Tuesday BLAGS | Dori's Shiny Blog

Last year, my Tuesday Blags post was a bulleted recap of my Memorial Day weekend. I thought it would be fun (for me more than you, but this is my blog, so I win) to see what was similar or different between this year and last — and then see which year wins.

I really, really love long weekends. Especially summery ones.

Because I did not include Friday last year, I will have to leave out my friend Emily’s awesome birthday party at the Frying Pan — which is a bar on a BOAT — from this past Friday night:

Exercise

Last Year: Core Fusion Cardio, Walk from SoHo to Upper East Side, Walk from East Side to West Side to East Side

This Year: Core Fusion Cardio, Core Fusion Yoga, 6.75 mile (pain free!) run to and from SoHo, Walk from East Side to West Side to East Side

Winner: This year. That run was magnificent, the classes were intense. I loved every second of it.

Friends

Last year: I saw a boy, and I saw my friend Emily for her birthday — where she did some handstands.

This year: I saw a (different) boy [I’m the whore of Memorial Day], I saw my friend Emily for her birthday (no handstands) along with our friend Rae (both my friends since first grade), my friend Missy and our friend Kristine

Winner: This year. Many more friends!

Emily handstand Dori and Missy

Central Park Visits

Last Year: Two days spent in Central Park; one included a nap.

This Year: Two days spent in Central Park; one included a nap, the other a BluePrint Cleanse Pineapple, Apple, Mint sangria with blueberries:

Winner: This year. Due to wine consumption.

BluePrint Cleanse Sangria

Outdoor Meals

Last year: Three meals eaten outdoors

This year: One meal eaten outdoors

Winner: Last year. Clearly.

Alcohol

Last Year: Margaritas, Bubblegum Vodka, Lychee Martini, Other mixed drink

This Year: Lychee Martini, Strawberry fancy drink thing at Apotheke (the bartenders wear lab coats), BluePrint Cleanse Sangria

Winner: This year. It was a very close call, but the BPC Sangria was just brilliant. Healthiest Sangria ever!

Work

Last Year: 2-hour conference call on the holiday Sunday night with Asia, where there is no Memorial Day

This Year: TookÂ a holiday from my weeklyÂ NBC New York GO Healthy NY – Dori’s Quest post. Did not work at all.

Winner: This year

Shopping

Last year: Purchased a real, used Prada bag for $10 at street fair.

This year: Purchased sunblock; forgot to use it and fell asleep on my stomach at the park. Awoke to burns behind my legs.

Winner: Last year

Prada bag Saks

[Photo: Saks Fifth Avenue]

Post-Weekend

Last year: Back to a full week of work

This year: Off to Atlantic City for a cheesy fun night thanks to Living Social Escapes

Winner: Do you really need to ask?

Overall

And the winner is. . .

While both last year and this year’s holiday weekends included staying in the city (which I LOVE), exercise, Central Park time, drinking and relaxing . . . I would say this year’s was even better than last due to a number of reasons, some not even stated above. While last year’s $10 Prada bag purchase made the competition close, I hereby declare this year’s Memorial Day the winner.

Central Park Memorial Day

[Photo: Missy Maintains. Our view in Central Park on Memorial Day]

I hope you all had a fantastic holiday weekend like I did!Â Check back later this week for my information on the FREE IntenSati class in Central Park that Missy and I are hosting on Saturday, June 11 at 10:30 AM with theÂ New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for their launch week ofÂ BeFitNYC.org.

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I’ve got some running news for you on this humid May Tuesday.

I went on a work trip to Huntington Beach California earlier this month. Faced with theÂ opportunityÂ to run along the Pacific Ocean, I had no choice but to go for it.
Here is some photographic proof of the 10 miles I ran during my three days there. Yep. 10 miles. Two three mile runs at a cautiously slow pace and one amazing and speedy four miler where I finally felt like I was back from my injury:
This was not taken during a run, but look at the sunset from this trip:
Since coming back to New York City, I have now ran three times. All have gone well and been at a good pace considering I’ve been out of commission for months.
Don’t worry! I am taking it easy. I don’t run often, and I don’t push my pace. I just run in a way that feels natural.
Someone please explain to me why running is so much easier when there is a destination? For example, when I am running just to go for a run, I am constantly thinking about how long I have been running, how much more time I have left, my pace, my mileage, checking my watch, etc. But when I am running to a destination — like to Core Fusion Cardio this weekend — I can just enjoy my run because I know exactly how far I have to go and how close I am. Why is this? I want to enjoy all my runs in this easygoing way.
Case in point: This morning on my 3.5 mile run run, my first two miles were completed in 10:10 and 10:22 respectively. My return mile and a half was completed in 8:09 and 8:12. Because coming back, I had a destination: home.
Please explain.
Because of my hip injury and the possibility of not making it to the marathon, I decided not to run with Team for Kids this year.
I love Twitter. Without the training perks of Team for Kids, I needed a good marathon training plan that allows me to keep Refine Method and Core Fusion in my mix. I put out a request for help to create a marathon training plan. Stacy from Stacy’s Bootcamp created a magnificent custom training plan for me. She is awesome. Go take her class.
I am excited to start marathon training in July for the ING NYC Marathon!
I am excited to blog about my experience marathon training. How many people get to have a detailed account of training for their first and likely only marathon? I mean, in this world, lots. But in the grand scheme, not so many.
I am shocked by how many people commented on my hip injury posts to tell me I should just go ahead and get the surgery even if I’m not in pain. As I explained, I went to two different hip surgeons who BOTH told me I don’t need surgery. One of them was even a jerk! Surgery is their bread and butter, and if they both advised me to NOT give them thousands of dollars, I think there is a good reason for that.
My hip has been feeling so much better (knock on wood). I still avoid turning out, but I haven’t felt pain in awhile.
I am so happy I did not get surgery.
I registered for the Queens Half Marathon on July 30! I was on the fence because I don’t want to pay for a race that I might not be able to run (who knows what will happen with my hip), but it was about to fill up and I’d rather secure my spot and eat the $25. The race takes place in my hometown, so I won’t have to deal with the stress of traveling to an outer borough early in the morning. I can just stay at my mom’s and if she doesn’t want to drive me, it will be a $10 car service ride!
I also registered for the Celebrate Israel Run on June 5.Â Jews! It is a 4-miler, which I am totally ready for right now. I am excited to run in a race again. I will NOT try to PR — especially since my PR for this distance is my fastest race (not counting the 5th Avenue Mile) ever. I am proud to represent my people at my first race back.
I am obsessed with analyzing my Garmin maps post-run. I mean, look at this crazy one from last week! I ran to errands, to Core Fusion Cardio and to lunch. As I said above, destination running rules.
I will have an exciting announcement very soon. If you live in the NYC area and are around on (I think) Sunday, June 12, I would love you to participate in an outdoor fitness event! More details TK.
Even if my hip gets bad again, I am thankful for this time right now when I can run pain free. I am back!