Marathon Training Plan

Here is my plan for the NJ Marathon:  

Still have to register for the Asbury Park 1/2 and the More 1/2.  

		Mon	Tues	Wed	Thurs	Fri	Sat	Sun
1/16-1/22		Spin	5/cardio         barre	Spin	5       tempo/yoga	REST	8	yoga
1/23-1/29		Spin	6/cardio barre	Spin	5 hills/yoga	REST	9	yoga
1/30-2/5		Spin	6/cardio barre	Spin	6 tempo/yoga	REST	10	yoga
2/6-2/12		Spin	7/cardio barre	Spin	6 hills/yoga	REST	8	yoga
2/13-2/19		Spin	6/cardio barre	Spin	6 tempo/yoga	REST	12	yoga
2/20-2/26		Spin	5/cardio barre	Spin	6 hills/yoga	REST	14	yoga
2/27-3/4		Spin	5/cardio barre	Spin	6 tempo/yoga	REST	16	yoga
3/5-3/11		Spin	6/cardio barre	Spin	6 hills/yoga	REST	A Park 1/2	yoga
3/12-3/18		Spin	6 cardio barre	Spin	5 tempo/yoga	REST	16	yoga
3/19-3/25		Spin	4/cardio barre	Spin	6 hills/yoga	REST	18	yoga
3/26-4/1		Spin	4 cardio barre	Spin	8 tempo/yoga	REST	12	yoga
4/2-4/8		Spin	8 cardio barre	Spin	6 hills/yoga	REST	20	yoga
4/9-4/15		Spin	6 cardio barre	Spin	6 tempo/yoga	REST	More 1/2	yoga
4/16-4/22		Spin	4 cardio barre	Spin	8 easy/yoga	REST	12	yoga
4/23-4/29		Spin	6 cardio barre	Spin	6 tempo/yog	REST	8	yoga
4/30-5/6		Spin	5 easy	Spin	4 easy/yoga	REST	REST	Marathon

Committed Now - NJ Marathon May 6th

Its official - I am now registered for the May 6 NJ Marathon!  I will officially start training after the New Year and will be posting about my training trials and tribulations. The last few years for this race have apparently had bad weather (raining or too hot). I am hoping that third time is a charm!  More to come - I am really excited!  I am also running this one by myself, so if anyone else is running it please feel free to comment - I'd love to meet up!

Here was my workout for the week and total points for HBBC:

Day	Workout	F&V	Total Points
Sat 12/10	7 mile run	1	8
Sun 12/11	75 min yoga class	1	4.5
Mon 12/12	Spin 30 min cardio	1	7
Tues 12/13	6.5 run/cardio bar	1	13.5
Wed 12/14	Spin 30 min cardio	1	10
Thurs 12/15	5.5 run 1 hour yoga	1	9.5
Fri 12/16	Rest	1	1
	Weekly Total		53.5

How yoga has helped my running and other things ...

Dancer's Pose

Starbucks Skinny Peppermint Mocha

My Sunday morning yoga class has now turned into one of my favorite things about Sunday mornings. My second favorite thing is my weekly treat to a Skinny Peppermint Mocha at Starbucks. I have only been doing yoga for a couple of months now - really only for the past couple of weeks with any regularity. Today's post is about how I have seen my running improve due to, I believe, yoga.

1.  The number one and most important improvement I have found is that it takes me much less time to recover from a difficult run. I am 42. My joints and muscles are just not what they were when I was in my 20s. Last year, a long or fast run would take me a couple of days to recover from. My calves would be sore, my achilles tendon would tighten, and my heel would start to have that dreaded plantar fasciitis pain. Running on two consecutive days was out of the question. -NO MORE! My feet feel great and I have been running pain free - sometimes even two days in a row!

2. Yoga has given me a general sense of balance and stability. When I run, it seems as though my gait has gotten smoother. Running does not feel as if it takes as much effort (even though I have gotten a bit faster).

3. I have been sleeping like a baby! Don't know if I can credit yoga for that, but why not? I have been using some of the breathing techniques before I go to sleep.

4. After a long run, my arms used to be so tired. I never had much upper body strength even though I always tried to incorporate free weights into my weekly routines. I have noticed recently that my arms are toning up and I can actually do several push ups!

5. Lastly, just adding an additional activity to my weekly workout routine has kept things interesting. I have been sticking to three yoga classes a week - one of them is a general yoga class, is a Buff Yoga class which involves more strength training, and the third is a Netflix video called Yoga Crunch that I do after my Saturday run. They are classes that I really look forward to on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday.


Note:  I am going to stop posting my daily workouts since I don't have time to do it every day. Instead, I am going to post my weekly workouts on Fridays.

Such a Busy Week!

As was the case on Tuesday, I have not had time to write a new post other than the daily workouts. I truly love the holiday season, but there is so much to do!! Luckily, I have been able to keep up with my workouts =)

Wednesday's Workout:  1 hour spin class and 1 hour Fab 5 class   = 12 points + 1 F&V
Thursday's workout:  5 mile run and 1 hour Buff yoga class = 8 points + 1 F&V


Total points for the past two days (HBBC) = 22

Today's Workout

Posting today's workout - that's all = )

15 minutes Elliptical  2 mile run  1 hour cardio barre class 1 for F&V
Total HBBC points:  10

Tis' the Season to Rant (sort of)

This weekend's festivities

I have been doing so well with the Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge  - getting a lot of workouts in and eating all my fruits and veggies. However, the holiday season is upon us and this past weekend I fell of the wagon so to speak when it came to food and beverage. Friday night was OK, I did have salmon for dinner. Saturday I went out to dinner and had a glass of pinot noir, beef stew, pecan pie with ice cream, and a Bailey's coffee. Delicious, but definitely not the best stuff I could have ordered. Sunday I had lunch plans with friends where I again had a glass of wine (Merlot this time), french onion soup - the kind in the crock with all of the cheese and bread, and a shrimp risotto with roasted red peppers and scallions. I didn't have dessert, but I don't even want to know how many calories were in the rest of the meal.  Needless to say, I am trying to be extra good today.  It's not working out so well.  I am home from work waiting for a delivery which, according to the company, could not be done after 3 PM. Well, I found out earlier that it will probably be a lot later before they get here. I wasted a personal day for nothing!  I had to run out to get some tape -  figured I would get all of my Christmas gifts wrapped while I have the house to myself and the kids are at school. Anyway, I ended up ordering a pastrami and Meunster cheese sandwich.  I then proceeded to come home and eat that along with a bunch of chips and coleslaw - UGH! I am scared to even step on the scale. This craziness has got to end! To make matter worse, I am going to miss my spin class tonight since I now have to sit home and wait for the delivery.  I'll stop my rant now - tomorrow has got to be a better day.

Which Apps do you use the most? My favorites for iPhone

I have an iPhone now. My first smartphone was a Droid, but it fell out of my back pocket (why I put it there in the first place, I still have no idea) and into a toilet. It was fried. Verizon had just come out with the iPhone at that time, so that's what I got to replace the Droid. I love it. I have downloaded TONS of apps, but really on use a select few on a regular basis. Here is a list of my favs                        

1. PANDORARADIO I love this app and use it all the time. I'm listening to Rockin' Holidays Radio right now and also had it on for my morning run. The Queens and Beatles stations I made probably get the most use, but I also like my lullaby station to relax to at night.
2. STITCHER RADIO This one I found not too long ago and it's great. I created stations for all of the NPR shows I like such as FreshAir and Wait, Wait Don't tell Me. I also have a station of running podcasts like Another Mother Runner Radio and Slow Runners Club. I still haven't quite figured out how to add a station to an existing list, but i'm working on it.
3. RUNKEEPER  I always run with my iPhone because I use it instead of my ipod now. Since I have it with me anyway, I have stopped running with my Garmin watch (anyone want a slightly use one?) and use this app. I can set it up to coach me along as I run and give audio cues with things like miles completed and/or pace per mile. I can also have it be silent (I did that this morning) and just track my course using GPS technology. Once my run is over, I can post the results to their website, twitter, or Facebook. I can also type in notes about how the run went. 
4. FOURSQUARE This is just fun and I like being the mayor of my gym! I don't check in EVERYWHERE I go, that would just get annoying. 
5. URBANSPOON  I have used this app practically every time I am in NYC. It doesn't do me a whole lot of good in rural NJ, but in the city I can find store, restaurants, whatever - with reviews. It's really cool.
6. ALLRECIPES  This is absolute the best recipe app out there. I have been using it for years. I will go grocery shopping, see a piece of meat that looks good, and use the app to find a recipe. The reviews are terrific as well. Many, many meals in my kitchen have come from here. 

So, those are my regular go to apps.  Some of the apps I downloaded and thought I would use a lot, I really don't - Facebook is the best example. I like to go on Facebook from my laptop, but not my phone. I also don't use the Fandango app a lot.  I'd love to hear some of your favorites! Please feel free to comment. =)

Today's workout: 11 mile run/jog (crisp, sunny morning with Christmas music - it was a fantastic run!) 20 minutes of yoga/stretching.  F&V for HBBC   Total points today: 13

The Daily Supplement Regimen ... What do you take?

I am not, nor do I claim to be a nutrition specialist. I do, however, try my best to stay informed about what various supplements are for and why I should take them. Here is my current daily regimen along with the purpose of each. I have been taking these supplements for about 3 years now. I gave the doctor my list and she said it's all good. Please feel free to post your routine or comment on mine!

Calcium Citrate with Vitamin D - 1260mg daily

This is the actual brand that I use

I take this to prevent osteoporosis. The recommended intake of calcium is between 1000 and 1500 mg per day. I take calcium citrate instead of caltrate because it doesn't need to be taken with meals. 

B Complex - 1 tablet daily

I initially purchased this because our chiropractor had recommended it for my son. It is supposed to be good for healing wounds and children with ADHD. I ended up taking it when I read this: What is Vitamin B Complex?  Just scroll down to the part where it talks about athletic performance. Apparently Vitamin B is needed to produce energy from carbohydrates.

Vitamin E - 4000 iu daily

I really take this one because it has been a habit since I was a kid. I remember someone once telling me that vitamin E was good for your skin. According to the label, it is also promotes hears and immune health. According to this Mayo Clinic Article, the jury is still out on the benefits.

Glucosomine Chondroitin (1 tablet twice a day)

I take this for my joints.  Being a runner (and an older one at that), this is really important. I should be taking these three times a day, but I always forget!

Purity Products - Omega 3 Plus C & D  (2 gels daily),  Co - Q Max Daily with resveratrol (2 gels daily), & Vitamin C&D Super Immune Formula

I got turned on to Purity Products a few years ago when I heard a radio ad for the Co-Q-Max with Resveratrol.

Co-Q Daily with Resveratrol

• Supports the Health of the Cardiovascular and Circulatory Systems*
• Supports Healthy Energy Levels*
• Supports Healthy Brain Function*

Omega-3 Plus Vitamin C & D

• Heart and Cardiovascular Health*
• Brain Health and Cognitive Function*
• Immune System Function*

Vitamin C & D Super Formula

• Maintains a Healthy Immune System*
• Cardiovascular Support*
• Supports Skin Health*

Today's Workout:  4 mile run and Buff Yoga class - 7 points    Fruits and Veggies - 1 point 

Total HBBC points: 8

Today's Workout - That's all Folks!

I am finally able to sit down and relax a little after work, extra help, grocery shopping, gym, and dinner.  So all I am posting for today is my workout.

Today's workout: spin class - 6 points  Fruits and Veggies - 1 point  Total points for HBBC:  7 points

Why am I so afraid of cycling outside?

I run - that's what I love to do. I have been asked several times if I have ever considered training for a triathalon. The answer is a very quick - NO.  Why not you ask?  Well, I am petrified to ride a bike in the road. I know that sounds crazy, but it's true. I have no problem running in the road. The way I see it is that if a car comes at me, I can jump out of the way. Where exactly am I going with a bike? Also, on a bike I can't see what's coming since I'd be going in the same direction as the cars. This whole fear is something that I really need to get over. I guess it's no different than being afraid of spiders or small spaces. I should just get out there one day and do it to conquer this absurd fear. My plea here is for some help! Please tell me why I shouldn't be scared and how awesome triathalons are.  I'd love to hear from some cycling enthusiasts. Maybe that would help.  Thanks in advance =)

Today's Workout:  6.1 mile run and Cardio Barre + F&V  Total Points for HBBC:  13.1

Does spinning make your thighs bulky?

The first day back to work after 4 days off is always tough. One nice thing is that the students are usually tired and not as rambunctious because they aren't used to waking up so early.

I was full of energy today, though and made it to my spin class tonight. Tough, long hills!  This may sound silly, but I have always had this fear that spinning will make my legs bulky.  Years ago, I searched for information about this and found it to be untrue, but I still can't help thinking that when I am chugging up those heavy hills, I am doing nothing but making my thighs huge!  Any feedback would be much appreciated.  Luckily, I only take 2 spin classes a week. I love the music and the cardio workout I get from them.

Today's workout: spin class 1 hour - 6 points  F&V - 1 point Total points for HBBC: 7

Why I like (and dislike) running on a treadmill

Last year I purchased a Nordic Track Elite 9500 PRO treadmill for my house.  Here's why I like running on a treadmill:  

1. I am a big baby when it's cold outside. Something is up with the circulation in my fingers, so whenever I run outside in the cold, my fingers turn really white when I get home and they hurt!
2. The treadmill allows me to adjust the incline. My treadmill will even decline 3%.  I live in a very hilly area and sometimes I just don't want to run up and down steep hills.  I actually have to drive almost 1/2 an hour in order to find a nice long, flat trail.
3. This treadmill has WiFi and iFit so I can create my own maps anywhere in the world and then run the routes using Google Maps.  It is really cool to run up the coast of Africa virtually. 

4. Time is tight.  I like TV.  Since I don't have a lot of time to watch TV, having the treadmill kills two birds with one stone. I can run while I watch =)  As a side note, here are my favorite shows: Criminal Minds, Revenge, NCIS (LA too), Once Upon A Time, and X Factor.  I do watch others, but those are my favs.

The cons of the treadmill for me:

1. Running on a treadmill can get boring. I actually find that I run faster on the treadmill at the gym than I do at home. This is probably due to two things: A. I listen to music at the gym instead of watching TV  B. There are other people at the gym which ends up being a motivator
2. Breathing fresh air is really invigorating and I miss that with my treadmill runs.

Other than that, I really do enjoy using my treadmill or those at the gym.

Here are some links to articles/video related to this topic:  

Video about interval training on the treadmill:

The 20 minute treadmill walk/run workout                                                                 
4 great treadmill workouts     

5 treadmill workouts in an hour or less    

A whole bunch of stuff about treadmill workouts

Running hills on the treadmill

Today's workout:  early morning 90 minute yoga class 4.5 points, F & V - 1 points  Total points for HBBC today 5.5

Happy Birthday to Me!

42 TODAY!

Today I turn 42.  I am proud of my age and would shout it from the rooftops if someone wanted me to.  Why do I love my age?  Here are a few reasons:
1. I feel better today than I did in my 20's
2. I am smarter and wiser now. Therefore I make better decisions.
3. I have learned to value what is important in life (family,friends, health).  Believe it or not, this did take me awhile to learn!
4. The older I get the more comfortable in my own skin I become. Here's an example - I teach high school. On Friday I told my class that there were only two formulas in Algebra they would have to memorize - Slope and the Quadratic Formula. I then explained that we would learn the Quadratic Formula by singing it to the tune of the Flinstone's.  Some of the student's started to say that they wouldn't sing.  I said, "That's all right. I'll do it anyway."  One of the girls asked, "You would sing in front of all of us by yourself?"  I told her I would.  She then said, "You must be a good singer."  Actually, I am an awful singer, but that's the point.  Being in my 40's has taught me not to care what other people think.
5. I am better runner now than I ever was! Mind you, I didn't start running until I was 38.
6. Now that I am older, my kids are also older. They are becoming young men and we can actually have real conversations. I love hanging out with them!
In a nutshell, I am not depressed about getting older. I feel like a bottle of wine that just keeps getting better with age.

Today's workout 9.1 mile run - 9.1 points  40 minute - Crunch Super Slim Down Yoga/Pilates from Netflix - 2 points (Great workout!)  Fruits and Veggies - 1 point  Total points for HBBC: 12.2

Thanksgiving Recovery =)

What a productive day I had!  Thanksgiving was wonderful - spent a lot of quality time with my family and just really enjoyed the day.  Luckily my mom is pretty health conscious, so although we ate a lot, she provided some great healthy options like roasted vegetables, turnips, and sweet potatoes.  We still had the stuffing, mashed potatoes, and asparagus casserole of course, but I didn't leave the table feeling utterly guilty!

Got up this morning at 7 and went to an 8 AM yoga class.  It was a new instructor, and he was terrific!  He really made sure that everyone was doing the poses correctly.  It was a great way to start the day.  From yoga, I headed upstairs to the Hardcore Body class.  This class is NO JOKE - it kicked my butt!  Hardcore cardio drills for a full hour.  I went through two full bottles of water during the class.  Needless to say, I left assured that my pumpkin pie and birthday cake were gone. (My birthday is tomorrow and my mom had a cake for me)

Happy Birthday to Me! - 42 yay!

Got home, and took all the Christmas decorations out of the attic. Once I got my son out of bed (lazy teenager), we set up the outdoor lights - snow man, two reindeer, and bushes.  It was sunny and in the 60's today, so it was a perfect day to do it.  Got both trees (artificial) up, but some lights are out and I did not want to go to the store today. We'll get the trees decorated once I pick up some more lights.

Christmas shopping for the kids was accomplished today as well - all online of course =)

Great day - now I'm pooped!

Today's workout: yoga 1 hour - 3 points  Hardcore Body class 1 hour - 6 points  Veggies and Fruit - 1 point

Total points today:  10

Virtual Turkey Trot Recap

So I decided not to get up and run the Sparta Turkey Trot this morning. I had a really hard workout last night and just wanted to sleep in. Luckily, I have a NordicTrack Elite 9500 (mine doesn't have the built in tablet thought) treadmill with iFit. When I got home last night joined a Portland Oregon 5K to run this morning whenever I felt like getting up.  I didn't think to look at the map and the elevation. Got on the treadmill at around 11:15 and warmed up for 1.5 miles. Started the race and it was going really well until about half way through when the course started to go straight up hill!  I was at about 9 - 12% incline for the last mile.  Needless to say, I had a hard time running, so I switched to a 4.5 mph fast walk.  I did manage to finish the course in 32 minutes which wasn't too bad.  Now I get to go enjoy some great food at mom's without feeling too guilty =)

Today's Workout: 4.6 mile run - 4.6 points I will definitely get my 7 servings in today! - 1 point  Total points for HBBC: 5.6

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is definitely my favorite holiday. It is the one holiday that is just about being with family and enjoying each other's company. I have so many things to be thankful for this year - my kids, my health, my job, and plenty of other things.  I read a great article in More magazine this morning.  It was a woman writing about her relationship with money.  At the end of the article, she is sitting with a friend who tells her that if all of the people in the world were lined up in order from best off in the front to worst off in the back, he would be able to see the front of the line.  A lot of us may think that we don't have enough of whatever - money, friends, looks, etc. but if we think about the fact that sooooo many people don't even have a place to sleep or food to eat, it makes our worries seem trivial.  Thanksgiving is also a day with no worries about gifts and decorations - no stress. I love it! My mom is also a fantastic cook. She's from the south and they really now how to cook down there = )

I know that I will overdo the calories tomorrow - I'm not even going to try to deny myself. The only thing I am going to attempt to do is not go for seconds!

Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge is going well. I love having something like this to keep me on track this holiday season.

Today workout:  1 hour spin class - 6 points, 1 hour high impact fabulous 5 class - 6 point, veggies and fruits - 1 point  Total: 13
Good day for points!

Short and Sweet

Hello all! (Although by all I probably mean only one or two of you) =)  I just want to post today's exercise so that I can keep track for the Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge. We have parent teacher conferences at school tomorrow so I won't be able to work out at all. I'm kind of bummer since Tuesday is usually my favorite workout day. Still haven't decided if I should run the Sparta Turkey Trot on Thursday morning. I'll probably just decided the night before. I'll have to pay a little bit more, but I really don't want to commit to it.
My two goals for this year are to 1. Improve my yoga practice 2. Increase my speed
I figure that if I keep repeating the goals, i'll stick to it.  I'm going to try a Buff Yoga class next week. The kundalini yoga last week was OK, but my gym offers a cardio class called Fabulous Five that I think I'll try instead. It's a high impact class and is supposed to be a good one.  On the running front, I think I am getting a little bit faster. I usually run for an hour on the treadmill and have found that I can pretty much run the whole hour at 6.0 - 6.8 mph. A few months ago I was holding steady at 5.5 - 6.2 mph.  I think that's a pretty good improvement! The Turkey Trot on Thursday will be a good test to see if I have gotten faster or not since I haven't run a short race in a long time.  As I write this, I'm realizing that I definitely should get my butt out of bed on Thursday and run it.

Today's Workout:  1 hour spin class: 6 points  Ate my fruits and veggies: 1 point  Total for today - 7 points

Whirlwind Weekend

Wow - what a busy and exciting weekend this has been. Friday night, luckily, is my rest day so I didn't have to squeeze in a workout. The high school parents committee sponsored a really nice Ladies Night Out tricky tray and dinner. I didn't get home until well after midnight, so my plan of running on Saturday morning to kick of the Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge was out the window. The only thing I had time for was a 2 mile walk with the dogs. Woke up on Saturday at around 9 (which is really later for me) and got the kids ready to go to the mall after my walk. My youngest son needed new snowboarding clothes, I needed to running shoes, and my older son needed a new sweatshirt and sneakers.  We ended up at Macy's and Dicks Sporting Goods.  My son got a really great Under Armour Sweatshirt  (see photo at right) and KSwiss shoes.  The other son ended up with a Spyder sweater and Under Armour damage. I decided to switch back to Mizuno running shoes. I ran the marathon in Asics and I liked them, but when I tried on two different pairs yesterday, the Mizuno's were more comfortable. I ran in them this morning and they felt good. I almost bought a pair of the lighter shoes that seem to be all over the place. The only hesitation I have with them, however, is that I have had a lot of issues in the past with plantar fasciitis and achilles tendinitis. I'm not sure if the shoes would have enough support for me. They felt good when I tried them on (I tried the Nike Lunarglide) - maybe next time. So after doing quite a bit of damage to my budget at the mall, we rushed home to make it to a job fair.

My baby is now 14 and ready for work! We went to Mountain Creek's job fair so he could apply to be a snow tubing attendant.  He got the job!  We were both so excited.  I am so proud of him =) To celebrate, we went out to the diner for dinner. I totally blew it as far as calories go, but I had such a nice time with my boys. We talked and laughed for over an hour and a half. Dinner was a great country chicken with a caramel apple pie for dessert.

Me and my little guy at West Milford HS

From dinner, we went to my high school for a tattoo  with the Highlander band. We have such a great band and it was really a treat. That didn't end until 11:00, so again it was after midnight before I got home.  Somehow I did manage to make it to my 8:15 yoga class and ran 5 miles after that.

HBBC points so far:  Saturday 2 + 1(veggies and fruit ) = 3
Sunday: 5 (run) + 4.5 (90 min yoga) + 1(v&f) = 10.5

My Favorite Songs to Run to

Here is a list of some of my favorite songs to run to recently. Feel free to share some of yours!
1. Dog Days Are Over (Florence and the Machine)
2. Little Lion Man  (Mumford and Sons)
3. Somebody to Love (Queen)
4. Someday, Someway (Marshall Crenshaw)
5. Swanee River (Hugh Laurie's version on Let Them Talk)  This is a great album - just got it not too long ago
6. Sandstorm (Darude)
7. Wizards in Winter (Trans Siberian Orchestra)
8. All These Things That I've Done (The Killers)

Today's Workout: 30 minute run  I am really sore from the past couple of days so I took it easy today =)

Kundalini Yoga

I had my first experience with Kundalini Yoga tonight. Since one of my goals for the year is to improve my yoga practice, it seems like a good idea to try the various classes. I liked it. It wasn't as active as I was hoping for, but I need to learn to relax and meditate. This class will be good for me as far as that goes. I took a spin class right before it, so at least I got all of my energy out somewhere today. Fire breath was hard to learn. Luckily the instructor knew that I was new and came over to help me. We did another exercise where I was on my stomach with my hand pointed forward. I had to lift my arms and legs and then start that fire breath. I got really dizzy! The instructor told me that my body was detoxing - yay! Will I do it again?  Yes - I think it's worth another go. The biggest mistake I made tonight was not bringing a change of clothes for after the spin class. My sport bra and shirt were really sweaty and then I got to the yoga room where we were basically just meditating. I got extremely chilled and had to finish the class in my jacket!

Today's workout - Spin class and Kundalini Yoga

Will everything else be a let down after NY? I hope not!

So I was listening to a podcast about marathons last night and the host was talking about the NY Marathon.  One of the listeners wrote in that she was running the NY marathon as her first marathon.  He was shocked!  He made it seem like once you run NY, nothing else compares.  I hope that's not the case.  NY was the second marathon I ran (Marine Corp. was the first).  Since I do plan on running more marathons, I sincerely hope that I am not going to be let down when I run in places that aren't NY.  Right now the plan is to run NY again next year.  I am already qualified, so I might as well take the bib.  Chicago and Disney are also on my list.  An overseas marathon would be cool too.  Does anyone out there have an opinion on this?  I am hoping that I won't regret running NY so early in my marathon history.  Should I have saved it for later?  Please let me know about other great marathons you have run.  I am sure there are lots out there!

Today's workout schedule:  5 mile run followed by a cardio-barre class

The Best Pumpkin Pie EVER!

Thanksgiving (my favorite holiday) is quickly approaching.  This recipe is for the best pumpkin/pecan pie ever.  I have gotten nothing but rave reviews every time I make this.  I know we are all trying to watch the waistline around the holidays, so I tried where possible to lighten it up a bit.  Here it is - Enjoy and let me know what you think!

Ingredients:  1 - 15 ounce can pumpkin puree (I use organic)
1 - 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk low fat
2 egg yolks

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt

1  - 9 inch unbaked wheat pie shell

2 egg whites

Topping:   2 tablespoons flour
1/4 cup packed brown sugar (I use the Splenda mix)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons butter chilled (I use the real thing here!)
1 cup chopped pecans

Directions:   1. preheat the oven to 425F
2. Mix the first three ingredients then stir in the next four
3. In a glass bowl whip the egg whites until you get soft peaks.  Fold them into the mixture from above. Pour the filling into the pie shell.
4. Bake for 15 minutes in the preheated oven.
5. Prepare the topping while the pie cooks by combine all ingredients with a fork or pastry cutter. When the 15 minutes is up, top the pie with the topping and bake for and additional 40 minutes or until the pie has set at 350F.  Don't forget to turn the oven temperature down at this point!  
6.  Eat and enjoy!


Workout for the day - Spin class at 5:15 and then maybe some abs when I get home  

Beautiful Day

Today has been such a peaceful, beautiful day. I don't want it to end! I started with a gentle yoga class this morning at 8. This has now become a new goal of mine - get better at yoga. I am pretty good at the poses once I learn them, but I am very unsure of the different names so I find myself with my eyes open through most of the class because I am watching the instructor. Hopefully I can get to point where I don't have to be in the front of the class and I can just close my eyes, relax, and do the things she says to do. Vynasa yoga is still a little bit difficult for me. It just goes too fast and not being familiar with the poses makes that hard. On the bus ride to the marathon last weekend, I overheard a girl talking about how she never is sore and rarely gets injured. She swore it was because of all the yoga she does. We'll see. I'm going to aim for two classes a week.

After the hike, I met up with three of my girls and we went for a beautiful hike around Skylands Manor.  It was a picture perfect day for hiking.  We did run into a bit of trouble trying to find the trail around Shepard's Lake (picture on left) and had to climb through prickly bushes and trees for awhile before we got back on track. It was all good though.

After the hike, we head to Prime 15  for lunch.  I had a nice big skirt steak, french onion soup, a baked potato and a glass of pinot noir.  It was soooo enjoyable.  The fresh air wore me out in a good way.  Now I'm home and getting ready for a full week of school tomorrow.  We haven't had a full week in three weeks because of teacher conventions last week and a snow storm the week before.

On the Twitter front - I'm getting the hang of it.  I have started following some people and it is really amazing how many people are out there with similar interests and really great blogs. I even joined (I think) a Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge at Run To the Finish.  I posted a link to it on the wall here.  If any of you that started following me are reading this, please let me know if I am making a fool of myself with the tweets.  Yesterday I tried to send someone a tweet directly.  Unfortunately I sent it someone else and had to redo it.  I also don't really get when to use the # symbol in the tweets.

Here are some more pics of the manor - It really is a beautiful place.  I can't wait to go back in the spring and summer to see the botanical gardens that are there.