O.N.S at Home – Lucas Stevens

We are all going through a moment of uncertainty with the COVID-19 pandemic and self-isolation can often feel challenging but during these unprecedented times, many positives can come to fruition. Lucas Stevens is a member of the newest, coolest Made hotel in the Nomad district and although the hotel has had to shut down indefinitely like most businesses, he has found his solitude through his newest hobby of running on the streets of NY and finding his oasis in Prospect Park. He may have had a different journey into the running world, but haven’t we all. Running can be enjoyed in groups (the majority of the time) but running independently within your thoughts has often been the appeal for a lot of new runners and what better timing than now. Lucas takes us into his daily routine and what he has been doing to preoccupy himself while everyone is self-isolating.

What have you been doing to keep you busy during self-isolation?

I’ve been watching and rewatching a lot of old movies and reading books. I’ve enjoyed cooking more at home with my partner, we made a Shepherd’s pie for the first time the other day and going for long walks with the dog. I’ve started to journal more during self-isolation which has been a great way to slow down and assess the short term and long term goals and lots and lots of running.

Tell us about your favorite running routes that you’ve been doing?

I usually plan my run the day before, if I’m going for a short loop of 7/8 miles I usually run from Park Slope to Dumbo and back. I love living by Prospect Park which is a great running spot but I’ve been enjoying running on the street more and more. Running on a track or the park loop gets mundane at times but taking my runs to the neighboring streets gives me time to see the city from a different perspective and mix things up. I love picking a new route every couple of weeks to keep my runs fresh and exciting. If I’m going for a long run I usually make a goal location like running to Coney Island or hitting Manhattan and doing a couple of the bridges. The feeling your body gets when you pass 10+ miles is a much different runner high in my opinion, when I do long runs I usually prep for a couple of hours with a hydration vest and some type of energy gel which are key for gassing out. The best thing about the virus shut down is there’s nothing but free time, I can just leave the house and see where my legs take me.

What is your running background and what are your goals for this year?

I never really took running seriously until last year. As a kid, I did cross-country and played basketball through high school but never stuck with it after I graduated. My father ran track in college and my family has always been an athletic bunch and I’ve always enjoyed most sports for working out but nothing has become something that I’ve enjoyed consistently. Last year I was struggling with a lot of anxiety and stress with work, a friend suggested picking up running as a way to clear my mind and get in better shape. Something just clicked and I fell in love instantaneously. My routine started off with a couple of miles every couple of days to running 25+ miles regularly every week more aggressively. My goal for 2020 was to run a half marathon but the virus madness really threw a wrench in that. The big goal is the New York marathon next year and I’d love to eventually travel once a year to a different marathon in different cities and countries.

Can you give us a little peek into your daily routine?

I usually get up around 7 am but during quarantine mode, I’ve been enjoying waking up around 8/8:30 am. I start the day with a big glass of water and a pour-over coffee before anything else. I live by Prospect Park so I usually kill the first couple hours of my day by walking the dog in the park. If I’m running I usually fuel up with some fruit and granola and hit the streets. I’m naturally a fast-paced person mentally so running earlier in the day is a great way to slow myself down and get myself in an ideal mental state. Before the virus madness, I’d head to work after my run. I’m one of the senior managers at the Made hotel in the Nomad area but due to the quarantine after my run, it’s mostly reading, cooking, and lots of old movies. I’m not much of a gym rat so self-isolation or not I usually do free weights at home towards the end of the day to work on my core strength and to improve on my cardio fitness. I enjoy a night work out because it’s such a great way to turn off before bed.