Keepin' It Movin'

My workouts have been going really well lately.

I joined DailyMile at the start of the year and have been using it to track my mileage and workouts since January 1st. I don't use all the social media aspects of the site, but I do like that I can easily see what I've done, record notes about my workouts and recognize any patterns that might be occurring. I haven't been including my strength training though, which I probably should do.

Like many runners, I really don't like running on the treadmill, but I've been learning to appreciate it. If I'm going to run Broadstreet well, then I have to increase my mileage and get a lot of miles under my feet and since we've been getting at least one snow storm a week since Christmas, I have to make friends with the treadmill. At least my gym has three Woodways that aren't as harsh on my feet.

Saturday was kind of strange though. I had a good 5 mile run Friday morning and was hoping to do another 5 Saturday. My stomach felt a little uneasy before I left for the gym, but not too bad. After my normal warm-up routine of dynamic stretches and .15mile at a fast walking pace, my run started pretty well. I had to pause the machine three times though (2m, 4m, 5m) to hydrate. My congestion was kind of bothering me but not too badly. I ended up running 5.5miles and felt alright. Then I wanted to do a little more cardio and headed over to the elliptical. On my way over though, I felt a little uneasy again and not long after I started up, I had to stop because my stomach was so upset. It was not a good feeling at all, but at least I wasn't out running with no bathroom nearby! It was really strange as I'd never had this happen before. I did start feeling better though and decided (after a few minutes of internal debate) to head back out and do a little strength training and stretching. The rest of the day I felt pretty good, thankfully, since I met April for brunch at a great Israeli restaurant out in Brooklyn. Well, I felt good till I heard she ran 9.5 miles that morning!


Our bathroom on a typical Sunday afternoon. Does this look familiar?

My run this morning was pretty good. I did another 5 miles but could have gone longer if I had the time. This week, if all goes as planned, in addition to my regular workouts, I'm going to finally get back to Zumba and then I'm meeting Grace and Kether for a Brooklyn Bridge Bootcamp class! I have mixed feelings about this class. I'm really excited to try something new and challenging, but I'm slightly nervous about how intense it's going to be. I know Grace loves it though, so I definitely want to try it!

• Do you use DailyMile?
• Did you work out this weekend or race?
• Have you ever had a stomach ache cramp your workout style?
• Do you have a love or hate relationship with the treadmill?

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Saturday's workout -
5.5mile run + warm-up & cool down
1mile elliptical
3x10 leg press
3x10 hip abductor
3x10 hip adductor
3x12 seated row
stretching

Sunday's workout -
5.5mile elliptical
3x10 hammer curl
3x10 tricep kickback
3x10 lat pull down
3x10 upright row
stretching

Today's workout -
5mile run + warm-up & cool down
stretching

5 For Friday

Well, it's Thursday night and I'm writing this as I eat dinner, continue to work on a PowerPoint deck (that's been occupying my life) for a meeting at work next week and watch the Michigan State basketball game against UofM (which we lost). If this isn't multi-tasking, I don't know what is! At least I'm not doing anything dangerous, like walking and typing on my blackberry!

1. This has been a long, but quick, week. I've been really busy at work (ie: the deck I'm working on) so the day seems to go by quickly but it's exhausting. I worked on it at home Wednesday night as well, which is why I didn't have a post yesterday. We've been having meetings to work on this deck as a group, but the timing has been up in the air each day so I just work frantically until I'm told it's time to print and save! My lunches have not been eaten at any regular time. The good thing is though, we all know what's going on and are prepared to talk about any part of the presentation. Plus, I'm learning quite a bit as we go along, so it's not all that bad.

2. Meet my new favorite kitchen gadget: the garlic press! My mother in law gave us one that she had, but hadn't used when we were visiting her last week. I was so excited because we love garlic, use it quite often in our cooking, but haven't really wanted to spend the money on a press. Well, we used it tonight for the first time while making pasta (we always add a ton of fresh veggies to the sauce) and it was so quick and easy! And it even comes with an attached cleaning device to make and is dishwasher safe! I think I'm in love!

3. We had another snow storm Wednesday and into Thursday morning. Another 19 inches fell in Central Park during this storm, making a total of about 55 inches of snow so far this season (really, just since the storm on Dec 26th). It's on track to be the snowiest season on record, and we've already surpassed the January record! I trudged to work Thursday but I have to say, it wasn't all that bad. It was actually kind of nice because there wasn't nearly as much traffic! And I got to see pretty snow covered trees like this one!

4. I went to a New York Road Runner Young Professionals Committee meeting Tuesday night. I'm really excited about all the events we are planning through National Running Day on June 3rd. Our first event of the year will be February 17th and we're doing something different: a spinning class at the uber popular Flywheel! The studio and Lululemon are partnering with us to create this awesome event that will include a full hour long class and time for mingling with other fitness-minded New Yorkers over food and drink after class. Naturally, there will be goodie bags for everyone, too! And it's all for the great cause of supporting youth running programs around the country! Click HERE if you want to buy tickets (it should go live Friday) and let me know if you have any questions. If you want to go, I suggest you sign up soon because I have a feeling tickets will go fast for this one and space is limited!

5. It's been a while since I've talked about my perpetually injured foot. Well, that's because it's feeling so much better! It's still stiff every once in a while, but not nearly as often as it was and it doesn't hurt at all after a workout! I'm feeling really optimistic about how it's doing but I'm still awfully careful about things. I stretch, start each workout and end each day with a few dynamic stretches to loosen all my leg muscles and I stay away from risky activities like running in the ice and snow. I also think running on the Woodway as often as I can when running on the treadmill is the right way to go. I can definitely tell a difference between the two surfaces. Hopefully I'll stay injury free through my training for the Broadstreet Run!

What's on tap for your weekend?
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Thursday's workout -
none. much needed rest day!

Today's workout -
5mi run
3x12 cable push down
3x12 cable twists
stretching

Book Review: "How Did I Get Here?"

I picked this book up on a whim when I was at the library a couple weeks ago. It was on the 'new books' rack and didn't know what to expect but thought it sounded interesting and like it would be an easy read while in Florida. Turns out, I was pretty right.

"How Did I Get Here?: The Ascent of an Unlikely CEO" by Tony Hawk is not an autobiography. It's really a collection of tips, stories and anecdotes written by Hawk with the help of his sister, Pat. While you've probably never thought about it, I'm guessing you wouldn't think of me as a skateboarder. And you'd be right. I don't skateboard, I've never even been on one. Truthfully, I didn't even know all that much about Hawk other than he's one of the most well-known skateboarders. What drew me to this book is the combination of marketing, business, and sport.

I learned a few interesting things about Hawk, like the fact that he turned pro while in high school, he's an early adopter of technology, and he gives back to communities around the country through his non-profit organization, the Tony Hawk Foundation. His parents, Frank and Nancy, founded the California Amateur Skateboard League, and a great deal of his family is involved in one or more of his businesses. Since he (along with Per Welinder) started the first business, Birdhouse Skateboards (still running today), Hawk has expanded Tony Hawk, Inc to include a film studio, a Sirius/XM radio show, clothing lines, numerous skate tours, websites and much more. Through the years, he has developed a strong brand and oversees that brands use in numerous licensing deals. He has over 2.2million (yes, you read that right) followers on Twitter and holds an annual Easter Hunt via Twitter clues that send kids and adults alike on treasure hunts around the world. While not all his ventures have gotten off the ground, he has built a pretty incredible empire.

While his success is impressive (especially since it's all because he can ride a skateboard) and I did learn few things, the book itself isn't that great. It jumps around a lot and I also found it to be a bit repetitive. There were some sections that didn't seem to fit in with the rest of the book, but perhaps they were intended to appeal to skateboarders.

Overall, I'm glad I read it because it did teach me about an industry I knew nothing about. It was a quick read and humorous at times, so I don't feel like it was a waste of time. If you're interested in marketing and sports, you may like this book. If you're a fan of Tony Hawk's and interested in marketing and sports, you should definitely pick this up. If nothing else, I now have a new, and improved, opinion of skateboarders!

Click HERE for more info

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My workout this morning was not that great. While I did manage to pull out a 4.5 mile run on the Woodway and some strength training and stretching, the combination of it being the 7th workout in a row, tight hamstrings, and a lack of sleep was not a good one. I went to an incredibly productive NYRR Young Professionals Committee meeting last night and was so energized by all the great events we're planning for ths Spring (I can't wait to share them with you!) that I had to start working on my to-do lists when I got home. Unfortunately, that wasn't so good for my sleep. Tonight  I'm going to sleep earlier and we're taking tomorrow morning off from the gym, which is conveniently planned to coincide with the overnight snow storm we're going to get!

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Today's workout -
4.5mile run
3x12 hammer curls
3x10 overhead tricep extensions
3x10 lateral arm raise

The Man Who Started It All

You've probably heard by now that Jack LaLanne passed away on Sunday afternoon from complications with pneumonia. He was 96 years old and he exercised till the end.

When LaLanne was young, the future "Godfather of Fitness" of he was sick more often than not and very weak. He didn't play sports as a kid; he was addicted to sugar and junk food until he met Paul Bragg, a pioneer in nutrition. After that point, he was compelled to change his ways and focused on fitness and eating well the rest of his life. He also changed the lives of countless others by pioneering the health and fitness industry that we are all a part of today!

By the 1930's he was spreading the word about weightlifting, bodybuilding, and chiropractic medicine, which was revolutionary at that time. And his promotion of strength training for women and the elderly was extremely controversial. Nevertheless, he forged ahead and opened his first health spa in 1936 in Oakland, California. From the 50's through the 70's, LaLanne had a popular television program and he never retired from his work. He created several of the first weight machines including a leg extension machine and a pulley machine.

As a vegan for much of his life, he truly believed in a balance of healthy eating and exercise. While reading about him yesterday, I came across several of his most well-known sayings, these are my favorites:

• If man makes it, don’t eat it.
• Better to wear out than rust out
• Anything in life is possible and you can make it happen.
• Your waistline is your lifeline.
• You eat everyday, you sleep everyday, and your body was made to exercise everyday.
• People don’t die of old age, they die of inactivity.
• Your waistline is your lifeline.
• Exercise is King, nutrition is Queen, put them together and you’ve got a kingdom.

He didn't expect to live forever, he just wanted to live the healthiest, most fulfilled life he could and he wanted others to as well. I think we should all be grateful for what he has given us and hopefully in his death, even more people will learn of his mission and follow in his footsteps.

Who, or what, inspired you to get fit and live a healthy life?
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today's workout -
50min elliptical
2x40sec planks
lots of stretching (super tight hamstrings)

A Scramble Good Enough for Dinner

It's the coldest morning in NYC since 2005! Brrrr. Yesterday morning I met up with Grace and Kether for yoga and brunch. As always, it was a great time! We got the dish on Kether's recent engagement (yay!!) and Grace told us all about the bootcamp classes she's been taking and how great she's feeling. Kether and I are hoping to drop in on the class next weekend, so I'll definitely let you know how that goes. It sounds super intense. I absolutely love meeting up with these two; before we know it, we've been chatting for two hours! I have to say though, my hamstrings are a bit tight this morning but I still had a good run on the Woodway (have I told you before how much I love this treadmill?).

not a new picture, but one that I love!

It's been a while since I posted a new recipe, I hope you like this one cause Woody and I did! I've talked about the sun dried tomato chicken sausages from Trader Joe's that we like so much. They're really easy to prepare and can be used in a lot of ways, so when we got back Wednesday night from our trip and I stopped at TJ's Thursday on my way to work, I knew this would be something good to grab and use for a couple easy dinners.

Thursday night I made simple salads topped with the sausages. Friday night I tried something new.

Egg & Sausage Scramble (for 2)
ingredients:
2 chicken sausages
3 egg whites and 1 full egg
2 small red potatoes
3tbs onion, chopped small
1/2c broccoli (cooked in the microwave if frozen, or fresh)
2tbs water
ground black pepper and dried basil to taste
1 pinch chipotle
2 whole wheat tortillas

1. Chop the potatoes into small pieces and add to a skillet sprayed with cooking spray, add pepper, basil and chipotle. Cover and cook till soft, stirring often to keep potatoes from sticking to the skillet.
2. Heat oven to 325', place sausages on a baking sheet and heat.
3. Add chopped onion to potatoes, cover and soften.
4. In a bowl, mix egg whites and egg with 2tbs water and black pepper, then scramble lightly.
5. Once potato and onion mixture is soft, add eggs and broccoli.
6. While eggs start to cook, remove sausages from oven and then cut into small pieces. Add to egg/potato mixture.
7. Stir mixture with a spatula often enough to keep it from sticking to the skillet while letting the egg set and cook.
8. Turn oven off and put tortillas on the baking sheet and place in oven to heat while mixture is cooking.
10. Once eggs are cooked thoroughly, either fill a tortilla with the mixture (Woody's version) or plate with tortilla on the side (my version). Recommended condiments: ketchup and/or hot sauce.

This turned out really well; a generally healthy comfort meal on a cold night! It's also a great option for both breakfast and dinner, if you don't mind spending a little time cooking your breakfast. There are a lot of steps, but it wasn't very taxing and didn't take all that long once the egg was cooking. The potatoes took the longest too soften but because they were chopped small, they also didn't take too long. I added a little bit of fresh grated sharp cheddar not long before it was done, but it didn't add much of anything so I'll leave that out next time. Also, next time I'll add more chipotle.

What are your thoughts on breakfast for dinner? Love it or hate it?
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Saturday's Workout -
2mile run
5.5mile elliptical
3x10 hip abductor
3x10 hip adductor
3x10 weighted side bend
3x12 overhead tricep extension
3x10 glute kick-back

Sunday's Workout -
40min elliptical
yoga

Today's Workout -
4mile run
3x10 cable pull push down
3x10 cable pull twist
3x12 upright row
3x12 front arm raise
stretching

5 For Friday

1. Yesterday Michelle Obama joined executives from Wal-Mart at a Washington, DC community center to announce the behemouth's initiative to make their in-house brand healthier and fruits and vegetables cheaper... by 2015. Yep, it's going to take them 5 years to make the changes. I really hope they do reduce the sodium, sugar and trans fats in their foods, but I'm not so sure I like the idea of them moving into food deserts to 'solve' the access to food problem that many areas face. It's a problem that needs to be solved, but not necessarily by them expanding their empire. Maybe this will spur other companies to make changes as well.

2. Woody and I signed our lease and handed over the checks, so it's official. We will be in our current apartment through June 2012! We're definitely excited to know for certain that we won't have to look for a new apartment for at least 17 months and we are really enjoying life in FiDi. There's definitely a lot more to explore down here and now we'll have some time to do it. After that, we'll just have to wait and see!

3. Money Saving Tip of the Week: Woody and I have found several easy ways to save money over the past few years, one of which is to buy in bulk! It's really simple and can save a good amount of money over time. We buy everything from rolled oats, to dried fruit, nuts, and grains and recently Woody became hooked on wasabi peas. He'll get a 1lb bag for like $3.99 and munch on them like they're raisins! I can handle some, but I stay away from the super-coated ones! In any case, you can find just about anything in bulk, but you have to look for it. Most Whole Foods stores have a bulk section, not all and they're not always very big, but you can also look for health food stores and last time I was at Meijer there was one.

4. We are starting to plan our trip to Seattle this summer, but first we have to decide when to go! It definitely has to be between Memorial Day and Labor Day, but that still covers a lot of time. If you live in Seattle, or have visited, when is the best time to visit? And do you know any great places to run?

5. I LOVE "Friends." You know, the sitcom from the 90's? I can still sit and watch hours of reruns like some people can watch hours of "Seinfeld." Have you heard about the new sitcom starring Matthew Perry and Allison Janney (who was in another favorite show of mine, "The West Wing") "Mr. Sunshine"? It premieres on ABC Wednesday February 9th and I can't wait to see it! I'm going to an event that night that will thankfully be over at 8pm so I can get home and watch. For all of the other Matthew Perry fans, here's the preview!

Good luck to everyone running the Manhattan Half Marathon tomorrow! It definitely takes a lot of dedication to get up early on a Saturday morning and go run 2+ loops of Central Park in 20 degree weather!

What was your favorite show of the 90's?

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today's workout -

4mile run

3x10 cable push down

3x10 leg press

stretching

And.... I'm Back

Hi there! Sorry it's been quiet around here the last few days. I didn't get as much time to post while we were in Florida as I thought I would. I guess that's good since it means we were busy and visiting with Woody's family, right?

We had a great time, got to relax, sleep a solid 8.5 hours each night, and did a few things around town, but basically just hung out. The best weather happened yesterday, naturally, but it was much warmer than here and we didn't wear a jacket once! Thankfully Woody was able to hit up the driving range one day and get in a round of golf another, so I'm very grateful for that.

We went running through the neighborhood Tuesday morning. It was really humid, which I'm not used to anymore, but it was great to get outside. He talked me into taking advantage of being on vacation yesterday morning and we slept in a little instead of getting up to work out. Too bad it was the nicest morning of the trip! It's okay though, I enjoyed sleeping in a little. I did go for a short walk after I had packed but before we had to head out to see Woody's Grandparents on our way to the airport.

His Mom lives in a golf course community. Have you ever gone running in a golf course? Along the path? I've heard of people running and cross country skiing in cemeteries, and much like that I think a golf course would be ideal for running. I thought of this while we were out earlier in the week but we had a nice route along the road (using the golf cart lane) that we were taking. Turns out running through the golf course isn't only frowned upon, it's not allowed! Too bad, it seems so peaceful and hilly!

Well, I'm back to work today. Thankfully I have only two days of work this week, but I'm counting on them being very busy and long. Can't wait for the weekend!

I encourage you all to head over to my friend Erin's blog, Just Plain Lovely, where I was incredibly lucky enough to write a guest post! She actually posted it yesterday, but since I was in-transit I didn't get to share it with you yet! If not to check out my post, you should check out her blog anyway.... it's an amazing blog about fashion, design, Portland, ME and all things cool. Erin is one of the most generous and talented people I know and I'm blessed to know her! Hopefully she'll write a guest post for me soon!

How has your week been so far? Have you ever run in a golf course or cemetery for an uninterrupted smooth run?
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today's workout -
50min/5.65mile elliptical
3x12 seated row
1x40sec plank
stretching

What a Dreary Morning

I thought Florida was supposed to be all warm and sunny. What happened? During the middle of the night last night the rain started pounding down outside. We woke up to rumbles of thunder and my hopes of running outside again this morning were instantly dashed. It finally stopped raining a little bit ago and I just saw a tiny peak of the sun, but the forecast calls for on and off rain showers all day today. Poor Woody isn't getting to the golf course today like he had hoped but at least tomorrow should be better and he can go then.

This morning instead of going for a run we went to the community's fitness center. Woody's Mom lives in one of the gated communities down here and there are a couple golf courses and a few fitness centers but there is one that's taken care of a bit better and has more equipment so we got in the car and headed there. It was weird to get in a car to go to the gym! The place was busy! Spinning and water aerobics classes were starting and there were quite a few people in the gym working out. Woody and I were, by far, the youngest people in the place, so I told him he couldn't show up any of the guys who were trying to impress the ladies! ;)

I warmed up on the bike for about 20 minutes then headed to a treadmill. I have really become to love the Woodway at our gym at home so I wasn't sure if a regular treadmill would bother my foot but it ended up being okay. I did a 4 mile progression run and felt really good at the end. Definitely a successful run. After that I spent a good half hour stretching and strength training. In the end, even though it wasn't the outdoor run I had been hoping for, it was a great workout.

Yesterday morning, after a much needed good night's sleep, Woody and I laced up and headed out for a run in the neighborhood. We covered a 5 mile out-and-back route that included quite a few hills. I literally haven't run hills since the Turkey Trot since downtown is pretty flat, so this was a good workout for my legs and lungs. My legs felt really good through the whole run but it was apparently still chilly enough to really bother my sinuses so I was having a bit of trouble breathing. I really can't wait till warmer weather and I don't have to deal with this anymore! I hate running inside, but it doesn't bother my sinuses much, so there are definite trade-offs.

Oh, Saturday after we got here I was able to get online and register for the Broad Street Run! I'm really excited that things are falling into place for my Birthday weekend and I have my first big race of the year to train for. I hope to see some of you at the race, too!!

Okay, gotta jet. We're going to find something to do in this less-than-stellar weather. (I can't complain much though because it is warmer than at home!) Woody's Grandma, who is from Poland, is making us Kluski's for dinner tonight at his request. He's getting spoiled this week, his Mom made baby-back ribs last night for him, too. (Since you all know I very rarely cook meat!)

How was your weekend? Anyone race? Have you all taken down your holiday decorations?
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Saturday's workout -
None. Scheduled rest day.

Yesterday's workout -
5mile run
stretching

Today's workout -
4mile bike
4mile run
3x10 cable pull twists
3x12 lat pull downs
3x10 cable pull push downs
3x10 weighted side bends
3x10 weighted squats
3x10 seated row
3x12 front arm raise
3x10 bent arm side raise
stretching

5 For Friday

1. Tomorrow Woody and I are waking up way too early for a Saturday morning to head to the airport. We're going to Florida for several days to visit Woody's family: his mom, brother, and grandparents. We're both looking forward to the visit and to leaving this cold weather for a warmer climate. Today is the coldest day yet of the winter for us, so this is definitely great timing for our trip! I'm definitely going to take advantage of being in Florida by running each morning; I just have to remember what to wear when it's 50 degrees! I'm taking our computer and planning to post a few times while we're down there.

2. While at the airport, or on the plan (gotta love free wi-fi on Jet Blue), I am going to register for the Broad Street Run, a 10 mile race in Philly on May 1st. I've never run this race before, I've never run a race outside of NYC, but I've heard great things about it. I've also heard that it fills up quickly and since a lot of races seem to be filling up in record times this year, I'm definitely registering as soon as possible. I'm excited for this race for a few reasons: 1) It will be the first race I will travel for, 2) It's in Philly and I love Philly, 3) It's a new distance for me, 4) We'll also be celebrating my 30th Birthday, which is April 30th, that weekend (yep, now you know how old I am)! If you're running this race too, let me know!

3. NYC Winter Restaurant Week starts January 24th and runs through February 6th! This city has a ton of amazing restaurants (read: expensive) and this is a great time to enjoy 3-course meals at a more wallet-friendly price! Woody and I have taken advantage of almost every restaurant week since we've been out here. There's a list of over 300 participating restaurants and many of the menu's (which are pre-fixe) are posted. My one tip: knowing what the menu is beforehand is very helpful since you usually get two or three choices for each course. You don't want to sit down at the table and see that you don't want to try anything on the menu!

4. I found some funny ads the other day that I had to share with you! I'm not endorsing these products, but I do think they're perfect for a Friday laugh! 

Click HERE to watch

Click HERE to watch

5. If you're like me, you want to make sure that the foods you eat are healthy for you. That the meat you buy is the best meat you can get; definitely not the stuff pumped with hormones and antibiotics and who knows what else. Recently the USDA released a new set of regulations for many raw meat products requiring nutrition labels starting in 2012. Right now, a lot of the 'labels' on meat are more marketing terms than anything else. If you've ever been confused about the difference between 'grass-fed' and 'free-range' check out THIS article by Rodale.

What's on tap for your weekend?
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today's workout -
5.65mile/50min elliptical
3x10 bicep curls
3x10 hammer curls
3x10 overhead tricep extension
stretching

Runner Profile: Jordan White

Who is Jordan White? Well, to me, she's my 2nd cousin, or rather, the grandaughter to my Great Aunt & Uncle (whom I could write an entire post on because they're so cool). She's also a Junior at Vanderbilt University where she's an integral member of the Cross Country and Track teams. During the 2010 X-Country season she placed either 1st or 2nd in each race for her team.

A few other highlights from the 2010 season:

• She led the Commodores to a 13th place finish at Pre-Nationals with a 6K time of 21:21.6
• Earned second team All-SEC honors after placing 10th overall at the conference meet with a time of 21:18.46.
• Finished 11th overall at the NCAA South Regional (20:25.15) and earned a spot at the NCAA National Championship meet
• Placed 112th out of 255 participants at the NCAA National Championship meet with a time of 21:24.

Just before the holidays Jordan graciously agreed to answer a few questions for me about training, racing, the mental game, and what keeps her running. So, here's a look into the life of a college runner...

Getting Started
When and why did you start running? I first started running when I was 7. There was a race near my house called the Old Chatham Hunt Country 5k and as part of it they had a mile run for kids. I decided that I wanted to run the kids mile so I began “training” for it. I ran a Turkey Trot for the first time that same fall and in the spring I joined Chatham Gold which was a track and field program for kids my age.

What was your pre-college running experience like? I had a very good pre-college running experience. I was very lucky to be part of a talented team and I had an excellent coach that really helped me to consistently improve my running. When I started running track in high school I was competing in the 200 meters. Before long I moved up in distance to the 400 meters and 400 meter hurdles. By senior year I was running the 800 and 1500 meters and cross country. The only negative associated with my pre-college running experience would be fracturing my navicular bone in June of my senior year. I feared that it would prevent me from having a college running experience but thankfully I had a very good surgeon and am now competing injury and pain-free.

How/why did you choose Vanderbilt? I chose Vanderbilt because of the combination of academics and athletics. It was and still is an up and coming program and I knew that I would be able to make an impact upon it while at the same time receiving a top-notch education. After I made my official visit to campus the choice was quite easy.

Who has been most influential to you when it comes to running? My high school coach, Carlo Cherubino, has by far and away been the most influential person on my running career. He has always believed in me and has greatly shaped the runner that I am today. We still correspond while I am at school and when I return home for breaks I always stop in at his practices to visit with him and run with his team.

Have you always been a cross country runner? By no means have I always been a cross country runner. I did not pick up cross country until my senior year of high school and this past season was only my third cross country season ever. I played soccer (instead of running cross country) every fall season through my junior year.

The Mental Game
What were your goals going into this last season? Going into this last season my goal was really just to be in our team’s top five. I had different goals for each race but they tended to change as the season went on.

What are your goals for your running career? After this upcoming track season I will still have two years of eligibility. First and foremost I want to finish out my collegiate career healthy and injury free. In cross country I would like to improve upon my finishes at the more prestigious meets and help my team earn a bid to NCAA’s. In track I want to lower my times in the 800 meters and the 1500/mile and compete in the regional meet at the end of the outdoor season.

Do you prefer running alone or with others? I enjoy both and it usually depends on the day. Some days I need a good solo run to clear my head or just do some thinking. On days where I want to chat or don’t really feel like running it definitely helps to run with others.

How do you stay motivated? Tiredness and winter weather definitely affect my motivation but I know that I always feel better once I am running and that usually gets me out the door. It is definitely easier to stay motivated at school when I have teammates to run with and they are equally as motivated.

Do you have any pre-race rituals? The night before and the morning of a race always involve some rituals. I eat the same dinner and breakfast before every race and I always wait to shave my legs until the night before the race. When we leave the hotel the morning of the race I have my iPod playing and I am listening to my “XC Warm-Up” playlist.

Any superstitions? I have a pair of socks and a sports bra that I wear for every race.

Technicalities
Do you stretch before each run? What is your warm-up routine? I don’t have any formal stretching or warm-up routine before my runs. If anything feels particularly tight I will try and stretch it out a bit before I start running.

What are you favorite distances? In cross country my favorite distance is the 6k. I think of it as three 2ks and that helps me to keep my focus during it. In track I have always enjoyed the 800 but I’m becoming more and more of a fan of the 1500/mile.

How important is strategy when it comes to training and racing? How do you devise your strategies? Strategy is not particularly important to my training and racing. With training my main strategy is not to over-train. When it comes to racing, strategy is a bit more important. Most of our strategy involves running as a tight pack and trying to place that pack ahead of most teams’ third runners.

Do you run any races that aren’t associated with the NCAA? I usually run a Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning (although this year I did not). This past June I also ran in the Freihofer’s Run for Women in Albany, NY.

What is the off-season like for you? Running never really seems to have an off-season. We do take about two full weeks off after the outdoor season before we start summer training. During summer training we cycle through three phases. Each phase has three weeks of quality followed by a recovery week. The first phase is all easy build-up mileage and the next two phases consist of a mix of workouts ranging from fartleks to tempo runs to 1000 meter repeats.

The Goods of Running
What’s the best part of running in college? Teammates are definitely the best part of college running. It is great having 17 other girls that are equally as motivated and that can push me to be the best runner I can be. In addition they are 17 of my best friends that I get to spend at least two hours with everyday. We are all very close and I know that I could turn to anyone of them for advice, support, or even just a good laugh.

How do you like to celebrate a great race? Celebrating a great race usually involves a lot of relaxation. After returning from a meet I will take a long, hot shower and put on my most comfortable sweats. Some teammates and I might get some frozen yogurt and if it has been a really great race, I will take the night off from homework and watch a good movie.

What is your favorite running memory? My favorite running memory would be from this past cross country season at the regional meet. The official results were not posted for quite awhile and I had pretty much convinced myself that I had not qualified. A few of my teammates and I were watching the boys run when my Mom came to join us. She had her camera and I wanted to see the pictures she had taken during our race. The first one I saw when I turned the camera on was one of the official results. I zoomed in and realized that I had qualified. It was a great feeling knowing that all my training and hard work had paid off. As only one other person in Vanderbilt history had made NCAA’s (in 1997), qualifying was particularly special.

What is your favorite tip for runners? Leave your watch behind every once in awhile and just run how you feel. I absolutely love my Garmin but sometimes I get too caught up in paces and distances. And in doing so I sometimes lose sight of why I am running. When I run without my watch, I find that I listen to my body and that I run for the pure joy of running.


In Action

Were, or are, you a college runner? What's your favorite thing about it?

On a personal note, today is Woody's Birthday! I'm so lucky to have been able to celebrate so many of his birthday's with him and am excited for the many more ahead of us! There's a lot to look forward to in the future and we're blessed to be able to celebrate today. I am incredibly thankful to his mother and father for bringing him into this world!

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today's workout -

4mile run

3x10 cable push down

3x10 cable pull twists

2x30sec planks on exercise ball

stretching

So...How'd I Do?

As the 2010 ended I decided to lighten my load a bit by checking out of some of the many e-newsletters I receive each day and I said I'd be accountable for this by checking in two weeks later. Well, it's been two weeks. Let's see how I did!

AdAge Daily
MediaVOX
Ragan's Daily Headlines
HARO
NY Times Media Decoder
ProBlogger Blog Tips
NY Times Today
TastingTable NYC
Vital Juice Everywhere
Vital Juice New York
Pop Sugar Daily Digest
Daily Candy
Flavorpill
Jetsetter
Tablet
The Beauty Bean
Eat This, Not That
Weight Watchers
Hungry Girl
Healthy Bitch Daily
Runner's World
Women's Health Daily Dose
New York Road Runners
Living Social
Groupon
And 1 (or 6) retailers and blog feeds

Okay, so it doesn't look like I've done that well, but I do swear that I have unsubscribed from quite a few. I have taken myself off the list for all but one retailer, which is a good start too. I'll continue to try and delete a few here and there and I'm definitely not going to sign up for any more. I don't mind when they ask for a little feedback, hopefully they use it to better their offerings, but I do have to say, some of these websites can be a little annoying when you try to unsubscribe. Like those who as you, more than once, if you're sure that you really want to unsubscribe, and that it wasn't just a mistake that you clicked that tiny link at the bottom of the email. Others send you an email confirming you are off their list and won't get more emails!

Did you also vow to declutter your inbox during the New Year? How have you done with it?

I didn't get to Zumba last night because I had to stay late at work (this is why I go to the gym in the morning!) to get ready for a client meeting today but then was cancelled late last night. Too bad the snow storm wasn't that bad afterall and the streets are clean.
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today's workout -
50min/5.7mi elliptical
stretching

Sportswear Review: GoGirl Sport

Back in December Susan, from Go Girl Sports, contacted me to see if I'd like to try out a piece of the workout wear from their line. I took a look at their website and thought they had some interesting designs and to give it a try. Specifically, the Vortex v-neck top.

About the top (from the site): designed to maximize both form and function. Stylish contrast stitching adds a subtle touch of flair to our white performance T. Mesh panels provide superior ventilation and an added touch of style. Seams are sewn flat and offset from areas that are prone to chafe. Moisture wicking fabric ensures you'll stay cool while working up a sweat.

Sporting the Vortex V pre-workout and still looking sleepy!

Initial thoughts: the weight of the top is pretty good and the fabric felt really soft and like the good moisture wicking pieces I have. The big logo on the back near the neckline is a bit large, but the overall design is pretty nice. Somehow in my decision making I didn't realize how sheer a lot of the top is. See the right side of the top below the pink line? That's all mesh! It's also like this around the back a bit and on the left shoulder. It's a bit more revealing (especially at the tummy) than I normally go for. Thus, I opted to give this a try when I was working out in the gym in our building since it usually isn't too busy.

Thoughts after wearing: The top was really comfortable and didn't bother me at all while I was running on the treadmill, on the elliptical or stretching and lifting weights. When I wasn't super-focused on my workout, I was still a little self conscious about the sheer fabric but I understand how they would help with breathability in hot weather. I definitely didn't get too hot like I sometimes do when working out indoors wearing a short sleeve top. I did like the v-neck design as crew necks often bother me during workouts. Overall I liked the top and will definitely wear it again. I may take it with me to Florida this weekend to try out when I go running outdoors (since it will be warm enough that I won't have to wear 3 layers!).

Thoughts about Go Girl Sports: The company, based in Arizona, was started by two friends, who are both athletes and passionate runners, went live two years ago but has been their work for four years. Right now, I think the offerings are pretty limited in design, but they are planning to add shorts and capris this year. I'd love to see a few more styles of tops, too, as right now there is only one tank and the back is completely sheer. I did notice, as I was writing this, that they've added more colors from when I picked out the top, so that's really great to see. I do love that they're making comfortable workout wear and that they're doing what they love. So I wish them tons of luck and I hope you'll check out their Facebook page HERE.

If you're interested in trying out some of their gear, GoGirl Sport is offering you a 20% discount with this code: 20SHEGO.

On a different running note, if you're looking for a great way to spend your evening, Hood to Coast is in theaters across the country for a one-night-only screening. It's an inspiring new documentary that follows four teams with various levels of athletic ability on their epic journey to conquer the world’s largest relay race. After the documentary, a panel of expert runners, Olympians and running world giants will discuss their experiences participating in the Hood to Coast relay. Panelists include Mary Decker Slaney, Bart Yasso, Kenny Moore, Bob Foote, Director Christoph Baaden, and others. Go HERE for more info on the film and check HERE for tickets.

Are you going?
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today's workout -
4mi run
.6mi warm-up/cool down
3x10 bicep curls
3x10 leg press
2x40sec planks
stretching

A Weekend That Was

Do you ever have the kind of weekend that was just 'eh'? That was my weekend.

It started by me working till 7:30pm Friday night and not getting to eat my lunch until 9pm. You read that right, I had taken a great lunch to work that I had made (sweet potato, black beans, broccoli, carrots) but the day was so hectic with so many impromptu meetings that I never had a chance to eat it! Good thing I had some carrot sticks, hummus and an apple at my desk to munch on.

Saturday morning was too cold for me to run outside. I had been wishing it would be warm enough, but the wind chill would have been brutal on my sinuses and I would have spent more time blowing my nose than running, so I opted for the gym instead. I actually had a pretty great workout nonetheless - doing four miles on the Woodway (an awesome treadmill with a softer belt), a half an hour on the elliptical and spending some time with the free weights and exercise ball. Felt strong and in good spirits when I headed back to the apartment.

Afterwards I had some errands to run that took me all throughout the city. Sometimes it takes me longer to do things than I think it takes the average person, so my errands took most of the afternoon. I was kind of exhausted, hungry and had only found about half of the things I had set out for by the time Woody met me at the Shake Shack to try out their infamous salted peanut butter hot chocolate. It kind of surprised me how many people were there eating outside as the snow fell. Kind of pretty, too though. The hot chocolate was pretty good. Thankfully not as thick as I had thought it would be, but it did fulfill my hunger pangs! And best of all, we didn't have to wait in line for a hour to get it!

We finally made it home after a long wait in the TJ's line and I collapsed on the couch before we made dinner together. On the menu - wild salmon, TJ's wild rice blend, black beans, and kale. I had one of the straight-from-the-grower oranges for dessert.

It was pretty good, but we've done better. At the very least, it was a healthy dinner after a very decadent snack earlier in the afternoon.

Sunday morning I woke up feeling blah. I just didn't have a ton of energy but I knew that working out would probably help. Once again, it was prohibitively cold (at least for me) so I went downstairs to the gym in our building. Unfortunately though, working out didn't give me much more spunk. I spent an hour on the elliptical and did a bit of ab work but I didn't have enough in me to do more. I guess I was a bit disinterested, so I headed back up stairs and got to work with my chores. Before 12:30pm I had done my laundry, a load of towels, cleaned the floors, taken a shower and eating breakfast. I felt pretty accomplished.

Breakfast was the highlight - eggs, whole grain toast, hummus, a salad and one of the very tasty grapefruits that came with the oranges! Oh, and I can't forget coffee.

Unfortunately I had to stick around the apartment all afternoon because I was on call to proof a deck I'm working on with co-workers for a big meeting this week and it seems that none of the coffee shops in FiDi (and there aren't many) have WiFi. I love spending a couple hours every Sunday at a coffee shop reading and relaxing. Plus it gets me out of the apartment while Woody watches Football! I didn't get the file until well after 7pm. Oh well. Such is the working girl's life.

This morning's workout was much better than yesterdays! At least that's something!

How was your weekend? Any highlights?
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saturday's workout -
4mile run
35min elliptical
3x10 seated row
3x10 weighted side bends
100 crunches
3x10 ball throw/squat

Sunday's workout -
60min elliptical
100 crunches
3x40sec planks

Today's workout -
60min elliptical
3x10 cable pull twists
3x10 front straight arm raise
3x10 overhead tricep extension

5 For Friday

Well, we've almost made it through the first week of 2011! How has it gone for you? It hasn't been too bad for me, but I'm definitely looking forward to the weekend! Here are a few random things I wanted to share with you...

1. I read about an interesting app the other day that helps people pair their food and drink (not just wine). It is the mobile version of the best selling book What to Drink with What You Eat so you can figure out what works together when you're at a restaurant, wine shop, grocery store. I don't have an iPhone, so I haven't used this myself, but it sounds really useful and incredibly convenient!

2. I've talked about one of my favorite Michigan small businesses before - Cherry Republic. The other day, I got their e-newsletter (I won't be unsubscribing from this one) and learned about a very interesting and unusual promotion they're running. Apparently, they're helping out people who received gift cards for the holidays that they don't want by bartering with them for CR products! So far they've exchanged Boomchunkas, salsa and more for Barnes & Noble, Cheesecake Factory, Am Ex and other gift cards. Is it just me or is this not a great idea for a small business to gain even more loyalty from their customers!?

3. Sunday night an email came through on my blackberry from our group leader at work telling us there had been a flood in the office. She said it wasn't too destructive but some things had been moved around and a few people would be displaced until everything was cleaned up. Well, it was a little worse than we had been led to believe. Half the office was full of industrial fans, all the baseboards were torn off the walls, carpet was pulled up and bubbly. It was a mess. And loud. Finally the fans disappeared yesterday but the place is still a mess and there's a constant musty smell. Hopefully the insurance check will come soon and the carpet can be replaced. It's definitely been an interesting first week back.

4. Have you ever read Reader's Digest? (I love the reader submitted jokes) They just launched a new website and e-newsletter with a corresponding twitter account, MyBestYou. It's aimed at women 35 and over and "serves as a guide for looking great, staying healthy, eating well and embracing life." Reader's Digest has been a respected magazine for decades and I hope this website does well as an extension of the brand.

5. Woody and I received an incredibly great package yesterday! His mom sent us a box of honeybell oranges and grapefruits from Florida. She sent us a box in December and just as we were finishing them off, here arrives another box! Woody is extremely excited as he loves his citrus. I only just started eating grapefruit last year (I thought it was too tart until then) but I do love a good orange. As he said "we'll be all sorts of healthy this winter!"

What's the best thing that's happened to you during the first week of 2011?
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today's workout -
none. much needed rest day.

A Disappearing Act

Please indulge for one day, I'm going to stray from the usual today. In no way is this post directly related to running, health, fitness, nutrition, food... basically any of the topics I normally cover. Instead it's about book stores.

There have been rumours for a few years now, that Borders, a national bookstore chain based in Michigan, has been on shaky grounds. I remember meetings when I was working for a record label when we'd talk about the situation Borders was in and how they were decreasing the number of album titles they'd stock in stores. Now I'm reading articles about the latest on Borders, holding off payments to publishers and some distributors are ceasing shipments.

I love going to bookstores. When I was in middle school and high school there wasn't a whole lot to do in our town (I was not one to go looking for trouble) so my friends and I would often hang out at the local coffee shop which was attached to a bookstore. Woody and I still can spend hours looking through books adding to our long list of books to read. Kind of like going to a record store. Putting on the massive headphones that are invariably too big, to try out as many albums as possible before settling on a few to take home. It seems that not as many people like to hang out in bookstores and record shops as they used to. This past Saturday Woody and I made a trip uptown to the big Barnes & Noble store at Lincoln Center. It was one of the best bookstores in the city, until it closed it's doors for good Sunday night.

While I spend a huge amount of my time online, it does make me a little sad to see these places go. They are great places to meet friends, to find new and exciting treasures and of course, they're a great source of jobs, too. One of the saddest things about the possible demise of Borders is that it could result in thousands of more jobs lost in Michigan, where the employment levels are already so low. I get that people are buying fewer books, hey, our own use of the library far outweighs the number of books we purchase now, and I do see the benefits of e-readers and buying online, but I still find it sad to see book stores close - local shops too.

Some people are happy to see big chains close, not because people lose their jobs, of course, but because they often put the local stores out of business when they open. I definitely appreciate and love to support small businesses, and there are some big ones that I'd rather not see expand any more than they have, but I do not like to see people lose their jobs or opportunities to be exposed to things like books and music be diminished.  Who knows though, maybe if Borders does close, some of those employees will go and open their own small bookshops. Now, that would be a great thing.

How do you feel about this?
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today's workout -
50min/5.6mile elliptical
3x10 leg press
3x10 hammer curl
3x10 bicep curl
stretching

Fitness Class Review: Zumba!

It's been a while since I've done one of these fitness class reviews. It's about time I got to another one, right?

One thing you may not know about me is that I love to dance. I didn't play on a sports team, I went to dance classes. I took them from kindergarten through my junior year in high school. Jazz, tap, ballet, point. I loved it. In college, I would dance at every party and my friends and I would go dancing whenever possible. I don't know if I was actually any good, but at the time I thought that I was and we were having fun.

Given my love of dance and music, it's a tiny bit odd that I married a guy with no rhythm who hates to dance. (The fact that I love everything else about him outweighed this minor flaw!) It means I haven't gone dancing in years. So when I decided I really needed to shake things up with my workout routine this year, I decided to try the Zumba class at our gym that's held Tuesday nights. I don't have to leave work early to get there and I can even fit in the extra strength workout I want to do each week before the class starts!

If you're not familiar with Zumba, it's a Latin-inspired dance fitness class that uses high energy music and burn many calories. There are six types of classes, including aqua zumba and zumba toning, but the class I took was the basic type. The class last night was full, about 40 people, of all ages and ethnicity and both female and male! I spoke with a woman before class who has been going for a while and loves the class and instructor, Heather Fay, who is apparently very popular. I found out quickly that she has a lot of energy and kept people going. She wasn't critical and didn't go around the room correcting people's forms or how they were moving. She literally just danced and let everyone dance along with her, and it makes sense because the website describes Zumba as a dance fitness-party.

Truth be told, I was lost for about 75% of the class, but since a most of the students knew the routines, I imagine that after another class or two I'll be right in step. As Heather said at the start of the class, "there's no thinking in Zumba. Just feel the music and dance!"

Class Info:
Type: Zumba
Location: New York Sports Club - Wall St
When: Tuesday nights @ 7pm
Instructor: Heather Fay

This class was fun and really didn't feel like a workout, even though it really was. I can't wait to go back next week!

If you've tried Zumba, I'd love to hear what you thought about it! Do any of you runners reading this take fitness classes as cross training or to just mix things up?
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last night's workout -
55min Zumba class
3x12 lat pull down
3x12 seated row
3x10 hip abductor
stretching

today's workout -
50min/5.6mile elliptical
3x10 cable push down
3x12 overhead triceps extension
3x10 cable pull twist
stretching