ashleyd /

Run, Work, Greens & Repeat

Happy Tuesday!

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.

IMG_3252_thumb.jpgIt 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.

IMG_3258Roasted 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.

IMG_3263IMG_3261We 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.

IMG_3270Last 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 /

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 /

It’s Getting Real

Two weeks from now we’ll be on the couch, elevating my legs, chugging water, and relaxing like it’s our job.

Until then, we’re hanging out in taper town as much as possible when not doing silly things like an accidental speed workout or a too hard spin class. Other things that occur during taper are freaking out about shoes.

On Thursday night I asked my Facebook marathon running friends for help regarding my shoes. My Brooks Adrenaline 12’s weren’t supporting me this week during my runs leading to shin splints and achy legs. When I referenced Daily Mile I realized that they had over 400 miles on them! Oops! Thanks to lots of feedback and experience from my friends, I headed to the New York Running Company near my work on Friday night after many phone calls. Evidently finding Brooks Adrenaline women’s shoes in size 11 isn’t easy. After 6 no’s, the folks at New York Running Company told me they already had the new style, 13, which I could try on their treadmill.

It was my first time in the store but I was thoroughly impressed. Lately the Jack Rabbit location near me, Union Square, hasn’t left me impressed though I’ll always love their shoe delivery program.

The store was bright and vibrant, even at 7pm. But, the first thing that caught my eye weren’t the shoes but the NIke table greeting me as I entered the front door.

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I love all of these though I really wish the black one that reads 26.2 Mile Block Party was easier to read because it’s such a fun idea! While I didn’t make a purchase last night, I’ll probably be back this week to seal the deal.

The new Brooks Adrenaline 13 are lighter and more form fitting than the 12’s which excites me! They definitely feel more like my old friends the Adrenaline 11 which I wore last year and loved.

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After the shopping adventure, Bo and I relaxed with a week’s worth of DVR and a pasta dinner. This pasta, like miniature sheets of lasagna, from Eataly, was our favorite choice yet.

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This morning at 8am I met my usual running friends, along with the addition of Erica to run the last 10 miles of the New York City Marathon together. Printing out the directions we found online worked out perfectly and we spent the morning heading up 1st Avenue, realizing it’s slight incline isn’t that bad and then running up Fifth Avenue remembering that by the time I hit this long hill last year I was in a haze. Those miles from the Bronx up Fifth Avenue are absolute torture, especially today since we had to run on the cobblestones due to traffic. These were definitely my slowest miles of the 10 and I was longing for music during that final push to Central Park. Overall my pace was right on target, around a 10:30, but I started out fast and ended slow (think 9:15 start, 10:45 end). Pacing isn’t that easy, even when the humidity reminds me way too much of summer training.

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I dashed home and showered quickly because just an hour later I had a 90 minute deep tissue massage with Tim at Equinox 19th street. It was glorious though painful. He spent about 80 of the minutes focusing on my legs and lower back. Due to my mileage increase over the past couple of weeks the issue areas were far different than the last time he kneaded the knots out. I stood up feeling like a new woman and my legs felt the freshest and loosest they’ve felt in over 2 months!

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But, my legs weren’t done being treated and stretched since my next stop was upstairs for the 2nd Yoga for Runners workshop.

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Once again we had awesome turn out for the class, as over 35 people showed up for an hour long class with Sarra Morton. Sarra teachers at multiple Equinox locations in the city and her classes are always packed, especially on the weekends. We spent most of the time doing hip opener work and sun salutations while Sarra explained the benefits of each post to us during the flow. Afterwards, we were able to socialize while enjoying one of SOYJOY’s new bar flavors, as they provided each attendee with a sample of their new flavors: dark chocolate cherry and cranberry. In addition, Zobha clothing, who is one of Sarra’s sponsors, was kind enough to provide each attendee with a 20% off discount card.

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I think it’s safe to say that I left the class thoroughly relaxed and ready for an afternoon nap!

What’d you do today?

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