24 days 12 hours

Let's take a midweek look at my workouts. This has been an ok week. Not bad since I actually got out the door but not great since I took today off. I know we all need rest days but I just wasn't planning on today being my day off.

Sunday: 7.5 mile run in Central Park

Monday: 7.5 mile run following the same route as Sunday. I wanted to go longer but it was already pitch black out at mile 7 so I just jogged home. I had that the sunsets early in the winter!

Tuesday am: Wanted to do a run in Central Park but it was too dark at 5am so I went to the gym for a 2 mile run which my legs didn't love so I finished up with 35 mins on the elliptical then some stretching and abs. I walked by the park on my home at 6:30 because I'm trying to figure out what time people start running in the park. I want to get in morning runs outside but I want to be safe and not running alone. It was packed at 6:30 so I'll try 5:45 or 6am later this week. I did some pushups and triceps dips on a bench and the headed home which sore arms.

Tuesday night: I really wanted to get in my miles for the day so I hit up the gym for a fast 5k on the treadmill. Every worked together perfectly tonight and I felt like I could go on forever but wanted to same something for the morning. 

Wednesday am: woke up at 4:45 to get ready for the gym but wasn't feeling like it so I hit snooze. When the alarm went off at 5:15 all I could hear was the wind outside so I called off my gym trip :( Looking back I know this was dumb. I can find any excuse not to get out the door and need to do better next time.

Wednesday pm: I bought junk food on my way home from work which caused my night to derail a bit. I've been good about not eating sweets and indulging tonight gave me the worst stomach ache so I didn't get the gym tonight either. Overall, Wednesday was an epic fail! 

Tomorrow is a new day and I will do better. My plan for the rest of the week is a mid distance run tomorrow and maybe a group class, going for my long 20 mile run on Friday, a short recovery run on Saturday, and who knows for Sunday. This is just the plan, I'm sure I'll change things up a bit.

Here a a few links to things that have caught my eye:
The Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge - extra motivation to stay fit and eat well during the holidays
25 Ways to Get Psyched For Your Fall Marathon - I agree with everyone one of these

Five

I finally had a chance to watch Five tonight. I recorded it on my dvr and haven't had much time to sit and down to watch it. I've been seeing it advertised for weeks and have been intrigued by the concept of 5 short films blended together. Oh and the all star cast and directors didn't hurt either.

From the Lifetime website:

The groundbreaking original movie “Five” is an anthology of five short films exploring the impact of breast cancer on people’s lives. “Five” highlights the shared experience each short film’s title character endures from the moment of diagnosis, through an interconnected story arc that uses humor and drama to focus on the effect breast cancer and its different stages of diagnosis have on relationships and the way women perceive themselves while searching for strength, comfort, medical breakthroughs and, ultimately, a cure. 

About Each Film

Directed by Demi Moore and written by Stephen Godchaux, “Five’s” opening film, Charlotte, takes place the night in July 1969 when man first walks on the moon, and when a young Pearl (Ava Acres) is more concerned about why her family is not letting her see her mother, Charlotte (Ginnifer Goodwin), who lies in her bedroom dying from breast cancer. When she sneaks in to see and ultimately say goodbye to her mother, Pearl develops a lifelong passion to help others afflicted with the disease and eventually opens an oncology clinic where she will treat the women we meet throughout “Five.”Charlotte also stars Jeanne Tripplehorn, Josh Holloway, Annie Potts, Jennifer Morrison and Bob Newhart. 
In Cheyanne, directed by Penelope Spheeris and written by Howard Morris, sexy young stripper Cheyanne (Lyndsy Fonseca) and her handsome newlywed husband Tommy (Taylor Kinney) struggle to redefine their passionate relationship, as well as who they are as individuals, when Cheyenne is shocked with a breast cancer diagnosis. Looking at a severe prognosis, Cheyanne’s aggressive treatment ultimately results in the removal of both of her breasts, which have defined her life physically, financially and emotionally. 

Lili, directed by Alicia Keys and written by Jill Gordon, follows Lili, a fiercely independent, career-minded woman (Rosario Dawson), who recruits her sister (Tracee Ellis Ross) to help tell their hard-nosed mother (Jenifer Lewis) that she has breast cancer. As they work through their past issues, Lili’s mother and sister ultimately become her strongest allies when she needs her family the most. Lili also stars Jeffrey Tambor as a male patient diagnosed with breast cancer. 

Directed by Jennifer Aniston, written by Wendy West and told in a series of humorous and dramatic flashbacks, Mia is a survivor’s tale that highlights all of the highs and lows of Mia’s (Patricia Clarkson) two-year journey from diagnosis with breast cancer. During this time, she gives away all of her worldly possessions, holds a hilarious mock funeral while still alive and enters into a second marriage to Mitch (Tony Shalhoub), the new love of her life. Mia also features Kathy Najimy as Mia’s friend Rocky. 

In Pearl, directed by Patty Jenkins and written by Deirdre O’Connor, Pearl (Jeanne Tripplehorn), the successful oncologist we have followed from childhood, suddenly finds herself in the patient’s seat when she is diagnosed with breast cancer. Through this process, she finally understands what her parents experienced that night in 1969 and finds the strength to tell her young daughter that everything is going to be OK … something she never heard as a child. Pearl also stars Patricia Clarkson, Tony Shalhoub, Jeffrey Tambor, Bob Newhart, Rosario Dawson, Tracee Ellis Ross and Jenifer Lewis.


I absolutely loved it! I am not a person who cries or gets emotional in life or during movies but this one got to me. Part of why I wanted to see it so badly was because a doctor told me over the summer that she thought I had breast cancer. I told everyone I was fine. Looking back on those few weeks of endless dr's appointment, I think all I ever said was "I'm fine", "It will be fine" or "Its nothing" when really I was terrified. Lili's story really got to me because she did the same thing. You really do need people to lean on. I am stubborn and strong willed so I never told a soul I was scared but how can you not be when someone says they think you have cancer. After getting an ultrasound and running tests we found out it was a false alarm but ever since my ears perk up whenever breast cancer is mentioned. 


If you have a chance to watch it, please do! It's being re-aired all weekend so check the website. The stories are simple yet so moving. It isn't one of those super depressing or unrealistic lifetime movies. This felt like real life and I will be recommending it to everyone!

26 days, 12 hours...

We're getting closer to the start of the marathon and I'm feeling less and less prepared. I know I can do it but I just wish I had pushed harder during training. I'm going to go hard the next two weeks then be smart about tapering so I can rock this race on Nov 6th!

While perusing the NYRR website the over the weekend, I read more about the New Year's Eve run and decided I want to do it. The past two years I looked into it but never signed up so this is the year for me. I can't think of a better way to ring in 2012 than with fireworks and a fun run through Central Park!

Of course I couldn't sign up for just one race but I think I went a little over board and have added 4 more to my calendar! My parents really wanted me to do the Dash to the Finish 5k the day before the marathon so I said why not. I need to do a short run that day anyway and they're so excited to see me cross what will be the marathon finish line.

My other two races will be the Race to Deliver and Join the Voices. Both are in Central Park and being just 4 and 5 miles, I think I'll survive.

Here's to some good fall races and a fantastic marathon!

29 Days...

29 days from today I'll be crossing the start line and making my way across the Verranzano Narrows Bridge as Old Blue Eyes sings "New York, New York"

Just me and my 43,000 closest friends

Perfect NYC Weather

I couldn't have asked for better weather for a Saturday afternoon in October. 77 and sunny, I'll take it! The park was packed and it looks like everyone was having a great time.

How cute is this birthday party! 

I found this spot when I was running on Wednesday night and wanted to swing by again today.

It is so quite here even though just over that hill is the 96th st tennis courts. 

Another shot of my new favorite hill near the tennis courts. 

There is no better place than Central Park.

So many people soaking up the last summer rays. 

Its hard to believe that 50 and even 40 degree temps are just around the corner. 

I had to get one more picture of the birthday party before I left the park. Not only were there balloons everywhere but they had trains the kids were riding and activity tables all over the lawn. So precious! These kids are so lucky. 

I hope you're enjoying your Saturday!

Just Move

My mind wonders quite a bit when I run and today was no different. Generally I think a lot about my day ahead, mentally draft any emails I need to send, think of old friends I should call, plan outfits for dinner/drink dates, etc. The littlest things send my mind on tangents and there isn't a topic I haven't pondered as my feet hit the pavement.

There is one thing that finds a way into my train of though almost every run. Its a moment that leaves a smile on my face the rest of the day but also has me scratching my head. It happens when I see something truly beautiful and reminds of how lucky I am to be here in this moment. I have the privilege of living in the greatest city on earth, I have amazing friends and the world's best family but I don't always take advantage of it. I don't know why but I seem to get in my own way over and over again.

I come up with awesome things to do but never make plans to do them or I let friends get distant instead of making plans to catch up. Take Friday for instance. I had been looking forward to my favorite zumba class all day. I had planed my meals around it so I wouldn't upset my stomach before class. I got dressed and left my place with plenty of time to get there but halfway to the gym I took a right and ended up in a store instead of the gym. I love that class. Why did I get 95% there yet not make it?

Its time to make a change. I am going to challenge myself to be better. I want to spend the rest of October living life I can have. The one that's right in front of me but that I just can't seem to grasp. Wish me luck!

Welcoming the Night from Oct 4th

There is no better place to watch darkness come across the city than from the Central Park Resevoir. If you time it just right you can watch the sunset and the colors splash across the sky over the west side of the city as you run up the straight away along east drive between 88th and 94th st. As you turn to and run across the northern edge of the water you can see the colors reflected in the water as the light of the city turn on and slowly get brighter. The glow of Times Square becomes visible to the south and the buildings on the East side glow the color of the sunset as you make your way south along the West side of the resevoir. If I can't be relaxing on a boat when the sun starts to set than your better believe I want to have my sneakers on my feet and my earbuds in my ears as I take in the city as I realize for all the dirty, smelly, unwelcoming things that happen in nyc, this moment is perfect.