Friday, May 18, 2007

On Not Taking the Bus

Yesterday I had to escort my little sister to school (don't ask). So, instead of hopping on the bus to Fordham Road and then to Marble Hill, I ran it. It took 37:18 to run 3.92 miles. When I consider the wait for the bus, transfers and traffic it takes much less time running.

Running up Fordham Road can be very exhilarating. Apart from its steep hills and the thousands of people that shop in its hundreds of stores, the traffic can be intense. Since I don't run on concrete, I run on the streets, against traffic. Weaving in and out of bus lanes and making sure that I'm noticed by drivers will force me to keep my eyes focused way ahead of me, which seems to intensify my concentration.

After I dropped her off I found myself, habitually, trying to figure out what would be the best bus route to take back home. I'm standing on a sunny Mosholu Parkway, one of the prettiest esplanades in the Bronx, and I'm taking a bus? No way.

I ran down the parkway, on its great running path enjoying the greenery and the wonderful scents of spring, only to come to its end and continue my run along the New York Botanical Garden. Anyone can tell from outside the garden that its flowers are in full bloom inside by just inhaling the aroma that surrounds it. At the end of my mile+ garden stretch I reach my stomping grounds, Pelham Parkway, which is no chopped liver with respect to routes to run in all of New York City.

It took me 28:30 to run those lovely 3.1 miles to my place. It was well worth it. From now I will think twice about getting on a bus, especially if I'm going to mommies, who will always love me, even when I'm stinky.

1 comment:

Tino said...

Thats awesome! Sounds like a lot of running this week, and thats not counting the Wall Street Walk Run (you ran, I walked). I bet smoking has been on the decline the past week, no?