I wasn’t so great about waking up early this week to run, and somehow only managed to do a 5-mile run on Tuesday morning and a 4.5-mile run on Friday evening. I’m frustrated that I wasn’t able to get it together to do my speed work, but will try harder to fit it in next week.

But to redeem myself, my 10-mile run this morning was successful! All my running buddies were out of town, so it was a solo run and I decided to keep it in the neighborhood. Also, I like to avoid carrying water bottles if I can (which is why running races and taking advantage of the water tables is so great!) — so I needed a course that makes use of all the water fountains around Prospect Park. I live less than a mile from the park, and the big loop in the park is only about 3.5 miles, so I had to get pretty creative on Gmap Pedometer the other night to map out a full 10-mile course.

I ran up to Grand Army Plaza, and then headed south along the park’s perimeter on Prospect Park West and I continued following the perimeter of the park all the way around — running past the Windsor Terrace, Prospect-Lefferts Garden, and Kensington neighborhoods and then north along Flatbush Avenue until I was back at Grand Army Plaza.

I really enjoyed this part of the run. Although I’ve been running through the park for the last three years, it was great to see a little more of what’s going on around the park. I was particularly enchanted by Windsor Terrace, which I’ve read so much about (here, for example). I’ll definitely make a point of checking out that neighborhood again when I’m not so sweaty.

At this point, I entered the park and did the regular 3.5-mile loop, which was great, if only for it’s predictability. And I powered up the incline at the end of the loop, with a little more energy than I was expecting having already run 8.5 miles. But it’s not over yet! I had to work in another half-mile or so before I headed home in order to reach my mileage goal, so I ran again down Prospect Park West a little ways, then over to 8th Avenue, and then finally towards home.

All in all, a great run! Although I love the social aspect of running with friends, doing a solo long run requires me to reach to a different part of myself for my energy and motivation — and I find it pretty gratifying to stretch myself once in awhile and see that I can be inside my own mental and physical space for 10 miles. That definitely boosts my confidence that the half-marathon will go smoothly — good thing, because it’s only two weeks away!

On a separate, but related note, I was treated to my first ever professional massage this afternoon! My fabulous group of friends (you know who you are!) got together and presented me with gift certificate to Spring Thyme for my 30th birthday. After much deliberation, I decided on an hour-long “Sports Massage,” concentrating on my super tight neck and shoulder muscles (guess where I hold all my stress?) and leg muscles. It felt so great, and I walked out of there feeling very relaxed and a little loopy. I can tell that my neck and shoulders are going to be sore tonight, but I’m happy knowing that the kinks are starting to come loose. I have enough on my gift certificate to go back for another, which I plan to do in another couple weeks!

P.S. While I was running this morning, thousands of others were competing in the NYC Triathlon in Manhattan and the Bronx — a 1500-meter swim in the Hudson River, a 40-kilometer bike ride, and a 10k run in Central Park.  By the time I was walking home from my massage, I spotted a few folks walking around with their Triathlon numbers still painted on their arms.  Way to go!