As you read this I’ll be sleeping off a very delayed flight back to LA after over 2 weeks in NYC and 5 days in FL with the in-laws. After the many fitness experiences in NYC that I still have to share, I’ll admit that that I did absolutely nothing at all while I was in FL.
However, I did have one special experience that I had to share immediately! I was so lucky that while I was in NYC, I got the chance to experience Summer Streets (like LA’s CicLAvia) where they close Park Avenue to traffic for nearly 7 miles. Guess what?! I used those 7 miles and ran my first 10K in over a year (for charity with RunHappyRaces.org for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society)!
Summer Streets is a glorious event – there’s nothing like being in the middle of Manhattan on an early Saturday morning without any traffic from 72nd Street to the Brooklyn Bridge along Park Avenue. This 10K was extra special not only because it was my first 10K post injury but because it was Duran Duran Appreciation Day (yes, this is a real event – not made up by me)! I decided to celebrate by running the fabulous streets of NYC with the following eclectic (all Duran Duran) playlist:
A 10K All Duran Duran Playlist (with YouTube links to videos):
1. (Make Me Smile) Come Up and See Me – my favorite Duran Duran cover song.
2. Girl Panic
3. Faster Than Light – what every runner wants to be, right?
4. (I’m Looking For) Craccks In The Pavement – with the fantastic lyric “something on my mind makes me run when I thought I’d run too far”
5. Late Bar
7. My Own Way
9. Notorious
11. New Religion
12. (Reach Up For The) Sunrise
13. Hold Back The Rain – my favorite
A run in New York City couldn’t have ended more perfectly than on the Brooklyn Bridge so I had to snap this photo (yes, I had my Duran Duran shirt with me on the run):
I couldn’t imagine a more perfect way to run my first 10K post injury than by combining a great run within the city I love with Duran Duran and by doing something good for others!
**Just so you know, I have no affiliation with RunHappyRaces and paid my own fees ($27.25 ) for this virtual 10K race. If you’re interested in doing your own virtual 10K for charity by August 24th, see here – they’ll send you a medal as well!
I’d love to know if you’ve done any fun runs/races lately. I’m doing the 2nd Annual Awesome 80’s Run in Pasadena this coming Saturday (my blog profile picture was taken before the 2012 race). I’ll let you know all about it but I’m hoping to catch up on all of my fitness adventures from NYC first as I readjust to West Coast time!
That is one of the coolest things I’ve ever heard of!! What an amazing 10K for you!! Love it:-)
It was pretty fabulous. Now I’ve got to get my back strong enough for a half! With people like you for inspiration, I think I’ll get there.
I love your playlist! And I LOVE New religion! and Hold back the rain – and my own way. Now I want to run to them!
What an awesome race for you! I have no had a chance to participate in Summer Streets but I would like to! I can’t believe they had a Duran Duran race. How perfect! Btw, I nominated you for a Sunshine award because your posts always bring a smile to my face! http://www.myownbalance.com/2013/08/19/its-a-sunshine-day/
Oh if you do I hope you write about it Ilene. Hoping you’re settling in nicely!
There wasn’t a Duran Duran race (it was virtual so I made it a DD race). Next year you must do Summer Streets! If I’m in town we’ll do it together (I’ll even bike for you since you don’t like to run). Thanks again for the nomination and I can’t wait to do my 10.