Way too much eating…

Oh man, am I late with this post!?!? Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving weekend, and then this week came and went so fast and I’m still paying for it. I’ve battled a cold since Monday, which I guess is a sign that I had a great holiday weekend.

There is no better way to recap than through a series of pictures, mostly focused on food! 🙂

NJ running gals reunited!

NJ running gals reunited!

It was so nice catching up with Heather (who moved way too far away) from us NJ running gals. We definitely didn’t have enough time together even though we were at the restaurant until they closed and were cleaning up for the day! Fortunately, we were able to get them to take a picture of us before we left.

Our feast for just the five of us!

Our feast for just the five of us!

I prepared well this year. I spent almost a full day prepping and making sides for Thanksgiving. I put it to a vote with my family and the dishes that won were roasted brussel sprouts, roasted veggies, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and apple dumpling cake. My mom also cooked 1.5 Thanksgiving dinners by herself, so we had way too much food for 5 people! I was so anti supporting Thanksgiving Day, early Black Friday shopping but we were all too full and needed somewhere to walk around that was warm. Unfortunately, the mall won out and we were able to see some of the crazy shopping frenzy.

P.S. Coco says hi!

P.S. Coco says hi!

yummy Indian dessert

yummy Indian dessert

Next up was a wedding for Josh’s good friend from growing up that started Friday night into early Sunday morning. Needless to say, I spent more time eating than I did taking pictures of the food. Let me assure you that there were 4 different buffets of Indian food in addition to the other meals we ate those days. By Sunday morning, I felt like I got hit by a truck and gained 10 pounds.

Awesome dinner at Topping Rose House!

Awesome dinner at Topping Rose House!

As if that was not enough, we spent an extra night out in Long Island at Topping Rose House in Bridgehampton. I love Tom Colicchio, so this was a belated birthday celebration. In our first meal in the Hamptons, we (well I did) spotted Mary Kate Olsen and Olivier Sarkozy at Fresh. How did I know it was them, US Weekly, of course! Believe me, I’m not that cool, and of course, I hadn’t showered and was dressed in a sweatshirt and jeans. We had dinner and breakfast the next day at the Topping Rose House restaurant and Tom Colicchio does not disappoint (P.S. Colicchio & Sons and craftbar are my most favorite restaurants of all time – the food at his restaurants are always excellent and service is extraordinary). Lucky for us, we didn’t have far to roll ourselves back to the room after stuffing our faces. I did manage a short run to see Mecox Beach though and a massage, rewarding myself for the food!

Scallop crudo appetizer

Scallop crudo appetizer

Breakfast, the potatoes were the best I've ever had!

Breakfast, the potatoes were the best I’ve ever had!

Ah, I love the beach!

Ah, I love the beach!

And now we’re back and I need to stop eating so much, get over the cold, and start focusing on training for my next race (to be announced soon). No better way to start than ordering french fries with breakfast today… (it was a craving, and I swear I hadn’t had any in weeks)!

How was your Thanksgiving?

What are your favorite Thanksgiving dishes?

I need motivation, Tell me about your December running goals!

What I’m grateful for and 100th post!

One of the first pictures on my previous blog of my grandma and I

11/1984 – Celebrating my first birthday… one of the first pictures on my previous blog of my grandma and I

This is the 100th post of cindyruns.com! I started this blog after the failed attempt at the 2012 NYC Marathon (Hurricane Sandy year). When I started training for the 2012 NYC Marathon, what would have been my first marathon, I started blogging to track my progress and share memories of my grandma. However, after the training season ended, it didn’t feel right continuing with the original blog and I really wanted to preserve the memories from that experience, so cindyruns was born.

Fast forward two years later and here I am writing my 100th post. This blog has been predominately about my running, occasional shopping adventures (though I shop a lot more than I share on the blog, don’t tell Josh!), and traveling. I share very little about the professional aspects of my life here, though maybe one day I will when I can find a way to combine my professional and personal interests. Cindyruns has become in some ways a journal for me, and hopefully a place where you can go to learn about what I am up to, and get some running ideas.

2002 - Our first Thanksgiving together

11/2002 – Our first Thanksgiving together

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love the idea of eating and spending time with family and friends. There is no pressure of presents and since there is usually a whole weekend involved, I was fortunate to be able to celebrate Thanksgiving with both my mom and dad’s side of the family growing up. It also helped that my uncle (on my mom’s side) and my cousin (on my dad’s side) had birthdays around this time. However, in recent years with some changes in our family, getting married and the combination of two families in two different states, other events – a friend’s wedding in Thailand, celebrating with cousins in Virginia, we haven’t stuck with our traditions. Last year, we celebrated with Josh’s family in Pittsburgh and this year we will be with my family followed by a friend’s wedding. Regardless, the highlight of this holiday is the chance to see family and friends and eat lots of good food.

With that said, I am so thankful for the year thus far. It has been filled with a lot of running, traveling, eating, and celebrations. I am grateful for…

—the ability to run. Running has bought me so much joy. It is the extracurricular activity and passion outside of work that I was trying to find for years. I am so grateful I found it and am very fortunate that it is such a big part of my life.

2012 - One of our first team practices for the 2012 NYC Marathon

06/2012 – One of our first team practices for the 2012 NYC Marathon

—the opportunities that running has opened up for me. Running has helped develop my interest more in fitness and nutrition, opened my eyes to the endless opportunities out there including blogging and who knows, maybe different paths I can pursue in the future.

11/2012 - the day of 2012 NYC Marathon

11/2012 – the team on the day of cancelled 2012 NYC Marathon

—all of the friends I’ve met from running. I am so lucky to have met some wonderful people who I can call my friends. They help fuel my crazy obsession and when we’re together, there’s no stopping how many races we end up entering.

10/2014 - Some of us crazies after the Chicago Marathon

10/2014 – Some of us crazies after the Chicago Marathon

—all of the trips we’ve been fortunate to take this year, from Florida to Abu Dhabi, India, Mustique, Croatia, Hartford, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Chicago, and the year’s not over yet! I love a good trip; the chance to see a new city, meet new people, try new foods, and run in different locations all excite me.

06/2014 - Celebrating our 5th anniversary in Croatia

06/2014 – Celebrating our 5th anniversary in Croatia

—the wonderful friends and family I have. No matter how far or close everyone is, I love how as soon as we get together it’s as if no time has passed.

03/2014 - Being silly with my family at our cousin's wedding

03/2014 – Being silly with my family at our cousin’s wedding

—all of the support and love from my friends and family (and of course a wonderful husband). Between running and work, it’s essentially two full-time jobs. I am so lucky to be surrounded by people who don’t necessarily have to understand why I love running but understand that it is important to me.

04/2003 - Throwing the discus at a track meet in college

04/2003 – Throwing the discus at a track meet in college

—the opportunity to share so many exciting moments with friends and family. From birthdays, weddings, baby showers, and births, it has been a year of joy for so many around me and I am so glad to be a part of all the special occasions.

06/2014 - Celebrating one important birthday for one important person in Pittsburgh, with Josh's family

06/2014 – Celebrating one important birthday for one important person in Pittsburgh, with Josh’s family

—so many more things that this blog post cannot do justice!

I am very excited to celebrate Thanksgiving 2014, see what the rest of the year holds, and just overall be very thankful! And thank you for celebrating my 100th post with me! In honor of today, Thanksgiving (a Thursday), and the 100th post, please enjoy the throwback Thursday (TBT) pictures!

How are you celebrating Thanksgiving this year?

What is your favorite holiday and why?