Blog friends are real! I know those of you who don’t have the pleasure of hanging in the blog-o-sphere may roll your eyes when I say my “blog friends,” but it’s because it sounds dumb, not that it is dumb. There’s a difference. This past week I had so much fun meeting and tweeting, with old and new friends, in NYC for Fitness Magazine’s event. I’ll be doing a separate post on that but, it was a big part of my week so I must include a good chunk here. Speaking of “chunks,” the swag at that event took up a good chunk of real estate on the train home! #BloggerProblems
WEEK OF OCTOBER 13, 2014
RUNNING: The absolute, hands-down, highlight of my week was running through Central Park with Amanda (Miss Zippy) on Thursday morning. We did a perfect 6.something, mile loop around the park in a semi-steamy, 70 degree drizzle but were deliriously happy. Here’s the thing. We had never met prior to that run (just online, kinda like dating but not at all) and had an infinite number of things to talk about simply because we both love to run. You gotta love that!…well, ok maybe you don’t but I do.
I’m taking a break from tracking milage this week and just running for fun, when I can! So refreshing.
Amanda and I, not running in Central Park. It was too wet for phones or selfies!
CYCLING: I am a cycling loser this week. I only taught one spin class (because I was in NYC) and got in zero time on my bike outside, because I had two very important birthday parties. I can’t do it all. There. I said it.
CROSS-TRAINING: Does dragging your luggage around NYC count? How about chasing after the boys at a Frozen-themed birthday party? Ok, what about simultaneously tweeting, instagraming and facbooking while intently listening to speakers? I’m working on my grip strength. It totally counts.
RACING: Up next on the calendar is the Stockade-A-Thon 15K. That’s 9 miles. I’m currently trying to recover from my last half-marathon (keeping my hammy happy) before I start gearing up for this one. I truly love this course, and love seeing my whole family out there cheering me on! Can.not.wait.
FUEL: Have I told you all how much I love warm, soft, gigantic pretzels? I do. I’m happy to say I indulged while I was in NYC. Recovery mode calls for carbs and salt, which is also why I had salt on my margarita during dinner Wednesday night….and possibly Saturday night as well. Training can be such a bitch.
I’m taking a break from scrutinizing everything that goes in my mouth. Now where are those Justin’s dark chocolate peanut butter cups?
Ok, so I didn’t eat the whole thing, but I tried my best!
THINGS I LOVE: The view from my driveway in fall.
THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH: Running up the hill to get to the view from my driveway, during very single run I’ve done for the past 6 years. If I had a dollar for every time I ran up that thing, I could have installed a chair lift by now and would be the hero of the ‘hood!
I’m taking a break from hill repeats and won’t do them again until I prep for the mother of all half-marathons in February!
MUSIC: The ‘Happy Birthday’ song. Have you heard it? I’ve always said I absolutely love birthdays! What is more important then celebrating life and one more year with the people you love? A PR. Kidding! Two of my favorite people celebrated birthdays this past week – my niece turned six and, I think my husband wants to go back to six, but actually turned 42.
All the cousins in front of Elsa’s ice castle! Vaughn isn’t wearing his glasses. Can you guess which one he is?
The hubs in front of the adult version of Elsa’s ice castle, at Mohegan Sun Casino!
READING: Runner’s World just launched this new site – Zelle – it’s all about and for women runners! The hashtag they’re using is #WhatTheZelle? And I’ll tell you! There’s something for everyone: An inspiring story of a woman who started running in her 70s! Articles from Kristin Armstrong and, my personal favorite, Zelle captured what the fallout was over Lauren Fleshman asking us to “Woman Up!” You already know how I feel about that, right?
RANDOM PICTURE OF THE WEEK: So remember how I was whining about the pace group that was all over me during my last race? Well, now I have the pictures to prove it! Almost all of my race photos are me, with the pace pack! Now that you have a visual (I’m just ahead of them, in the white hat on the left), I’m sure you see my side of things:
Get off my back pack!
I’m definitely buying one of these. Isn’t this a keeper? Oy!
One last thing! We’re giving away a FREE copy of the book my story is in, Clash of the Couples!
Do you love birthdays or not so much?
What are you taking a break from this week?
Do you love your blog friends as much as I love mine? How about your ‘real’ friends?
Very jealous of your run with Amanda! And that last pic is awesome but I can see your annoyance. I think you told them how to #womanup!!
You have no idea how much I love that you said that! I’m working on a post right now about upping my woman 🙂 Thanks Angela. Wish you could have joined us for that run…or yoga…or anything!
Okay, I wanna comment on you and Amanda, but first…..birthdays not!? I can’t get my head around that! I LOOOVVVEEE birthdays 🙂 Mine or anyone else’s!
But yes, that made me smile reading about you and Amanda, so cool. I am not surprised you got on so well, and I definitely know what you mean about eye rolling for blog friends, but its great to just enjoy running and the world around it, for what it is, after these big races! So glad you are doing that!
I LOVE BIRTHDAYS! I think I said that, right?? They are right up there with long runs with friends 🙂 and enjoying life after a long training cycle!
Now I want a NYC pretzel! But seriously Happy Birthday to your husband and niece. Love that you got to spend some time in NYC not only doing your thing, but with some blogging friends, too 🙂
I want another one right now!! It was so great to be in the city for such a fun event.
Good googa Moira that group was on you like white on rice. That is crazy!! I giggled throughout this post. Of course dragging your luggage and insane swag around nyc counts!! I was exhausted just getting on the train with that stuff so I can’t even imagine having luggage TOO! Happy you got to do the loop around CP. I actually think that CP is a happy place for most runners. I am excited to check out Zelle! Happy happy birthday to your hubby and niece. And of course blog friends are real, I didn’t realize it until I started getting legit sad when I have to leave them! Didn’t you see me about to bust into tears when saying bye?! I’m like wait no, what do you mean? I have to see you again soon! 🙂
I know, it was seriously so awful! We need to just make plans outside of blogging events..you know like races!! 🙂
I don’t think it’s stupid at all! Six miles…phew! Thats a tough distance for me. Maybe I’ll be as fit as you one day and run marathons like its nobodys business. 🙂
Hahaha no, six is definitely a good distance. It felt a lot easier with a friend though… Thanks Linda!
I was cracking up at your cross-training description…I totally feel like that is modern day cross-training at its finest! Love that you got to run through Central Park! 🙂 And seriously, the view from the top of your driveway is stunning! P.S. I totally would have finished that pretzel for you…YUM!-Ashley
It seriously is!! I always say that if I knew how much work blogging was, I probably never would have started!! I mean, I love it and all but yowza. It works up an appetite for sure 🙂
He, he–the pace group pic makes me laugh now that I know that story! It was so much fun meeting you and hanging out with you AND running with you! It was such a natural fit, wasn’t it?
You definitely got your cross training in–no sweat! And happy birthday to your husband–fun times celebrating!
Absolutely!! Thanks again… 🙂
I love the recap from everyone’s Fitness Magazine’s event! I would have loved to be there!! You had quite the busy week my friend! That view from your street is breathtaking!
Someday we have to meet Kris! The Fitness Mag event is perfect for you and hopefully you can attend next year.
I have to remember to actually stop and appreciate my view every once and a while! Thanks.
ohh i do love your view too and I bet that hill is part of why you are such a rock star runner 🙂
My race times have absolutely improved since I moved here. No joke!
I definitely love blog friends and it was so great to see you!
I love the view from your driveway! So beautiful. I would not get tired of looking at that everyday but I can see why you’d want a chairlift. Haha.
I’m guessing Vaughn is on the left but can’t be sure…
YOU ARE RIGHT! Nicely done Britt. You’re so ready to be a boy mama. Are you sure there’s only one in there?? 🙂
I do love my blog friends!!! I might have been a little sad on Thursday that I wasn’t at the Fitness event with y’all!!! (why does Kansas have to be in the middle of nowhere?!)
Sadly I think I’m going to have to take a break from running – I took a few days off over the weekend but this morning realized I need more (not sure what the problem is but I don’t like it!!!).
I so wish you were there too! We may have to come to YOU one of these days…
Sorry to hear that about running but I know you will do the right thing and be smart about an injury. I’ve been cutting way back because of my hamstring. It’s SO hard but I know I have to do it.
Great post, sounds like the blogging thing in NYC was a lot of fun…I hope to go to one of those someday and meet all of my blogging friends too 🙂 And all you had to say was Justin’s peanut butter cups….OMG. AMAZING. Your view is amazing! What lake is that?? And I hate birthdays…well, at least my own. I love other people’s birthdays 🙂
Glad to hear you’re a “Justin’s” fan. I mean are those the best things ever or what??
It’s Crystal Lake and is actually very small. They allow motorized boats but, in the summer, it’s packed with them! We have a couple kayaks and during “quiet” hours we take them out. I swim in it sometimes too but it has a nasty milfoil plant issue. It’s mostly beautiful to look at!
Well, it’s pretty nontheless! I miss the New England foliage! I haven’t seen it in so long!
That pretzel does look great. I just came off of a post-marathon indulgence vacation spree. Back to some vegetables in my diet today, haha. And yeah that pace group is definitely on your booty yikes!
I’m back to more disciplined eating this week too and I’m kinda ok with it. I guess that’s why it’s good to deviate for a while!!
I saw that you were taking a break from quite a few things. It’s good to give yourself some mental space sometimes. 🙂 So nice that you were able to make a blogging buddy a running buddy!
Ahh…birthday’s. My oldest gkid turns 6 this weekend and I’m still trying to figure out how to do superhero cupcakes.
That is one heck of a hill but the view absolutely seems worth it. Beautiful!
I have to take some mental breaks in between races or I’ll go nuts!
Happy Birthday to your grandchild!!! Good luck with those cupcakes too. I can make nothing and always have to buy stuff like that…or have my aunt make it 🙂
I love that you just eat and not worry all the time about all the calories. xo
Me too! Gotta do it to keep me sane!
i LOVE blog friends. “We had never met prior to that run (just online, kinda like dating but not at all)” — LOL! Yup I think you about it summed it up there. Happy birthday to your nieces and husband! (your boys look so cute in that photo!) I’m not a fan of birthdays, although weirdly I’m becoming more ok with them as i get older.
Thanks Charlotte – I know you SO get it. As for birthdays, somewhere in your thirties you start to appreciate them A LOT more…
I love birthdays! Mine is next week. And I met a blog friend in New Orleans this weekend – so fun. It’s like meeting a pen pal, only I already knew what she looked like. Oh, and I would have totally finished that pretzel for you.
Happy (almost) Birthday!!! Be sure to get a giant pretzel to go along with your cake 🙂
I don’t know what’s more beautiful — your driveway view or the extra large pretzel. They both have fascinating qualities that I long for.
Agreed! If only I could have eaten the pretzel while admiring the view…
Wow, what a view!
And now I want a hot NYC pretzel. Although Justin’s peanut butter cups are AMAZING. Why are they so good?? I like the milk chocolate ones myself, though.
And yes, blog friends are VERY real.
As the first blogger friend I ever met, I have to whole-heartedly agree with that one Tamara! Can’t wait to meet up again soon…
I love blogger friends too! In a way you kind of know your blogger friends better than your “real” life friends, because you’re reading about their thoughts and life all the time, with maybe some things you wouldn’t normally chat about with normal friends. Plus blogger friends tend to have so many common interests, which is always fun!
That ginormous pretzel looks yummy! Now I’m mad that I didn’t get one of those when I was in NYC last week.
Exactly!!! Thanks Nicole.
The view from your driveway is AMAZING!!!!!!!! I am moving in! I am not the biggest fan of birthdays. Big A’s birthday was last week and he had a laundry list of expectations that I needed to meet. I was exhausted. And meeting up with bloggy friends is the best. Speaking of…
I know, I know! You need to see my view in person!!
Another great thing about twins? Two kids = one birthday. Done!
I need to check out that website! It sounds awesome! The view from your house is gorgeous! I can’t leave my house without a hill either. Either side, I have to go up!
It makes us stronger!!! Keep running up it!…as if you had a choice 🙂