Alternative Marathons and Post-Sandy Support

Although I agreed with the decision not to hold the Marathon this year, I was momentarily sad that the streets of New York would be without the slap, slap, slap of thousands of running feet! Many of my friends had trained for the event and I was going to watch like every year!

However, many of the Team Joe runners found ways to run but also to help the victims of Sandy.

There was the Run Anyway in Central Park; about 2000 people came with stuff to donate for Sandy victims.  It was Caitlin's first marathon ever, and she did 4 laps of CP, which is actually harder than the Marathon trail. Below: Caitlin in green.

Betsy and Tom from Team Joe gathered goods for Staten Island, met at Joe Waverly at 9, and ran the goods TO SI, delivered it door to door, and then ran back. 18 miles in total.

Above, Betsy and friends.

They also took some photos of the astounding devastation.

Quick Update

Sorry I've been remiss in blogging about running...but I haven't been running in 3+ months. Yes, I was the fearless 39 weeks pregnant runner strangers gawped at on the Team Joe runs, but ironically it was only after the birth of Isadora that my body gave out. No worries, just a herniated disc from having a C-section. I don't want to go on and on, trying to move on.

The point to this is, I'm almost back, Baby! A few more weeks of PT and finding some ab muscles and you will see me running down the west side highway again!

Meanwhile, if you are interested in real Team Joe updates, find our facebook page. Team Joe Coffee. Lots going on there in terms of weekend runs, early morning runs, Marathon training groups, social hours, etc.

Cheers!

Gabby

New Art Show at "Upstate" Joe

Upstate is how we refer to our Upper West Side location among ourselves. New York photographer Sophie Harris has put together a wonderful, fresh, and energetic show in time for the Spring season!

Her photos are for sale through the artist at http://sophieaphotography.com/.

Fresh New Art At Joe "Upstate" (Upper West Side)

Come check out the new photography exhibit by Sophie Harris at Joe Upper West! The energy and color are remarkable. Sophie's art is for sale through her website. http://sophieaphotography.com/

Perfect Running Weather!

I'm inspired to run every day, though 3 times a week is all I've been able to manage in my current state. I know these last few months of blog entries have been boring, and I wish I had more interesting news to report, but I don't. I promise to beg my running associates to do some writing..

In the meantime, I'll tell you what it's like to be running at 37+ weeks..

Great!! The only issue I am having is my poor, tiny paws feel the immense weight gain after about 10 minutes and need a short break before I can resume.

I am desperate not to give birth early because of work stuff at Joe, so yesterday, I asked my Dr. if running would possible start labor, and he said no! Phew! My dream is to be running the day before I go into labor at 40 weeks. Except I hear that in these last couple of weeks the hips start to loosen. I felt that happen today, and almost went down just standing!

Anyway, I will be out there Saturday for what could be the last Team Joe run..come run with me one last time!

Untitled...

I thought after all those posts about running pregnant, it would be fun to see what that actually looks like. We actually had already finished the Team Joe run for the day, so these are a little staged..plus, my friend shown, Kristine, is actually an elite athlete. No way in hell I could actually keep up with her.

NYC Is My Backyard!

Betsy Chairman is a fast runner, a great storyteller; truly one of my personal favorite Team Joe "members" and now close friends. Betsy is a NYC public school teacher and also a writer. I can imagine how beloved she must be to her students. I wish my teachers had all been like her. I would have fallen under her spell of warmth, humor and inspiration to learn.

Lucky for your kids, if you have kids, Betsy and another NYC PS teacher have begun, last year, an educational and fun Summer day camp open to all kids 5-11.

http://mommypoppins.com/newyorkcitykids/nyc-summer-day-camps-new-2012-kids

In the above link, to Mommy Poppins blog for NYC moms, Betsy's program,

NYC Is My Backyard is considered one of the 10 best NYC Summer camps for kids.

Each week explores a different neighborhood of New York, empowering the children to own their city, to learn it's culture and history, and at the end of the week, each child creates his or her own book about the experience.

For more information, click on the sites above, or come to the next Team Joe run and get it from Betsy herself!

NYC Is My Backyard is a unique program for children in grades K-5, designed to improve their writing skills while honoring their adventurous spirits. Join us as we learn and play in the best backyard and classroom there is, New York City!