Today, while anguishing the ridiculous logistics of the start of my new job, I became so overwhelmed with stress and anxiety that I went for a run, an unusually long run. Those of you who know me know the words stress and anxiety are not commonly uttered in the same sentence as my name, unless you're are talking about how I'm inducing stress and anxiety upon someone. So without going into the promoting events, I did was Forest Gump did. . . I ran. Now I'm not a runner and I never have been. Except for back in middle school because that doesn't count. And the fact that after ACL replacement surgery my right leg only functions at about 85% contributes to my lack of running.
So I laced up my running shoes, strapped on my knee brace, threw on my iPod (which on my run blared a playlist mixed with the new Coldplay, Death Cab For Cutie, and Jason Mraz albums) and began to run. I ran two blocks west to Henry St. and then jetted North toward Manhattan. Brooklyn consists of Brown Stone apartment buildings, you know like what the Cosby family lived in on the Cosby Show. So the entire Borough is beautiful. I didn't specifically know where I wanted to run But I knew I was headed toward the Brooklyn Bridge. I also knew that if I was going to run to it I was really going to have to commit to a lengthy jog. Without much deliberation I told myself "OK, run across the bridge, its going to be beautiful". After many blocks I saw a sign that pointed me to the Brooklyn Bridge walking deck.
As I approached the entrance of the bridge a song from Death Cab For Cutie came on my iPod called "Marching Bands of Manhattan" The opening lyrics of the song are sung with sincerity "If I could open my arms to stretch the length of the Isle of Manhattan. I'd bring it to where you are, making a lake of the East River and Hudson". As the song continued to play I could see up and down the the river that separates Manhattan from Brooklyn. The arches of the bridge were framed by the backdrop of the ever-expanding Manhattan skyline. During this run over the bridge I related to those lyrics. Thoughts of all the family and friends, present and past, flooded my mind. Memories came and went and I couldn't help but repeat those lyrics in my mind and heart with hopes that everyone I love were somehow telepathically receiving the words from the song. I wished that everyone could be there with me to experience the sight.
After my cross I turned around and headed back over the bridge and home, wondering of the tourists passing by saw me as a "cool resident" of the massive metropolis. The thought made me feel kinda cool since every time I visited the city I would identify residents and envy their location. I found my way back to Clinton St., which is just one block over from Henry St. and runs parallel to it. About 3 blocks from home I began to walk, I was exhausted. My legs were a little wobbly and I was drenched with sweat.
After cooling off outside I went to the computer in our office and looked up the distance of my run on Google Maps. Turns out my run was about 8 miles! After I discovered this my first thought was "I am going to be sore!" I can't feel the pain now, but anyone who normally runs zero miles who runs 8 miles out of the blue is bound to be sore.
Brooke and I are doing well. We have had company stay the last two weekends so its been busy and we will take it easy over the 4th of July. Sgt. Pepper was neutered almost a week ago and is recovering quite well. I have yet to start my job due to a "process" that HR, I am finding, is extremely slow with. We miss you all. We love you all!
So I laced up my running shoes, strapped on my knee brace, threw on my iPod (which on my run blared a playlist mixed with the new Coldplay, Death Cab For Cutie, and Jason Mraz albums) and began to run. I ran two blocks west to Henry St. and then jetted North toward Manhattan. Brooklyn consists of Brown Stone apartment buildings, you know like what the Cosby family lived in on the Cosby Show. So the entire Borough is beautiful. I didn't specifically know where I wanted to run But I knew I was headed toward the Brooklyn Bridge. I also knew that if I was going to run to it I was really going to have to commit to a lengthy jog. Without much deliberation I told myself "OK, run across the bridge, its going to be beautiful". After many blocks I saw a sign that pointed me to the Brooklyn Bridge walking deck.
As I approached the entrance of the bridge a song from Death Cab For Cutie came on my iPod called "Marching Bands of Manhattan" The opening lyrics of the song are sung with sincerity "If I could open my arms to stretch the length of the Isle of Manhattan. I'd bring it to where you are, making a lake of the East River and Hudson". As the song continued to play I could see up and down the the river that separates Manhattan from Brooklyn. The arches of the bridge were framed by the backdrop of the ever-expanding Manhattan skyline. During this run over the bridge I related to those lyrics. Thoughts of all the family and friends, present and past, flooded my mind. Memories came and went and I couldn't help but repeat those lyrics in my mind and heart with hopes that everyone I love were somehow telepathically receiving the words from the song. I wished that everyone could be there with me to experience the sight.
After my cross I turned around and headed back over the bridge and home, wondering of the tourists passing by saw me as a "cool resident" of the massive metropolis. The thought made me feel kinda cool since every time I visited the city I would identify residents and envy their location. I found my way back to Clinton St., which is just one block over from Henry St. and runs parallel to it. About 3 blocks from home I began to walk, I was exhausted. My legs were a little wobbly and I was drenched with sweat.
After cooling off outside I went to the computer in our office and looked up the distance of my run on Google Maps. Turns out my run was about 8 miles! After I discovered this my first thought was "I am going to be sore!" I can't feel the pain now, but anyone who normally runs zero miles who runs 8 miles out of the blue is bound to be sore.
Brooke and I are doing well. We have had company stay the last two weekends so its been busy and we will take it easy over the 4th of July. Sgt. Pepper was neutered almost a week ago and is recovering quite well. I have yet to start my job due to a "process" that HR, I am finding, is extremely slow with. We miss you all. We love you all!
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2 comments:
You WHAT?! 8 MILES! The sites along your path (or those thoughts of your wonderful family and friends) must have taken over your perception of what you were doing. I do not envy what you are feeling today. Thinking of you guys too! Although not pain free, glad you’re doing well! Thanks for sharing!
Yo Alan, hows the job "process" going?? I hope it is over and you are actually working. Talk to you soon. Hi Brooke!
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