Least Responsible Runner EVER

I ran the NYRR Israel 4-Mile race this weekend and it was a disaster.  I'm officially the least responsible runner(slow jogger?) EVER.  I swear I tried to be responsible.  I was going out to dinner with friends, I had plans to drink water and maybe one cocktail and somehow the night just got out of control.

Sober and responsible before dinner. 

One glass of sangria turned into a few margartias which turned into pickle-back shots.  Serious disaster.

Tequila is delicious.  Also, I REALLY need a haircut.

I really did try to make good choices.  I drank SO many glasses of water....but I guess when they're in between shots of whiskey that doesn't really count as a "good decision."  I tried to undo the alcohol by eating a clif bar(chocolate coconut!  yum!) and chugging a liter of water on my way home at 3am, which probably helped a lot.

I somehow managed to wake up on time and I seriously considered not running.  But then I felt like a jerk.  I signed up and paid for it and I live SO close to the starting line...I couldn't NOT go, no matter how terrible I felt.  So I got dressed and dragged myself to the start about ten minutes before the race started.

I had a PINK bib!  I usually have an
ugly brown bib because I'm the slowest
 runner ever.  That's actually probably
 the real reason I decided to run.

In the end, I was so tired and so slow, but I'm happy I went.  I ran, grabbed some snacks at the finish, walked home and crawled back into bed for a three hour nap. 

Lesson learned:  don't go out the night before a race!  I would have been fine if I had just gone to dinner and had a drink or two; I didn't need to stay out until 3am.  I'm definitely happy I got to spend time with my friends but I could have done without the five million drinks and late night dancing.

First Time Yogi

I went to my first yoga class yesterday! It was a slow paced, candle-light class that was designed to be relaxing. I told the instructor that I was completely new to yoga and she assured me I would be fine, but I pretty much struggled to keep up the entire class. I'm nowhere near as flexible as I used to be and today my legs are aching from feeling over stretched but I can't wait to go back and try again. They also offer a roof top yoga class, which I'm pretty excited to try.

 

Brooklyn Half Marathon

I ran 13.1 miles and didn't die!  Actually I didn't quite run the whole thing.  I ran the first half and then ran/walked the last half....but still!

The race started at 7am near Prospect Park and getting there was a disaster for me.  Living so close to Central Park has completely spoiled me and today I learned that commuting to a race isn't really all that fun.  NYRR recommended that we arrive by 6am since the baggage check closed at 6:20am.  I left my apartment a few minutes after 5am so I could take the subway with plenty of time to spare.  This wouldn't have been an issue but after getting off the subway at recommended stop it took TWENTY MINUTES to get above ground.  There were SO many people and only one exit.  Anyway, I made it right as the baggage check was closing so everything worked out fine but being stuck on the subway platform with a huge crowd made me way too anxious.  If I run this race next year I'm going to get off a stop before and just walk the extra distance.

Anyway, the course the beautiful and it was a perfect day for running.  It was about 60 degrees, a little breezy and very sunny.

Running down Ocean Parkway.

I'm still recovering from an achilles injury so I didn't want to push it too much.  I figured I would keep running as long as I wasn't in pain.  Turns out that was only about 7 miles.  After the 10k mark I started alternating walking with running.  I used to hate walking in races(I felt like a slacker or something) but I'm starting to be okay with it.  It's not worth injuring myself just to shave a few minutes off my time.  The bottom line is that I'm just happy I finished! 

UAE Healthy Kidney 10K

I ran(okay, more like ran/walked) a 10k on Saturday!  This was my first 10k and it was really tough for me.  I just started running about 3 weeks ago and I'm still really out of shape.  I ran SO slowly and I had to take a few walking breaks but I'm happy I finished.  The park so, so gorgeous on Saturday and there were so many people out - definitely exciting!  I already can't wait until the next race.

First Post!

Welcome to my little piece of the internet, Sparkles and Sweat!  I've been stalking healthy living blogs for awhile now so I figured it was finally time to start my own.  I'll be talking about my life in NYC, my attempt to get back in shape and sharing my love for all things sparkly.