Category Archives: eat

“New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of…”

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“New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There’s nothin’ you can’t do
Now you’re in New York
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you
Let’s hear it for New York, New York
New York”
— “Empire State of Mind”, Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys

Happy New Year everyone!!! I am giving up on sleeping in these days. With work during weekdays, occasional weekend work, and running, there is just no chance. Boy, do I miss the days in college when I could go sleep at 4am and wake up at noon, or even just last year when I would be able to wake up at 9 or 10 on the weekends.

Last weekend, I raced a 10K on Saturday; the Joe Kleinerman Classic 10K in Central Park with NYRR. Not only was this my first race since the Philadelphia marathon, but it is actually my first 10K race. With all the training, I’ve run plenty of 6-milers, but never in a race setting in freezing temperatures. Besides being cold, I ran okay, didn’t fully race it since I was planning on running another 6 right after for my Miami training. Oh and also, this is my first race as a NYRR member in my attempt to achieve 9+1 (9 qualifying NYRR races and 1 volunteer event) for guaranteed entry into the 2014 NYC Marathon. I usually get a glare when I say that I’m trying to get entry for the 2014 NYCM, but let’s just leave it at getting entry doesn’t mean I have to actually run it in 2014, it just gives me the chance to if I want or defer the entry until 2015. I also have to mention with the 2012 marathon resolution from NYRR, I signed up to use my 2012 entry to for this year’s NYCM, now, I just need to decide if I will train with the Alzheimer’s Association team.

With all this running, I clearly do a lot of shopping. Since November, I invested quite a bit in winter running clothes and while I don’t particularly like running in the cold, I’m really glad I am getting use out of my layers. However, some recent purchases that I am excited about are two pairs of running shoes. I had all intention of trying a new brand of running sneakers once the marathon training was over, but that’s before I saw the multi-colored Asics Nimbus 14. I am hoping the mileage works out that I can run in these for the NYC Half in March. I also purchased a pair of Asics Gel-Lyte 33 for cross training purposes. I haven’t worn either pair yet, but I’m excited. I had to stock up before Chinese New Year (see entry #4)!

Today was D-Day for me… D = Decision. Today was our longest run before Miami and it is the day I was going to make a “final” decision about whether or not I will run the full or switch to the half. While, I had every intention of running the full, I wanted to make sure my mind and body could handle it and after surviving my 17-miler today quite well (so far), I am fully onboard (no pun intended!). Our long run today was the 5-mile loop in Central Park and then cutting across to the West Side, then running up north to the Little Red Lighthouse at Fort Washington Park (around 174th Street, immediately below the George Washington Bridge) and back. The team ran to the lighthouse a couple of times previously but I missed those runs, so today I was determined and boy was it worth the trip! The views were incredible even on a foggy morning. There’s so much to New York – love it!

In preparation for Miami, I’ve been going to the chiropractor once a week and he wants me to continue until the race to make sure I continue feeling okay. In general, I’m feeling about 95-100% on a given day running; some days I feel a slight strain, others, I feel normal. Anyway, during my last appointment, he made me promise to not run another marathon for a little while. I happily agreed. Don’t get me wrong; I love running, and I love running with my teammates, and the feeling I get after I finish a run, but training has just taken up so much time and I need a break from a regimented training schedule. I am really looking forward to finishing the race in Miami, eating a ton of food, lying on the beach and then not training for a little while; this will be my hibernation period. I’m pretty sure I will still continue to run a couples times a week, go to hot yoga and barre classes and just enjoy the freedom to create my workout schedule. I’ll come out of hibernation towards the mid to end of February, in time to get some speed work and longer runs in before the NYC Half.

My post would not be complete without some mention of food, right? Well, since New York is such a big part of this post, I thought this NY Post article would be appropriate. Both amazing yogurts, just a little on the sweet side, I actually prefer Siggi’s, an Icelandic Skyr-type yogurt, also from New York. With that, I bid farewell for now, as I go prepare our dinner.

“Throw your soul through every open door…”

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“Throw your soul through every open door
Count your blessings to find what you look for
Turn my sorrow into treasured gold…”
— “Rolling In The Deep” by Adele

Thanksgiving is typically the time to be thankful, but hey, there’s nothing wrong with being thankful on New Year’s Eve, right? I’d like to think that every year, I get a little wiser, but truly, I think I am much wiser today than I was 365 days ago and I don’t mean that in an egotistical way.

For many years, I’ve always talked about finding my passion and 2012 is certainly the year where my ducks are lining up. I am fortunate for many, many things and not all can be listed here because I’d be typing forever and you’d be reading forever, but here are some highlights in no particular order.

  • Travel: Each year, we fill our plate of places to see and this year was no different. Iceland in March with some amazing friends, Florida in February and May to visit family, St. Maarten and St. Barth’s in June to celebrate our anniversary, Canada in September for a friend’s wedding, Pennsylvania in November for a marathon and to visit friends, Virginia in November to spend Thanksgiving with family, and Georgia to spend the December holidays with friends and family. And, let’s not forget all of the special times in New York and New Jersey throughout the year.
  • Career: I started the year working for a financial services company, joined a non-profit, and now, I’m working for my alma mater. Through the highs and lows career-wise including a brief stint of self-induced unemployment, I am fortunate for the opportunities and for where I am now. It took seven years of soul-searching to finally have the guts to make some of the decisions I made this year, and there will be no looking back.
  • Running: It all started with a simple application to run the 2012 NYC Marathon with the Alzheimer’s Association Team Run to Remember. However, with a slight hiccup along the way, I made it on the team in June. That application will forever change my life. I met some of the greatest people through the training experience and even though we didn’t share the 2012 NYCM together, we shared a lot more through our laughter, sweat, and tears. I signed up to run the marathon because it was on my grandma’s birthday and while, I don’t usually believe in signs, I thought it was fate to run in her memory. For years, I’d complain about not having a passion or the time to try new things outside of work, but this year, my grandma helped me find my passion for running and a great group of friends while doing it. In 2012, I ran my first (and second) half-marathon and first full marathon, and every time I run, it will always be in her memory. She realized that I didn’t want my time with our team to end and decided it would be better if we had all winter and 2013 to train together!
  • Friends: I will forever be grateful for all the wonderful friends I have in my life. I think about all the tears, laughter, and smiles we shared over the year and it makes me excited to think about what is in store for 2013. I am fortunate to have attended a number of weddings for our dear friends this year including being a bridesmaid for one of my oldest friend’s wedding, and to help celebrate the excitement of new additions to their families.
  • Family: I was at dinner with my dad’s side of the family the other night and we were discussing some fond memories from growing up. All of that reminiscing helps realize that even though we may have lost loved ones along the way, we are fortunate for the memories and truly love and enjoy every minute we spend together. In my opinion, there is never enough time for family gatherings; as you part ways each time, I always wish there was more time together. However, I cannot wait for the upcoming plans to see all four sides of the family in early 2013!
With some of my family at dinner in NYC the other night
Thank you to my mom and dad-in-law! Josh and I enjoyed our first breakfast of the month club meal!
As Josh used to say to me often, I am never happy. There was always something I wanted to change, but for once, I am happy, content, and fulfilled. It has been an incredible year, and everything is falling into place. I am so grateful for all of the support from my friends and family to reach this point. 2012 was a bit of a selfish year for me, I spent a lot of it focused on me, whether it was jobs or running or something else that preoccupied my time, but I promise in 2013, I will be more focused on my loved ones. So with that, I am excited to ring in the new year later this evening and wish everyone a prosperous, happy, and healthy 2013!