Angie Stone, “Everyone’s at It” by Lily Allen, “Everyone’s on Tour” by Nada Surf