Monday Night Running

Tonight I reunited with my running partner/neighbor. We went for our very first run of the park together. Momentous occasion, I know. We met up after I was done with work, ran over towards the Met and entered by the path over there. We did a nice six mile loop.

It's interesting how a familiar route can feel different with someone else. We also had a lot to catch up on so the run went by very quickly. The drama known as my life can easily fill up 7.18 miles. Or at least I think it was 7.18 miles. These dang buildings keep messing up my satellite reception!

After the run we went to get our respective wallets so we could grab dinner.

Obviously I took that time to try out the timer function on Camera+ again. That's a normal, post-run pose.

It was pretty warm out and I was fine in leggings and my Target top. I think I looked pretty damn cute in my outfit. I also wore my hair in my side-part pony, which is reserved for mildly good hair days or when I am trying to catch the attention of attractive male runners. Or when I think there's a chance I might run past the Backgammon Partner's apartment and he might just happen to walk out of his building or get out of his car as I come past. For the record, we did not pass his place - probably for the best.

I'm a fat kid and clearly could not turn down the running neighbor's offer to get Chinese food. We went to Charley Mom's. This place is conveniently located near both of our apartments and for some inexplicable reason, I have never been there. I love Chinese food. I pride myself in my knowledge of Chinese food. This place somehow escaped me, but not anymore.

If you run with me, you have to get used to being photographed. He'll learn eventually.

We headed over to his place to enjoy our feast. I love when Chinese places give you enough utensils and sauces for twelve people, and you're like, "Umm, no. This is all for me. Just one set of utensils please."

Tasty treats!

On a related note, I drunkenly measured myself over the weekend. I came in at a dehydrated 139 lbs. But then I saw this:

Repeat after me: More running, less Chinese.

It's really not okay that more than a quarter of my body is fat. I think I need an intervention. Please feel free to post pictures of me in Chinese restaurants around Manhattan with a note that says, "Please don't feed the fat kid."

Night Moves

After spending a solid 12 hours in the office (6:45 - 6:45), I decided it was time to head on home and finish up any other tasks later on. One of my coworkers told me it was beautiful out and that I should run outside instead of going to the gym.

I headed over to the park to run the 6 mile loop. It ended up being warmer than I expected and I was more than fine in a pair of Matty M leggings and my Under Armour top. I could probably have gotten away with shorts.

My goal was to run hard and fast. I managed to keep my pace between 7 and 8:35 for most of the time - I think. Does anyone have serious Garmin satellite trouble on the Upper Eastside? The dang thing kept losing its satellite connection, which was fine for most of the time, until the run back to my apartment. Somehow an ~8.6 mile run became 9.7. I really want to geek out and analyze my splits but what sense do they make with this gross miscalculation?

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Why won't you work properly??

A lot of people were out in the park and I felt relatively safe. There was one serious creepshow that was wearing black dress pants with a grey sweatshirt and black running sneakers. He kept turning around like I was after him, and I kept thinking that he was probably up to devious things and was trying to disguise himself as a runner to prey upon innocent athletes. I made sure to make eye contact with each person I passed so that they would remember me in case I went missing. Another safety tip is to wear a piece of memorable gear so that runners and cyclists will be able to describe you if something were to happen. I like bright and fun patterned tops and shorts. In the summer I wear bright sunglasses and keep them on my head after dark.

I probably should have ditched my headphones but I have been listening to the Skrillex Pandora station lately  and needed dance party flashbacks to keep me moving. Does this happen to anyone else? I'll be listening to music and a song will come on and suddenly I'm pulling a Johnny Smith from The Dead Zone and vividly reliving some random morning with all that that entails.

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I actually really liked this show. The book was good, but it made me sad
after seeing how the show's story line played out.

I thought I saw Cookie in the park but the man with her didn't look like her dog walker, and then I realized that this pup had patches over each of her eyes. I miss that dog. I guess it's about time to announce that the 34 year-old and I have parted ways. It's been a few weeks and I am not particularly broken up about it. I've been spending some time with my backgammon partner.

Last night I was over at his place doing work. Yes. I was working at like 1 AM and he was taking notes on a book. Don't let anyone tell you I'm not a good influence.

Na Na Na - Cue up "Can't Get You Out of My Head"

One of the things that I dislike about myself (and let's be honest, I pretty much think I am perfect) is that I let boys get into my head. I really don't like playing games and I am ridiculously straightforward. I don't think that lends itself to playing hard to get. I end up over-analyzing every interaction and questioning if he actually likes me, kind of likes me, or only likes me at 4 in the morning on weekends.

After spending way too much time willing text messages to appear on my phone recently, I am consciously deciding to focus my energy on myself, and by myself I mean my job, my blog, and my gym membership.

The first thing I did today was commit to using Tap&Track to keep track of the calories I consume. My eating has been crazy lately. I don't think I remembered to eat dinner for four days, but there would be entire afternoons when I wouldn't stop eating. After eating a single portion of lasagna last week, I called up Hunan Delight and chased my dinner with Chinese food.

Giving new meaning to monkey in the middle.

I've been super geeking it up at work lately. I think my total disregard for looking cute has actually enhanced my cuteness. I leave you with this photo of me wearing my awesome headset. This allows me to frantically answer e-mails while pretending to be cool, calm, and collected on conference calls.

I am going to the gym after work today. If I don't, you all have permission to ask me the most embarrassing questions and I promise to answer each and every one of them on this blog.

Coffee and Watery Snot

Normally I like my coffee the way I like my kickboxing instructors: large, dark, and strong. However, the office is testing this new fancy coffeemaker and today I made myself a chai latte. Incredible what a big hunk of plastic can do. It's weird that I can drink 40 oz of straight black coffee, but I need Splenda to drink a latte. Calorie-wise, I should stick with the black coffee.

This morning I tried to use my netti pot but my sinuses are inflamed (something is going around the office and I don't respond well to heat being pumped into my apartment and I slept in a room where we had been smoking cigarettes the other night) and the water wouldn't come out! I have a head full of water. I have a feeling that this is going to be a very long day.

Running is Supposed to Feel Good?

I haven't felt as good as I did running this morning in months. My legs felt light and my left arch only bothered me a little at the beginning. My alarm went off at 5 but I texted T to push back our meeting time to 6. My apartment was just too cold to get dressed so I closed the windows at hopped back in bed until it warmed up a bit. After that I was raring to go. Maybe fresh contacts helped.

T and I ran the 6 mile loop clockwise. I felt pretty damn good all throughout the Harlem hills, but I soared from 72nd and 5th back to my apartment. I listened to the Dion Pandora station on the miles to and from the park. I need to remember that music can set the tone of a run (look at the pun!) even when I don't listen the whole time.

The only thing wrong with today's run was my struggle with my Garmin. At first I couldn't find the satellites so I said eff it and took off anyway. Then I forgot to restart it after I paused it to adjust my pants. I lost at least a mile. I also manage to hit lap multiple times a run even though I set it to auto lap. Major fail. There's nothing wrong with the Garmin. I'm just inept.

It's not like I haven't done this run multiple times. It should've totaled around 8 miles. I just wish I had an accurate time for my splits.

I am so mad at myself for not restarting my Garmin!

Full Contact Backgammon

So drunken backgammon has a way of stealing a few days.

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After the race on Saturday, we hit up Jackson Hole (home of the Honeymoon Salad) for a little brunch and daydrinking. Yeah, that daydrinking - it has a way of sneaking up on you. I was in bed by 10:30 PM, but found myself awake at 2:30 AM blending frozen tropical fruit with Fage yogurt in the Ninja Master Prep. And when I woke up at 8, there was a bag of frozen lima beans on my head.

Hangover prevention.

I received strongly worded messaging encouraging me to leave the comfy confines of my cozy bed, where I was reading peacefully, to participate in a Sunday Funday. We played backgammon and my partner was hot, as in "I'm going to stop b*tching about getting up to hang out with all of you when I should be catching up on the last episodes (ever!) of One Life to Live" hot. Totally missed my workout, but I think the aggressive victory fist pumping toned up my arms. That's right. We won every round.

In other good news, I now have someone to aggressively Facebook stalk. Eeek.

Ghost 4 Review

Now you might think I'm a little late to the party writing a Ghost 4 review more than six months after they hit the market. Since no one pays me to write reviews about their products (yet) or sends me free shoes to blog about (hint, hint), I review products as I buy them. I purchased my Brooks Ghost 4 running shoes a week before the ING NYC Marathon. (The marathon was on November 6th for all of those who don't have that date permanently seared into their memory.) I wore them once before the marathon and then spend a solid 4 hours, 21 minutes, and 44 seconds running in them. I like Brooks shoes. They're good to go from the box.

I also wore them for the Brooklyn Marathon two weeks later and the Garden City Turkey Trot four days after that. I noticed that I had a serious pain on the top of my foot. I'm not sure if the pain came from switching to the Ghost 4 from the Adrenaline, or if I was tying my laces too tight. I tend to do that, especially when I have new laces. Older laces have some give to them and seem to stretch out later in a run, while newer laces hold their tie. After the New York Marathon I might have created a sore spot that was later exacerbated by wear the same shoes tied too tightly again.

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I have the blue ones, obviously, since my favorite color is blue. (Take this into consideration when buying me presents.)

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I also really like the yellow and green ones. I think they would match a lot of my running outfits. (In case you were planning on buying me a present.)

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Brooks recently came out with a pink pair. I don't do Pepto Pink. I wish they were neon pink and then I'd be dying for a pair. However, this is the perfect shade of pink for breast cancer awareness, so if you're running a race for breast cancer, you should definitely consider buying these.

To buy your own, click here.

Should I Join In?

Today I was supposed to go running with a friend, but he never answered his phone. I ran to Roosevelt Beach and back. At 5.1 miles, I paused my Garmin and walked the short distance home to shake out my legs. They are so sore from Assia' pureMuscle class.

My route.

Today the ING New York City Marathon registration opened. I'm not sure if I have guaranteed entry or not. I joined New York Road Runners in April of last year and guaranteed entry says you must join by January. However, I contacted NYRR before volunteering for the Sprint Triathlon and I have an e-mail saying that if I run 9 races and volunteer for 1, I can have guaranteed entry to the 2012 marathon. Even if I do have guaranteed entry, I'm not sure if I should sign up because the race is $255 with an $11 processing fee this year. Last year it was $170. I just signed up for the Yonkers Marathon for 40 bucks.

Do you think I should join in? Are you running the 2012 ING NYC Marathon?

Matty M Running Tights

I started off 2012 with Assia Winfield at Equinox. I went to pureMuscle and I am sure I am going to feel it in my legs tomorrow.

I went to the Century 21 after class to look for Matty M leggings. Strangely, my favorite running tights are not intended for running. My mom bought a pair for me back in November and told me they were for running. I started to wear them and I loved how they stayed in place. The material isn't typical legging cotton either. I tried to google Matty M running tights the other day and the lack of hits should've been my first sign. It was only after going to Century 21 today that I realized that these pants are for regular wearing. No bother. I bought three more pairs.