Days 1338, 1339, and 1340 -- Staten Island

Into New York once again. This time, I ran across the Goethels Bridge, onto Staten Island, the forgotten borough. Many, many years ago, my family lived on Staten Island. My father was teaching at Richmond College (and then the College of Staten Island, when it changed names.) I was about 8 when we moved there, and about 15 when we moved away. It was an interesting time. We took Cub Scout trips to the Statue of Liberty and the Twin Towers. Try that in Wisconsin. Of course there was also crime and crowds and litter and all the big city woes. I wouldn't move back to New York now. But it was fun.

Sorry I haven't been posting. I've run the last three days. Six on Friday, six on Saturday, and nine this morning. Twenty-one miles in three days, which isn't too shabby. The Pikermi is next Sunday morning.

Day 1337 -- North Bergen

Blogs are wonderful things. People can think of all sorts of neat themes. Here is Fading Ad Blog, dedicated to "vintage mural ads & other signage by Frank H. Jump & friends". Thanks, Frank.

Day 1337 was yesterday. I got up and ran four miles or so. It was cold, but less windy, so it was OK. I was up late last night with a migraine, so I slept in this morning.

The University has a four day weekend, with both Friday and Monday off. The kids have Friday, but not Monday, so Mrs. J and I are planning to take off and do something fun on Monday.

Day 1336 -- New Jersey

New York didn't last very long. I zapped through it and into New Jersey for the second time.

I got out this morning, and it was cold. But, I thought, at least it isn't raining. so, just to spite me, it started snowing. Hard little pellets of ugly sleety snow. At least it didn't start sticking until after I finished. It's been raining/snowing/sleeting on and off all day. On April 19th. Yuck.

Days 1334 and 1335

Somewhere in here, I'm running through the Bronx, then the northern part of Manhattan, and then on to New Jersey. I don't know if I'm terribly near the Bronx Zoo, but I thought it would be cool visit. This photo is from Star Tours, whom I heartily recommend for all your Bronx Zoo tour needs.

I ran an easy 4 on Thursday. I took a scheduled day off on Friday, and then skipped again on Saturday, because the weather was rotten. It was cold and blustery and it snowed! OK, it didn't snow early in the morning, when I would have been running. But still. It was cold enough to snow!

This morning, I ran 11 miles. The Pikermi is just two weeks away. Next week, I'll do a relatively short long run. So that was my longest run for the next two weeks.

Days 1331, 1332, and 1333 -- New York

This is actually my third spin in New York. I started JogAmericaBlog in New York City, at the Empire State Building, in 2006. I ran out of New York and into New Jersey on the first day. I ran back into New York on October 2 of last year, some time during the Lakefront Marathon. I posted this photo then. It's one of the few times I used this cutout, with me in my Lakefront Marathon shirt and wearing my medal. On Sunday or Monday, I ran into New York for the third time.

Sorry I haven't been posting. Life happens. I ran 13.2 on Sunday, my last run at that distance before the Pikermi at the end of the month. I did a very slow 5K on Monday. I took Tuesday off, and today I did a fairly brisk 5 miles. Overall, I'm feeling OK. I think I should survive the Pikermi.

Day 1330 -- Darien

The photo that caught my eye of these three was the middle one, which looked like a running path. It isn't. It's the "In Progress" photo from The English Garden Company, which, as you can see, redesigned this house's garden.


I reached another spring milestone this morning. I ran outside in shorts for the first time. It was nice. It looks like tomorrow might be shorts and a short-sleeved shirt. But then another cool front is coming in tomorrow night, and then it will be back to the ugly tights.

Day 1329 -- Norwalk

The Norwalk City Hall and Concert Hall is quite nice. I imagine that like almost everything in Connecticut, it is way older than anything in Wisconsin.

Today was a rough morning. I had to force myself out of the house, and even then, I couldn't get up much momentum. About the best that I can say is that it was better than not running.

Day 1328 -- Fairfield

I searched for images of Fairfield, CT, and this home, with a new exterior by LS Construction just jumped off of the page at me. Isn't it gorgeous? Of course, it's in New Fairfield, which isn't terribly close to Fairfield, but we can't have everything.

An easy four this morning.

Day 1327 -- Bridgeport

Of all the pictures of Bridgeport that I had available, I couldn't resist Psychic Visions on Main Street. Here, typos and all, is the first sentence of her advertisement: "Hi I'm reader Jacqueline I'm been gifted with this God given blessing to help and guide and lead others to the happiness and peace that they deserve choose any of my readings to help." I hope that her psychic powers are more acute than her spelling and grammar.

I had a very nice six-miler this morning. It was relatively cool, but the wind, which had been nasty on Monday, died down overnight. I felt good.

Day 1326 -- Milford

The Milford Marketplace, in Milford, CT, has been open for four years, now, meaning that half the stores have probably turned over. I imagine the Banana Republic is still there, but who knows.

I went out this morning for a medium long run, and there was a little rumble of thunder. I looked to the west, and there were dark clouds. So I decided to just go back in and postpone my walk until noon. And then after that, it never ended up a thunderstorm at all. I could have run.

The noon run was OK. I hit the first five pretty well, but the last five were a real drag. I finished, but that was about the best that I can say.

Day 1235 -- West Haven

Just west of New haven, you'll find West Haven. A good place for it, I suppose. From NewEnglandSite.com this is the Captain's Galley Restaurant.

I did an easy four this morning. It was a bit chilly running into the wind, but nothing I couldn't handle. I'm scheduled for ten tomorrow. Wish me luck.