ashleyd /

Bring It On NYC Marathon!

Today has been exactly what the doctor ordered!

I woke up after only six hours of sleep, ready to run. My legs were feeling strong, I was excited, and the weather was perfect for taking my marathon outfit on a trial run.

I fueled with half a banana and orange marmalade on a Thomas Bagel Thin with peanut butter.

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The blue sky was already out to greet me when I left the house bright and early, heading towards Queensborough Plaza. Unfortunately the trains didn’t want to make it easy. Therefore, due to cancelled trains, I took a cab over the bridge to meet Melissa!

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We wanted to squeeze in a few miles, especially bridge miles, before meeting Theodora and the rest of the gang for our own version of the Running Center’s Last 10 mile run. The bridge views were gorgeous and we both felt strong even though we were catching up with non-stop chatter!

IMG_5075We met the gang at the foot of the Queensborough Bridge, ready to rock the last 10 miles. There were 7 or 8 of us in total, who met to run the last 10 miles together for free!  Luckily Theodora found a nearby gentleman to snap photos of us before we started!

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                                    Sue, Theodora, Laura, and Megan made up the the faster group!

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                                While Rebecca, Melissa, and I followed their ponytails for 13 miles!

We printed out course maps ahead of time and then divided into two pace groups: 10ish and 10:40ish. IMG-20111022-01056

Running on the sidewalks and cobblestones was a pain but we still enjoyed the run together. Melissa and I shared tidbits of advice and memories of the race with Rebecca and it was so much fun to catch up with Theodora and the rest of the group at stop lights.

The temperature was perfect and Central Park was beautiful. The leaves have started changing and there were runners everywhere enjoying the weather and energy.

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Our splits for today’s run were right on target for the marathon. Even better, when we finished I felt like I had a few more miles in me. If I hadn’t sped up so much the last few miles then I probably could have pumped out more than a few miles.

2:19     13 miles   10:43 pace

1 10:52.1
2 10:49.2
3 11:08.3
4 10:19.0
5 10:30.3
6 11:09.4
7 10:35.1
8 10:40.2
9 10:51.0
10 10:40.4
11 10:35.7
12 10:27.5

13 10:55.1

IMG_5078 This is the face of a happy runner ready to rock the marathon, skirt and all!

The rest of the day has included a delicious cherry infused smoothie, lunch, a few naps, manicure, Pinkberry, and catching up on Parenthood and Grey’s Anatomy.

IMG_5079 (478x640) IMG_5080 (640x478) IMG_5081 (640x478) IMG_5082 (478x640) IMG_5083 (478x640) IMG_5084 (478x640) Now we’re off to celebratory drinks at Death & Co followed by dinner at La Mar NYC!

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How Can A Raw Vegan Restaurant Be On Fire and other Gramercy Discoveries

Saturday afternoon Bo and I spent two hours soaking up the soon on the Highline Park. The people watching was better than ever as I was able to check out everyone’s new spring fashions while Bo spoke with people who had just come from the Apple store bearing their new iPad. It included lots of this:After working up an appetite reading and people watching, we headed to Pinkberry for a cool and delicious afternoon treat. Bo loved their new mango flavor and enjoyed a small mango with fruity pebbles. I enjoyed mango as well but loaded up on toppings including blueberries, kiwi, strawberries, and animal crackers. This was definitely a treat but it did a wonderful job of holding me over for a few hours. In addition, nothing says warm weather like a cool cup of frozen yogurt.

After walking around for another hour, we decided to head over to Gramercy to explore our new neighborhood. Each time we return we discover something we love or a great little nook. As you can see from the picture above, my nails were screaming for a manicure as were my toenails. Bo and I parted ways at A Spa and Nails. I was pleasantly surprised by this nail salon and will most likely become a regular. Their prices were very reasonable and everything was spotless. I also believe that it was a good sign that the salon was PACKED at 5pm on a gorgeous Saturday. They also had health signs stating that they refused to use razors in their spa due to health issues and therefore only use rubs and buffers to remove calluses. Spa hygiene is very important to me as the last think I want to leave with is an infection. In just under an hour I was treated to a wonderful manicure (Essie High Maintenance) and lemon spa pedicure (Essie Hotspot) complete with a lemon scrub treatment and parafin wax.
Much to my elation, Bo suggested that we grab a glass of wine and an appetizer at Pure Food and Wine which was located just across the street. I was surprised by his suggestion as i’ve tried to convince Bo to enjoy Pure Food and Wine previously but have been met with much resistance. However, while I was enjoying my mani/pedi Bo walked by their menu and was instantly intrigued.
Pure Food and Wine is one of New York City’s top raw and vegan restaurants. Opened in June of 2004, their menu is entirely plant based and does not use any processed ingredients. In addition, nothing is heated above 118 degrees which helps to preserve vitamins and minerals. Based on this knowledge, Bo originally expected the menu to be salads and spiralized vegetable dishes. Instead, the menu greeted him with such appetizers as
Plate of Assorted Cultured Dr. Cow Tree Nut Cheeses and Rosemary Crisps
Tokyo Turnip Carpaccio with Marinated Provencal Truffle
King Oyster Mushroom Scallops with Hijiki Seaweed
One quickly realizes that everything is a play on words and therefore must be approached with an open mind. There are clearly no scallops or carpaccio on the menu but the items are presented in a similar manner and paired with similar flavors.
We started with a glass of wine each, a 2007 Falanghina Torre Gaia for Bo and a crisp 2007 Saint Clair Sauvignon Blanc for me. The bartender was very friendly and helpful in explaining the difference between an organic wine and a biodynamic wine. Biodynamic refers to the agricultural method and processing of the fruit post harvest. It has only become popular over the past few years. The principles revolve around understanding the ecological, energetic, and spiritual nature of grape growing.
After reviewing the appetizer menu at length, we decided up on the Nori Rolls. They were described as being filled with spinach, homemade kim chi, nut cheese, and ginger. After Bo read on Zagat that the restaurant has appeared for 5 years on the Forbes magazine list of “All Star Eateries” and part of New York Magazine’s Top 100 restaurants he was more than eager to sample the raw cuisine. While we waited for our appetizer and sipped our wine, we observed the dishes other patrons were enjoying. Each dish was presented as an art form. It is clear that presentation is at the core of Pure Food and Wine.
When our appetizer was presented we were both awed and amazed. These nori rolls looked exactly like our favorite appetizer at any sushi restaurant though we knew there was no rice or fish. The portion was perfect to share as there were six pieces.
The dish was well crafted and beautifully composed. It was remarkable how the nut cheese had a creamy consistency similar to that of ricotta and the flavors were perfectly balanced.
The freshness was clear through the crunch of each bite and the flavors exploded on your tongue. Bo and I were each amazed and immediately wished we had made dinner reservations at Pure so we could continue the tasting adventure.
As we were discussing our predicament, loud sirens began to go off and the security lights were flashing. Every patron looked towards the hostess in confusion and alarm. However, the hostess was as confused as everyone else and merely tried to silence the alarm.
Bo and I could barely contain our laughter since we knew the alarm in question was the fire alarm. Keep in mind that Pure Food and Wine does not have a single flame or heating element in it since all the food is raw. The staff new this as well and also saw that back in the kitchen and offices nothing was smoking or in flames. This unfortunately continued off and on for five minutes. Bo and I therefore quickly decided it was time to bid adieu to Pure Food and Wine until next time. Within minutes of our departure four fire trucks arrived on the scene and forced the patrons out of the building so they could investigate. Within a minute of arriving they had searched the building, given the all clear, and were on their way again. What a hilarious and ironic few minutes!
Though the tastes are still fresh in our memory, Bo and I are already dreaming of their five course chef’s tasting menu which is a steal at $69. Until then, I think I may have to procure a copy of Sarma’s cookbook Raw Food Real World. The cookbook features over 100 recipes that anyone can enjoy from the comfort of their own kitchen.

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Wonderful Wednesday and a Swirly Goodness Surprise

The HelpHappy hump day! I hope everyone had a great day and are already looking forward to the weekend. I stayed up way too late last night engrossed in The Help. This book is absolutely amazing and very thought provoking. The first book by Kathryn Stocket, this book quickly became a national bestseller. It is based in Mississippi during the heart of integration and the race riots. The book links three ordinary women one one great journey. Having grown up in the South, three decades later, many of the roots that are explored in this book are still in place today. I highly recommend picking this up at your local library or downloading it for a long run via iTunes! Having stayed up too late reading, I gave into the snooze button this morning and decided that I would make evening yoga at Equinox a priority tonight. I am so glad I did! Tonight’s yoga was a hilarious but wonderful experiment. Due to it’s proximity to my office, I have visited the 54th and 2nd Equinox location for all my weeknight yoga classes thus far. I like that the studio is removed from the rest of the gym so there is no stereo or weight room noises leaking through. This evening I was able to leave work in time for the 6:30 Vinyasa Yoga taught by Jay Johnston. I was excited by his resume/yoga theory which is always posted below the teacher’s name on Equinox.com: “…Additionally, he has run three New York City Marathons. Jay teaches Hatha, Hot Style, Vinyasa and Gentle to accommodate all students. He asks his students to focus on breathing and relaxing in the poses no matter how challenging as he believes that deeper results will come when the body is ready to open. ” My hopes were answered and he definitely focused on poses that are often found in yoga for runners routines. We did multiple hip openers, runner’s pose, pigeon, shoulder stands, and downward dogs. His aditude was very different from any other teacher i’ve ever had. He didn’t turn off his cell phone and therefore it proceeded to ring during class, he promoted his band’s upcoming gig shamelessly, and his chant was “everything’s alright.” But, regardless, there was something very real about him and his practice. In addition, he moved around the room constantly adjusting and motivating his students. Regardless of his cell phone and odd demeanor, I think i’ll be back next Wednesday night!


Tonight’s Dessert


As I left Equinox tonight I spotted a Pink Berry. Having never tried the cult yogurt chain, I headed inside to have a taste of the tart delight. The first thing I noticed was the atmosphere. The inside was bright and welcoming, filled with tables and chairs. Many of NYC’s yogurt hot spots such as TastiDLite are dark, dismal, and lacking tables and chairs. The next highlight was the topping selection. I was in disbelief as I saw they had healthy toppings such as kiwi, raspberries, and fun ones such as cocoa pebbles and carob chips! Everything looked fresh versus artificial which was a change. Their pride themselves in the swirly goodness that is packed with live cultures, calcium, nutrients, and quality ingredients. The pomegranate I sampled was a bit too tart, the original was smooth and much like Oikos or Chobani, but the coconut captured my heart! I was hooked! It is amazing! One main difference between Pinkberry and it’s competition is the topping prices. For $1.25 extra you can enjoy unlimited toppings. I packed my coconut with strawberries, pineapple, grapefruit, carob chips, and two animal cookies! HOW FUN! I’m so excited I finally tried Pinkberry. Their fresh ingredients and natural flavors please my palate far more than the artificial flavor of TastiDLite.


Attention NYC Lululemon lovers: Between now and February 14th Equinox has a 20% sale on all items in their gym stores. This means that a beloved $52 Lulu tank is just $40!!


Hop on over to Krittie’s site to win some great chocolate milk and Amazing Grass!!
http://krittie.wordpress.com/2010/02/03/who-wants-to-try-chocolate-milk-for-free/

Whats your favorite Chobani super bowl recipe? http://runnerwifelife.wordpress.com/2010/02/04/its-giveaway-day/

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