Extra/Ordinary

Some days, commonalities seem like special connections and I can nearly convince myself that my ordinary problems and ordinary joys are actually quite extraordinary. Earlier this week I confessed to one of my oldest friends that, even though we had fallen out of touch for 15 years, we had led lives that were oddly parallel in many ways; she agrees. The similarities comfort me; I feel less alone, and less strange.

But today, the creature (if you will) with which I connected was my bridge! We’ll get back to that.

I spent a good several hours at the office today trying to catch up on all the work that had poured in while I was on vacation (yeah, good luck with that. My emails went down from 161 to 147. Everything is so time-intensive), but by 6 PM I couldn’t do it anymore and knew it was time to run home. I had  kept the promise of that run right at the edges of my mind all day long.  It winked at me like a gilded Godiva chocolate perched at the top of a dessert tray. Oh, it would be mine, that run. I knew I would have it, and didn’t mind delaying the pleasure.

I turned off the lights in my office and pressed my forehead to the window, trying to gauge just how hard it was raining. I couldn’t see drops on the glass nor on the rooftop of the Le Pain Quotidien across 53rd Street, so I figured I would head out. Out on the curb, the heavy mist cleared my email-numbed brain right away, and I took off at a steady pace. As I run these days, I can feel the weight I gained the past few weeks. It’s awkward to lug around but I know it will leave me after a month of consistent training. During this run home from work–on a rainy Sunday evening–both pedestrian and auto traffic was light, so I felt like I owned the roads. I did have to wait for a bit at a light right before I hopped onto the 59th Street Bridge, and I realized I was breathing hard. It felt right, to push.

The bridge’s pedestrian entrance at 59th Street and First Avenue is under serious renovation, leaving just a narrow lane for us to pass. Rather than being dismayed or aggravated at the construction, I was excited: What would it look like when this improvement project was complete? I thought about this as I ran over the bridge, and felt connected with her because I too am going through a bit of an improvement project. It’s a little unsightly right now, but just wait until it’s done! Both my bridge and I will be better than ever, able to offer our best to everyone who needs us. 3.5 miles run in 31:12. Average pace 8:55

Songs I ran to: “Hot Stuff” by Donna Summer, “De Perros Amores” by Control Machete, “Diamonds on the Inside” by Ben Harper, “Hotel Yorba” by the White Stripes, “I Touch Myself” by the Divinyls, “”(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes” by Elvis Costello, “Mucky Fingers” by Oasis, “Vacation” by Chris Denny, “Free Fallin'” by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers