Clop, clop, klip clop
The Asics running tights and Brooks top were keeping me warm enough, yet not too much with another thin long sleeve TShirt. It felt a little colder than the first run which was around 50 degrees F. Its darker much earlier and I’m not used to seeing so many other runners in Central Park this far after sunset.
Past the first hill, I’m breathing really hard, but otherwise feeling great. I think its about 45F, since I’m not sweating at all and I don’t see my breath. Down the hill now and things are starting to fall into sync. Not having run enough the last month, I convince myself to take it easy.
Ahead of me I hear some horses, and they are majestic, with their loud hoof beats and nostril flares of white smoke blowing out in front of them. Its a couple of New York’s Finest and one of them are trying to get his horse to go into a gallop.
I can’t resist the urge and I run faster. The trailing rider and her horse reluctantly speed up here and there, just enough to make it interesting for me, as if they know I’m trying to catch up. I run with them for a quarter mile or so. The hoof beats are thunderous now – I try to entrain to their beat. The two horses are not quite in sync and I can’t quite ‘feel’ the rhythm.
Out of breathe as they take the turnoff, I slow down near the south end of The Lake and I am pleased. To turn back or keep going now? I decide its not that cold after all and keep going down to Columbus Circle. As I hit that last hill near Sheep’s Meadow, I see that its 29F – I was totally off about the temperature. The way back home was more quiet and cold without my 4 legged running partners.
