An Apple A Day

Fall is one of the best times of year. The crisp air, watching leaves change color, pumpkins, football season, fresh apples… it is a great luxury to be able to experience the changing of seasons. Both Michigan and New York are fantastic places to be when the weather turns cooler. Even though it may rain a significant amount of the time and you know snow is not that far away, it’s still such a relief when the heat breaks and the leaves start to fall.

One of my favorite things is biting into a crisp apple, hearing the crunch and tasting the juicy freshness. Not only do apples taste fantastic, but they can be used in so may different recipes, each variety has a distinct flavor and they are good for us!

Most apple varietys are harvested in the fall and for many people in Michigan, that means apple cider and donuts! Uncle John’s Cider Mill near St. Johns, is frequently visited by many in Mid-Michigan and I have made my fair share of visits over the years. Not long after we started dating, my husband and I drove up there one Sunday afternoon to take a walk on their paths, check out the press and enjoy some fresh cider and hot donuts. Another year, when we returned home for our annual MSU Football game, we took a few hours and drove up with my Dad to satisfy our craving. I don’t think my Dad minded too much. When we moved out here, people would give me strange looks when I would mention that this is a Fall staple. When you live in the city without a car, it’s difficult to get to an apple orchard. But one Fall we took a weekend trip up to Connecticut in part to find an apple orchard, some apple cider and donuts. We found them at a cute family run orchard just outside of Mystic. We were in Heaven! Many stands at the Union Square Farmer’s Market sell wonderfully fresh Apple Cider, but only a handful have donuts and they aren’t quite as fresh as I’m used to. But, it still works when you’re in a pinch. It’s strange that I get this fall craving for Apple Cider and donuts because I really never eat donuts the rest of the year and really, I’m completely satisfied with just one or two in the Fall. I guess it’s just one of those traditions, like watching the Spartans trudge through another Big Ten football season.
















Apple growers in Michigan have reported higher than usual harvests of Honeycrisp apples this year than in years past. This is fantastic news since Honeycrisp apples are FANTASTIC! While the variety has already hit shelves in the state, the Michigan Apple Committee believe that supplies of this juicy apple may last through the end of the year. A few of the other Michigan grown varieties available now or soon include Jonathan, Jonagold, Ida Red, and Braeburn (late October). Check out this site for more information on Michigan apples, including a list of orchards!

New York has a great apple industry as well. There are plenty of orchards around the state supplying bushels of Crispin, Ida Red, Macoun, Northern Spy, Newton Pippin (there’s an interesting story around this variety right now, I may get into that in a future post), Stayman/Winesap, and many others. Here’s a great site to check out if you’re interested in NY apples.

Both sites are great resources for cooking and storing tips, recipes, and other apple tips. Apples are great additions to any meal or a perfect snack with a little bit of peanut butter!

The Hills

I’m going to be quick today. I did a different workout than most mornings and it took a little longer.

Don't worry, I'm not going to write about my latest thoughts on the new season of The Hills. Today was a hill repeat workout. I started with a 2mile warm-up run up 5th Ave and back. Then I did 4 repeats of Cat Hill. Four isn’t that much, really. Six would have been better but I knew I had to watch my time. Cat Hill is about a quarter of a mile, so with the jogs back to the bottom of the hill between each one, I got in another 2 miles. To finish off the workout I did a cool down of another mile on 5th Ave. I wish I had gotten 6 or more miles in, but I feel good about the workout and pretty happy with my performance. I feel like my legs kind of forgot what it’s like to go fast this year, so it’s a struggle to go faster. My lungs are ready to go but my legs need a little coaxing. Good thing my goal for the marathon is to finish and not necessarily to hit a specific time. Never the less, it was a good workout this morning to prepare for this weekend’s race. Grete’s Great Gallop is just over two full laps of the park – which means lots of hills.

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I’ve been doing well shaking up my breakfast so far this week. Check out these yummy looking pics! What do you eat for breakfast? Hopefully not a Pop-Tart (just saw a commercial for them after a segment on childhood obesity. Interesting timing, don't you think?)

I hope you all have a great day and don’t forget, Biggest Loser is on tonight!

A Minor Setback

First, let me take a moment to apologize. I started this blog with the intention to talk about a wide range of topics – fitness, nutrition, environmental issues, tips for living a ‘green’ life, and running – but lately I find that I’m really just writing about running. That is probably due to the fact that running is on the top of my mind these days. When I’m not running or working, I’m probably thinking about running. With only 34 days left until the Marathon, it pretty much consumes my thoughts, my dreams, my conversations… there is still so much I need to do and accomplish before November 1st. So, I will try my best to add a few pointers or bits of information along the way, but please excuse me while I have a one track mind for the next month.

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As you all know, I was supposed to run the Marathon Tune-Up today. Unfortunately, I have to admit it didn't happen for me. After taking a sick day to rest on Friday, I got a good night's sleep Friday night and felt better Saturday morning. I didn't want to go back on my commitment to Step Up so I made my way to the W Hotel on Lex to volunteer at the annual fundraiser Step Up & Step Out. I have to say, I had one of the easiest jobs possible - sitting at the membership table to answer questions and sign up to members! I met some great women yesterday and the event was a success, but I was exhausted by the time I got home a little after 5pm. An hour later I had passed out watching Lethal Weapon 4 and my husband woke me up just before 7. I never take naps, so it was obvious that I still wasn't back to normal. The weather forecast on all the local news channels and the Weather Channel were saying rain was coming into the area and wouldn't be out until Sunday afternoon. Not good. I decided to set my alarm for 5:15 take a look outside and check the weather before making my decision. If it was cold and raining I would have to skip the race. I need to get better, not worse. I wasn't even sure if I would be able to finish the first lap of the park, let alone three of them!

I didn’t sleep well last night. Maybe because I had taken the nap or maybe because I was worried I wouldn’t get my run in today. Either way, it was pouring when I woke up and there was a huge green glob covering the tri-state area on the radar. It was cold too. I made the tough decision to get back into bed and add two hours to my alarm. It continued to rain until about 4:30 this afternoon, so I’m glad I went to the gym and got in a workout on the elliptical and the stationary bike. I also did a bit of stretching and used the foam roller to work out a few kinks in my legs.

Kim, a Step Up friend, who is also co-owner of In Shape, LLC, was kind enough to offer support and advice today. I’m so nervous that I’m really setting myself back by skipping the long run today. She assured me that being healthy is most important and it’s okay that I missed the long run today. She also suggested that I do two runs on one day to bump up my mileage and as long as my second run is a couple miles longer than my first and I push through the last few miles, it’ll be similar to one long run. I don’t know if I’ll be able to get in two runs that equal 20 miles, but I am going to make this happen. Thanks for the advice and support Kim!!

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This week I am going to change up my diet a bit. Monday thru Friday I basically eat the same breakfast each day. It’s easy, it’s healthy, and I know it will keep me full and satisfied until I can eat lunch. I ran out of yogurt on Friday and I didn’t get any this weekend so I wouldn’t be tempted to fall back into my regular routine. Instead, I’m going to have either oatmeal, hard boiled eggs, or Kashi cereal and skim milk. I’ll continue to have fruit and toast with peanut butter since I know that helps satisfy my protein needs, but the yogurt and granola is out! It’s so easy to fall into a pattern and not get out of it. For months I ate a veggie patty with avocado (or a laughing cow cheese wedge) and lettuce, carrots, humus and an apple, every day at work. My breakfast wouldn’t change either and dinner was pretty much the same from day to day. No alterations no compromises. Our bodies get into a rut when we do this and we need to mix it up every once in a while. I’ve been better about my lunches this year, but not my breakfast. This week, I’m going to change that and next weekend I’ll let you all know how I did. Hopefully I’ll be much healthier and have more energy.

I boiled the eggs today so I don’t have to worry about finding time during the week. Lucky husband, I boiled a few for him too!

Under The Weather

Today is my mother’s Birthday. She is one of the most amazing people I know. She has always done everything she could for me and I know she always will. Not only is she my mom, but she is my friend and an inspiration. I probably don’t say it often enough, but I love her and appreciate everything she does for me, her family and friends. I hope she has a wonderful Birthday and a great time up north this weekend!

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I stayed home sick today. I have a pretty nasty head cold that started with a sore throat on Wednesday. After feeling pretty lousy at work yesterday, I decided the best thing for me (and my colleagues) would be to stay home today, sleep in and rest so I could kick this thing quickly and get back out on the road and to work. I was supposed to run 5 miles today, but that didn’t happen. Yesterday I only got in 4 miles before I had to quit. It was, and is, disappointing. Sunday is supposed to be my second 20 miler, although I’ve signed up for the NYRR 18 Miler Tune-Up. I HOPE that I can get through volunteering for Step Up’s fundraiser tomorrow and feel well enough to run Sunday. I am SO nervous that I won’t be able to run. It’ll be a huge setback for me and I don’t want to face it. Trying to come up with a solution, if I have to miss the run I think I’ll do it on Monday morning before work. Yeah, that means I’ll get in a little late to work, but I think it will be okay if I start at 5:30am. Oh, I hope it doesn’t come to that.

My diet today hasn’t consisted of much. For the most part, when I’m sick, I lose my appetite. Fruit is the best thing to eat when you’re sick. It’s clean, fresh, healthy, and doesn’t weigh you down. I’ve had an apple, tangelo, a Cold Buster Jamba Juice smoothie and half a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for a little protein. Have you ever noticed how many people drink the HUGE Jamba Juice smoothies? It’s pretty incredible how many calories they’re consuming. Yeah, there’s fruit in there, but so many of their smoothies have juices, dairy, sorbet, frozen yogurt…. Someone can consume enough calories for two meals with one smoothie! And then, some people even eat them WITH a meal. Wow. But, if you check out the nutritional facts, what is really going into the smoothie, and keep to the 12 oz version, you’ll probably do pretty well there. I think today was the 2nd time I’ve ever had a smoothie from Jamba Juice. I hope it helps bust my cold!! I still plan to have an apple, tangelo, and pomegranate seeds today. Yum. I really hope I can get rid of this cold quickly. It's such a beautiful fall day today, so it's especially hard to be sick when the sun is shining so bright!

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If you haven’t seen this yet, I encourage you to check out the current issue of Newsweek or Newsweek.com. They spent quite a long time ranking the biggest 500 companies according to how ‘Green’ they are. The ability for a company to be Green definitely depends on the industry they are in – some inherently have an easier time turning Green than others – so they’ve taken many factors into account. I definitely think it’s a good idea to pay attention to how environmentally conscious a company is when you are purchasing their product, so this is another good resource. A few of their rankings and/or reasoning seem a bit off to me, but it still provides some interesting information and insight. I definitely recommend that you check this out when you have time.

Do something fun and healthy with your friends and family! Have a great weekend!

A Need For Speed

Most of the people reading this blog are probably family or friends and have at least some knowledge of what I've been through over the past year. If you don't know, I'll give you the short version. I was diagnosed last November with Cushing's Disease, meaning that a tumor had been found in my pituitary gland. This tumor caused the pituitary gland to tell my adrenal glands to produce more cortisol than I really needed. Because the symptoms were not extreme it took quite a while to diagnose. After experiencing the symptoms for several years, I had finally found my way to a fantastic Endocrinologist at Weill Cornell Medical College, Dr. B., who ran test after test and at times, took more blood from me than I even knew I had to give! I had surgery to remove the tumor on January 7th. Even though my surgeons did a great job, I stayed in the hospital for 5 days and I ended up in the emergency room a few days later because of complications. I'm feeling much better now and taking everything one day at a time.

I couldn't work out, at all, for a month after the surgery and then it was still a while before I could run or really do anything that would create physical stress. It was difficult, but I was so tired and worn out that at least for a while, I wouldn't have been able to do anything anyway. Before my surgery I had a 39:33 PR on a 5M (7:54 per mile) and that is the pace that remains on my NYRR bib each time I line up. My pace is no where near that anymore. My time has slowed so much it's almost incredible. I can still run at a good pace, but I just can't keep up like I could before. It's really amazing how much it took out of me.

I've been bad about speed work this year. I set my PR and had several races under 8 minute miles after I had completed a running class through NYRR. But because I've been focusing on endurance this year and I've been afraid to push too hard (thinking "what if the incision tears again?!) I have hardly done any speed work this year at all. Until this morning.

After reading a few running blogs, I decided to try it on a treadmill at the gym. I haven't been on one since recovery. It makes sense to do it this way though since there are no flat, uninterrupted paths for speed work in the park. Even the track around the reservoir is filled with people and has its share of dips. Well, the workout went well. Not fantastic, but well. I pushed myself harder than I have for a while but I didn't go crazy. I only did 4 repeats - 1x800 and 3x400, and then I got on an elliptical for a bit after my cool down. I feel pretty good and am encouraged to do it again next week and go a little further. Even on the walk to the gym this morning with my muscle man husband, I was second guessing my plan, but I followed through and feel confident I can do it again. Hopefully I'm not too late and a few workouts like this will help me get through the 26.2 miles I have ahead of me.

But for tomorrow, it's back to the park.

Back Out There

I attempted to run this morning and got in a fairly slow 5.5 miles. My knee felt fine but I was worried it would start hurting at any moment, so I took it really easy and didn't push myself. I have a big run coming up early Sunday morning. The 18 Mile Tune-Up consists of three full laps of Central Park. Might not sound too bad unless you've run the Harlem Hills. These 18 miles will be harder than the first 18 of the marathon. I have to get a lot of sleep this week, rest up, eat well, get my runs in and stretch A LOT!

A friend of mine has a gig tonight at Rockwood Music Hall on the Lower East Side. He's an amazing guitarist and I encourage everyone reading this in New York to come out. They're on at 9pm and you can check out Cameron's site here.

Also, I want to remind you about the NYRRF Young Professionals Committee's fundraiser at Dewey's Flatiron tomorrow night starting at 6:30. Drink specials and raffle prizes. $20 at the door for 2 drink tickets or $35 for 2 drink tickets and a technical tee. This is for a great cause so please come out and support.

If you're stuck uptown because of all the UN traffic and can't make it to Dewey's, check out the free public premiere of Ken Burns' new documentary The National Parks: America's Best Idea. I saw the huge stage and screen being erected this morning on the East Meadow in Central Park (just off 5th Ave in the 90's) while I was on my run. There will also be live performances by Counting Crows and Augustana. This sounds like another fantastic documentary from Burns and I look forward to seeing it. If you've figured out a way to be in two places at once, please let me know. I could benefit from that tomorrow night!! Click here for info about the event.

Eat something yummy and healthy, go for a relaxing walk, and have a great day!

Another Week Begins

Well, my knee still wasn't feeling that great last night. My training schedule called for a rest day so instead of trying to make up my lost miles from yesterday I slept in hoping that another day of rest will help my knee. So far, so good, but we'll see how I feel once I get to work! Hopefully I'll be back on the road tomorrow morning! It's a beautiful morning so I'm a little sad not to have seen the sun come up, but it's okay. Better to rest than to push too hard and make things worse.

Leaders from hundreds of Nations are swarming to NYC this week for the UN General Assembly. Security was tight yesterday as I walked around, especially near the Waldorf-Astoria where President Obama will be staying. Why they announced where he is staying, I'm not sure, but I think that might be where he always stays if he is in the city overnight. There will be protests and demonstrations, traffic jams, and delayed public transit. Hopefully they will make some decisions and agreements that will actually help people and our earth. Over 100 countries are meeting to discuss climate change. This is an issue that is one of the most important facing our time. If we don't do something now, we are going to be in big trouble and our grandchildren may have much, much more to worry about than health care.

Over Labor Day weekend we took a tour of the UN. The tour doesn't actually take you through much of the buildings, more through an exhibit and then into the room where the General Assembly meets. Did you realize that ALL nations that are part of the UN are considered the Landlords for the buildings and grounds? That means in order to make any updates or renovations, the majority of nations have to agree. Only recently did they finally agree to make the first renovations - to the security council chambers - after 10 years of negotiations. How crazy is that? Hopefully it doesn't take 10 years for them to come to agreement on measures to combat climate change.

Doing The Salt

I had a 13 mile run scheduled for yesterday. Because it had been a while since I had been able to get to the Union Square Farmers Market, I mapped out a run that would finish just a few blocks away.

I've heard and read a lot about doing "the salt." According to Dr. Lewis G. Maharam, the medical director for NYRR, the ING NYC Marathon, and several other marathons, people who run or race a 10K distance or more, should take 1 fast food salt packet just before starting their run and another half way through, in order to prevent hyponatremia and cramping. What is hyponatremia? Well, it's a condition that occurs when there is a reduced blood sodium concentration. When sodium levels get too low, people can experience nausea, dizziness, and even brain swelling, unconsciousness, and seizures in very extreme cases. This blog post explains the condition and what causes it thoroughly. Because I desperately want to finish the marathon with the least amount of issues as possible, I decided to give this a try. Now, I am not a fan of salt. I never add salt to dishes when cooking and I always opt for salt free pretzels. There are a few occasions when salt is good - tortilla chips are always best with a little salt, for instance - but I usually stay away from it. I will follow general advice and increase my salt intake in the week leading up to my longest runs and the marathon, but I had a hard time imagining that taking an entire salt packet on its own would be okay. And I was right! I stood just inside the park at 8am yesterday, ripped open the small packet, emptied just half of it onto my fist and licked. DISGUSTING! No way could I finish it and I could still taste the salt 6 miles down the road. I'm really not sure how I'm going to do this, but I'll try again later this week when I'm running 7 miles. How do people do it?

I felt fantastic after the run and enjoyed a quick around the farmer's market before heading home. Later that afternoon the back of my left knee started bothering me. Today, I couldn't run. I tried, but was limping and I know to stop running if an injury effects my form. I'll do a little research to find out what's going on, ice it several times today and hopefully I'll be able to run in the morning. With only 41 days until the marathon, I don't have much time to nurse and injury.

Happy Friday!

I thought I'd pass along a few good things today.

Recently I came across this blog - http://www.operationbeautiful.com/. It has a fantastic message and I encourage everyone to check it out, participate, and spread the word. Such simple actions can really change someones day or even their life. I especially encourage you to take a few minutes and read the personal emails that people have sent in.

Next week I am participating in two fundraisers. If you know me, you might think this is a bit odd since I typically find it very difficult to ask people for money. Even for extremely worthy causes, I have never liked asking people to give up their hard earned dollars. Well, these two fundraisers allow you to have some fun and support good causes!

First, on September 23rd is a Happy Hour and Dewey's Flatiron (210 5th Ave) hosted by the NYRR Foundation Young Professionals Committee. There will be drink specials and raffle prizes. The admission is $20 at the door for two drink tickets or $35 for 2 drink tickets and a YPC technical shirt. All the fun starts at 6:30pm, so bring your friends and help support the Foundation's mission to provide running opportunities to children across our country and in South Africa (www.nyrrf.org).

Also, next Saturday September 26th, is the annual Step Up Women's Network fundraiser. This time, we're hosting a day long designer shoe sale! Check out the details here and stop by The W Hotel on Lexington for shoe shopping and pampering!

I'm off for a 13 mile run tomorrow morning and hope to finish at Union Square so I can pick up a few things from the Farmer's Market. It has been hard to get there lately with my training. Apples and vegetables are my favorite picks. You can't do much better than buying produce straight from the farmers!

Good luck to the Spartan's tomorrow!! I hope they've learned from last week and play a good game against Notre Dame!

Have a great Friday!

Crunch Time

Throughout the summer I have been running in Central Park several mornings each week. For most of it, I'd see a handful of runners, along with many bikers, during the first half of my run and the park would start to get busy towards the end. Last week I noticed a sharp increase in the number of runners in the morning. Today, it was like an average Saturday or Sunday morning! You can definitely tell that it's crunch time for Fall marathoners! I love running in the morning. The city is still quiet, the sun is coming up, and it is a great way to start the day! Now, it's great to share the road with so many other people who share the same goal as I do. There's a bit of an unspoken bond between all of us because we all know why were there. With 45 days until the ING NYC Marathon and 66 days until Philadelphia (another popular marathon for New Yorkers) there are many miles yet to be run!

Now, I'm feasting on a great breakfast of Kashi cereal, a banana, grapes, toast with peanut butter, and a weekday rarity in our apartment, a cup of coffee before I head off to a busy day at work. Tonight is the NYRR information session on last minute medical tips and then we're going to a screening of Matt Damon's new movie The Informant. What a great day! Start with a run and end with a movie!

The October issue of Runner's World arrived in our mailbox the other day. I read it cover to cover. If you're a runner and have not read this magazine, go buy it today! A great friend of mine gave me a year subscription to the magazine for my birthday one year not long after I started running. I will always be thankful to her for introducing me to this source of incredible and helpful information along with inspiring stories.

The County Fair

Today is a beautiful day. The rain and mist is gone and sun and blue sky has returned. It's the perfect day to visit a street fair and the 7th Annual West Side County Fair. We had been planning to go to the New Amsterdam Market but decided instead to walk over to Riverside Park South on the West Side to check out the county fair.

People were kayaking (free from the Downtown Boathouse), buying apples, playing traditional fair games, listening to live music, and learning about The Sierra Club, TapIt, and other environmental organizations. Kids, some of whom have probably never seen a cow in person, were able to learn how cows are milked and then they could go over to the petting zoo to see miniature ponies, a tortoise, goats, and other small animals. There were a lot of people along the river today enjoying the beautiful weather and the chance to spend a great day with friends and family. I'm glad we walked over there. (Plus, it was a good way to get a little exercise on my day off!)

A Rainy Fall Saturday in the City

Today is a rainy, chilly and busy fall Saturday.

It was 63 degrees, 96% humidity and misty at 8am. It is now 66 degrees, 94% humidity and misty at 4:50pm. That gives you an idea of what today has been like here in NYC. It looked beautiful in East Lansing while I watched the MSU game on ESPN2 this afternoon. Too bad the Spartans decided they didn't want to show up for the game. Hopefully next week will be a bit different. Anyway, today was a busy day. I started my run about 8:30am in the park. There had been a road bike race earlier in the morning and NYRR was setting up for the Fitness Magazine race that was starting a little later. On my way around the park I saw Howard Stern and his wife, Beth Ostrosky (who ran the 2008 ING NYC Marathon) as well as Mr. G (a local weatherman who I find quite entertaining) also getting a run in.

The West Side Highway was full of runners. I followed a slightly different route this morning and stayed along the water when I got to Battery Park City. I had no idea what has been hiding down there all this time! Beautiful parks, an esplanade, fountains, restaurants, gorgeous even in the rain and mist! One thing I've really enjoyed about my long runs is having an opportunity to explore areas of the city that I haven't been to before. The Diamond Dash, a benefit for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, was starting in Battery Park when I was going through. As I reached South Street Seaport I realized there were hundreds of people on the bridge! Must be a walk to raise awareness of some cause. And NYC Swim was holding a Brooklyn Bridge swim, too. I had to alter my route so I ran to the Manhattan Bridge along the bike path and turned around there.

On my way back I noticed where the New Amsterdam Market will be tomorrow. We're going to check it out. There were lots of other things going on around the south end of the city in celebration of Harbor Day (the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson arrival to the area) tomorrow. Then I made my way back around Battery Park City and up the West Side Highway and added a mile to the end of my run hoping it would make up for not running across the bridge. I ended at 70th St in Riverside Park where they are holding the 7th Annual West Side County Fair tomorrow. I finished my 20 miles! I wasn't out of breath and my feet felt fine, but my quads!! Ouch!! On my walk across the park there was a concert at Rumsey Playfield and a parade going up 5th Ave.

This is not a city where someone can get bored. Even on a rainy Saturday. I hope you are all having a great weekend, whatever you are doing. Maybe you've found a great fall activity to participate in. Not long before it will be apple picking time! Too bad there isn't an apple orchard in Manhattan!

51 Days and Counting

Only 51 days until the marathon. I am extremely excited and completely freaked out. 26.2 miles covers a lot of ground and even though it's in my own city, I will have hardly run any of the course.

I woke up this morning a little later than usual, on purpose. Instead of waking up to my alarm at 5am (or 4:52 according to all the other clocks in our apartment), I slept till 5:15. The sun isn't rising until around 6:30am now, so being out on the road for an hour before the sun comes up is a bit too much for me. There are also many more people out in the park by 6 running, biking, and walking. The setting was perfect this morning. It was only 60 degrees and daylight started to peak out only 10 minutes into my run. My legs however, were not great. The easy 5 mile run started out well. I got up Cat Hill with no problems and the cool weather felt nice, but about a mile in my legs started to tighten up. I ended up running a longer route taking me around the reservoir instead of down to the south end of the park so I could cut out a few hills. My time wasn't bad, but I wish it had been an easier run. A run like this makes me wonder how I'll make it through 26.2 miles in less than two months, but I just have to push through and move on to the next run. I have to have faith in myself and persevere. I can do this if I work hard enough and I trust myself. It will be a once in a lifetime experience.

Tomorrow will be my first rest day since last Monday (Aug 31) and I will definitely take advantage of the chance to sleep in! My training schedule has me tackling my first 20 mile run on Saturday so I'll use MapMyRun.com to map out a route around the city.

Now, I'm going to finish my breakfast - a bowl of yogurt and granola with a banana and strawberries, toast with peanut butter and a cup of green tea - and head to work. I have to remember to take a 5 minute chill break today and stretch!!

Have a great day everyone!

So Much Stuff!

I don't know about you, but every once in a while I can user a refresher on what can be recycled, what just has to be thrown away, and what other options I have to get rid of the things I don't need or want anymore. In a perfect world, we'd all have very little to get rid of. We would consume just about everything we buy, grow, or make. But unfortunately, that just doesn't happen very often in our consumer driven society. It's been said that while the US only accounts for approximately 5% of the world's population, we create 30% of the world's garbage. A few other statistics I came across recently:
- Less than 50% of post-consumer paper that is discarded is recycled
- 31% of soft drink bottles, 45% of aluminum cans, and 67% of appliances are recycled
- Only 13% of water bottles are recycled. In 2005, approximately 30 billion bottles of water were purchased in the US and about 26 billion of them ended up in landfills.
- Today, the US recycles 32.5% of waste compared to about 5% in 1970 (we're getting better!)
- Approximately 100 million trees are used each year to produce junk mail.

It's pretty easy to recycle and getting easier every day. Here are a few tips about recycling and reusing and links with more information if you're interested in more details:
- Purchase paper and other products made of recycled materials.
- Convenience is key so place collection bins in various places around your home & office, using separate bins for different items so you don't have to separate them later.
- Instead of throwing away all the magazines you subscribe to after you've finished reading them, take them to your gym or share them with your friends (and ask them to pass them on or recycle them when they're done!).
- Reuse what you can. Compost food and grass clippings to use in your garden. Instead of throwing out clothing, home furnishings, and electronics that are still in working condition but are being replaced, donate them to a local Church, school, charity or the Goodwill.
- Use reusable bags when you go shopping. Keep a few in your car and at work in addition to your home so there is always one available when you need it. I found a Chicobag when I was shopping with my sister in July. It folds up easily into it's own little pocket and easily fits in even my small purses. Many grocery stores carry similar bags as well.

Recycling basics:
Each community has their own guidelines for what they will accept for recycling and how/where they will accept the items, so it's best to check with your local government for details (click here for NYC guidelines), but here is a basic list of items that can, and should be recycled:
- Cardboard (including packing & pizza boxes), newspapers, all papers (magazines, computer paper, notebook paper)
- #1 & #2 plastics (including soda & water bottles, milk jugs and detergent bottles)
- Aluminum and steel cans (rinsed out, of course)
- Glass bottles and jars

Batteries, electronic devices (computers, TVs, cellphones, etc) have special guidelines so definitely contact your local government about these items.

A little known fact - Best Buy will take just about any electronic or household appliance for recycling! There are a few restrictions and guidelines, so check out this site if you're interested. In some cases they'll even come to your home and haul it away! Who doesn't like that?

There are also some community groups that collect cell phones to distribute to women who are victims of domestic abuse so they have an instant link to the police in case they need help. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence is one such organization. They will be more than happy to take your old cell phone off your hands when you upgrade to the newest version.

If you're like me, and you go through a lot of pairs of running shoes, some running stores collect used shoes for various causes - sometimes to be crushed and used as materials for running tracks and other times they donate the shoes to people who need them. This Thursday, Super Runner's Shop in NYC will be collecting shoes for 'Share Your Soles' who then sends them all of the world for those in need. On this day, you'll also receive $25 off your next shoe purchase at the store. For my family and friends in Michigan, Heart and Soul, a group at Michigan State, provides a very similar service.

I'd love to hear your tips on recycling, so please post them if you'd like to share!

Soothing Sounds

I love water. It is a beautiful, nurturing, and essential element. I know I use too much of it throughout my day, but I will talk about that in another post. This post is about the relaxing nature of water.

Some day, when we have a house, I fully intend to purchase a nice water feature that will provide us with the constant soothing sounds of flowing water. I have a strong feeling that it will help bring peace and relaxation to our daily lives.

Our family cottage is located on a small, usually peaceful lake in northern Michigan. It is always a beautiful sight to wake up, walk out on the porch and see the sun glistening on the lake's surface as the mist is lifting. A fisherman may be sitting quietly in his row boat at the other end of the lake and a loon may be soaking up the morning sun, but for the most part, it is perfect and still.

What is it about water, the sight or the sound of it, that is so relaxing? Why does it affect us so much and allow us to relax and tune out the things that are stressing us and causing so much angst? I can't tell you scientifically, but I do know that it works for many of us. Water deserves much more respect than it is given. It gives us life, but all to often, we just take it for granted.

Water is an essential element of Chinese gardens. It is the nurturing yin that represents the feminine and life principles of the universe. It is featured through still ponds which reflect the changing sky, flowing streams and rushing waterfalls. Water is the lifeblood of the garden unifying all of the different features.

Do you have a fountain in your house or a waterfall in your garden? Or are you like me and dream of one? I hope these photos help you relax a bit today as you go back to work tomorrow after the long holiday weekend.

Need those fruits and veggies!

I was reminded of the affects of a healthy diet on my running performance this morning. My 12 mile run was a struggle. It may sound odd but I think the 18 miles I ran last week in the rain were easier than the 12 today. I finished them, but not easily. I tried to eat well on vacation - opting for oatmeal at breakfast two mornings instead of the tempting french toast or eggs, and splitting sandwiches at lunch with my husband rather than each of us getting our own - but the minimal amounts of fruits and vegetables compared to my regular diet really seemed to take its toll on me this morning.

We ate too much of this:

And not enough of this:




















Time to get back on track!

I'm Back!

Hi! I hope you don't think I abandoned you! The truth is, I accidentally left our computer at home when we were rushing out the door on our way to Montreal on Saturday! I had wanted to tell you all about our great trip as it happened, but instead, I'll have to give you the highlights over the next week or so. Needless to say, we had a great time and I highly recommend that you visit the beautiful city if you have the opportunity.

To recap on my goals from the other week:
I DID complete my first 18 mile run! There was a steady rain in the city both Friday and Saturday last week, so it rained about 95% of my run. Actually, there was a pretty nasty downpour for last mile of the route and the 1/2 mile I had mapped out for a cool down walk after the end point. My feet were sloshing in my shoes!

We packed up fresh fruit (apples, grapes, pears, peaches), carrots and unsalted pretzels for the 6+ hour drive up so we wouldn't be held captive to the less than stellar options at the service stops along the way.

And, as you read in my last post, I did attend the Step Up workshop lead by Aimee Raupp.

We have company arriving in a few hours for the holiday weekend. Again, I will be faced with the challenge of finding healthy options while we eat out for a few more days. I think we are going to make breakfast on Sunday, which will be a nice start to a day when we are going to Citi Field for a Mets game. I've heard they have better food options at the new stadium, but I still think it will be a good idea to have a good amount of fruit before we head over there!

If you're heading out for the long weekend, don't forget to pack some healthy snacks! Have a great and safe weekend and don't forget to check back soon, I have lots to talk about!