My healthy happier life

ashleyd / October 16, 2013

Running & Greens

Happy Tuesday! I feel like today was book marked on either end by greens and running.

I hope you all had a good day. Instead of taking this week as vacation, I am working from my old office until Friday when we head up to Saratoga Springs for Melissa and Frank’s wedding weekend.

Before heading to the office I headed out to the streets for my first run since the marathon. I headed up Third Avenue and ran 3 miles at a relaxed pace while zoning out. I definitely don’t miss the smell of city garbage piled up on the sidewalks or crowded sidewalks as even at 6am I was dodging in and out of people and trash piles. My legs were a little tight, especially my right hamstring, but otherwise the run felt easy.

It felt so surreal taking the 6 train and my old commute to work this morning. I’m so thankful for this experience to live abroad but I do miss New York City.

I left the office for a quick lunch around 1pm, eager to try Organic Avenue’s new fall menu items. I follow them on social media and immediately added their roasted squash and beet salad to my list of things to try this week. It exceeded my expectations! Per the suggestion of the staff, I drizzled the dressing on my salad as soon as I returned to the office but let it marinate for 10-15 minutes before eating. While the salad is definitely an expensive lunch option, it was a nutritious and filling treat. Roasted Squash & Beet Salad

Golden beets, roasted shallots, and aromatic fennel come together to create a perfect flavor combination. Hearty kabocha squash, thought to be a good source of beta-carotene, rounds out this salad that captures the essence of the cooler months.
Calories 260 Sat Fat 2.5g Sugars 10g

After work I met Jen for another run. Our schedules are a bit different this week and the only time we could manage to meet up was this evening. Since she is a busy mom who fits running and training in between her busy family and work life, I thought that running her plan’s easy 4 miles with her was a perfect way to catch up. It also gave us a chance to enjoy some evening views along the Hudson River and perfect 55 degree weather.

We talked non-stop which made the miles fly! We had so much to catch up on including her marathon training, Staten Island Half Marathon and upcoming travel. I can’t believe that it’s almost been a year since we met! While a great deal has changed over the past year, she is still just as strong and inspiring as ever before. Whether she realized it or not, she gave me some great words of advice today during our run and I’m so thankful for this one on one time we had together.

After the run I spent the next 90 minutes on the massage table at 21st Street Equinox. I hadn’t booked any type of post marathon massage and after today’s 7 miles I knew that my legs would appreciate it and it would help with recovery. Luckily Carlos Blain had a last minute opening. This man worked magic on my legs and back by using a combination of massage therapy, physical therapy stretches and professional strength icy hot. He is a certified physical therapist by training but as his certification from Argentina didn’t transfer when he moved, he is practicing massage therapy in NYC.

Last but not least, I finally tried Juice Press! After hearing about their delicious juices and smoothies from Gia and Theodora this was another item on my list this week. A Turmeric Sports Tonic and The Love of Kale Salad was the perfect dinner tonight while catching up on this week’s Homeland. The turmeric has healing effects while also being a natural immune booster, perfect for my body post marathon. The manager suggested that this would help with my muscle repair and hydration after the deep tissue massage as well. The salad consisted of kale, arugula, tomatoes, raisins, carrots, and quinoa along with a garlic and tahini dressing which also included a hint of mint. Delicious! Why did this open just 3 blocks from our old apartment AFTER we moved?

Overall, today was a pretty perfect day. I hope I continue to have opportunities that bring me back to New York City a few times a year as it’s nice to reconnect with good friends and colleagues while also trying some new restaurants and workouts.

Are you a kale fan? If so, how do you prepare it at home? I need some recipe suggestions so I can keep the love alive in Geneva!

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ashleyd / October 14, 2013

Sunday Funday

Sunday funday is something that Bo nor I rarely participated in when we lived in the city. Sunday was often a day we protected for errands, relaxing, cooking, and preparing for the week together.

When I realized that I’d be back from Hartford by 1pm on Sunday, my sole request to Theodora was a Sunday Funday. I wanted to enjoy time in the city with friends but I didn’t want there to be any crazy plans as lately my life has been over programmed.

We started our afternoon at Madison Square Eats, one of my favorite spots in the city. Each season they have different vendors from around the different boroughs selling everything from beer and lobster roles to Korean barbecue!

After exploring the stalls we settled on sharing a seasonal beer and lobster role from Red Hook Lobster Pound. Enjoyed under yesterday’s blue sky and sunshine while having some quality one on one girl time, it was pretty perfect and delicious!

From Madison Square Park we meandered down to Lululemon where I bought my annual marathon reward. This year I went with a pair of Speed Tight Cozy winter running pants and a black Scuba Hoodie.

From there we strolled down to the West Village where we snagged a spot in Blind Tiger, a great craft beer bar which was luckily not taken over by NFL football fans. For the next four hours we talked non-stop.

I think Katie summarized it perfectly – the atmosphere felt as if I’d never left. The beer wasn’t bad either. Throughout the afternoon I sipped on A Little Sumpin’ Wilde Ale from Lagunitas Brewing Company and New Holland Beer Hive. Both were so flavorful that I quickly forgot that Blind Tiger was out of their pumpkin beer and didn’t have any traditional “seasonal” beers on tap. Of course no catch up session with girls is complete without pictures. Can we talk about my cheeks? I think that’s called post marathon water retention or just happiness.

We ended the evening a few blocks down the road at one of my favorite Mexican restaurants in the city, Agave.

There we each consumed one too many margaritas, all the guacamole, and delicious tacos before saying goodnight. I am so thankful these ladies came out for a Sunday Funday and made me feel like I really have just been gone on an extended business trip.

Things like this help me realize that while there are thousands of miles between us on a daily basis, it hasn’t changed our friendships. Yes we have to work a bit harder and ensure we stay in touch via WhatsApp, phone, GChat, and emails, but in the end it’s worth it!

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ashleyd / October 13, 2013

ING Hartford Marathon Recap

Yesterday morning Amy and I woke up bright and early ready to run our hearts out in each of our respective races, the half marathon and marathon. We both slept wonderfully the night prior and literally jumped out of bed when our alarms went off. We enjoyed a cup of coffee, toast with peanut butter and banana, and some water before leaving for the race. We drove Amy’s rental car downtown and were elated to find easy parking within 5 minutes of the start. There were a number of parking decks in downtown Hartford, open yesterday morning, within walking distance of the race start. We were especially surprised to find that parking was only $5, even on race day! By 7:10 we were in the VIP area, thanks to Danielle and the race’s generosity. They allowed me, Amy, and a few of my runner friends access to the area to make our experience as smooth as possible as part of my partnership with the ING Hartford Marathon. The VIP area was amazing with a dedicated area for elite runners, plenty of tables, bathrooms, food, and water for everyone before the race. We had a perfect view of the finish line, as you can see above! We were able to easily meet up with Laura and Melissa Z who were also running the marathon before heading over to the starting line together which was right near Bushnell Park. The start was truly a party with fun music pumping. The 4 of us were dancing in the starting corral in between stretching!

I am not sure how long it took us to cross the start as I didn’t look at the clock but I’d say we crossed the start within 10 minutes of the gun going off. Later in the race I would regret this choice.

Lesson #1 of the day: In any race, always look at the clock time when you cross the start so you know your time difference versus the race clocks along the course.

The first mile of the race flew by and before we knew it we said goodbye to Amy who veered right for the half marathon course. Melissa Z and I made plans earlier in the week to run together for at least the first 13 miles. This plan worked flawlessly as we reminded each other to fuel, sip water and keep our pace as close to 10:18 as possible. The first few miles of the course were through downtown Hartford and an overpass before we headed down into Riverside Park. Miles 3-8 were along the river in Riverside Park and absolutely beautiful. There was a decent amount of shade and due to the narrow course along these miles, many runners started talking with each other. The two of us primarily listened as we were trying to save energy, but it still helped the time pass.

Around Mile 8, as we exited the park’s lovely shade, I realized just how warm the last 18 miles would be. Unlike my previous 3 marathons where I barely sweat the entire race, due to cold temperatures, sweat was dripping into my eyes beginning at mile 8. I mentioned to Melissa that this was going to be very different than expected due to full sun, warm temperatures and humidity but she just said to focus and forget about it.

Lesson #2 of the day: If there is any sunshine or heat predicted, especially more than you are accustomed to, wear a visor to help block sun and sweat from face.

Lesson #3 of the day: When you realize temperatures or conditions may affect your run, think about altering your time goals early on in the race so you adjust and don’t burn out early. (Runner’s Connect has a great tool which adjusts your goal paces for you based on temperature. This shows I should have adjusted to a 10:27 versus 10:18 since it felt like 70 while we were running yesterday.)

After the scenic beauty of the park, we exited onto a street for miles 9-12 which weren’t very memorable. In fact, I recall a business park, some industrial park and an awesome volunteer who was out there with her oxygen tank. The sun was growing very warm at this point but we kept on our pace goal and even saw Kristin and her husband cheering around this point! (Thanks for the picture Kristin!)

It was also around these miles where Melissa and I decided to take advantage of the multiple water stations. Hartford Marathon was had a water and Gatorade station at EVERY mile which was incredible especially considering yesterday’s weather. I wanted to ensure that I didn’t run out of NUUN in my CamelBak so I took a sip of water or Gatorade every other mile at this point. At mile 10 we both took salt shots, minus the tequila, to help us since we were both sweating profusely.

Lesson #4: Always carry salt packs with you as you never know when you’ll need them. You can grab them at any fast food restaurant and they are perfect to use on a hot day!

Mile 14 we hit the out and back part of the race, which would last for 6 miles. I enjoy out and backs courses as I love watching for friends or running outfits on the other side. In smaller races, such as Hartford, it provides a good change of scenery. We hit a gradual 2 mile incline as we started heading up Main Street. Main Street was dotted with homes and fall foliage, not quite as nice as I was expecting, but still very quaint and very “New England.” Unfortunately mile 14 is also where things started to go south. Melissa felt we were going fast and her Garmin had us running closer to a 10 minute pace while my watch showed we were around 10:20. We asked people next to us and they said they were running a sub 10. But, at this same time the 4:30 and 4:45 pace groups past us. I was wary of going too fast so decided to slow to Melissa’s watch. A few minute later, just as we passed the Mile 14 marker Melissa needed to stretch so I promised to stay on the right side of the road and slow my pace, in order for her to catch up. Unfortunately, I slowed my pace down to around an 11 minute pace at this point which really messed things up with my body. Suddenly I felt everything from my hips to my quads.

Lesson #5: Try to keep your pace within a few seconds of your goal pace for as long as possible as slowing or changing pace dramatically can affect your gait and muscles.

After stopping to stretch again at Mile 15 Melissa said I needed to proceed on my own as she didn’t know how long she could progress. We were both exceedingly hot at this point but Melissa was feeling ill. I took a 30 second too long stretch break and continued running. I put my headphones on at this point, thankful for my marathon playlist on Spotify. Around mile 16 I saw Laura running towards me and we exchanged quick smiles and waves. As expected, these miles were very quiet as there were only a few local families out spectating, many of which were just sitting outside watching versus cheering. I took my 3rd and last fuel pack around mile 16, wishing I had brought more. Luckily, there were multiple cyclists volunteers along the course passing out Gu packets. I grabbed 2 (tri-berry and vanilla) to save for later miles.

At Mile 18 I felt like complete crap. I was disgruntled that the pace groups had passed me. My Garmin which was 100% charged at the beginning of the race went dead. The moisturizer I put on was dripping in my eyes, which along with the salty sweat, burned and caused me to wince constantly. This was my lowest mile mentally as I just had no desire to continue running. I also knew that there was no one I knew cheering along any of these miles so I had very little to keep me motivated. Due to slowing my pace so early my hips and quads were tight in a way I had never felt before. At mile 19 I was forced to stop and stretch out a charlie horse in my calf. From this point on I told myself that I needed to be stronger. I had to get out of my head and just focus on putting one foot in front of the other whether walking, jogging, slogging, or running.

I had no idea what my pace through these miles was but did my best to jog for about 8 minutes and walk for 1-2 minutes. As I started this I also started keeping my eye on people, trying to pass them one by one. This worked wonderfully until mile 23.5 where I just hit the wall completely. I stopped to stretch and burst into tears. I’d trained so hard for this marathon and wanted a PR so badly. Without knowing my pace or the time, I had no idea how close or far from last years time I was. I felt like I had let Gia down as my coach. I felt like I’d let so many readers and friends down who had cheered and supported me and BELIEVED in my 4:30 goal. I probably stood there crying for about 2-3 minutes. Truly pathetic, I know. Now looking back it annoys me even more as if I’d been walking during these minutes or better yet jogging, I would have run a PR.

Then, this lovely woman who I’ll call Angel, since I didn’t get her name, came up and slapped me on the back. She said her goal had been to run sub 4:20, which she ran on the Hartford course last year, and had been following me all day. My pink tutu was the “rabbit” she was trying to keep up with after starting to feel fatigue early in the race. She said there was no way she was letting me hang out on the road. She motivated me to start jogging again and from that mile on we jogged to each water station. She warned me that the Founder’s Bridge, which we’d hit at 25.5, would feel like hell as it’s so late in the race. We kept moving over that bridge and then at mile 25.75 I saw a smiling face, Amy jumping up and down screaming at me. I was crying in both pain and excitement at this point. Amy hugged me and jumped in with me, as promised, to run the last half mile. She said that I’d crushed the first half, perfectly on pace. I laughed and told her that yes, I had crushed the first half and the second half had crushed me. I told her I was in pain and could only move at a slog until the last tenth a mile where I promised to give it my all. We passed Kristin and her husband at mile 26 who were cheering loudly and chanting. They were so incredible. The finish shoot was exactly what I expected, magically lined with gorgeous Fall mums and tons of spectators screaming their heads off, including Laura and her mom. The announcer called out everyone’s name as we crossed and at that point I was the happiest person in the world. Sure, I didn’t set a PR but not every race can be a PR. Yesterday’s marathon was about learning a lot, helping Melissa Z push through the first half, experiencing a new town and course, and finishing. After finishing I immediately followed Amy back towards the VIP area where we were able to celebrate with Laura, her mom, Kristin and her husband. There was delicious Harpoon beer, cold chocolate milk, candy corn, and a Mexican burrito bar waiting for me! We had a blast cheering on other runners until the course closed at the 6 hour mark. It was truly the perfect way to end a great day! Thank you again to Danielle and the rest of the Hartford Marathon Foundation staff who made yesterday possible. It was a wonderful weekend filled with friends, good food, great memories, and 26.2 miles which taught me more than I ever expected!