So…I think I’m slowly becoming addicted to racing. And it’s funny—while I loved it in high school, there was always this added pressure being on a team. Some people live off that, but it just stressed me out. Now that I’m only running for me, I can go into races not freaking out. And there’s something to say about the camaraderie. Runners just connect, and even though racing is competitive, everyone is down-to-earth and super friendly.

And for me, there is something way more satisfying about a Friday night in with friends and a documentary followed by waking up early and joining a herd of runners by the starting line. Saturday was an 8am wakeup call for another 10K (over in Riverside Park). I wanted to run it as a workout—not all-out, but not at a normal pace—and was pretttty successful! My hip was sort of out of whack and my breathing not so hot, but the power of positive thinking really did its thing as I kept repeating “it gets easier, it gets easier.” Which is so true. I ran negative splits (check em out) and felt better during the second loop around the park (except for those two damn hills. Eek.) And it’s super rewarding when you cross the finish-line, no matter what the clock says. Six miles is six miles, and now it’s over!

Unless it’s not. Which is also awesome. Laura, Jocelyn and I reconvened after we all finished, and slowed down the pace to run a comfortable five miles down to City Bakery to eat overpriced, but well deserved food. 11 miles in before 1pm? Try it sometime.

And as I woke up late this morning, sort of hungover, all I wanted to do was erase all the cabernet floating in my bloodstream and lace up my sneakers.  I want to race again, and maybe push myself harder this time, and see how fast I can really go. And now I’m wondering, is 10K the magic distance? Will a half-marathon be feasible? Will I cross a marathon off my bucket list in the next year? Time shall tell.

But until then, Jocelyn tagged me in this blogger-question thingy. And to be honest, I wasn’t going to do it..but she said she “highly doubted” we would. So, gotta prove her wrong 🙂

1. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
Probably a giraffe, so I could see the world at crazy heights. Or a cat, because they’re mischievous little creatures that hard chill all day.

2. What is the best date you have ever been on?
A gentleman took me out to a really nice restaurant once, and we were engaged in such an interesting conversation that we barely remember the awesome food. That’s how it should be, right?

3. What is your favorite book?
How We are Hungry, Siddhartha, A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again, The Dance of Life

4. Dogs or Cats?
Both. If you’re an animal lover, you like cats & dogs for different reasons.

5. If you could be any character from a TV series who would you be?
Bret McKenzie from Flight of the Conchords, or Sawyer from Lost.

6. What is your favorite fruit?
Raspberries.

7. If you were able to live any where in the world, where would it be?
Right now? Has to be NYC. Forever? Pacific Northwest. No job or no obligations? West Africa or Northern India

8. What would you do if you won the lottery jackpot?
Invest in Greatist, start/invest in a project abroad, give a bunch to my parents, lease out an apartment in Williamsburg on the water. Buy an amazing mattress.

9. Favorite flower?
Tulip? Sure!

10. What’s your favorite Web site?
The New York Times (nerd cough AH)

11. What is the best concert you have ever been to?
Fleet Foxes. Magical.