1 year.

December 28, 2007 - 8 miles  

"First 4- 36:11 (9:03) 

Second 4- 36:18 (9:04) 
One gel/water at mile 4- had a cramp below left lung last couple miles. 
right hip pain nagging at start, then worse last couple miles."

After 5 weeks of hobbling and being an idiot, I was finally diagnosed with a Femoral Neck Stress Fracutre.

December 28, 2008 - 13.7 miles.  NO PAIN.  Well, other than 'holy shit this is my first long run outside in almost two months' type of pain.  

And it was 65 degrees.

I think I am going to be smiling all day.

For the Love of NPR.

1 Thriving Ivory Album + 

1 episode NPR 'Fresh Air'(a really good episode on 'The Secret Life of Baboons') + 

1/2 episode of NPR 'Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me'

=

12 really slow, comfortable miles on the treadmill.

[I felt a little guilty b/c the roads weren't THAT bad just the sidewalks and some sidestreets, but then I slipped and fell on the marble steps of my building walking home, and felt good about my decision again]

I am off too DC this afternoon for two glorious weeks of much needed relaxation and family time.  My work away message says I won't be checking email, and I even turned my office computer OFF so I can't log in remotely.  

My plans when I am home are to swim a lot, run a lot, bike with my dad when the weather allows, and see as many movies as possible.

Dilemma

**Update: It's 7am, I am up, but I think I am headed to the gym.  The run was designated a 'fun run', ie will not be scored/timed,  due to the conditions.  it also feels like 13 degrees out and is sleeting/snowing.  If I had better shoes/Yax, I would go, but I just don't think it is worth it.  I will try to stay on the treadmill as long as possible, but I can always run longer tomorrow.  

Dilemma:  Tomorrow is the last NYRR race of the year (not counting the NYE run at midnight).  

We got about 3-4 inches of snow in NYC today, and NYRR decided that if you already registered for the race, you will get credit (ie you don't have to run, but it still counts towards marathon qualifying).  Which is great, b/c now I am officially in for the NYC Marathon 2009.  BUT...

I sort of still want to run (slowly, v-e-r-y slowly).  I need to get a long run in anyway, and it's a whole lot easier to motivate for a 'race'.  But it could be icy...

So do a I spend 90-120 minutes on the treadmill, or do I brave the cold (and maybe snow) to run outside?

NYRR is usually good about salting any icy areas and I would take it easy around the water stops, but I can't decide.  I am almost exactly 1 year from my injury, my legs have been feeling really good,  and don't want to do something stupid like fall on the ice.  Which is not something I would put past myself (clearly).

I don't know what to do!!

SNOW!

Today was the first snow of the winter in NYC.  Big fluffy flakes, but it was too warm for any accumulation.  I LOVE SNOW!!  As I walked home from the gym, I was motivated to pull some of my old photos off my almost-dead old laptop from grad school.   

These pictures were all taken during one of the best snow storms I have seen, during the spring in my second year at Yale (2006).  New Haven looked like a winter wonderland coated in the fresh snow.

My favorite tree in New Haven.

Sterling Memorial Library

Chapel Street, in front of my front door.

I also came across one that I decided would be a perfect gift for my dad, in a nice frame, now that he has taken up cycling.  He has planned a New Years Day ride for us, with his biking group, that I am super excited for.  He said I will have appropriate winter riding gear under the tree!!  

This is one of my favorite all time photos I have taken.

SO EXCITING!

My bro is officially moving to San Fran!! I am currently scheming up a trip to accompany him on part of his trip across the country (he decided today and I have already invited myself along). 

Depending on timing, I will hopefully be joining him somewhere between Dallas and Tuscon, and spend time in LA, Santa Barbara and then San Fran!  I just tried to work San Diego into the route, but he said it was too far out of the way.  I'm still going to work on it.

So excited.

Let the scheming begin, we needed something to fight over during Christmas Dinner anyway!

No longer free-loading (not by choice!)

Sometime between Sunday and Wednesday morning this week, my cable was turned off.  I actually cancelled my cable in early February and haven't paid a dime since.  The beauty of living in an apartment, I guess...so I can't really complain that it no longer is working (and it also took me at least three day to notice, so I don't really watch that much during the week, really just on the weekends).  

It's sort of like my Internet...I steal that, too, you see.  I used to have four different networks to choose from (I actually pick up about 20, only four weren't protected).  The non-password selection has dwindled to just 1, and I'm afraid I will soon have to shell out for Internet.

Cable I can live without.  Internet, I cannot.  This would prohibit my work-from-home days, and that is just NOT an option.

BUT, today I discovered the joy of having no cable.  I was grumpy about not being able to watch KONA yesterday (AND my friend's finish was in the coverage, argh!), and a little grumpy about football today, but instead of sitting my ass on the couch all day, I:

-read the entire Sunday Times (this doesn't really count, as I usually do this anyway, just WHILE watching TV)

-ran (4th day in a row-and NO pain anywhere yay!)

-swam 

-grocery shopped

-finished my Christmas shopping, and actually REALLY like all the gifts I got.

The best gift I think I am giving is to the bro- He is currently considering a move to San Francisco (Has a job offer! Very exciting, but very far away), so I got him the 1,000 places to See Before you Die, USA and Canada.  If he decides to accept the offer in San Francisco, I am going to go through and flag ones either in/around San Fran, or on his chosen driving route out West.  I usually have trouble with him, so I am very excited, and he loves books regardless, so it's perfect.  

I chose to ignore the links my sister sent from Victoria's Secret and Hollister, et al, and got her a really pretty necklace from my favorite vendor at the Holiday Shops at Columbus Circle (and of course got some goodies for myself, as well!).  If you are ever in NYC around the holidays, the winter markets at Union Square and Columbus Circle are a must-see, it's one of my favorite parts of the season.  I had hot cider as I wandered the shops today for over two hours.  Love it.

Just a really great day!  Who needs TV??

New silly plan.

My reasoning:

• Starts less than a mile from the house my family has lived in for the past 20+ years.
  
• Gives me the motivation I have been looking for to starting running long again.
• Being a trail run, will be a new and exciting challenge.
  
• My family can share the day with me.

I also think, being a trail run, it will help me focus on "getting the miles in", rather than shooting for a time goal, etc. over the winter. Getting the base in over the next three months would set me up to safety get back into regular speed and tempo work, and hopefully would lead to an injury-free, fast triathlon season.

It gives me 12 weeks to prepare. There are training runs on the course that would give me an excuse to go home for a weekend. And it's only $20.

And you can decide mid-course if you want to do the 50k.

I'm very tempted.

The PERFECT holiday gift

I walked from 59th Street to 87th Street last night, trying to find a present for our white-elephant holiday gift exchange. Under $15. Unisex. Something you 'would want to receive' (ie nothing dirty, pornographic or otherwise 'inappropriate', which is a direction the group I work with tends to lean, based on what we do- ask me about it sometime). I have never felt so indecisive in my life. All I knew was I didn't want to get a Starbucks Mug with a giftcard in it.

I went to Williams Sonoma. Did you know their peppermint bark is $25 for one small container??

I went to Barnes and Noble. Almost got a 2009 Zagat. But in the end, I thought that was a bit lame.

I went to Sephora. I almost went with Philosophy holiday gift set, and figured I could tell the token male in our group to steer clear of my present. But then I felt bad.

Then I went to Urban Outfitters. And stupidly decided against the BEST HOLIDAY PRESENT EVER. I had non-buyers remorse the minute I left the store.
I decided against this after I had a vision of my boss opening it and not being able to keep a straight face and giving it away that it was my gift. The more I think about it, I may still go back and get a few of these. SUCH a great holiday gift!? 365 days of POOP FACTS!


So what did I end up getting? A Starbucks mug with a giftcard.

Off the Wagon.

At some point last week (Thursday night at 9pm, to be exact), I fell off the wagon. I have been very good about my food choices, getting to the gym, and not drinking to excess, but I am not sure what got into me this weekend.

Thursday night, I was invited to dinner at Bobo, a new place downtown that has gotten mixed reviews. The people I went with are family friends of the chef, and the meal turned out to be absolutely fabulous. The chef sent out some appetizers (he managed to put a new and amazingly delicious spin on ahi tuna and avocado), and the wine was free flowing. The burger (with fried leeks and Gruyere cheese) was AMAZING, and I'm a hard one to impress when it comes to burgers. I will definitely return to this place, and order the burger without even considering other options.

Friday night, I had 1.5 too many margaritas. Of the frozen mango variety. And perhaps ate my weight in fresh corn chips.

Saturday's activies have already been described.

Yesterday after the 10k I hibernated a bit and headed downtown to make Roasted Tomato Soup with friends- SO incredibly good and easy. And healthy, except I chose to down at least a bottle of red while we caught up on Californication. WHY?

Today I feel like crap (Go figure). Tomorrow's is my first of many holiday-work parties over the next few weeks. And even though I was so excited to plan it at Flute Bar on a 2/1 special night, I think I may not be partaking in the bubbly.

Now I have to get creative for the white-elephant gift exchange for tomorrow night. I am having trouble thinking past the overdone 'Starbucks mug with a Gift Card' idea.


*Edit- so classic. About 2 minutes after posting, and planning a healthy evening of running followed by grilled salmon and veggies, I got invited to dinner at The Mermaid Inn. It's seafood- I think I can at least be semi-healthy, right?? How can I say no to a free dinner at a place I have been wanting to try forever???

All things considered.

All things considered, I am happy with the effort this morning.  Truth be told, it took more effort to get myself out of bed than to finish the 10k.  

The race started at 8:30.  I finally forced myself out of bed at 7:40.  Edit:  This is what it looks like when you wake up 30 minutes before you line up for a race, and drink for hours the day before:  ie not pretty.  I need to get me some eye cream or something :)

Had a champion's breakfast of frosted-gingerbread and OJ, to top off an already unhappy stomach (see below).

Didn't wear my watch.  Haven't been at all keeping track of pace on any runs lately, just trying to get the miles in and injuries away.  The start seemed a bit more crowded than usual, wasn't really even able to run across the start mat.

First mile came in well under 8 minutes, which for me is usually the roughest part of a 10k this direction in Central Park (North Hills).  At that moment, I had a fleeting vision of a PR- then my stomach remembered what I had consumed in the last 24 hours, and my hip reminded me that I have done NO LT, tempo, or speedwork in months.  So I was happy to settle into a comfortably-hard pace, enough to work up a sweat, but not pushing the breathing too hard.

I have no idea how long it took me to cross the line, and they haven't put the results online yet.  I am going to estimate I just missed sub-50, with a small water walk break.  I am VERY satisfied with this, all things considered.

**Edit: Official time, 51:19  (8:16 pace).  About :30 seconds per mile slower than the same race last year- but I'm OK with that.

How NOT to prepare for a fast 10k

1. Volunteer for 3 hours, standing on your feet the entire time.
   
2. Go directly to your favorite sports bar, ordering and eating the following over the next 3 hours with your 3 friends while watching college football:
3. Pitchers of beer (2 Blue Moon, 2 Harp, 1 Miller Light) between the 4 of us,
   
4. Tequila Shots,
   
5. Sonic Wings (sonic being two flavors hotter than the 'hot' variety),
   
6. NY Pretzels, with yellow mustard of course,
   
7. Basket of waffle fries with gravy on the side. 
   

I have been doubting my ability to 'race' this 10k all week, and today's activities, coupled with tomorrow forecast of 20 degrees and slushy snow, have not helped.  

I am interested to see how it all shakes out, but if there is slush on the ground/in the air, I can guarantee I will be taking it easy.

What it's all about...

...tonight's inappropriate shoe choice.

**Edit: I love that I just noticed the obligatory 'croc' shot in the background

THE PERFECT MAN!

Before...

during...

(switched to the real camera for full effect)...

After!

And no, they don't all have bites out of them, it was the cookie cutters my friend thought were cute in the store, but really just look like we ate a bite off every cookie, but that is how they are SUPPOSED to look...

OK, too much gingerbread + suger icing + wine makes me doubt my date with the gym is going to happen in the morning.

December Goal

I am going to try to do something active every day of December. I thought about the idea of running every day of this month, lower miles but more frequency...but I don't want to do that. ha. I would like to however hold my mileage at ~25 miles per week, (3-4 weekday runs, longer weekend run) then can decide Jan 1 if I am motivated for a spring marathon.

Other goals:
I want to get back in the pool.
I want to get comfortable on my trainer- This includes maybe taking my bike it to finally get some areo-bars.

I am hoping that I don't lose all motivation when I am home Dec 20-Jan 4, but I am planning on joining the community center in my town,which has treadmills, ellipticals and weights, and hopefully swimming masters with my old swim coach from high school, which should be a riot.

I just....

...did a fabulous Whole Foods shopping.  You know, one of those where you don't care about how much you're spending, you just throw things in the cart?

I got fresh salmon, green beans, and asparagus with makings for fresh dill sauce

I got the makings for Red Chicken Curry

I got fresh berries, frozen berries, and berry sorbet.

Three different types of cheeses.

...and now I am making Shells and Cheese.

Yes I am really that lazy.  At least it's organic, right?

**EDIT:  Whose smart idea was it to go to the gym 20 minutes after eating Shells and Cheese?  NEVER again.  Pushed to get 4 miles of my planned hour run finished.  Blah.

World AIDS Day- DO Something!!

I turned my 6am alarm off for my run, only to wake up at 7:45 and realize it was beautiful and perfect running weather- a clear and blustery 55. Bummer.

I made eggs and promptly dropped the plate on the floor. It broke everywhere. And I had swept yesterday. Double bummer.

And spilled a half a cup of coffee down the front of me as I sat down to my desk. I am obviously wearing a white and green sweater. SUPER Bummer.


HAPPY DECEMBER EVERYONE! Today is World AIDS Day.

It is SO easy to do something that matters.

Buy some RED Christmas presents.

Try a new flavor at Starbucks this month.

Join (Red)Wire.