Happy Thanksgiving - 2018!

It was a low-key Thanksgiving this year.  No race this morning, instead I did a frigid 6.8 mile run from home.  Then cooking the holiday bird - with Katie and my mom making the lasagna :D

We also had one fewer in the guest column, my sister-in-law was sick.  She probably caught the stomach virus my brother just got over.  Instead of 3, we had just my brother and nephew over.

On the celebration side, in addition to Thanksgiving proper - we also celebrated my mom's 80th birthday! 

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

2018 NYRR Virtual Turkey Trot 5k

This was my third NYRR virtual race of 2018 (Resolution Run 5K kicked of the year and the pre-NYC Marathon 5K kicked off this month).   Given the frigid temperatures forecast for Thanksgiving day, safe bet that I'll probably run from home on Thursday. 

Beaujolais Noveau - 2018!

I love the third Thursday in November, when the Beaujolais Nouveau arrives!  It's my second favorite day of November, behind only the 1st Sunday in November (NYCM) :D

This is the third year in a row that I teach an evening class, so I purchased two bottles in the afternoon from a local wine merchant in the financial district (as opposed to when I would get home from work and stop in at Zachy's).

After class, I carried them home in my knapsack. Which is saying something since the commute involve snow and slush!  But it was worth the hassle to sample a glass the fresh new vintage!

Stan Lee R.I.P.

A chapter of the Marvel Universe came to rest today when Stan Lee died - at the too young age of 95!

I've been a fan of Marvel comics practically my entire life.  Some of my earliest memories are of going to the candy store with my little brother to by comics - and the bulk of those selections were Marvel titles. 

I won't go into a long history of Stan Lee's impact on not just comics, but American society in general.  I will add a link to the NY Times obituary of this fantastic human - just one of dozens that will be out over the next few days.

I'll simply conclude with his catchphrase of the last few decades --

Excelsior!

roughly translated as "ever upward" - as he has undoubtedly already achieved the heavens :D

2018 NYC Marathon: Race Photos & Results

 

Just a quick update (I'll post a short race report in a couple of days) - my 16th consecutive NYC Marathon is officially in the books!  It was an incredibly beautiful day to be out running the streets of New York City.  Unfortunately for me, the great weather didn't make my 26.2 miles any easier.   At 4:25, this was my slowest NYC Marathon (significantly slower than my 4:15 last year).  But I'm still so happy to have gotten it done - and survived to tell the tale :D

Congratulations to everyone else who traveled those 26.2 miles today!

Here is link to the official NYC Marathon results page.

2018 NYC Marathon Virtual 5k

On this gray, drizzly morning I opted to run the NYC Marathon virtual 5k - instead of taking the trip into the City and running the actual pre-marathon 5k (which I've run only once or twice in what may be at least a decade).  This was my second time doing a NYRR virtual race (I tried the very first one of the year back in January, the virtual Resolution Run 5k). 

It definitely gives one a sense of participating - albeit from afar :D

2018 NYC Marathon Packet Pickup at the Expo

What an awesome surprise I had waiting for me when I picked up my bib this morning at the Javits Center - a cool 15 finishes and counting patch!  Was not expecting that, to say the least.  Thanks NYRR!

This will be my 16th consecutive NYC Marathon.  Like all previous editions, I'm pretty psyched up for it.  No understatement to say it's my favorite marathon (and hometown race).

The only downside to getting there in the morning was missing out on the beer - which wouldn't be poured until noon :(

One other cool thing, seeing your name on a wall (temporary as it may be), never gets old!

As always, if you're running this one - say hello :D