Happy Halloween!

Last night my sister & I went to Boomer Esiason's Refi Rock Benefit for Cystic Fibrosis.  Not only were there some Jets there, that I couldn't really name, but the DJ was DJ Pauly D from MTV.  Awesome!  But of course, my sister was a chicken & when I squirmed my way through the press line, was too afraid to come over & take my picture.  This was the best we could do.

But more importantly & to keep this workout related....this may have been my favorite costume of the night.

Shake Weight Guy!

Normally, I do not like when adults get all gussied up for Halloween, but this was definitely worth it.  Happy Halloween!!!!



Bobbing for Bones

Louie, my bulldog, loves doggy daycare.  & if I had half a brain in my head I would start my own doggy daycare, as they seem to rake in the cash.  Alas, my hatred of dog slobber & dog goobers keeps me from fulfilling this dream!  But Louie does love to go visit his doggy friends so I try to take him there once a week to get his fill of all things doggy.

This morning when I dropped him off they were all ready for Halloween.  The place was decked out in every Halloween decoration imaginable, which is hysterical when you think about it because the place is filled with dogs!  I mean, dogs can't read, so why have a huge Happy Halloween banner behind the counter?  Ah, either way, they're so nice & fun there, it's refreshing to see that they have a sense of humor!  Today's doggy festivities included Bobbing for Bones.  Now, what kind of doggy mom would I be if I didn't bring Louie?  Or, as he's referred to at daycare by his more formal name, Louis. 

They also had a best costume contest, but since Louie is not a fan of clothing, we dug through the toy box last night to find his Halloween bandanna.  Good enough for a costume in my book! 

The funny thing about doggy daycare is that they are on facebook & have a ton of friends.  Yesterday, while looking at their pictures, I found the one below.  Now tell me, would you send your dog here?  I bet you would!  Hope Louie gets lots of bones today!

313

That's how many days until Ireland Ironman 70.3.  Yes, you read that correctly, Ireland.  OMG I know you're thinking, how many times are you going to go to Ireland?  I don't know!  A few more?  I like it there.  I know where everything is now, so it's easy to get around.  I had planned on doing the Escape from Alcatraz triathlon if I could get in on the lottery, but to be honest, even though it is a shorter distance (1.5 mile swim, 18 hilly bike miles & an 8 mile run) it is the swim that concerns me.

Swimming across the chilly San Francisco Bay is not something I have (obviously) ever done.  & while I have no problem completing the 1.5 mile swim in the pool, or the Navesink or even the Atlantic Ocean, I am going to be honest....I am a little nervous about the San Francisco Bay.  The temperature in May is about 55-60 degrees.  That.  Is.  Cold.  I think the last swim I did, the water was 68-74 degrees.  That's nice.  55 is not nice.  It's chilly.  & I have a sleeveless wetsuit.  Now I know that there are people that swim in the bay without a wetsuit at all, but they have done that for some time.  I don't know if I am ready for that yet.  So for now, I am going to set my sites on Ireland.

There's going to be a lot of planning that has to go into this race.  I have to find out how I can ship a bike on Aer Lingus & make sure that it gets there in once piece.  Not only that, but I have to start saving for this trip.  I can only imagine how much airfare will cost, as I keep trying to look for great deals, but there doesn't seem to be any.  I did finally do something smart & reserved an apartment for the week.  I don't know if some of you have been to Ireland, but some of the hotel accommodations are teeny tiny!  I think it will be important to be well rested & have a comfortable space to live in for the week.

I have been feeling better about getting back into working out.  I haven't figured out a training plan yet.  I think I may really pick a few brains about this.  I am going to start out with some short runs & build a better base.  I think if I can do that until January, then I can really start with a new plan towards completing this 70.3.

Sorry to bore everyone with my lameo workout blog posts again.  I did go to the city last night & try out 5 Napkin Burger www.5napkinburger.com & let me tell you.......it was worth every bite.  Get the onion rings & get the frozen strawberry mojito.  Everything was delicious.  It was in one of the most touristy sections of NYC (Times Square) but it was fun & didn't feel like a tourist hot spot, even though it probably was.  But if you ever find yourself craving a juicy burger in NYC, I suggest you go there.  Make a reservation too - as we got seated right away!  & they aren't kidding about juicy!  But I only needed 2 napkins!!!!

Belmar Spring Lake by jmw1072 at Garmin Connect - Details

Belmar Spring Lake by jmw1072 at Garmin Connect - Details

Burgers

I love burgers.  Love them!  I think I've always loved a good burger because I seriously cannot remember a time when I didn't want to eat one at least once a week.  Now that I have a few 1000 miles of training under my belt I don't feel as guilty for eating crap, but if you leave the bun off, burgers are mainly protein & I think I have convinced myself that they're ok even when they are probably not.   Not including that half a bottle of ketchup has disappeared before my very eyes.  I can't help myself.  I love some good ole Heinz 57 on my burger!

So today while I was reading another blog that I have come to love The Bitchy Waiter http://thebitchywaiter.blogspot.com/ he went on about this great burger place in the city 5 Napkin Burger.  Now I am guessing that the name of this joint has something to do with how juicy the burgers must be, which means I have to run out & try them ASAP.

The best thing so far about this place is that they take reservations.  Cool!  I'd hate to get there & have to wait 3 hours for a burger.  So after working this weekend (come visit me at the Soap Market) I'm going to go into the city & grab a juicy burger.  But not until after I log some serious miles in.  No more slacking!

I Will

Last night I blew off the gym & went into NYC.  I always forget how much I love the hustle bustle of the city.  OMG I sound like my grandmother saying hustle bustle, but it's true!  I have been waiting for the release of Matt Long's new book "Long Run" and he was having a book signing.  For those who don't know who Matt Long is, he is a NYC firefighter who was injured while biking to work in 2005 during a transit strike.  His story is truly inspirational & I wanted to get his new book.  & lets face it, he's super hot.  I couldn't think of a better reason to skip the gym, could you?  I didn't think so.

The reading was at Barnes & Noble in Tribeca.  I haven't been to Tribeca in some time & I was mad when I realized how close this B&N was to where I went to graduate school.  If I had ventured around the corner, I would have had a great place to study.  & they have a Starbucks!  Duh! 

I got there pretty early & started reading the book.  Wow, he has left nothing out.  I mean, it is a bit gory in the beginning when he explains how badly injured he was after he got run down by a bus.  Actually, injured is an understatement & it was shocking to see this man actually walk into the room & engage a crowd of people after what I had read in just the first 3 chapters.

I really had a lot of questions that I wanted to ask him.  First & of course the most shallow, are you single?  But come on, there were other people in the room!  I also wanted to know how he did it, how did he decide to get up & go back to his old way of life - as an elite athlete & his job at the FDNY - rather than claim disability for the rest of his life & sit around watching TV like I know I would be doing if the same had happened to me.  I guess I was a bit amazed at his will to live & move on that I really only sat there & listened to him speak.  But, as my usual dumb ass self, I asked zero questions.  I mean, what the hell is wrong with me?  Do I have zero game?  Ah yeah, I don't.

It wasn't until after I got home that I realized that I really had a million questions.  Like, how do you get up every morning & do it?  How does your body feel now 5 years later?  How did you decide to get back into triathlons & decide to run the NYC marathon?  Did that jerk from the transit company ever personally apologize to you?  How after 9/11 & this horrible accident, are you sitting here smiling, looking like every happy go lucky NYC firefighter I have ever met?  I guess that is a testament to who this guy really is.  I mean, I can't even get out of bed on cold rainy days & this guy gets hit by a bus & makes a huge comeback to even walk, let alone run the NYC marathon.  His foundation, I Will, tells you a lot about what he has gone through & what he hopes to give back.

It really makes me want to step up my game.  It's easy when you can go out & do things & you don't because you're lazy.  It's another thing to really want to get up & do things, but you can't because your body won't let you.  I made a promise a long time ago to my friend that was killed on 9/11 that I would go out & run for him & even though I've accomplished a lot, I have been a huge slacker lately. 

I got through half of his book last night.  It is really good.  Not just some fluff book that someone whipped out either.  It's a page turner.  & it's been a long time since I have sat down & read a really good book.  Usually after the first paragraph I'm falling asleep, but last night I was mad I had to go to bed.  I am sure I will finish the rest tonight.

Now normally my five readers know that I don't usually gush over anything, except of course, a new pair of cute shoes or anything Louis Vuitton.....so if you're looking for a really good book I suggest you get this one.  I would loan you mine, but it's signed & he was really cute & he touched it!  Ha ha.

Post, Comments, Followers & a Surprise!

I have been blogging for over a year now.  It has been interesting, but I could be reaching so many more people.  I mean, doesn't everyone want to know how bad a runner I am?  I am sure they do!

So here's the deal.  From now until the end of November I would really like to get my page views over 1,000.  When I reach the 1,000 mark I will give away a $20 Starbucks gift card, because I really think that everyone should love Starbucks as much as I do.

I have no idea why I want to run this contest, but I always see cool giveaways & fun things on other blogs so why not do it on mine?  To date I have signed up to win a free mitten knitting book & an 8 day trip to France on some other blogs that I follow.  So.....if anyone is still reading & you'd like to help me out & maybe win a fun prize - I'd appreciate it if you help me spread the word!  If you want to be entered, just leave a quick comment on the site under one of my posts.  Every comment I receive will be entered & when the page views reach 1,000 - I will pick a winner.

& to be fair, if the winner is a Dunkin Donuts fan, I'll substitute the prize!  Thanks everyone & good luck!

Do Girls Spit?

Do girls spit?  Good Lord!  Of course not.  Wait...that's not entirely true.  I spit today while running.  Is that gross?  Yes, it is.  Very.  But I had to, swallowing was not an option.  OK dirty minded people I am talking about exercise here!   & believe it or not it's not the first time this week that I spit.  I had to have another, yes you read correctly, another crown put in at the dentist.   How many is that now, 4?  4 fake teeth.  I hope they never fall out or break because I'm going to start looking like a Jack-O-Lantern!  Which is not cool, even though I was born in October.

I don't even know how many teeth I have that aren't filled with some sort of dental device.   Root canals, crowns, fillings, built in retainer, the list is endless.  At least I guilted him in to 3 free tubes of whitener.  Hey, if I'm going to have a mouth full of fake teeth, by God they better be pearly white!  But while I was having my tooth gutted the other day my dentist left the room & it was all down hill from there - but it's ok to spit at the dentist, right?  Right.  Not so much while jogging.  It is soooo uncouth, to say the least.   But I have seen marathoners poop all down their leg, so what's a little spit.  Yeah, I agree it is still gross.

Today's run was a quick one.  Only 2 short miles, but I ran about 4 yesterday at the beach & it was chilly!!!!  41 degrees when I got there.  That's only a few degrees away from the white stuff people!  & let me tell you, I am not ready to see snow until at least 2011, think December 2011!   It gives me hives to even think of snow!  Ugh!

But enough about the weather.  Today at lunch as I was looking through the paper, someone hands me a picture of a local woman (questionable) that won a race over the weekend.  Seriously, this woman looked as if she had 1.  Never missed 1 second of sun her entire life.  2.  Didn't have any teeth & 3.  Needed to eat a sandwich (like the 6' party sub kind).  I started to panic.  If I kept working out...would this happen to me?  I mean I already have a mouthful of crowns, could I too be on my way to toothless skeletor/alligator lady?  Jesus, I hope not.  Not that we were diminishing her big win, but come on lady, eat something already!!!!  After a few more minutes of picking this woman apart I realized that I'd have to run 20 miles a day & maintain a diet of lettuce & twigs for the next 10 years if I was ever to look like that.  Back to my eggplant rollitini!

Yaaaaaaaaawwwn

I.  Am.  Tired.  Not just tired but exhausted.  I even tried to go to bed at my new self imposed bedtime of 10 pm last night.  I have been fighting off a cold all weekend & I am really hoping it does not turn into bronchitis, as it has the past 3 or 4 winters.  If you've never had bronchitis, try to avoid getting it at all costs.  Nothing is worse than a 24 hour cough.  The only time you're not coughing is when you're sleeping & that's only because you have overdosed on Tussinex.  There's a reason that the label says DO NOT TAKE MORE THAN ONE TEASPOONFUL.  Me being the doubting Thomas that I am said, 1 teaspoon?  What's that going to do for me?  & took a TABLESPOONFUL.  Yeah, mistake #1.

I've never really believed that medications could make you hallucinate, that is, until I took this stuff.  Never again.  The next morning the rest of this pink gloppy cherry tasting crap went right down the kitchen sink.  Stick to the instructions people, or if possible, don't get sick.

Now having bronchitis doesn't deter me from working out, why should it?  I mean think of all the free gym space you have when you walk in with your tuberculosis-like cough.  Not only do you get your choice of treadmill, but you can pretty much assure that people will get out of your way.  Listen, I'm not going to infect you.  I have bronchitis, my cold is looooong gone by now.  My lungs are just on fire.  I'm sure there's something that you can catch from me, but I think there's some debate on whether or not bronchitis can be spread.  OH it probably can, but who cares.  I obviously got this cold from someone, I'm only returning the favor.

Tonight I have to go to the dentist for what seems like the 50th cavity.  I think I have more cavities than teeth at this point.  How is that possible?  & then off to get some kind of run in before I rush home to bed.  Tomorrow is the big birthday & I have been eating non-stop all week with no end in sight!  Birthday cake here I come!

October

October is birthday time!  My birthday is this week & it's not some big milestone.  It's a lot older than I think I'd like to be, so I think I'm going to start lying.  Who cares?  I'm only fooling myself, right?  Wrong! Anyway.  It is starting to feel like October, boo!  The 80s & 90s are gone, but I'm hoping for Indian Summer soon.  I do like this time of year, but it does not compare to summer at all.

Last night I got back to my plan & did go to the gym.  We were suffering for the past 2 days with the remnants of Tropical Storm Nicole, which was a huge pain in the butt.  It did rain, but never when it was supposed to, making any type of outdoor workout nonexistent.  But I did stick to my guns & jumped right back in to my workout plan.  I have to admit, it was pretty nice not going to the gym & planning how to squeeze everything in with my after work workouts, but that time has passed & if I'm going to start getting back into the groove & training for Ireland, it has to start now.

In the meantime, I have been working on a knitting project that I started over 2 years ago.  Hey, yarn isn't milk, it doesn't go bad!  Below is a picture of my sweater/shrug & it is looking pretty good, if I do say so myself!

My only problem is that I was really getting a lot done on this with the help of a row counter, but for some reason.....I lost track of what row I was working on.  Which isn't too big of a deal, but I was supposed to mark my progress so the piece would come out even, so now I have to get some expert advice (Dori, Monica & Leslie) so I can finish this before Springtime.

Well, I hope everyone is enjoying their first nice fall weekend in October.  If you're out of birthday gift ideas, cold hard cash & gift certificates are always welcome!  Snicker snicker.  :)