Happy Thursday!
I have a lot to be thankful for today, so let’s get right down to it!
I’m thankful for my new, wonderfully fluffy, bright orange comforter. Have I not obsessed over this enough this week? I know, I have. But seriously, this blanket is magical and I can’t wait to complete the set with some smashing new pillowcases. I slept so soundly under these blankets last night that my bed was still basically made on top of me when I woke up this morning. Great timesaver.
I’m thankful for puppies. I squeezed in my prescribed 3-mile run last night after going to a dance show near my apartment. I very rarely run at night, and I forgot how nice it can be (minus the fact that my belly was filled with food — I’m very much an empty stomach runner). Also, there are way more puppies out at night than there are at 6 am.
I’m thankful for the East River running path. I love it in the morning and in the afternoon. I love it in the evenings and underneath the moon. I mostly love it in the morning, but being out there last night was surprisingly peaceful, despite the fact that there were tons of people out enjoying the area.
I’m thankful I cooked something new! You rarely read about my cooking experiences on the blog because they are pretty much non-existant. I eat a lot of fish, which is boring, and I make a lot of pasta, which is delicious and boring. But ever since last weekend’s incredible dinner at Alta, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about brussels sprouts. I didn’t even know I liked this particular vegetable, but we all couldn’t get enough and ended up ordering extra servings.
So last night, post-run, I dragged my sweaty butt into the grocery store and bought some sprouts. I followed a simple recipe that came up with a “how to cook brussels sprouts easily + impossible to mess up” Google search, which instructed me to cut the ends off the sprouts, cut the sprouts in half, then toss them in a bowl with some olive oil, salt and pepper.
Naturally I didn’t have salt. Who doesn’t have salt??? Clearly I don’t cook or salt my food. I added some garlic powder, because in my mind those things are the same.
I threw them in the oven at 400-something degrees and they were so good!
I’m thankful for good advice from nice people. As I mentioned, last night I attended a dance show. I actually went with Coach Cane and his amazing, super speedy runner wife, Nicole (they are probably the cutest couple ever — ever). Naturally most of our conversations centered around running. Here’s how one particular intermission conversation went:
Ali: So Coach Cane, there’s nothing on my training plan for Friday. It’s blank.
Coach Cane: That means rest.
Ali: But it doesn’t say rest. It just says nothing.
Coach Cane: It means rest.
Ali: Well can I do a yoga class?
Coach Cane: Yes, yoga is fine.
Ali: So can I do a spinning class?
Coach Cane: No.
Ali: You’re mean and I hate rest days.
Nicole: [Laughs] If you hate rest days, it means you’re not working hard enough on all the other days!
Ali: [Silence]
Oh snap. She made a solid point and I couldn’t get it out of my head all night and into this morning. I wasn’t working hard enough. Yes, I’m pushing myself and working out a lot. But speed wise, I can definitely work harder. I’m rarely gasping for breath at the ends of my runs. I stick with what’s comfortable. Operation Push Myself is on. Thanks, Nicole! You’re wise.
That being said, I’m thankful I pushed myself. This morning’s training planned called for a tempo run — my first one ever! I did a mile or so warm up, then ran one lap of the Central Park Reservoir at a comfortable pace. Then I did two more laps at my half marathon goal pace, which after the National Half is an 8-minute mile (or faster!). It was tough transitioning into the faster speed, which I rarely do except on race days, but it felt good. It felt hard, but it felt good. That’s what she said. Ugh. I’m sorry. I couldn’t help it. My legs were shot by the end, which was 7 miles including my cool down.
I’m thankful for Body Glide. I forgot what a pain in the butt summer running can be. More sweat + less clothing = chafe city.
I’m thankful for food. I know I’m early in the marathon training process, but already I’m eating like a beast. Not that that’s super different from normal life, but now I feel like I have a good excuse for spending $16 at the Whole Foods hot bar on giant pieces of Naan and ladle-sized globs of hummus.
I’m thankful I work in an office where sweatshirts are acceptable (at least I think they are — I haven’t really run into anyone yet today). At first, I put on a cute skirt and top this morning. Then I basically said, “No way. Not today,” and changed into jeans. Jeans and a button-down is obviously fine. Jeans and a button-down and the sweatshirt on top? If that doesn’t scream “I’m a classy professional,” I don’t know what does.
I’m thankful for Run For The Rabbit. I know, I keep saying this. But already I’ve met incredible people through this program and I’m learning so much about running from Coach Cane. I finally set up a Run For The Rabbit page on the blog, too!
NOW COMES MY FAVORITE PART: Tell me what you’re thankful for today, whether it’s a post-work beer (or six) that you’re looking forward to or the fact that it’s finally, really, not winter anymore.
0 Responses
I haven’t been able to get the rest day advice out of my head! Coach’s wife is so wise!
I’m late, but I definitely need some thankful things in my life this week. It’s been the worst week in a long time, but going through some really terrible stuff is making me extra thankful for my friends, my family, running, my blog. There’s so many good things in my life! So thanks for reminding me to think about ’em!
And Nicole is genius. Why hasn’t anyone ever said that to me? I want a coach.
Your tempo sounds awesome! I’m excited to work more tempos into my training next round of marathon training. I do a lot of speed workouts and usuallly take the day after speed off from running. I enjoy my rest days usually when my body needs it… like today! I’m super sore from Boot Camp yesterday.
I’m thankful for blogs- its such a part of my life now I can’t imagine life without you guys : )
I’m thankful for the cadbury minieggs that I bought off of E-bay (oops.) best idea ever…now I can have them even though it’s not Easter time. I also should probably mention that I’m Jewish and have no relationship to Easter at all hah, except for these of course. Great photos from the reservoir today…love that view!
I’m thankful to be in New Zealand!
I also really need to push myself more, that’s a really good point Nicole made!
Nice job on the half marathon-pace run! Practicing that pace now will make it seem easier during the race 🙂
And I loveeeee WF hot bar (omg, the chicken tikka masala is amazing). I could easily spend my whole paycheck there.
I spy a PUG! 🙂
I am not a brussel sprouts fan, but I’m determined to try to learn to like them this summer.
Here is what I’m thankful for this week: http://counselormusings.blogspot.com/2011/05/thankfulness-project-monday_09.html
At this moment, I’m thankful for hot tea, blueberries, and orange cats. Also, you’re adorable! Good luck with your race. 🙂
I’m thankful you like brussel sprouts too….steamfresh makes individual mini-1 serving bags of them that you can throw in the microwave if youre ever in a rush… i live on them. Another way to try them is throw some brown sugar on them.. interesting little dish. xo.
Hi! I love Alta, too, and those brussels sprouts are TO DIE FOR! I’m so impressed you were able to replicate them because I also never cook or bake.
I’m thankful that it’s Thursday, (aka Friday-eve) that the weather has been so consistently gorgeous for the past week or so, that I have gotten some stellar runs in, that I’m going to the beer garden with the bf on Saturday post-race, and that I have a hot lady date next week! 😉 And as always, I’m thankful for your blog and its most welcome distraction from the drudgery of work. 😉 Have a great day, Ali!
i am thankful that i am going on vacation next week. i would be more grateful if i were visiting nyc for a celine + running +wine party but I’ll take poolside time in Arizona as a close second.
i am thankful that i remembered underwear when i biked in every day this week…cause while i may not wear it on the bike, my coworkers appreciate it when i wear something beneath my skirts and dresses.
Hi Ali! I’m thankful to live in NYC. I’m thankful for my parents. I’m also thankful to have taken up running a few years ago. It’s changed my life and I couldn’t be happier. I’m also thankful for races. I cannot get enough of them.
Enjoy the rest day! Thankful for brussel sprouts that I discovered just last fall, and absolutely love. Thankful to be working with college students on leadership for the next week, and have a new outdoor running trail to explore!
I’m thankful for …
* making my breakfast and lunch every day of this week
* meeting incredible people at the NYC Teach For America benefit last night
* vino, always
* the weekend being close
Ali, I posted about brussel sprouts and a simple recipe recently!
http://balancingme.wordpress.com/2011/04/20/brussel-love/
That particular post also has the recipe to Alta’s brussel sprouts, which, I agree, are heavenly. Can’t stop thinking about them after you eat them! 😉
YES! Oh my gosh, so you understand, those sprouts at Alta are to die for. I want to go back and order like 12 servings of them.
i’m thankful for finding your blog! so much fun to read about another 20something runner in nyc…who loves 16 handles almost as much as i do 🙂
It would be embarrassing if people knew how often I go to 16 Handles…alone.
Hmm, that is a pretty good point about rest days. Definitely something to think about.
I’m thankful for physical therapy. I’m not happy I’m not running, but I’m thankful that there is a fix to the problem.
I’m thankful for cross-training. Prior to this injury I NEVER, repeat NEVER did cross training. I’m enjoying several DVDs that have been successfully kicking my butt.
Lastly, I’m thankful for Dunkin Donuts iced coffee.. It just tastes sooooooo good!
where do you get your running tanks?
Many of them are from Lululemon. I really like the “Cool Racerback” tank, which is what I’m wearing in the photo here (purple top).
I’m thankful for the e-mails we’ve been sending this morning haha. 🙂
Also, I’m thankful it’s almost the weekend which means I’ll be headed to NH for me nieces third bdays!!! Can’t wait to see them! Happy thankful things Thursday!
I am thankful that my boyfriend has decided to cook dinner for me every night this week.. which is usually my task. It has given me some extra time to relax (aka read/write blogs!)
I’m thankful for sushi, and for friday, and for health.
I am thankful for the fruit stand guy. He gives me cheap, delicious apples. Don’t you just love those fruit stands in NYC? They are soooo cheap!
I’m terrible and I NEVER have cash on me, so I don’t get to take advantage of those guys! It’s so depressing when I spend a fortune on produce at the grocery store then walk outside and he’s there with his fancy, cheap fruits and vegetables. Note to self: go to an ATM!
Excellent point about the rest days. My body always tells me when to take a rest day, so I take that as a sign I am pushing hard!
I am thankful for getting to see one of my favorite bands tonight! And I am thankful that I am finally feeling better after being sick with nausea all week long. Boo.
I am thankful that everytime I read your blog, it makes me LOL to myself!
cheers
I am thankful for a husband who tells me I look cute, even when I don’t.
Nice job on the tempo run. I did one last night as well, but I’m way slower than you, so my 45-50 minutes only covers 5 miles.
I’m thankful that two of my best friends from out of town are visiting this weekend!