ashleyd /

30 Days

In 30 days, I will complete the ING NYC Marathon for the 3rd time.  I’ll be damned if the third time isn’t the charm this year. (2011 recap and 2010 recap here)

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30 days equates 20 more days of work, 15 more work group runs, and a few weekends of fun.

That seems like such a long time for someone who just ran a 20 miler.

For someone who still has 3 long runs before taper begins, that seems like forever.

This year, I’ve put in the training and my mentality is better than ever before.

My plan for the next 30 days is pretty simple in words, but harder in execution.

  • Sleep more.
  • Eat better.
  • Foam roll often.
  • Incorporate beet juice and tart cherries sparingly into my diet to help with muscle recovery.
  • Practice yoga at least once a week, including 2 Yoga for Runners workshops.
  • Run with my co-workers 3 times per week for the next few weeks to keep from getting bored.
  • Keep focusing on positive thinking during long runs.
  • Take my marathon outfit on a test run during my last long run.
  • Attend Coach Cane’s (made famous on Ali’s blog) session on The Perfect Taper at Jack Rabbit UWS on October 17th at 6:30pm
  • Start to plan a few informal meet-ups with lovely blog friends who are NYC bound for the marathon like Monica, Christine and Amanda!

While there is still a lot to do for the big day, I think the fact that my  mind is already in the right place gives me more hope than ever before. Someone give me a Sharpie because this girl wants to write a few things on her arm come marathon day:

Here’s to the next few weeks!

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ashleyd /

S(egg)xy Food

Happy Hump Day! I don’t know about you guys but this week has been a tough one. There is a lot going on at work and at home. Bo and I are trying to figure out our Thanksgiving plans which is proving to be a nightmare. Flight prices skyrocketed overnight and literally even Amtrak costs over $1,500! Luckily I had a really good conversation with both my parents and brother today about the situation so we’re all working together to do research and find solutions.

While I was sitting in meetings yesterday, Meg was able to represent HHB at a fun lunch event. I’ll turn it over to her to share a delicious recipe and recap of yesterday’s event. Check out the food! Holy food porn!Candice Kumai knows that sexy isn’t just on the outside, it’s also what you put on the inside.
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Today, the folks at Egglands Best sponsored lunch at Bryant Park Grill, where I got a sneak peek at her new cookbook, Cook Yourself Sexy. I had the chance to hear directly from Kumai while getting to know other New York City health and wellness bloggers.

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The book is more than recipes and food porn. Kumai includes lists of kitchen essentials, healthy tips and even a seven day plan to kick start healthy eating habits.

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I ordered the Poached Egg over Mushroom, Spinach and Potato for my appetizer and the Sun Dried Tomato and mushroom Frittata for my entrée.

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The poached egg was perfect. The egg white was hard but the gooey yolk oozed all over the vegetables. My only complaint was that having a whole potato was too much. In fact, the egg could have been served without the potato and I would have still enjoyed the dish just as much. The frittata was delicious, nothing overly special, but a great recipe to have in your back pocket. I love making quiche partly because it’s a great meal to reheat for a quick dinner. The frittata recipe has inspired me to ditch the crust to save a few calories and a little bit of time!

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By the end of the meal I was stuffed, but there was no way I was going to leave without trying the desserts. The crème brûlée was AMAZING! Usually crème brûlée is one of those desserts that I have to split because it is so rich and dense. This crème brûlée was very light and came in perfectly portioned cups. I put a little bit of it on top of my Cherry-Pistachio Clafoutis to add some extra sweetness to the nutty flavor.

The hangover burrito was a big hit at the lunch and after reading the recipe, sounds right up my alley.

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I’m so excited to make the burrito along with all of the other exciting (and healthy!) recipes in this book.
What recipes make you feel sexy?

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ashleyd /

My October Mantra

Greetings on a very Fall like day in New York City. The weather has been overcast and brisk today, the winds dusting the city with fallen leaves and reminding locals that winter isn’t far away.

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I welcomed Fall with a vibrant pop of orange and my favorite tall boots.  (Necklace, blouse (similar and similar) , skirt, and similar tall boots)

After a day that seemed to include one stressful email after another, I actually made it home by 7:15. I had a craving to jump in the kitchen as soon as I walked through the door. For the next hour I cooked and baked, the stress melting away from my shoulders as I listened to the new Mumford & Sons cd, Babel, in the background.

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Now that I’ve given you a run down of my day, let me share with you this month’s mantra. I’ve thought long and heart about this over the past few days and during my training session today with Lauren, the topic finally reared it’s head as we talked about the next month of marathon training.

I’ve always been the type person who likes to stay busy. I’ve also been the type person who likes to please people and follow through on commitments.

According to my mom, that often leads to someone who a daughter who causes her own stress due to saying yes too often.

Therefore, my October mantra is a bit unexpected.

Just Say No!

This month is about taking a step back, focusing on my biggest goals and making sure that I don’t allow anything to block the way.

Right now, my biggest goals both personally and professionally are as follows:

  • Begin to onboard to my new role at work while still managing and delivering the business for my current role.
  • Finish the NYC Marathon in under 4:45 on November 4th while smiling and feeling strong.

In order to push my body during workouts for each of the next four weeks, especially the next 2 weeks before taper, I need to fuel my body with quality fuel and get plenty of rest. In order to balance marathon training with my new work demands due to my promotion, I need to have the time to stay at the office late when I need to and be mentally alert and focused. While balancing these two goals I also want to continue to focus on being a better wife, daughter, friend, and sister. This means making time for phone calls, Skype sessions, evening sofa sessions watching Homeland with Bo, long walks in the city, and nights out with friends.

So there you have it. The person who always says yes may get caught saying no this month.

Question: Do you have a mantra this month? If not, what are your goals for the month?

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