This past summer, I decided I needed to throttle back from my long distance running. I ran NYC, Tokyo, and Boston back to back to back, so after the Brooklyn Half Marathon, I took a race hiatus. Now that summer has come to a close, it was time to return to those well worn running paths to continue my 9+1 with Grete’s Great Gallop 10K.
The weather was perfect for running as we started the race on the east side of Central Park. We began by running north from 69th Street up towards Cat Hill. As a pack we ran past the cat statue that overlooks the hill and moved onwards past the Engineer’s Gate and the 102nd Street transverse. From there it was time for the most challenging part of the course as we ran up Harlem Kill and curved around the top of the park. After a welcome downhill run to even out the time spent running uphill, it was time for the rolling hills after passing the other side of the transverse. Three hills that were not as challenging as the previous hills of the course that led past the 72nd Street transverse and the lower loop of the park. Curving down and around and back up past where we started until we turned on to the other side of the 72nd Street transverse and the finish line.
It felt good to race again. I had continued to run all summer, but I hadn’t been pushing myself the way I do when I race. My goal for the morning was to complete the 10k in under and was able to complete it in 59:11 (and Andrea was able to best her previous best 
to PR as well). As the leaves begin to fall, I look forward to picking up races again and prepare for marathons again in 2018.
