I love waking up early but only when I have to. If I woke up every day at 6:00AM, then the novelty would wear off. But when I have to wake up at 5:00 or 6:00 and I get to experience the city when it’s empty I always feel like I’m catching a glimpse of something rare and it’s cool.

I love doing it when I have to run a race. At the Union Street R stop, three of the four people waiting for the train were heading to the four mile race today in Central Park. Central Park hasn’t been my park since 1999, the on year I lived in Manhattan. Most of my New York life has been spent in McCarren or Prospect but Central Park is nice.

Really, Rob? Central Park? Nice?

Believe it, people.

Running through the park with the upper east and then upper west side buildings viewable above the trees made for a great race.

I did well, too. 29:30 for four miles. 7:23 pace, which I think is my fastest pace in a race yet.

I’m heading to Long Island right now on the Hampton Jitney. (It’s a bus, I ain’t that fancy.) I’m writing this on my phone. I’m heading to my friend Katy’s place for a Sexy Baby weekend (Sexy Baby is the name of my improv group, you don’t have to call the FBI).

I don’t think where I’m headed is the Hamptons, I think it’s just Long Island. But there’s a beach, so, same diff.

It took me decades to like beaches, especially during the summer, when normal people visit and enjoy beaches. I’ve always been fine with rocky New England beaches where it was cold and I had to wear a hoodie and never went in that water. I didn’t like taking my shirt off in front of strangers to then slather myself in sunscreen and have children point at me and say, “that man looks like a ghost.” But I’m looking forward to it today.

I’m 41 years old, I’m on the slow road to old man where I gradually shed my shame and become one of those guys who stands in a gym locker room completely naked talking about what a great racket ball game he just had.

Besides, kid, you see a ghost, I see a 41 year old who is melanoma free.

The downside to getting up early for a race is that I sleep like crap the night before. My body must know what a deep sleeper I am and it keeps me from ever really falling asleep so I don’t miss what I have to wake up for.

So, I’m tired and I’m still on a bus. I hope trip adrenaline kicks in when I reach my destination.