Let the Christmas Music Play

Have you noticed that a lot of radio stations flip to holiday music at the beginning of November? That as soon as kids finish trick-or-treating, stores start to bring out the Christmas decorations? The big department stores in NYC 'unveil' their holiday windows in November? Well, I am one who does not like to skip holidays. There is a reason why they happen when they do and we should not mess with the calendar. Yes, technically historians have proven that Christ was more likely born in July than December, but still. Christmas is December 25th and Thanksgiving is in November. Christmas decorations should be pulled out of the attic the day after Thanksgiving and not a moment sooner.

Now, I love Christmas music, but if I have any control over it, I will not listen to it before the day after Thanksgiving. I feel the holiday loses a little bit of it's luster if you 'celebrate' it for over a month. I'm sure others might think the many days leading up to the 25th add to the hype and anticipation, but not me.

Anyway, I tell you all this to set up my very first giveaway!! It really has nothing to do with running, fitness, or healthy eating, but everything to do with holiday music & my favorite things (I'm stepping in since Oprah isn't doing the show this year).

Everyone likes to add new Christmas music to their collection, right? (Well, I suppose mostly those who celebrate Christmas really.) If you are looking for new music, then here's your chance to get some delivered right to you! One lucky person will get 6 of my favorite holiday albums: Diana Krall's Christmas Songs, Ledisi's It's Christmas, Now That's What I Call Christmas, Verve Remixed Christmas, (and the original versions of the songs) Verve Unmixed Christmas, and my all time favorite holiday album, Ella Fitzgerald's (who is also my all time favorite vocalist - I can listen to her for hours on end) Ella Wishes You a Swingin' Christmas. To top it off, I'm going to throw in a DVD copy of my favorite holiday movie, "White Christmas." (*sigh* Bing Crosby was so cute!)

All you have to do is leave a comment and tell me what your favorite holiday album is or your favorite holiday tradition. A second entry if you link to this on your blog (just be sure to let me know)!

Entries will be accepted until 5pm next Sunday, December 6th! Good Luck!!

The Nation's Food Disparity

Did you know that as a nation, we waste approximately 40% of the food produced? This is up 10% from 1974. A report just released studied the amount of food produced in the US compared to the amount of food consumed.

Over the past several decades, the agricultural and food industries have increased production of food products to 'keep up' with the increasing population. In turn, they have more aggressively marketed their products, which are becoming increasingly more 'processed.' I find it quite interesting that over the past 30 years, food production, waist lines, and food waste have all increased. Just because more food is availble does not mean we have to eat it all. Maybe the food producers will get the hint and realize they don't really need to produce so much (unfortunately that would mean their profits would decline which doesn't quite jive with their mission.)

One thing I don't like about many 'diets' or conscious eating techniques that people follow is to immediately separate a portion of a persons restaurant meal and ask the waiter to take it back to the kitchen immediately. Sometimes it may be half or more of a meal. Yes, I agree that restaurant portions are often much larger than they need to be, but this food that is being sent back is ending up in the trash. Instead, why not have the waiter(ress) put it in a to-go container and take it home to eat at another meal, or perhaps even give to someone who needs some food? Or, just ask the waiter to give you half the normal sized portion. I often ask waiters to only refill my water glass halfway if we are about to leave. Why waste the water? So often I see people throwing out half of their meal with no thought and then I walk outside and see someone with a paper cup hoping to collect enough money for a cup of coffee or a sandwich.

Just days before this study on food waste was released, the USDA announced that an increasing number of Americans are experiencing food insecurity (unsure how they will find their next meal or if they will be able to afford enough to eat). In 2007, 11.1% of Americans (13 million households) were in this position and in 2008, just a year later, that number had risen to 14.6% (17 million households)! And, the USDA says that 1.1 million children experience hunger several times a year.

Is it just me or does this seem crazy? We waste 40% of our food supply (which also contributes to excess usage of freshwater & fossil fuels and emits a good deal of CO2 & methane while decomposing) yet we have millions of households going hungry!

Woody and I have been talking about this lately, actually. When I brought home the produce from the Farmer's Market the other day we had to clear space in the fridge. We threw out pasta that was too old, lettuce we didn't finish, a once beautiful and now squishy apple, and a few other things. It made me sad that we were getting rid of so much food! What were we doing? Why couldn't we eat what we buy? We have agreed and are challenging ourselves to do better. We don't want to throw out so much food. It's a waste and there are so many people out there who need it. Granted, just because we don't eat something doesn't mean that someone who can't afford it will get it, but we shouldn't be so wasteful.

These two studies make me want to support more restaurants who support City Harvest (which collects food at the end of the day from Farmer's Markets and restaurants around the city for homeless and those in need of food) and also encourages me to be more mindful about what and how much we buy and not being wasteful. The key is finding the balance between eating well and not being wasteful and also to help those less fortunate when we can.

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Be sure to check in Monday morning, when I announce my Very First Giveaway!!

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A Day of Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I assume most people are not at home sitting at their computers reading blogs today. But I am, so I thought....."why not write a post"?

As you know, Woody and I are at home today, just the two of us and we are making a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. We slept in till 8am, had some tea and instead of going to the gym today (we've gone for the past 8 days straight) we decided to take a walk up to a restaurant we like for breakfast. I know, a bit unconventional to go out for breakfast on Thanksgiving, but we wanted something healthy to start the day and it was a good walk. We didn't make it to our destination because we were side tracked by a new restaurant that had a good crowd, good looking menu, and cheaper prices! I ended up having a great egg white omelet with spinach, a few potatoes (I dished the rest off my plate right away and gave to the waiter - I'd eat them all otherwise), whole wheat toast, a fruit salad, and coffee. The toast was standard diner toast, but the omelet and fruit salad were impressive. The clouds were clearing a bit on our walk home (1mile round trip) and breakfast was good, so it was a great way to start Thanksgiving!

My sister called as we were getting home, and I got to wish my little nephew Happy Thanksgiving as he 'helped' her clean! I'm looking forward to spending Christmas with them, my brother-in-law, and my parents. Even though it means we have to go to Minnesota! (just kidding!)

I've already made our stuffing (with whole wheat bread & apples!!) and about to start the turkey. Then mashed potatoes, Woody is in charge of the kale, and the cranberry sauce is easy (it's from a can!!).

It's great to have good food (and plenty of it) on Thanksgiving, but what is really important is to remember what we are thankful for. I have a lot to be thankful for this year, and every year really, because I am a very lucky woman.

Well, time to start the turkey! I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Countdown to Thanksgiving!

Tomorrow morning I plan to stop by the Farmer's Market before going to work, so I'm going to write my post now since I won't have time tomorrow.

To follow the trend, here are a few of my Thanksgiving Survival Tips:
1. Find time to fit in a workout in the morning - a quick run, trip to the gym, walk around the block - to burn a few calories before the day gets going.
2. Eat a good breakfast with a nice amount of fiber and protein. You want to start the day of well with a balanced meal. Like every other day, breakfast is definitely important and not to be skipped!
3. Have low cal, filling foods like veggies and hummus to snack on while cooking or as appetizers when the festivities begin.
4. When possible, replace high fat/cal ingredients with healthier options in recipes, and use whole foods as much as possible rather than processed items.
5. Stick to the white meat of the turkey and go easy on high cal casseroles and sauces.
6. Use smaller plates for main dishes. A full plate, even though it's smaller, will still fill you up!
7. Go ahead and enjoy dessert, but watch the portion size!
8. Enjoy time with family and friends! Go for a walk after dinner, play games, laugh, and have fun!
9. Take a moment to stop and think about all the things you are thankful for this year and be sure to tell those people close to you how thankful you are for having them in your life!

One of our family traditions growing up was to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Until this year when the route changed due to the new pedestrian plazas along Broadway, it went right in front of my office, so my first year out here I even got to watch the parade from our office windows! It's a bit crazy to see it in person, but I plan to watch on TV today after we get back from the gym and before I start cooking our dinner. It's a little difficult to cook for two, but still a great excuse to make a tasty, healthy, traditional meal!

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Be sure to check in over the weekend. I am going to announce my VERY FIRST giveaway! I'm not going to disclose what the prize is yet, but here's a hint: if you enjoy holiday music, you'll LOVE this giveaway!

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I wish you all a VERY HAPPY & HEALTHY THANKSGIVING!

Chefs at the Bookstore

Last night Woody and I met up at Barnes & Noble in Union Square for a discussion and book signing - David Chang with Peter Meehan and Anthony Bourdain. Yep, this was the second time we had seen Chang & Bourdain in as many months (we saw them at the New York Food & Wine Festival)!

Woody became a Bourdain fan watching "No Reservations" on the Travel Channel and then I got hooked. We have only been to Chang's Momofuku Milk Bar & Bakery since his other restaurants are pretty difficult to get into. Peter Meehan is a food critic and was the co-author of Chang's new cookbook - the reason for the discussion and signing.

They seemed to have a great time on stage - but that might have to do with the fact that they're friends and also the bottles of beer. It was interesting hearing them speak about the state of food and restaurants in our culture today. Chang believes that as a whole, the US restaurant scene needs desperately to push the envelope more, that they are too safe. He doesn't believe that it means chefs need to be using more chemistry, maybe what's new is something that's pretty simple, but whatever it is, he feels pretty strongly that our restaurant culture lags behind many other cities and countries. He also is pretty adamant that our street food culture needs major help. I thought this was a bit odd, personally, because over the past few years there has been an explosion of food trucks and specialty food carts. But, apparently it is extremely difficult to get the permits needed (not just in NYC) to open a food cart and then there is are the turf wars to deal with! He and Bourdain agree that we are hindering the street food scene both due to our culture and government and that we need to look to places like Singapore for examples.

They all agreed that good food should be easily accessible for everyone. Good food shouldn't be reserved for expensive, black tie, reservation only restaurants. We should all be able to truly enjoy fantastic food in the most unusual and unlikely places. I agree with this! I have found several restaurants that have fantastic (as far as I'm concerned) food that doesn't cost a months salary. But, there aren't that many places like that. Is it because the best quality food costs too much that it forces high prices or because of overhead costs for some restaurants, or because the restaurant industry generally accepts that the best food should be in the most expensive restaurants?

At both events, Chang talked about his desire for real Mexican food in New York City. None of the sour cream, tortilla chips, chimichangas. Real Mexican food. It seems odd to me that there aren't real Mexican restaurants in this city. Another question - why is that? What is stopping them? There must be some in this city, so do they just keep it to themselves so they can keep it real and not be infiltrated by the masses?

One thing they all warned about is that being a chef is not glamorous. Shows like Top Chef, the Food Network, and the celebrity status that many chefs have achieved make it look like a fantastic world, when in fact it is hard, difficult and you have to pay your dues for little to no money. They want new talent to come up and want to nurture the talent, but also say you have to be pretty insane to get into it.

This has been the PG rated review of the event last night. If you know much about either Bourdain or Chang, you know that they like to curse quite a bit. They definitely are entertaining, thought provoking and interesting. Hopefully we'll be able to go to one of Bourdain's restaurants soon.

I just want to take a quick second to thank everyone who commented on my post yesterday. Thank you for being inspired by what I've been through this year. I think it's quite odd because while it has been pretty difficult at some times, I really don't think it's anything that extraordinary. There are so many people who get through things that are so much more challenging and go on to do so much more. I just hope that I can use this experience as a reminder to enjoy life and not take it, or anyone, for granted. Thank you so much for your kind words!!

November 23, 2008

A year ago today, Dr. B bounded into the exam room with a little less enthusiasm than I had become accustomed to over the previous 5 months. This was the day I had been waiting for and dreading for months. I guess, years, really. I had prepared myself as much as I could for anything. For the worst, but hoped for the best. It was a year ago today that I received the diagnosis that I had Cushing's Disease. That was the day I found out that I was going to have brain surgery.

I had a lot of different emotions running through me over the next few months before surgery and as I recovered. There were some really difficult times and others when little steps were huge triumphs. While I'm not completely cured yet, things are much better than they were a year ago. I have great doctors that I am very thankful for. I have an amazingly supportive family and I don't know what I would do without them.

We face all kinds of road blocks during our lives, but we just need to find a way to get through them and move forward. Last year at this time I didn't know if I'd be running at all this year, but I finished a marathon! There were times when I thought I would never get better but I pushed through with the support of family and friends and with goals in mind and knowing there were so many things I still wanted to do, that I made it through and am getting stronger every day. Little set backs are just that, setbacks, not dead ends!

This weekend I plan on working out my goals for the next year - running, fitness, health, travel. There's so much to do and I am so thankful that I have the chance to do it all!

Farmer's Market, Meditation, & Yoga

Yesterday was a pretty fantastic day (well, besides the Spartan loss, but we'll just overlook that).

I started my day with a PB&J sandwich and banana before heading out bright and early for the Farmer's Market. I wanted to pick up some of the stuff for our Thanksgiving meal so I won't have to get it all at one time (today we are on a mission for the turkey). I loaded my bags with potatoes (3 kinds), apples, apple cider, pink(!) radishes, onions, and a tri-color bunch of carrots! I got 6 large carrots - orange, yellow, and purple - for $1.75! This is why I love the market! There are such wonderful and interesting things and for very reasonable prices! Plus, I'm supporting local (within 200 miles) farmers and vendors.

Then, I headed back up to our apartment to unload my loot and get my stuff together for the rest of my day.

I met up with my friends and fellow health enthusiasts, Gracela and Special K, at the Chopra Center & Spa in Midtown. Deepak Chopra teamed up with his friend, hotelier Vikram Chatwal, to create a destination in Midtown Manhattan to "calm the chaotic lives of busy New Yorkers" that ties in with Chatwal's hotel, Dream. We decided to try out their guided meditation session. They offer these sessions daily, for no cost! After descending from the storefront located on Broadway, we entered a beautiful but simple space that included the front desk for the spa and the yoga rooms. We put out shoes in the cubby holes and made our way into the dimly lit room with dark wood floors and maroon walls. A kind woman, Lauren, welcomed us and after learning it was our first time, showed us where to store our stuff and where to find the props - bolsters and blankets. She put backrests (like beach chairs) in a circle on the floor and we found three spots.

There were 9 participants, apart from Lauren, with one other woman new to meditation. Lauren explained that meditation is simple, but very difficult. The purpose is to free our minds, to open our minds, and push out all thoughts. In order to meditate, one tool that can be used is to focus on your breath using a mantra. These mantras are not said aloud, however, like in some yoga classes. I wasn't sure how I would do with this since my mind is going a million miles a minute all the time, but I wanted to try. We got comfortable, Lauren turned the lights down lower and put a lit candle in the middle of the circle. The next twenty minutes were both quite slow and extremely fast. It was difficult for me to push the thoughts out of my mind, but I did my best not to fall asleep and to focus on my breath! It was amazing how different it was inside that room compared to out on the street from which we had just come. Some of the other participants arrived in regular clothes - jeans, sweaters - and were obviously taking a break out of their day. What a great idea! We left feeling refreshed even though I know I didn't truly meditate. It was still a great way to break up my day and just relax and check out for a few minutes. As you can see, we were all smiles leaving our first guided meditation session!

Next we jumped on the N train and headed down to Union Square. Yes, my second trip to the Farmer's Market. It was a bit busier this time but we got apples and apple cider for a quick snack before we walked down to Yoga To The People on St. Marks Place for yoga.

Some of you who read this blog and know about my foot might be thinking "Yoga? Can she do that?" Well, thanks for worrying! I asked my doc on Tuesday specifically about yoga and he said it was fine as long as I modify any poses that might hurt or even stop if its uncomfortable. I did forgo a few poses that required me to balance on my right foot, but for the most part, it was fine!

So, Yoga To The People has studios in NYC and Berkeley, CA and San Francisco. The idea behind the studio is to make yoga available to everyone, not just those with enough money to fork over hundreds of dollars a month for classes. They ask for a donation of $10 but they'll take however much or little you have to give. Mats can be rented for a buck or two and water is a dollar. We walked up to the second floor - several people ahead of us and more behind - to find shelves in the hall for shoes and LOTS of people. The space was buzzing and I'm glad we got there when we did. The 2nd Fl studio teacher - a cute and energetic punk rock yogi - was instructing people that two studios on the 3rd Fl were also open but there was still space in hers. We stayed on the second floor and found space towards the back. Not long later, the instructor was moving people around to fit 9 mats in each row and by the time class began, there were probably more than 60 people in the space. I have never been in such a large class. Our mats were about an inch apart. We started in child's pose for a few minutes and then, it began.


The next hour was a fast paced workout focusing on balance, lengthening, strengthening, and quickness! At one point during the abs series, I could not keep up, and I wasn't alone! Another thing I have to mention, was the noise level! I haven't taken too many yoga classes, and 99% have been at my gym, but I've never been in a class where people make so much noise breathing in and out! If you take yoga, do you do this? I'm fine with it, but seriously, some of these people were REALLY loud! anyway, I thought it was a good class, I sweated a lot, and felt worked out. This morning, too, I am definitely feeling it!

After class, we wanted a bit of nourishment and ducked into a cute diner that always seems to be busy - The Smith. Gracela and Special K both opted for omelets, but I went for a great veggie sandwich - avocado, tomato, cucumber, sprouts, and goat cheese on whole grain bread. I also switched out the fries for the home fries. Which was both a great idea and a bad one. They were amazing, and I am picky about my home fries! These would rank in my top 5 for sure! I ate them all (bad) and took home half of my sandwich for later.














Overall, we had a fantastic day! I think we'll all be making return visits to the Chopra Center for more meditation sessions (the best part is that it is only two blocks from our office!) and even though Yoga to The People was really packed tight with people, I think I'm going to try it out again too! I definitely recommend both of these places to everyone who lives in the city, or anyone visiting. Great, low cost ways to relax and get a bit of exercise!

Here are the details:
Chopra Center & Spa
1710 Broadway 212.246.7600
Free Daily Guided Meditation


Yoga To The People
12 St Marks St 917.573.9642
Power Vinyasa

The Rain Gives Way to Sun & Oprah Is Turning Off The Cameras?

Hopefully this is a good omen. It has been raining since yesterday afternoon, a thunderstorm during the night, but now the sky is clearing and the sun is coming out. That is exactly what I need this morning because I am exhausted! Yesterday was a very long day. I would say it was a successfully day, but definitely a long one. Thank goodness it is Friday!

My mind is moving a little slowly as I wake up (even though I've been up since 5am). The big news of the day, for many, many women and publicists, is that the rumors are turning out to be true and Oprah will end her groundbreaking talk show in 2011, after 25 seasons. I like Oprah, but I'm not an avid fan of hers. Nothing against her, I actually have great respect for her, what she's done, and all the people she has helped and enlightened over the years, but maybe I've just been too busy to watch her show. No one can deny her incredible power in elevating people's (actors, musicians, authors, etc) careers higher than they may have ever thought possible. Getting a spot on Oprah's couch (or a 'pick' on her "Favorite Things" episode) is probably the most sought out seat in all of the entertainment industry. Heck, even for politicians and non-profit advocates! Now, it's even going to be worse as there is a finite number of seats left.

Women and men who listen to Oprah's every word might be feeling a bit lost this morning. What are they going to do in 2 years when they don't have her to turn to each day? It is a bit like losing a friend. Isn't that a bit odd? She is a TV personality. Word has it she is going to focus on her new cable network, OWN. Word on the street is also that she's not going to move her show there (which was the rumor going around). The Oprah Winfrey Show might not be on TV every day, but I think we can all predict that she is not going anywhere. She is still going to have quite a strong influence on pop culture. She has done a lot for communities in need, to promote health, well being, education, a strong future for America. Just because the show is ending (two years from now) does not mean she will stop doing any of that, I have a feeling she'll just be doing it in a different way. I'm very curious to see what OWN will be like - the programming and the website. There are so many possibilities it will be very interesting.

You know, I just thought of something while writing this. Oprah has it pretty good right now. She's worked extremely hard to get to where she is, she's been on TV for 25 years, has an extremely successful show and brand. She is taking a HUGE leap of faith leaving the comfort of her couch and moving in this new direction. So many of us need to take a leap of faith, but might be too afraid to jump. Maybe this is another lesson she is teaching us.

Okay, time for me to get to work. Have a GREAT Friday everyone!!

1 Week Until Thanksgiving

Woody and I will spend Thanksgiving here in the city. I have stayed in town every year since I moved from Michigan. As far as you stay clear of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade it is a pretty spectacular day to be here. The streets are as calm as they are on Sunday mornings. It is, in one word, nice.

One year we shared the day with Heather in my minuscule apartment. Woody moved out here the next Thanksgiving and my Dad helped him. Since our new place was full of boxes we opted for a restaurant feast. The next year it was just the two of us, enjoying a relaxed day of food and football. Last year we had Cameron and his wife over along with a friend of theirs. We shared an evening of stories, good music, and wine. This year, again, it will just be the two of us and again. A day of cooking, football, and hopefully a nice walk around the neighborhood (no Turkey Trot for me this year).

You might think it's easy when it is just two people, but no, not really. It's can actually be a bit difficult since we both enjoy the Thanksgiving feast but I have to adjust the recipes so they work for two people and we don't have enough food to feed an army!

I've become good at herb roasted turkey breasts, although I'm still not certain how many pounds to get to make sure we have enough for day-after-turkey-sandwiches but not so much that we still have leftovers on Monday! I hate throwing out turkey! We like to keep it healthy too, so last year I made stuffing from scratch using whole wheat bread, vegetable stock, veggies, and and fat free egg substitute. It turned out well and will be on the menu this year. Mashed potatoes are a must - Woody likes the tradition, no sweet potatoes in this house. Cranberry sauce from a can.

I always like changing the recipes a little to make them a bit healthier (well, except for the cranberry sauce - not much I can do there!). Thanksgiving can be a table full of food, but that doesn't mean it has to be unhealthy. I believe there is a way to change most recipes to make them a little better for you and still taste great. This year the challenge is to use less manufactured 'food' items and use more whole and natural foods. That's why I'm going to stay away from my altered version of this fantastic Turtle Pumpkin Pie and make something different this year.

This is where I am in my planning: I still need to come up with a veggie side dish (I've done green beans two years in a row and would like to try something new), and an easy-to-make, relatively healthy dessert that is also delicious.

So, bring 'em on! Suggestions welcome! What are your favorite veggie side dishes? Have any yummy and healthy desserts? What's on your menu?

I plan to pick up most of what I need at the Farmer's Market this weekend and next Wednesday (the office closes early!) so I can get fresh, local foods on our table. Hopefully they don't run out before I get there!

A Night of Enlightenment

Last night was pretty incredible. Just after 7pm I arrived at Town Hall to find about 40 people already queued up. Robert F Kennedy, Jr. was scheduled to speak on behalf of the Natural Resources Defence Council, an organization he has advocated and litigated for, for over 25 years. I had no idea what to expect, but none the less, I joined the line with my book, a Cranberry Orange Nut Bread (seasonal flavor) Clif bar, grapes, and my sigg packed in my purse. I had come straight from work and wasn't expecting to be home before 10pm, so nourishment was a must!

The line grew quickly and the doors were opened just before 7:30. I settled into a seat in the 9th row and watched the place fill up.















Anyway... After being introduced by introduced by the RNDC President, Frances Beinecke, Bobby Kennedy came on stage to a roaring crowd that spanned generations and income brackets. His stories and accounts were gripping and frightening. He spoke of the literal destruction of an entire state, West Virginia, by the coal industry. Forcing out thriving communities so the coal companies can expand their operations. Cutting down the tops of the Appalachian Mountains to mine the mineral. Polluting the soil, and filling in lakes, rivers, and streams with the polluted soil. Did you know that West Virginia has the richest ecosystem in the hemisphere due to the way the glaciers moved through the area? I had no idea. Unfortunately though, that ecosystem is being destroyed every day by the coal industry. Kennedy is fighting for the people of West Virginia and for the wildlife that inhabit the state. He just won a large judgement a few weeks ago against the coal companies because they were filling the water system and tried to cover up their illegal actions.

Kennedy spoke out against coal energy - it is not nearly as cheap as they like to say when you include the costs of roads built to handle the trucks (in West Virginia their highways have 21 inches of asphalt rather than they typical 4-6inches because the coal trucks require it. Each inch costs millions of tax payer dollars), the railroad tracks across our nation are warped due to the weight of the coal trucks, the companies are tearing down our land and destroying communities. He is definitely not a fan of nuclear power either, professing that it is not safe nor economical and nuclear power plants are not even insurable, which means that we are put on the hook for any disasters that may occur. Apparently there are no homeowners insurance plans that cover costs for damage from a nuclear power plant failure. (If you have that, please let me know!) It is essentially a subsidy for the nuclear power industry.

With all the dire state of affairs Kennedy spoke of he also, actually gave me hope for our future. He professed that geothermal energy, wind turbines and solar energy is where we need to focus our attention. But, first, we need an efficient national power grid, which the Obama administration is working towards as we speak. Yes, I know. You're thinking "Isn't Obama focused on enough already?" Well, yes, I agree, but this is what we need to move forward and become independent and efficient.

Wow. I could go on about this for a long time, but I will leave it at this. After listening to Bobby Kennedy for over an hour (the organizers were desperately trying to get him off stage because the event was supposed to end at 9pm but he wasn't ready to go) I am very interested in these types of energy. There are countless farmers in North Dakota (which is apparently the windiest place on earth at sea level) who want to put wind turbines on their land to create energy, but they have no way of getting that energy to market and there are an incredible number of roadblocks for them to make it happen right now. Most states don't allow homeowners with solar panels to sell their excess energy back to the grid at market rate, if at all. Why not? They are creating energy for others to use? Why not use it? It's solar! It's free! And it's just going to waste.

I left Town Hall with questions and fears, but also with a hopeful outlook because there were hundreds of people sitting there with me listening to this very enthusiastic man talking about ways that we can move ahead and become a powerful nation using our own energy sources while helping the environment and combating global warming. It seems evident that the Obama administration is determined to make this a reality and that makes me optimistic about our future. Maybe it isn't all doom & gloom. Maybe we will turn things around and leave this world in a better state for our children and grandchildren that it is in right now. We have the power to do something about this but we have to educate ourselves, speak out, and demand from our representatives that they make this happen and push back against the Lobbyists, big energy companies and do something. This is much to important to just sit back and let it go.

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On another note!! Our company wide food bank ended on Friday. Across the country, in several offices, we collected well over 1,000 lbs of food and personal care items for our local communities. I am so proud of the company for holding the drive and that the employees came together to help others put food on their tables.

10 Things About A Foot Injury

With a check up this morning to see how my foot is healing, I thought I'd share with you ten highlights and lowlights from two weeks of wearing the Equalizer Low Top Air Walker.

1. I have to ride the bus/subway much more often than I'd like, but I'm still not guaranteed a seat.
2. Rainy days are not your friend.
3. Walking uphill can be exhausting.
4. You build strong leg muscles lugging the thing around everywhere you go.
5. Definitely have new found sympathy for anyone else you see on the street wearing one.
6. Once you get used to walking in it, you'll start walking pretty fast again and still be able to pass people!
7. In a pinch, it can be used for self defense.
8. As with any injury or illness that sidelines someone from running for a time, it will be even more enjoyable once I can do it again because I can appreciate it a little more!
9. Can be an easy conversation starter.
10. Gives me plenty of time to decide on all the fitness classes/activities I want to do when I get the all clear!

Have a great day!!

A Box Full of Cherries

You may not know this about me, but I LOVE cherries. I haven't always loved them and I don't remember when I started, but they've always been a summer staple (whether I ate them or not) since I was young because we spent much of our time Up North at the cottage, which is very close to Traverse City, the Cherry Capitol.

I also LOVE cookies. It's a pretty big weakness of mine and it's pretty ridiculous how much I love a really good chocolate chip cookie. I am on a continuous search for the cities BEST chocolate chip cookie, but that will have to wait for another post.

There is a fabulous place in Glen Arbor, Michigan. It's a country all of it's own - the Cherry Republic. Life, Liberty, Beaches & Pie. It's been around for 20 years and everything sold from the Republic features cherries. If you ever go to the Cherry Republic (and I hope you do) my one piece of advice is to go hungry. You can taste almost every item they sell, plus they have a cafe that serves food and ice cream! There is also a wine tasting room that includes non-alcoholic beverages too (Cherry Sangria and Cherry Root Beer all in the same room!)

My absolute favorite chocolate chip cookie is the original Boomchunka from Cherry Republic. Boom-whata? I hear ya! It's a fantastic combination of an oatmeal cookie base with big chunks of dark chocolate, dried cherries and pecans. Yum! One of the e-newsletters in October featured a new flavor - the Harvest Boomchunka - with no nuts or chocolate (what?!) but dried apples and other fruits. Well, it was only for a limited time, so I had to try it since I've tried all of the other versions. But, I couldn't just order cookies to be shipped from Michigan.

I ended up ordering 2 packages of Harvest Boomchunkas, 1 package of the original (the cookies freeze people, we haven't eaten them all yet!), 1 jar of cherry mustard, 1 jar of strawberry-cherry preserves and a bag of dark chocolate covered dried cherries. Our fantastic box of goodies showed up Friday.

On Saturday, Woody came home from running a few errands and had ANOTHER Cherry Republic box in his hands! WHAT?!? My awesome parents sent us a box of goodies for Thanksgiving since we're staying here again this year. They sent us two jars of cherry-cranberry sauce (another new product) and another package of original Boomchunkas (they know me so well!).

We are overflowing with Cherry Republic stuff and I LOVE IT! Check them out sometime. They have a great website, easy ordering, and if you call them, you actually talk with someone who is super nice and helpful. They do a lot of business for the holidays (including for us, we love getting gifts from this local company) and hire extra workers from the local communities to help meet demands. They do have their fare share of indulgences (Chocolate Cherry Coffee Cake, Chocolate Covered dried Cherries, and lots more) but they also have lots of great healthier options too (nut mixes, organic jams, sugar free jams and preserves, cherry tea, tart cherry juice concentrate).

Take a look at their site here, fall in love, and order some goodies!

Our loot!

A sign at Cherry Republic in Glen Arbor

The Start of College Basketball Season

College basketball season has begun.

Let me begin by saying that I do not play basketball. I only played the game when I was in gym class and was never particularly good at it. But, College Basketball season has begun and I am PSYCHED! I will cheer for any MSU team, but in order of my enthusiasm, Basketball tops the list, followed by Hockey and Football. Unfortunately, Hockey is not covered as much as it should be and our team is not doing as well as they were back when I was in school and Ryan Miller was between the pipes. Football, well, if you're a Spartan Football fan, you have to be ready for a rocky road when the end of August comes each year. It is not an easy few months, but we stick it out and support the team through it all. I have faith that the program is on the right track, but its still going to be a tough one. (Like the game I'm watching right now)

Basketball is a different story. Coach Izzo is a local (as in the state of Michigan) hero and I suppose, a national sports celebrity. He has built a program that is steeped in tradition, hard work, strength (mental and physical), brute force, and championships. His enthusiasm and dedication to not only the game, but also the school and the players, is incredible and awe inspiring. I think that has a lot to do with the way the team pulls through and succeeds more often than not. Many will probably agree with me when I say that one of his trademarks is that by mid-December, early January, he has very little voice left and I hope reserves it mostly for practices, games, ESPN interviews and hanging out with his family. The faces on the team have changed but the mentality and spirit seems to stay the same.

I was lucky enough to start my college career the same year MSU won the National Championship! It was simply incredible. The excitement and pride that exuded from every inch of the East Lansing area. It was 9 years ago, but sometimes seems like just yesterday.

Last night, the Spartans won their opener 97-58 against Florida Gulf Coast. Yes, they should have won by this much, if not more, but they face a much tougher opponent this Tuesday for their second game - Gonzaga. Izzo does not like easy schedules.

I think the easiest way to tell you how AWESOME the Spartans are with a few select bullet points (there are way too many to list them all):

• Every four year player recruited by Tom Izzo has played in at least 1 Final Four
• MSU has appeared in 12 straight NCAA tournaments - the longest current running streak in the Big Ten and 4th in the nation
• In the 2009 National Championship game, MSU faced their third no. 1 seed opponent of the tournament
• The team graduates 87% of players who are eligible
• Izzo has been named National Coach of the year four times
• This is Izzo's 26th year as a member of the MSU coaching staff (having been an assistant coach before taking over as Head Coach)
• The Izzone has more than 3000 members
• Between 1998 and 2002, MSU won 53 straight games in Breslin Center, setting a Big 10 record
• MSU has the BEST mascot of all cheering for them from the sideline of all games, Sparty!
  

These are just a few of the reasons why it is great to be a Spartan (especially during Basketball season)!

RUN, JULIE, RUN!!

Some awesome bloggers, like Tall Mom on the Run, have special Friday shout outs to all their blogger friends who have weekend races, are recovering from injury (thanks again Tall Mom!), and big accomplishments to celebrate. I however, am not at the point in my blogging career where I can build such fabulous lists.

HOWEVER....

Today I want to send a VERY BIG and excited "Good Luck" to my fantastic friend Julie, who is running her first marathon tomorrow - the Richmond Marathon!!! Yes, it is raining down there right now, so I am also saying prayers that Ida moves through and the sun breaks through a little (not too much) tomorrow for the race. Julie is one of the kindest, smartest, and most fun people I know. I am so lucky to have met her years ago in SMB (the Spartan Marching Band, for those of you who didn't know I was a band geek through college) and thought it was hilarious that we both decided that THIS would be the year that we would run our first marathons, not knowing that the other had also made this plan.

Julie, I hope you are resting up right now and not busy getting things ready for your party. Tomorrow is going to be a fantastic day and you're going to ROCK! You know the course and are so ready for this! Enjoy every minute of it and savour that step over the finish line!! And one other piece of advice... wear your name on your shirt. It really helps to hear people shouting your name and cheering you through the entire course! (trust me on this one!)

GOOD LUCK!!

Addicted.... to Email

Are you like so many other Americans, addicted to email?

I spend the majority of my workday at my desk (hard at work, of course) and find myself constantly checking my email in outlook. I can't even begin to estimate how many times I check email during the day and how many emails I write or receive. My inbox is out of control, even though I have more than 30, possibly 40, separate folders for specific projects or people. It's pretty insane. I admit it. I also have a blackberry. We all do. This city is overflowing with them. I estimate, with absolutely no scientific data, that there may be more blackberry's and iPhones than people who actually live in the city. Teenagers have Blackberry's!

I used to have my blackberry on all the time. Well, I was usually pretty good and wouldn't turn it on before work, but it would be on AT work (let me clarify, it was given to me by my employer, it's not a personal device), I'd check it on my way home, and multiple times at night before going to bed. I would turn it on as soon as I got home from the gym or a run on Saturday and Sunday mornings and it would stay on until I turned out the lights. My husband was happy to hear that I wouldn't be able to get reception at our honeymoon location, although he was prepared to hide it for the week. I usually take it on vacation, but try my best only to check in once or twice a day (depending on what's happening in the office).

While I'm still a non-stop email checker at my desk, I have been better this year about turning off the blackberry. I don't neglect my job duties, but I need to give my eyes (and fingers) a rest sometimes. We all do. While they are genius inventions at points (in emergency, to stay in touch with people, etc) at times they seem to get in the way of real life. The life that is right in front of our faces.

I see people (and I have been one of them) who 'check out' of what's happening around them and bury their face in their blackberry. I know people who check their blackberry's while they're sitting at dinner at a restaurant with friends or family, instead of talking to the people they are with. People email during meetings. During class. On the subway. They even keep it on at night on their bed stand! Isn't there any place we can break free and just be?

I LOVE staying in touch with people on email (feel free to reach out! I'd love to hear from you!) but do we have to live our life by it?

Are you addicted to email? Facebook (another one of my vices)? Do you find yourself having to force yourself or someone else to put the blackberry away? I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts on this, cause I know that some people think it's absolutely necessary to be reachable and responsive every moment of the day.

I hope you all have a great day and take a few 'email free' minutes for yourself!

An Angel

For many people, today is a day of mixed emotions.

Woody and I have had a certain birth announcement on our refrigerator for almost two years now. No offense to anyone else who has sent us birth announcements, but this one is the most gorgeous and wonderful one we have ever seen or received.


















It is for a little girl by the name of Maddie. Madeline Alice Spohr, actually. Her parents are two of the most creative, easy going, kind, and fun loving people I have ever met, so we were expecting something different for Maddie's announcement, and that's exactly what they did. After months spent in the hospital and living hour to hour, we were finally all able to celebrate Maddie going home! Heather and Mike were able to send out this proclamation to the world that their daughter was an angel on earth. Her big, beautiful eyes and smile can make even the toughest heart melt.


Heather went through a difficult pregnancy to bring Maddie into this world. I will always feel badly that we weren't in touch more during the time (we live on opposite coasts, which made it difficult to visit) but I was always thinking of them and I knew they had a HUGE support system for every day that passed.


Maddie came into this world more than 11 weeks early and weighing only 3lbs and 1oz. The days and months that followed were more difficult that I can put into words, and really, I have no concept of how hard it must have been. I have no idea how Heather and Mike were able to make it day to day, but I can only imagine that they were inspired every time they looked at that beautiful face.

Every day I would check Heather's blog for the latest update, hoping to hear good news. Eventually, Mike and Heather were able to take Maddie home and introduce her to her new best friend Rigby (their dog). They laughed and played, sang and danced. Hoped and dreamed. Knowing her parents, I can only imagine the things that were going through that little girls mind each minute of the day. She instantly captured the hearts of everyone she met, and even those who never met her in person but knew of her via Heather's blog.

I met Maddie in March. I was in LA for business and was able to meet Heather and Maddie in Santa Monica for breakfast one morning. She laughed and played. She was beautiful and loved her mommy more than anything. I am so glad that I had the chance to meet her.

On April 7th, Maddie became sick and they made their way back to the hospital. She passed away that day and our angel on earth went into the Heavens to watch over us. She is deeply missed every single second of every day.

Since Maddie's passing, over $100,000 has been raised in her memory for the March of Dimes. Heather and Mike have started a non-profit organization, Friends of Maddie, to support families with pre-mature babies in NICU's across the country. Heather, Mike, and beautiful Maddie have made such a huge impact on so many people's lives, but I think we would all give that back to have Maddie here with us again.

Today, I want to wish our beautiful angel a Very Happy Birthday. She will be with us forever in our hearts and memories.

Great Minds Read Alike - A Rare Mid-Day Post

I just can't resist but mention something that happened this morning while it is still fresh on the mind.

Gracela stopped in my office this morning on the way to hers, with book in hand proclaiming that I "MUST read this book!" I looked up from my computer to see what was in her hand and it was none other than Michael Pollan's book "In Defense of Food." I immediately proclaimed that I had bought it over the weekend and had just started reading it too! At the bookstore I had debated between this one and another of his books "An Omnivore's Dilemma." I decided to skip that and move straight to this one, but I can tell already that I will read the other soon.

Straight from the start I am intrigued by the information Pollan is divulging. Like the fact that back in 1977 reports were showing that our diet was contributing to an increasing rate of chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and cancer. Immediately it reminded me of the recent study released by the American Institute for Cancer Research that found excess body fat is linked to several cancers including breast, endometrial, kidney, colorectal, and others. I am hooked and can't wait for the bus ride home so I can continue reading.

I think Gracela and I may turn our run nights into book nights until we are given the go-ahead from our doctors to run again! Good way to use some time, right?

If you've read either of Pollan's books, please, don't spoil it for me, but I'd love to hear what you think! I'm sure I'll post a book review when I'm through, so stay tuned!

I hope you're all having a great day!

The Question

Do you ever sit and wonder "why"? Why now? Why this? Why them? Why me? WHY?

Over the last year or so I have wondered "why" many times. Unfortunately, I have to admit that I haven't found an answer yet. I wonder why someone gets sick, why someone lost their job, why someone was taken from us much too early. I like to think that there is a plan for all of us and everything happens for a reason, but sometimes it is really hard to believe that its true.

I don't understand when people act in ways that are risky, that have the potential of hurting themselves or someone else. Shouldn't we all do our best to take care of ourselves and the ones we love? Even those we might not love but just for the simple reason that they are people too, with families and friends and futures.

So much can go wrong in our lives that we have no control over, why not do all we can to make the things we can control a little bit better? We all deserve a chance to live a healthy, happy and fulfilling life.

I also ask other "why" questions, but of a different sort. Like "why am I so lucky to have a supportive family who will always be there for me?" or "why am I so lucky to get to experience life in New York and all it has to offer?" and "why am I lucky enough not to be alergic to peanuts and peanut butter?"

The good in my life FAR exceeds the not so good, and I am so incredibly lucky and fortunate to have all that I do in life, but maybe that's why the not so great points in life stick out so much at times. Because of the uncertainty in life, I try to look for the good in things. I'm not successful 100% of the time, but I hope that I am 90-95%. It's so important to enjoy life and get as much from it that we can. You never know what is going to happen tomorrow so take advantage of today!

Pumpkin for Breakfast?

YES!! And it was SOOO good I had to share it with you!!

I've been eating oatmeal a lot for breakfast lately. Great nutritional value and it keeps me full throughout the morning. Usually I add 1 tbs of peanut or almond butter (thanks Gracela for the tip!), 1tsp of cinnamon, a few dried cherries, and 1 banana.

Today, I tried something new, in honor of Fall (even though it is going to be 69' in NYC today)! Instead of peanut/almond butter and dried cherries, I added 1/4 cup of canned pumpkin, a dash of nutmeg and a 1tbs of chopped nuts (from the small package I got from Starbucks when I picked up oatmeal marathon morning). If I do say so myself, it's delicious!

I can't take all the credit for this idea though. I've seen it on several other blogs lately, including Kath Eats Real Food. She has a whole devoted to Oatmeal with many, many, many recipes. Check it out here. I'm definitely going to try some of these.

I hope your breakfast was as good as mine! It's such a great way to start the day!

Book Review: Mindless Eating

I just finished reading a great book by Brian Wansink, Ph.D., "Mindless Eating." You may have heard of it before. By no means do I regret spending $12.00 on this entertaining, highly informative, and slightly alarming book.


Throughout the 249 pages, Wansink discusses studies conducted by the Cornell University Food & Brand Lab, which he oversees, as well as other studies done by highly regarded professionals in the field. Since I want you ALL to read this book, I'm not going to tell you everything, but here are a few of the tidbits of information I found interesting.



1. The Mindless Margin: by cutting 100-200 calories per day, which typically does not affect a person's hunger level and can be done in simple ways, a person can lose 10-20 pounds in a year!

2. We learn out eating habits as children and they tend to stay with us as we age. Example: If a kid learns to fill up on their favorite foods first, as an adult they will probably still load up on the high calorie foods first before reaching for the fruits and veggies.

3. Children can pick up on the slightest signals a parent or caregiver gives off when it comes to food, thus influencing their likes and dislikes.

4. (This idea is fairly common sense, but it's still worth noting.) The size of the plate or bowl food is served in should not be overlooked. We tend to eat until all the food on our plate is gone, whether we really need it to satisfy our hunger or not. So, use a smaller plate and serve food in the kitchen rather than at the table. This way, we'll have to think twice about getting up for another helping.

We should definitely enjoy food - for the tastes, smells, nourishment of body and soul. It is meant to be shared with others. I definitely suggest you read this book. It's NOT a diet book. At the very least, it's entertaining and a fast read. Take from it what you want. I know that after reading this book, I am inspired to follow Wansink's advice and start paying more attention to my own personal food scripts and alter them for the better. I think I'll enjoy my food more and feel better and stronger.

The book can be purchased at any book retailer, and you can find out more information on Wansink's site: Mindless Eating.

Farmer's Market Dinner

Yesterday I wrote about our adventure at the Farmer's Market. Tonight we used some of our finds for dinner! We had kale, apple cider & honey roasted butternut squash, and chicken.

The fresh ingredients and the fact that we cooked it together, made it absolutely DELICIOUS!

Sunny Days

Today was an absolutely GORGEOUS fall day. It was only 38' when we woke up and it wasn't going to get out of the 50's, but there was not a cloud in the sky and the sun was warming. Plus, the Spartans won in football today!

Woody and I went to the gym and the grocery store this morning, a usual Saturday morning routine (when I'm not running).

My non-running workout:
50 minutes on the recumbent bike
10 minutes on the arm bike
Light free-weight arm routine
30 side bends (each side) with 20lb weight
200 crunches
Stretches

After having brunch at home, we headed down to the Union Square Farmer's Market. Anyone in NYC, whether you live here or are just visiting, should go to this farmer's market at least once. There are many others around the city, but this is the largest and most popular. Vendors from all over the tri-state area converge on the busy plot of land 4 days a week - Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Some vendors are there every day, some only a select ones. Anyway, I thought I'd share a few pictures from our trip today.

We purchased kale, green peppers, tomatoes, brussel sprouts, butternut squash, onions, apples, and apple cider. I can't wait to start cooking up these great fall flavors!

We stopped at Barnes & Noble where I picked up Michael Pollan's "In Defense of Food." I've heard it's a great book and can't wait to start reading it now that I've finished "Mindless Eating" by Brian Wansink. I highly recommend Wansink's book and will write a post about it soon. So many interesting findings.

Well, time for me to heat up a cup of apple cider!

The Do Gooders List

It's the first Friday of the month, so I have a couple companies to share with you that are doing good things for our environment.

1. Patagonia - You probably know it as the sportswear and gear company, but it turns out that's not all they do. They also care deeply about the environment and preserving natural habitats for wildlife. They "believe in using business to inspire solutions to the environmental crisis." They sponsor grants to support environmental organizations, they use innovative business practices to create their products, they research the best technologies and raw materials, they follow green building processes for their facilities, and much more. They definitely seem to be a company that is not just concerned about the bottom line of their financial statements but also about the bottom line of our environment. They are showing the business world that it is possible to have a strong business and produce quality products while caring about the environment.

2. TapIt Water - Woody and I learned about this site when we went to the West Side County Fair in September. It's a genius idea that has not had enough promotion behind it (I haven't seen anything else about it). The concept is simple: encourage people to use refillable water bottles (like Sigg or Klean Kanteen) rather than buying bottled water, by providing them with a list of TapIt partner cafes where they can fill up their bottles for free. They started the project in 2008 in NYC hoping to expand across the country. You can find partner cafes in other cities as well now, including Minneapolis, Ann Arbor, several cities in California, Florida, Washington, and others. If you have a favorite local cafe or restaurant, let them know about this site. Look for a sticker in the window and ask them to refill your bottle! It's a great and easy way to save a little money (less bottles of water purchased) and help the environment.

*******


Thanks for all of your congratulations, good wishes and notes of encouragement! My foot is feeling much better and the boot is definitely the reason, but it is a bit annoying. I'll deal with it though. I need to make sure it heals right. I actually just realized last night that this is going to be my first weekend in a very long time that won't include running. Even the weekend before the marathon I ran the Poland Spring Marathon Kick-Off race with NYRR. What do I do with all this extra time? I'll go to the gym, but it won't be the same, especially since the only cardio I can do is the recumbent bike. The weather is supposed to be nice on Saturday, so Woody and I are planning to go to the Union Square Farmer's Market, but I'm not sure how long I'll be able to walk around. I think I'll spend time reading, blogging, who knows. What do you do when you need to fill running time? Suggestions welcome!

What Makes You Happy?

I feel so badly for people who are grumpy first thing in the morning. I wonder if they woke up that way or if something happened. It's just not a good a good way to start the day. You're really not giving it a chance. Hopefully, though, something will turn their mood around.

Even if I'm having a rough time or am stressed out about something, I try to focus on something that makes me happy so I don't let it get the best of me. Of course, I am human, and it doesn't always work, but I try.

What makes you happy?

For me, it can be any number of things. A great concert. A hug from my husband after a long day. An invigorating workout. A really delicious warm chocolate chip cookie. A hilarious movie. Blue sky and a cool breeze. Holding a door open for a mother pushing a loaded stroller and a talkative kid. Beautiful flowers. I could go on, but I'll stop.

I hope you have a good day and find many things to be happy about.

I Have A New Black Boot

I did not have a very good start to my day. My podiatrist's assistant called yesterday to say my orthodics had arrived. He had a cancellation and an appointment available for this morning at 9:30am, so I took it right away. I could still hardly walk on my right foot this morning but hobbled my way to his office just a few blocks away from our apartment.

Not only did I leave with orthodics, but I also left wearing this hot new black boot for my right foot. And I get to keep it for a month.

It seems I fractured my 3rd and 4th metatarsals during the marathon on Sunday. I knew it was bad and am glad that I don't have to be on crutches (that would be miserable here in the city) but I am quite disappointed this has happened in general. Other than my foot, I feel really good! My muscles aren't sore, nothing else hurts, and if it wasn't for this foot, I'd be back at the gym tomorrow. Well, I still might be, actually. I am allowed to use the recumbent bike and weight lift, so maybe by December my arms will be ripped and my abs will be rock hard! I can swim too, but I'm not big of swimming and the closest location of my gym with a pool is a couple subway stops away - too far to go in the morning.

I had to cancel on the Goddess Day event with Step Up this weekend, the NYRR YPC fun run & brunch on Sunday, and the race on the 22nd. It's going to be a difficult month since I'm already eager to get back into the gym, but I know that I have to be strong and not push myself. I need my foot to heal so I can get back to it and not re-injure myself all over again. I fractured my left foot four years ago and was in a boot for a month then, but I wasn't quite as active as I am now. I'm worried about not getting enough exercise and also gaining weight. I guess I won't have the luxury of relaxing my diet for a few days after the marathon. I really need to pay attention to what I'm eating so I don't take in too many calories. It will be interesting figuring out how to adjust my training diet to my fairly sedentary lifestyle.

Have you had injuries before that sidelined you? What did you do to stay sane?

I did have an okay end to my day though, when I still had time to go vote for Mayor Bloomberg and it was the easiest voting experience I've ever had. I have high hopes for the Mayor and his next term in office. Hopefully he can do more good for our health and environment.

Race Report: 2009 ING NYC Marathon

Caution: this is long post and contains many pictures.

Sunday morning started early, but not too early. I actually got a fairly good night's sleep. Much better than I had thought I would. I met Gracela (who took most of the pics in this post) in the subway station at 59th and Lex and we got on the R train with other runners. Not long later, we were at the Staten Island Ferry station with thousands of other nervous and excited people in all sorts of running gear eating all sorts of pre-race meals, pinning on numbers, checking shoes, stretching, finding their teams, chatting away or listening intently to their iPods to keep the nerves at bay. I was SO glad to be there with Gracela and have someone to talk with and laugh with. I didn't get too nervous the whole time.

We finally filed out of the waiting room and onto the ferry. Other runners took official transportation buses or charter buses. I have a feeling those would have taken much longer than the ferry.

Waiting to get off the ferry, we could see the Verrazano-Narrows bridge, which is the start of the race.

We were then loaded onto buses and driven what seemed like 20 minutes (I have no idea how long it really took) through downtown Staten Island to Fort Wadsworth. I'm not sure how it works at other marathons, but there were many people dressed up in costumes. Clowns, drag queens, Zico coconut water bottles, and this guy. You might be able to make out the Eiffel Tower. Pretty impressive. Unfortunately, I never saw him on the course to see if he could really run in it.

There was a bit of mist and light rain in the early morning, so runners were decked out in ponchos, rain gear, and plenty of garbage bags! I can't even begin to tell you how many languages I heard in the start village.

Once we were out of the bus we made our way through the starting village and ran into Chris and his wife (who I had met on the Expo shuttle on Friday) and wished them good luck. They had quite a sizable group and large balloons to promote their organization. I didn't have much time for last minute preparations once I got to the Green start area. The announcements were already saying the corrals for wave 1 were closed and those in wave 2 had to get their bags to the UPS trucks. I was a bit nervous I was going to be late so I was rushing around a bit so I could get to the corral and make one last stop at the porta-potties before the start.

The start of the race was pretty non-monumental for me. I was on the green route for the second wave in corral C. We were still in the holding area while the National Anthem was sung and the cannon shot. We just filed out of the area and onto the lower level of the bridge and toward the starting line. I had heard stories of how crowded the start always is that you can hardly more let alone run. Well, I had no problems with that. The bridge was FRIGID! There was a nice breeze the entire way across that almost took my hat a few times. Thank goodness I had gloves on or it wouldn't have been pretty brutal. I kept a steady and slow pace, even on the downside. Others were passing me by the whole time, but I tried not to focus on that. I was running my own run, not theirs. And I knew that for me, it was best to keep the same pace on the downside of the bridge than to speed up and use too much energy right out of the gate. My feet weren't hurting and my legs felt pretty fresh at the start. I'm used to waking up early and starting my runs early. I'm not used to waking up at 5:30am for a 10am run, so I was a bit nervous about all of the downtime and if I was eating at the right time. As we came off the bridge we were on the highway and a few people were on the side cheering for us as we entered the neighborhoods. I was running by a group of Scottish men running in kilts who continuously corrected people as they cheered for their skirts!

I've never really explored much of Brooklyn, but I got a nice tour of it yesterday. We went through neighborhoods full of families, industrial areas, quaint streets with boutiques and cafes, and a lot of cheering crowds singing, handing out paper towels and Kleenex, bananas, and 'Free Fish Fuel' (aka Swedish fish). There were fluid stations every mile after the 3rd with Gatorade and water. I ended up walking through almost all of them because they were so slippery and I was too worried that I would slip and fall and be out of the whole thing. Just after mile 8, when the three colors combined, my right foot started to ache. It ached the rest of the race. My lungs were great, my legs were pretty good, and my left foot was okay, but not the right. We hit the half way point on our way into Queens.

People cheered as we went across the Pulaski Bridge and curved into Queens. The route through Queens was mostly industrial but there were still a lot of enthusiastic crowds. Have you ever noticed noticing a person or group of people, then loosing sight of them, unknowingly, only to notice them again a few miles later? Well, that happened to me quite frequently. Particularly with a group of French runners, male and female, all wearing matching shirts who would frequently take pictures of the group or members of the group with emergency responders or just random people cheering. There was the group of men in kilts, two women who would talk on their cell phones while running (I saw this often and I still can't figure out how they do it!) or the group of guys wearing pink metallic tights, green shorts and pink tops running with no shoes. We ran past classic rock cover bands, high school concert bands, gospel choirs, random people performing something on the sidewalks, people blasting jazz and concert music through radios, rappers in Harlem, and rock bands all throughout the city.

Next thing I knew, we were making the turn onto the 59th Street Bridge. I ran this once with Gracela a few weeks ago and now it was time to do it for real. I had heard that this was the hardest part of the race. Everyone was silent. All you heard were feet hitting the cement. For the first time I started noticing people off to the side stretching or resting. One guy tried to start a cheer, but no one else was up for it. As we made our way to the end of the bridge, we could start hearing the roar of the crowd on 1st Ave. A few people were on the bridge, including a couple who noticed my hat and cheered out "Go Spartans!!" that gave me a little boost to keep it up.

1st Ave was loud and raucous, just as I remembered it from being a spectator. As I got closer to 70th St I made my way to the west side of the street and picked out the green and white balloons! I stopped for a minute to hug my family. It was an awesome sight. I am so lucky to have had them there cheering for me. Knowing they were out there supporting me, every step I took, and whether I finished or not, meant the world to me. My foot hurt and my quads were starting to tighten up, but I was now much closer to the end than the start. We made our way up 1st Ave and across another bridge into the Bronx and the 'High Energy Zone.' We passed a woman with several signs next to her. When I ran past she happened to be holding one that said "Pain is temporary, Pride is forever." That was exactly what I needed. I said that over and over in my head for what could have been a mile, and several more times before I hit the finish line. How did she know I needed that? Our jaunt through the 5th borough was pretty short and no offense to the Bronx, but I was so happy when we got back into Manhattan.

Going around Marcus Garvey Park was great. The vibe from the crowd was great. I had packed enough for 4 servings of Shot Blocks but only had two of them. My stomach was feeling a bit uneasy and I was focusing too much on my foot. Heading down 5th Ave was exciting. Having my name on my shirt was one of the best decisions I made. so many people called out my name and kept me going. It really does help! I knew my family would be around 90th St or just inside the park, but around 95th I heard someone call out my name. I looked back and saw a friend and co-worker and his family. It was amazing!! I ran back to them and got big hugs and words of encouragement. It was a bit of a blur but so awesome. As I ran off, I teared up a little. I was about 3 miles from the end. Then I saw the balloons again and my family. Everyone around them cheered for me too! MAJOR ENERGY BOOST!! By this time, I had started walking a couple blocks almost every mile and had stopped to stretch my quads a couple times. I knew I wouldn't have a killer time, but all I cared about was finishing. "Pain is temporary, pride is forever."

We turned into the park and I was on my home turf. I have run this section so many times I could do it with my eyes closed. I ran the straight away along the reservoir and hugged the center where it didn't slope towards the curb. The crowds were cheering and clapping. I pushed my way up Cat Hill and eased my way down but just as we were hitting 72nd I knew I had to walk a bit so I could save my energy towards the end. A man standing on the side called my name and urged me to keep going. "You're almost there, you can do it. Just push your way through the hill." I hate it when people say "You're almost there" when you're still 2 miles away. "Almost there" is when you can see the finish line. I picked my pace back up as we went downhill and out of the park. Two policemen were standing on the side cheering us on and gave me high fives. Then it was out to Central Park South. I had to slow down a little. I knew an uphill was waiting for us inside the park and I wanted to cross the line running, not limping. After seeing only a handful jump in throughout the whole race, I saw a bandit pulled out of the race as we entered the park. As we got closer to Tavern On The Green, I started to pick up my pace a bit and sprinted towards the finish line. I threw up my hands and smiled for the cameras as I crossed the line I had been dreaming of for two years.

It had been a long road. One that was painful at times and difficult at others, but it was such a great feeling to cross that line and be handed the medal. So, I know I was only one of 43,000 other people who crossed the finish line yesterday, and that is quite a lot of people, but in the scheme of things, I'm now one of a relatively small group of people who can say that they've run a marathon. My finish time wasn't as good as I had hoped when I signed on to do this last year, but I finished and that's pretty fantastic.

Because of all the road closures it took a couple hours to get home. By the time we got off the bus my right foot was hurting pretty badly but we made it out to dinner a few hours later after a freezing cold ice bath and a nice shower. We walked past people sitting in restaurants lining Columbus Ave wearing their heat blanket and eating a big meal. I don't know how they do it! I couldn't stomach much food until hours later and even then it was half a cheeseburger and an ice cream sundae (if I can't indulge in it after I run a marathon, when can I?). It was a great day that went by in a bit of a blur, but I will never forget it.

9 races and 1 volunteer credit to qualify. Months of training. Countless pairs of shoes. Countless hours and miles on the road. 2 aching feet. 5 boroughs. 26.2 miles. 1 NYC Marathon finishers medal!!