Central Park Jog with Mama

Now what I really wanted to write before being called a liar...
Yesterday was a slow apartment work day.  Kev and I had decided to take a break from building, buying and cooling the apartment because we were getting a bit burnt out.  Plus Mama was coming in from California in the morning and the cable/internet guy was due to come a 11am.  Since we were having a slow day I decided to go on my first jog through Central Park since moving here.
This is kind of a big deal because since I have moved here, I haven't exercised once.  Now the problem with this is two fold, and let me tell you why.  1st fold: I like to exercise.  I like the way it makes me feel; I enjoy the sense of accomplishment after a long jog or hard bike ride.  I also enjoy the community of exercisers.  Although my type of exercising is largely a solo sport, there is a sense of community among us.  Theres a certain look that only two sweaty people can share.  A nod if you will, that lets each other know: "nice day for sweating."
2nd fold (didn't think I'd get to it did you) is I'm an eater.  I come from a long line of eaters.  A type of people that like to eat.  And no, not for sustenance, but for the shear love of food.  It has plagued and blessed our people for generations.  Nothing makes us feel better than that second cheeseburger or that extra scoop of ice cream.  On the flip side, nothing makes us feel worse than that second cheeseburger or that extra scoop of ice cream.  My brother somehow has managed to escape this hell.  I feel bad for him; he will never know the joy we have to endure with food.
It is for these reason that exercise is so important to me.  So when given the window of possibly to go for a jog, I decided to take it.  I even decided to treat myself to a new pair of my favorite running shoes to commemorate this occasion.  After all, my old ones showed little sign of support, and smelled as good as 300 miles could smell.
Justin said he would go with, so around 7:30 we headed out to Central Park.  We entered the park at the corner on 110th.  It was better than I had imagined.  Suddenly we were in a current of the Central Park trans-exercise Jet Stream.  Cyclists, runners, Road bikers, joggers, walkers, and speed roller bladers all converge on one closed down road that zigzags throughout the entire park.  All types of people: hard core, casual, fully clothed, very little clothing (thank god, its inspiring!!!), little people, big people ( I saw one guy with toned calves the size of ham hawks---they were huge).  I was in the NY exercise community.  And it wasn't just us soloists; the path took us to 3 separate baseball facilities, a huge swimming pool and a tennis club.  All of which were full.  When this city wants to get out, it gets out.  And its no wonder...in a city filled with concrete, steel, and glass why wouldn't you want to get out and stretch your legs in a place as close to nature as your gonna get.
We continued our jog around to the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir.  It was one of the most beautiful lights I've seen the city in.  The sun was setting, fiery clouds were set on a backdrop of blue, the reservoir was making duplicates of the surrounding trees, and the city skyline that frames the park revealed the tips of Empire and Chrysler.  Is there a better track than this...I think not.
The jog was an overwhelming success in my book.  I got to spend some much needed time with my mama on my first jog.  Plus, he only had to scoff at me a few times for checking out the other shirtless boys.
I wonder if they run shirtless in the winter as well???