Impromptu NY and a Diva

I really was not feeling Richmond this weekend at all. Perhaps because in the recesses of my mind I knew the entire family was going to be together this weekend to cheer my sister on at her Diva half marathon. Katie has been training for months for her marathon. She wakes up every morning at 4:30 to get into work by 7:30 and then after a long hard day (and her awesomely long commute home on the LIRR) she would run…like MILES. Seriously there were days she ran more than I drove. Saturday morning we woke up to take my mother to the airport and Pres and I decided, what the heck, let’s go too! I packed a bag in seriously six minutes and we were dressed, out the door and hitting Dunkin for our trek up I-95 North. My mother still took the plane and landed before we hit Baltimore. We had a great ride up and Pres is a real angel in the car. One thing I decided to do was switch back to his car seat for the ride 1) for safety and 2) because he is so much more comfy in that for a long drive. Once we arrived in Manhattan, we dropped our bags at my parents’ apartment and head to Queens to visit Nana before dinner. Then it was off to the restaurant and then back to Aunt Pat’s for dessert.

I included this pic to show my hair-it’s really exactly the same, five inches shorter:

Pres just loves NYC. Seriously he knows every subway line and where most of them go. He is a true little New Yorker. But I think what he loves the most is getting to sleep in a sleeping bag at my parents’ place:

Sunday we were up at 4:30 (good Heavens) and out the door by 6:15. Thankfully Tal Bagels was already open with warm bagels waiting for me. The bagel was so good I wept when I took a bite. It was also –2 degrees outside (not really but compared to our summer of 105 it was cold). Thankfully I thought ahead to grab a sweatshirt of my father’s before heading out the door since I packed an appropriate 3/4 sleeve cardigan and tank top (recall I packed in 6 minutes). Here we all are pre-marathon! I took so many great pictures it is hard to narrow it down!

Oh and by the way, the hat I am wearing is Preston’s. Pretty awesome that I can totally borrow hats from my almost five year old. And why am I wearing orange earrings? Because my sweater was brown and orange and because I know that was what everyone was focusing on.

Oh and here’s a little tid bit about Kate-she rocks a fanny pack when she runs. Maybe she borrowed it from Steve. Preston’s pre-race food-tri-color cookies…real ones, from the bagel store.

And here is Kate: At the starting line, then mile two: (which by mile two I would be walking). Funniest thing was while waiting for Aunt Tinka at Mile 2 (see bottom right picture) the dude watched a good six hundred people or so pass. After she passed and we all cheered he turned to us all, completely dead-pan matter-of-fact and said, “She’s not going to win.” It was hilarious. later on her told her, “Everyone got a rose and a medal Tinka.” As if he runs marathons weekly.

I went to Catholic private high school. One of my first friends was Jay. Jay and I have remained super close through the years (see blog post two Octobers ago when they visited). His wife, Erin-Kate is a fantastic runner (last week winning Tunnels to Towers and this run coming in 6th overall). In between the mile markes we were able to catch up.

Preston found something to amuse him while waiting at the 8 Mile mark. (Are you singing Eminem yet)? And Kate at 8 Mile (still no)? And at this point, I would have dropped out of the race. Probably along mile 3.5.

Because this was a DIVA marathon, at Mile 12 (which if I had to walk by now I’d be crawling wishing for death), you are given a boa and a tiara and get to run across the finish line where they were pumping all women empowerment music! Here is Pres waiting for Aunt Tinka!

And here she is! Under 2 1/2 hours!!! I am so proud of her! She just broke down and so did my mom (and I teared as well). Katie, you are amazing. You are a strong woman who set a goal and never tired of it. I love you more than you will ever know!!!!

Post race pics: Kate and Erin-Kate:

Then it was off for a yummy breakfast! I am so glad we decided to go up. Nothing like a weekend with family!