Category: Focused with Emily

by Emily Rosario by @EmilyIsFocused

This article is for entertainment purposes only. I am a professional runner, professional actor and stuntwoman.

Yes, the title is correct. I ran at 2 AM on August 12, 2024. If you’re not following me on Strava, maybe you should. You should probably join the run club too. Lastly, here’s the Strava Run that this post is all about.

Run at 2 A.M., said no one EVER..

I had to do two runs in less than 12 hours. My regularly scheduled Sunday Long Run, and a second run that had to be done by 6 A.M. because I had to catch my flight to the West Coast. My first run, the Sunday Long Run, was done in the evening, around 6 P.M. However, what I didn’t intend, was getting zero sleep from overthinking and becoming overly excited from my trip.

Let’s just say, I was tossing and turning with dozens of thoughts passing through my brain, endlessly ending those final work tasks, by going to my phone to complete them, and then going back to an attempted sleep, which ended up becoming a mind awake nap.

After completing those final work tasks, it then came across my mind when was I going to run? So, I look at my watch as it reads 1:43 A.M. I already knew that I would have to wake up at 4:30 A.M. for my second run. “Hurry Up Emily,” I said to myself. “FALL ASLEEP… for these short three hours of sleep…. OR… I could run right now… while my mind is still awake… and my muscles feel ready and able to run…“

That’s when I decided. I’m going to run right now and then maybe I’d fall asleep with a task completed mindset.

FACTS I KNEW BEING A BROOKLYNITE (A NATIVE NEW YORKER WHO IS FOCUSED)

• FACT: New York City is the city that never sleeps

Even though it was a Sunday night going into a Monday Morning, I knew there’d be people out and about still celebrating the Dominican Day Parade.

• FACT: You’re always going to be judged

“No matter how dedicated you are to your desires, you’re always going to be judged. Positive or Negative; That’s a fact to follow anywhere you go.“

Many more people noticed me and called me crazy names because I was running at 2 A.M. But honestly and this is my personal opinion, WHY is it okay to hang out, smoke and drink at 2 A.M. but not run? WHY is it okay to drive around or take the train at 2 A.M. but not run? What society justifies as NORMAL, does not mean it works for everyone else. So, I DO WHAT WORKS FOR ME. That’s why, Emily Is Focused.

• FACT: Stay on the main roads

I don’t have a personal head lamp or any of that tech gear. I just have my natural instinct to make good decisions. That includes running on main roads that are well-lit, and commonly driven on.

• FACT: Wear BRIGHT clothes and wear clothes based on weather conditions

I checked the weather app and followed through. It was not raining at 2 A.M. but a crisp 69 degrees.

• FACT: No earbuds.

I mean it is still a 2AM run… haha. As my mom who was NYPD would say, stay aware of your surroundings

• FACT: Always look out for yourself

If you are passing someone on the sidewalk, especially at a pretty decent pace, remember to call out

“ON YOUR LEFT” or “COMING FROM YOUR RIGHT”

This means that right before you pass them, you’re telling them which way you’re coming from, so they are AWARE of you, especially if you’re a light, quiet and quick stepper like me.

FACTS I LEARNED RUNNING AT 2 A.M. IN NEW YORK CITY

• FACT: The air is soooooo clean

Running at 2 A.M. has officially got me breathing clean air! When the average person sleeps, MTA Transit runs less, and there’s no traffic on the road, I actually felt and tasted the clear air in my lungs, pass from my nose and out of my mouth.

• FACT: It’s RAT city out there.

Yes, mice and rats feel most comfortable to come out when they know there isn’t much noise around. They are actually scared of us, haha. I managed to see at least 10 rats during my run, including one that I didn’t see and actually stepped on by mistake. Sorry!

• AGAIN, FACT: Be aware of your surroundings!

When I was running back home, I noticed meters in front of me something crossing. I first thought I was about to run into a raccoon but, in fact, it was a skunk. So, as a smart person, I saw it crossing to my right, so I slowed my pace down without much stutter or fright, and also passed him carefully from behind. They seemed not to mind me, as they had their own plans crossing the road. I also want to annunciate the fact that I didn’t stutter or feel frightful because animal can actually sense our emotions… like when Spiderman gets a Spidey-sense…

New York City is for the gut-taking breed of people because in order to survive, you really have to hustle. So, if you like that pressure and atmosphere, you might want to live here. And maybe you’ll see me running right past you!