Truckin’

…like the doo-dah man. Keeping up with my training schedule, but instead of tacking on some extra workout today, I did the standard 2 mile “easy” run (but pumped up the speed to maintain some sense of challenge) and then treated myself to some live music. “Bustle In Your Hedgerow” totally hit the spot, and BONUS: one Chuck Bass (a/k/a Ed Westwick) was in the house! Smokin’ hot. Unfortunately, we did not lock eyes. Had we done so, we’d be on our honeymoon as I write this. By the time I’m done with my training, I shall run into him again, and he will finally profess his love, so it’s all good

Happy Friday!!!

Mission #1 Accomplished!!!

Unlike one moronic Dubya, I can say with both accuracy and humility: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!! I am so happy to report that I have not only reached but exceeded my fundraising goal, which means it’s time to bump it up! My challenge is your challenge

Seriously though, I want to thank everyone who has donated (and anyone who plans to do so). I am incredibly touched and moved by your support and can’t wait to make y’all proud!!!

Wheeeee!!!

Another lovely e-mail from RunKeeper today, letting me know that I’ve set a personal record for farthest total distance in a week. I’ve been an admittedly poor record keeper, but I did the math and after tacking on some extra to each of my scheduled runs, my week total was 13.75 miles. It only gets better from here!!!

That doesn’t count cross-training, and I’m really looking forward to getting in the pool and doing some deep water training, swimming, etc. on my non-running days. I SHOULD be skating in the mornings, but when you don’t go to sleep early enough, you don’t wake up to get in the good ice time. Wah waaaaah. Hope to do turn it around before the end of February when they take down CitiPond. Anyone interested in some pre-work skating? It’d be great to have a buddy who’d kick my ass if I didn’t show up

The fundraising is going great, but it’s stalled a bit of late. If you can, please consider a donation in any amount to Team Fox on my personal page. Much obliged!!!!!

Everybody Wins!!!

Did my first 4 miler today, and accomplished it with happily relative ease. It may not sound like much, but it’s my first 5K+, so it’s a step in the right direction! Got an email from RunKeeper (great free iPhone app that tracks your activity via GPS and/or manual input) congratulating me on my longest run to date, which was a nice touch. Tried an amazing organic, low glycemic energy gel called Chocolate #9 for the first time. AMAZING!!! I highly recommend this stuff – I’d e-mailed the company with a question, and without my even requesting, they were nice enough to send some free samples. It’s made from two ingredients, high-fat/high quality cocoa and agave nectar, and it shot me through that run to where I was comfortably increasing my speed consistently over the last 2 miles. It tastes like chocolate frosting, and it’s so delicious that it seems wrong to use before/during a run, but it works so I’ll take it! A great stretch and a bit of pre-game Vitamin D therapy capped off a great day heading into the 6:30 kickoff.

Pretty sure I sweat as much from nerves during the waning minutes of the Giants’ HUGE o/t win as I did through my long run, but you know what?!?! That’s OK! An extra $20 in my pocket/Team Fox’s pocket (thx, JCM) + a sweet Super Bowl rematch = good stuff!!! GOOOOOO GIANTS!!!

Double Win!!

So when I checked in at the gym this morning, I had a little chat with the GM about how his minions tried to kick me out early the other night bc I was the only one left and they wanted to duck out and go home early. He literally told me to quote him and tell them to go fuck themselves. That’s my kind of manager!!! I have explicit permission to flip off any gym staff that tries to mess with me. I think I might be in love…

As if my gym experience couldn’t get any better, as I headed downstairs after a great cross training workout, I ran into this super bitchy diva queen who I know from work and a gym we both used to go to. We chatted for a bit and came to the conclusion that we both need structure and accountability (and anxiety management), so helloooo new training buddy!!!

Off to a well-deserved $10 all you can drink brunch. This may quickly enter “really bad decision” territory, but screw it. Have a great day y’all!!!

Me 1, Gym Nazis 0

Today’s training calendar called for 2 miles, but I wanted to push myself and do 3. Then a little thing called “work” and “being a grownup” intervened. That shit sucks. Didn’t leave the office until after 9, gym closes at 10. What’s a girl to do?

Bust ass, that’s what. Got warned by the above-mentioned gym nazis to “start wrapping it up and making my way downstairs” at 9:45. Screw you, THE GYM CLOSES AT 10. Kept running, got the stink eye and another warning. Did I stop? Hell no! Managed to squeeze in a cool two and a quarter before my third encounter with the savvy, motivated personnel at NYHRC who were clearly trying to get home early and couldn’t care less about members and their right to work out during full gym hours. You bet I shot them the death stare on the way out!

These are the days when I wished I lived closer to a well-lit path like the one off the West Side Highway. That thing rocks. What do you guys do when you find yourself in this situation? I don’t want to scrimp on my runs, but I don’t want to scrap with minimum wage gym employees either – it’s just not worth it. Running the streets is kind of a last ditch option, because traffic lights and pedestrians are just not cute. Any brilliant suggestions that are escaping me would be greatly appreciated!

Happy New Year, Happy New You (& Me)!!!

Hope everyone’s new year has started off well and that things are just chugging right along. My big news isn’t news to most at this point, but it bears repeating because it is HUGE: I’m officially running the NYC 2012 Half Marathon as a member of Team Fox. More info is available on my personal page at: http://www2.michaeljfox.org/site/TR/Sponsored/TeamFox?px=1005032&pg=personal&fr_id=1081

Training is going well so far, but the challenges have just begun. I’ve also decided, with the nudging, education and encouragement of my BFF, to go Paleo (translation: eat like a caveperson). For those who are unfamiliar, here’s a good jumping off resource: http://www.marksdailyapple.com

The juxtaposition of these two undertakings is a challenge unto itself, so things might get a little cranky and/or crazy around these parts. My hope is that it doesn’t last long, as I am really excited about what the next few months have in store. I’m going to try and blog as much as possible to keep myself honest and accountable (yeah, yeah…you’ve heard it all before) so feel free to call me out if I fall off the face of the blogosphere.

Welcome to my journey…glad to have you along for the ride.

P.S. Anyone who wants to join in the fun is welcome to run/train with me anytime. Hit me up!!!

Training D(el)ay

Soooo…my super-aggressive, badass, G.I. Jane training regimen took a backseat this week to holiday parties and shopping. This is not a good start. I’ve got plenty of time before I need to be ready for the half, whether or not I get an entry number, but I’m kind of disappointed that since deciding to take this on, I’ve already procrastinated and haven’t even begun week one. Here’s hoping that once I kick start the process, it’ll become a routine part of the day that consistently tops my priority list. Not trying to put my body through the rigors of this challenge by half-assing the half.

Any tips, training-wise, motivation-wise, inspiration-wise or otherwise, are welcome and appreciated.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season thus far. TTYS.

Hello…is there anybody out there?

…just nod if you can hear me. Is there anybody home?

Let’s see…it’s been a few years since I last jotted anything down in this space. It’s lovely to see you again! You look fabulous

I figured that with a new adventure underway, and a whole lot of possibilities pinging around in my head, it’d be a great time to resurrect the blogging and document my journey.

I’ve thrown my hat in the ring for an entry into the 2012 NYC Half Marathon. This is, without question, the most intimidating and exciting thing I’ve ever contemplated. While I’d love nothing more than to run for charity (and snag a guaranteed entry), the fundraising minimums seem a bit out of reach. So unless any of y’all (or anyone, any company, any firm, etc. you know) wants to be a half marathon sugar daddy/momma, I’m going to have to wait it out and see if I get lucky in the lottery. Given my luck in Phish ticket lotto land, I might be doing an independent run, but either way, I am stating here and now, for the record, that I will be running 13.1 miles in late March, solo or with the NYRR.

My official training schedule begins tomorrow, so feel free to come along for the ride. Training tips are more than welcome, and encouragement is encouraged

Until tomorrow, lovelies…

Abandonment issues

If a blogger neglects to post for months but realizes the error of her ways and returns to her faithful readers, is she still a blogger? Survey says…yes! So sorry for the extended delay, but I guess I’d found it difficult to take time away from my busy schedule of doing nothing to write on this here site.

So where were we? Last we spoke, momma was playing the role of Captain Find-A-Mirror, special to the Fashion Police Emergency Services Unit. Things have not changed much. The seasons have shifted, and with them the wardrobe atrocities committed on the streets of New York and beyond are fall-focused. Whereas summer apparel issues usually take the form of scant pieces in desperate need of further coverage, fall and winter present a much graver issue. It seems, despite the lack of tundra in the Big Apple, that people remain committed to pelts and the promotion of murder. See, e.g. Exhibit A:

Where’s a gallon of red paint when you need it? It’s quite possible that this coat is as faux as baby girl’s lips, but that still promotes the image and concept of fur as fashionable. But let’s cut a ho a break for just a moment. Clearly, the girl has bigger problems:

One should never resemble Donatella Versace so closely, but when you are 23 and could be DV’s stunt double, we’re talking official rock bottom status. Dios mio, girl. Do you need any more bad karma on your head? Methinks you don’t.

In all seriousness, I just do NOT understand the draw of fur. Unless you are a huntress (or a hunter, because I ain’t sexist) and using the whole animal for foodstuffs as well as your trousseau, I simply don’t get it. The food chain is one thing…raising creatures for the sake of “luxury” accoutrements is quite another. Aren’t there viable options for keeping warm that don’t involve slaughter?

I realize that this is a controversial issue, and that is why I am opening up this dialogue. If you’re a fan of fur, what is it that attracts you? I’d honestly like to know. Comment away…

*(images courtesy of Socialite Life and Gawker, respectively)*