Hi!
I’ve missed you.
Life lately has been busy. And hot. And now rainy. And mostly good.
In lieu of an organized, beautifully coherent post, here instead is a mass roundup of “My Life Lately.” Consider it a highlight reel.
I “starred” (ha) in a Mets commercial. Two Mets commercials, actually!
I played the part of “runner girl” and “dog walker.” You don’t really see my face in either one, but the little appearance was just enough to make my mom and dad proud.
I turned 30. I had a wonderful day.
November Project was so much fun that morning, and I felt very loved all day long. My most wonderful friend Lauren showed up at Brian’s office where I was working that afternoon with two bottles of champagne, and then Brian took me to dinner at Bouley. Livin’ large at 30.
I went to the North Fork for a day. My happy place! Brian and I basically only go out there during the off-season because the “on-season” is too nuts (read: expensive).
We drove out to spend a day relaxing, playing at the wineries, and eating at one of my favorite restaurants.
Then we took the ferry to New London, CT, and we drove our car right onto the ferry and parked it there. This was unsettling to me. Cars don’t go on boats. Cars go on roads. I think I held my breath for the entire 1 hour 20 minute trip because I was so convinced the cars were going to weigh us down and we were going to sink.
Then we went on the top deck and I yelled, “Never let go, Jack!” As one does on a big boat.
I celebrated Tyler’s third birthday in Massachusetts. It was at a gymnastics place. The adults may have had more fun than the children.
I tried out TheRUN studio. It’s pretty similar to Mile High Run Club, but the treadmills are pre-programmed, which is awesome. You don’t have to constantly adjust the pace and incline because the workout is entered before you start. I went during one of the studio’s opening weeks, so I’m eager to see if it gains traction and takes off.
I started following David Beckham on Instagram. You should, too.
I discovered Whine About It Wednesdays with Matt Bellassai. And I can’t stop laughing.
I finally learned how to do “Cups.” Singing and cupping.
I got back on my bike! I’ve been wanting to get back in the saddle since the weather started heating up. Cycling is so hard for me. You’d think these husky legs would have some decent power in them, but nope.
Brian joined me for an “easy ride” and he was basically cruising hands-free while sending emails on his laptop, and I was gasping for air at the sight of every hill. It is impossible.
I went to Vermont to cheer on Brian and his team at the Killington Stage Race. It was my first big race of the season, so it was time to warm up the cowbells! I did really well. I screamed a ton, and saw all “my guys” every time they passed me. Nailed it!
I also got to visit a certain special someone!
I did yoga in Bryant Park. Athleta offers free yoga in Bryant Park every Tuesday and Thursday during the summer, and Bethany was teaching last week.
It was so wonderful doing yoga outside, though my drishti wandered a lot. There really is nothing like doing yoga in the middle of New York City. It’s totally surreal. (And free! Here’s the schedule for the rest of the summer.)
I celebrated my one year anniversary at November Project. It’s hard to believe I’ve been going to these workouts almost every week for the past 365 days. What a game changer. If you haven’t sought out a November Project workout in a city near you yet, I implore you to try it out. Three times. (Also free!)
I cooked dinner. Three nights in a row. This is monumental for me. I got to try out Ritual, a food delivery service similar to Blue Apron. It was amazing. One night I made burgers, lemony green beans, and sweet potato fries.
The next night, it was salmon (with toasted pine nuts!!!), broccoli rabe, and roasted carrots. Both meals were incredible and made me feel like a legitimate chef. Which I am so clearly not. The service is very much out of my price range right now, which is a huge bummer, because I really highly recommend the food and the service. If you are rich, do it! And invite me over for dinner!
I said my tearful (not really, but almost) goodbye to F.A.O. Schwartz. I thought the flagship store on Fifth Avenue was closing, so I went to “stock up” (on what, Alison? you’re an adult.) and say my goodbyes.
Turns out, the store is just moving. But still. I’m not really a toy person and I’m definitely not a toy store person, but I love F.A.O. It feels so special and so quintessentially New York City.
I put my Garmin in a drawer and said, “It’s not you, it’s me. But it’s also a little bit you.” I’ve always said that the second running stops being fun for me, I will stop. Or at least do what I have to do to love it again. After two fall marathons and a disappointing spring half-marathon, I’m ready and willing to take a big step back. I have other priorities right now, and I want to always love running. The minute it feels like something I have to do or something that doesn’t make my mind and body feel good is the minute I need to pause the Garmin, walk back home, and take a break.
I took a few days off after the Brooklyn Half, then went on a few runs while I was in Vermont. Nothing fast, nothing exciting, certainly nothing approaching double digits. And while Vermont was lovely, I wasn’t necessarily “yay running!” It was more, “I guess I’ll exercise while the guys are riding their bikes for five hours.”
Last week I ran at November Project, which was fun, and went on a few shorter runs, and I hated each one. I just feel so deeply over-trained and over-worked and I don’t want to feel that way any longer.
If I’m dying to run again in a week, I’ll run. If the process takes a month, then I’ll take a month. I have no races planned for the rest of 2015, so we’ll just see.
WHAT’S NEW WITH YOU?
19 Responses
except for the green beans, I would eat that every day. Gluten free unfortunately but still. Burger and sweet potato fries. I would die happy.
Also I live in Denver and still panicked a little at the thought that FAO Schwartz might be closing. How?Why? This affects me not at all. But it’s a landmark. Whatever..I’m a little sad it’s moving. Glad it’s not closing.
While the Wolffer Rose will always hold a special place in my heart (basic, and I don’t care), Sparkling Pointe is definitely A+++++.
THANK YOU for posting about Whine About It Wednesdays! Absolutely hysterical.
I think you’re smart to take time off from running if you aren’t enjoying it right now – that’s the only way to get back to being excited about lacing up those Hokas! Sounds like you have plenty to keep you busy until then!
Question for you – what sports bras do you wear? I thought you had a “gear that you recommend” section on your blog but now I don’t see it!
I used to swear by the Moving Comfort Juno bra (http://www.movingcomfort.com/en_us/juno-sports-bra/350025.html), but it is a STRUGGLE getting in and out of that bad boy, especially when sweaty. I actually have a post coming up about gear I’ve been loving, which includes my NEW go-to sports bra (which I wore for the Brooklyn Half): New Balance’s “Comfy Conformer” It’s really similar to the Juno, but easier to wiggle into and out of, and doesn’t chafe me in the places where the Juno used to “rub me the wrong way.” (Pun!) Here’s the NB bra: http://www.newbalance.com/women/apparel/sports-bras-1/
Awesome, thanks Ali!
I really want to try Run Studio! That sounds so amazing and motivating! I’m glad you are listening to your body! It’s so easy to get burned out and it takes a ton of guts as runners to not start forcing ourselves to run. Running is a gift and we should get to enjoy it! So glad you are in such a great place! Hope you have a fantastic week : )
Send people to Project Awesome if they are in London- it’s London’s answer to the November Project! Can’t wait to come to a session when I’m in NYC in the summer!
I think your outlook on running is great! It should always be fun and not something you have to do. You are a busy girl with lots of exciting things going on!!!
I’m so happy you’re enjoying life and doing what makes you happy! The last thing you need in the midst of work & wedding planning is for something like running to ADD stress. Hope we can catch up once i’m back in NY!
Happy birthday Ali!
You just really made me feel better! I’ve had a very strained relationship with my running for the past year and a half. Last year I ran but I did NOT enjoy it at all and my slow miles just really made me feel worse – about myself, my running, my life, everything really, and that was something that I loved so much before. Since then I’ve moved to Europe and as is my habit, I was looking for a place that is close to a park to run in. You have no idea how convenient my location is, just when my garmin finally located a satellite, I’m at the most amazing park in Amsterdam. So I have no freaking excuse why I ran a total of 3 miles since October!!! It was so bad, people knew I was a runner and asked me how it was going, what races I signed up for, and I hate to look for an excuse why I wasn’t running. The truth is, I was scared. Running was such a huge part of my life, I still count the day of my first marathon as one of the happiest in my life. But the previous year had been so bad and I didn’t want to run and feel bad about something I used to love.
And what do you know, lately I can’t stop thinking about how good running felt back in the day and reliving my past glory. So I signed up for two races in the fall, just a 10 miler and a half, nothing like a full marathon. I made a training plan for a newbie. Last week I went on my first run since October 22 and it. was. amazing!!!! I had another great run today. Really slow but oh well, feels amazing. I’ve been very happy that I have my running back. And if it took that long to get my love for it back, so be it.
You are so right – I want to be a runner for life. What is a year and a half in the grand scheme of things (nothing, I hope!)
I hope you don’t have to take such a long break. But know that it will come back. Just focus on all the other things going on in your life. And keep blogging please 🙂
I was on a ferry too! My new husband and I took a ferry from our wedding in Delaware to our honeymoon in New Jersey (better than it sounds) and I pranced around the boat in my pretty white dress.
Since you are planning a wedding and I just had one, I thought I would give you a bit of unsolicited advice: hire a day-of coordinator. I received this advice before my wedding and ignored it for a host of not-good-enough reasons, and I shouldn’t have. The day of the wedding it rained and the centerpieces were late and the makeup person didn’t bring the right supplies and a bunch of other stupid things went wrong, and it was mostly me and my parents dealing with it. Stupid things will go wrong at your wedding too (I mean, hopefully not, but you’re getting married in the real world, so they wil), and you don’t want to be dealing with them, nor do you want your parents or bridesmaids or Brian or whoever doing it; you want them to be focused on the event itself and on enjoying the day together. (Take it from the bride whose parents were too busy re-alphabetizing place cards to do formal photos.) If you’re on a budget, hire a friend of a friend or an enterprising college student, really anyone competent and organized and able to yell at people when necessary. Then you and your friends and family can relax and enjoy your wedding.
gosh I would say your legs look amazing! So toned!
So you’ve been busy? Haha. I was also super sad to hear about F.A.O. Schwartz. I remember visiting them on my first trip to NYC. And NP is the bestttttt 🙂
Dang, girl! You’ve been busy! Happy birthday – mine’s May 8 so we’re only a couple days apart 🙂
Girl, you keep calling your legs husky (I disagree — I think you look great!) but you are beautiful and I hope you know it! (On another note, thanks for the reminder about FAO Schwartz; I need to take a trip uptown ASAP, before they move!)
I’m so curious about the pre-adjusted treadmills at the Run! I’ve been meaning to try it since it’s literally a 2-minute walk from my office, but now I’m worried I’m going to have it set too fast and end up falling off, like straight out of an embarrassing GIF.
WHAT. How can I get a Run Studio to move in next door? TELL MEEEE.
I took that ferry to New London from the North Fork! My boyfriend and I did it in his Huge F150 pickup truck. I was freaking out. We also had our dogs. (we were headed to Cape Cod). We got out of the truck and went up to the waiting room that was dog friendly but my labradoodle (who is like the one in the pic with you) insisted on sitting on the seat not the floor and they came and yelled at us that he wasn’t allowed on the seats LOL! So we went outside on the deck. I kept thinking about the weight limit…but i guess they know what they’re doing right?! Lovely photos. That Vermont shot so cool. Shorts in the front and snowcaps in the back. Happy belated 30th.