Can We Rewind?

I don't know about you, but I would LOVE to do this past weekend all over again. And not because I want to do it differently, but because it was so great!


We had a rough idea of what we wanted to do over the weekend, and only a few things we had to do, and that turned out to be the perfect way to plan our three day holiday weekend.


Saturday started with a run in Central Park! Yes, that's right! Not only did I run again, but it wasn't on the treadmill. I had invited Woody to join me but since he's not really a runner, I didn't know if he'd come or not. Saturday morning he decided to shake things up a little and come. So, we headed uptown and started out on the bridle path. I'm not exactly sure how far we ran, but I think it was about 4 miles. Maybe a little more. It was extremely humid out and already 71' when we started not long after 8am. I learned a few things on this run:

1. I need to re-build my cardiovascular endurance
2. I need to take more water stops when it's so humid
3. Running the bridle path is a great alternative to running on the roads
4. My leg didn't hurt once

Overall, I am really happy with how the run went! That last point, that my leg didn't hurt (and still doesn't) at all, is great progress! We stopped to snap a picture before heading out of the park.

Instead of heading straight for the subway we decided to pick up iced teas from Argo Tea then walk down to 50th. I'm sure our fellow strap-hangers were also happy because we were able to cool down a little!

Late in the afternoon we went out to explore a part of the city we had never been to before - Greenpoint, Brooklyn. I admit, we're pretty sheltered living in Manhattan. We don't explore the other boroughs like we should. Greenpoint is a neighborhood that Woody has wanted to go to for a while because it's known for it's Polish restaurants. Greenpoint, which was first settled in 1645 and was very marshy with large cliffs delving into the East River. While it has always been a difficult part of Brooklyn to get to, the areas population grew due to diseases and fires in Manhattan. With that immigrant population, it became an industrial area popular for shipbuilding. At one point, there were 12 shipyards in Greenpoint where in 1862, the world's first ironclad, turret warship, the USS Monitor, was built and launched. The neighborhood became very popular with Polish immigrants. Still, street signs are in Polish and there are several Polish restaurants, grocery stores, and Polish Catholic churches. 

Woody's Grandmother is a war bride and came to the US from Poland after WWII. He grew up hearing her stories and eating her Polish meals. Since he learned of Greenpoint, he's wanted to have dinner there. He was in heaven when we sat down at Karczma. Polish beer, pierogi, potato pancakes, kielbasa, stuffed cabbage....all on one plate.

We definitely needed to walk off dinner a little, so we walked through Greenpoint then through McCarren Park and found the L train back into Manhattan. The weather was beautiful and it was such a great evening.

Sunday morning found us at the gym and then a quick trip to Whole Foods. In the afternoon I took a walk over to the Esplanade in Battery Park City and stayed in the shade as much as possible! It was another hot and sunny day. I grabbed an iced coffee and hung out in the north cove for a while watching the boats. I always wonder what it would be like to have a boat in NYC. Just a whole different world than anything I've ever known.

Later in the evening we headed to the movies. It was Woody's choice. Hangover 2. Yeah. I don't have much to say about this movie except it was wrong and indecent. But, it was a little funny too. After the movie we walked home along the esplanade. It was another gorgeous night and why walk home through city streets when we can walk along the water? So nice to be a Sunday night and not have to worry about work the next morning.

We had two things on the schedule for Monday. The gym and a picnic. We headed out to Governor's Island (we are so lucky that the ferry is less than a 10 minute walk from our building) with a packed cooler. The ferry was jammed. There were so many families, friends, couples, bikes, strollers. It was really great to see so many people going out to enjoy this cool, strange, little gem we are lucky to have as a park. We walked a bit and found a spot in the shade with a bit of a breeze and a water view, then set up our picnic. Unfortunately my allergies seemed to really bother me out there, but it was still very relaxing and fun.

It was a great weekend and I wish all weekends could be three days long. Just think how much happier we'd all be. Right? I really don't think I could pick a favorite part of these last three days. 

• Can you pick a favorite part of your weekend?
• What do you have coming up this week?

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Saturday's workout -

~4mile run

stretching

Sunday's workout -

50min elliptical

100 crunches

1x40sec plank

2x20 hip abductor

2x20 lat pulldown

stretching

foam roller

Monday's workout -

35min elliptical

2x20 hammer curl

2x15 upright row

2x15 tricep kickback

2x15 weighted side bend

100 crunches

stretching


Tuesday's workout -
30min elliptical
125 crunches
2x20 front arm raise
2x20 cable pull pushdown
2x20 leg press
3x15 back extension
foam roller
stretching