Archive of ‘Jersey City’ category

A Running Update + IRONMAN Jacket Giveaway

I’m really struggling to find time to do anything with my new work schedule – that includes blogging, exercise and social activities. I’m not complaining though – I’m so much happier than I was at my last job. When you’re miserable for so long you forget what it feels like to NOT be miserable, and you think being miserable is just how it is.

So now that I’m finally not miserable, it’s really refreshing. photostrip But I am working 60 hours a week. I wake up at 5ish just to get to work at 7ish so that I could leave by 7ish and not have to stay later.  Also, I work on weekends. This leaves little time to work out before work — and then there’s the fact that I have never in my life had such a hard time getting out of bed in the morning, I’m so tired — and no time after work because I just want to go home and crash. This week I have  late weeknight events three nights, which is stressing me out majorly. Again, not complaining, just explaining it all.

I need to figure out a better balance because I have a marathon to start training for in May! And not just any marathon, but ideally my sub-4 marathon. Coach Abby says I NEED to get my leg strengthening exercises in three times a week, not to mention the actual running. As for my beloved Refine, right now I would only be able to go on weekends but I am not ready for that neck-wise. I want to have a few more pain-free runs completed before I feel ready to add in any other types of exercise. I feel a mix of upset (Refine is my happy place) and smart (listening to my PT when he told me to use running as a gauge for other workouts). And, I am LOVING running! Every run I do, I feel grateful and happy. I can’t wait to be running more miles and more often. And training for a marathon! I booked my flight to Seattle for Bellingham Bay Marathon! And I might have something else in the works that I’ll talk about soon that will motivate me even more to run and help me meet running people at my company. When my brain isn’t on work, these days it’s on running.  Running FTW.

I do have to say, I am not used to feeling so soft and being so out of shape. I haven’t been this way since I started working out “for real” on January 2, 2010. I’m self conscious all the time and I miss the old me.

Does anyone seasoned in working long hours have tips?
(I should note – I already wake up at 5 just to get to work and I don’t have a lunch break and I am scared to run outside before 5am… so it gets a little trickier…)

Abrupt subject change: Yesterday I had an amazing day. I slept until 10am for the first time since COLLEGE. Even Larry didn’t cry to wake us up, he slept in, too!  I guess this is what early mornings and long days of sitting for hours straight will do to you.

After breakfast at our favorite Jersey City spot Sam A.M., Andy and I spent some time at Project: Earth, a street fair in our neighborhood to benefit  local Earth Day initiatives. I got some really great stuff there and I’m excited about all of it, including vintage shoes and a vintage bag and some gifts for a certain baby with a very large bun.

Then we signed the lease on our new apartment, an amazing apartment that overlooks the dog park section of a really nice park. We don’t move until July 1 but we are obsessed with all things new apartment right now. We even bought this at Project: Earth, which happens to perfectly match our black, red and beige rug AND is the same exact pattern and colors as our shower curtain.

Does this thing have a name?

Does this thing have a name?

Then I had my first pain-free 5 mile run, my longest run since the Richmond Marathon and one of my few totally pain-free runs. Things are definitely looking up. And then we ate dinner at our favorite Jersey City dinner spot, Razza. One thing I love about living here (and there’s a lot) is that just by going to these two restaurants often, being passionate about them and engaging with them on social media, they know us now. And they talk to us, and that makes us feel special and want to go back even more and tell more people. And there’s just such a community feel here, it is so nice. A perfect day.

This morning I did another 5 miles and felt good, so I’m happy with my decision to run in the Newport 10,000 next weekend. It’s a 10K race I was too injured to run last year, but I’ve been really wanting to do it. Before my neck injury, this was going to be my PR attempt but I’m not ready for that. Instead, I will run at a leisurely pace, take in a new route and get cheered on by my boys as I run directly in front of my apartment building.

Once my running started going well I had the opportunity to finally try the  IRONMAN’s Women’s Convertible Versa Jacket. They sent me this jacket awhile ago to try out, review and giveaway. I chose the passion fruit color, which looks even better in person than in the photo. Made by Sugoi, this jacket is warm enough to wear all winter long for you cold weather running people (every year I try to become one of you, maybe next year I will be thanks to this jacket). I really liked it and although I don’t look forward to next winter’s cold weather, I am really glad to have this jacket and hope to use it often! ironman jacket

It didn’t look too bulky, and the bottom of the arms and bottom of the jacket are adjustable so I was able to make it snug around my wrists and waist so no cold air could get in. It protected perfectly against the wind and the best part of the jacket — which I did not get to try yet — is that if you get too warm, it converts INTO A VEST with MAGNETIC SLEEVES.

Here are the official jacket deets:

Available in passion fruit or black, the IRONMAN Women’s Convertible Versa Jacket is 100% polyester argon fabric jacket and features a high air permeability rating and water resistance, both of which help to keep you warm and dry. With its easily removable/attachable magnet-attached sleeves and reflective visibility, this jacket can also be converted into a vest, making it perfect for any workout – indoors or out! Combining durability with function and style, this jacket is simply a training essential. (Feel free to see what I’m talking about in this video here or read more below.)

The IRONMAN Women’s Convertible Versa Jacket jacket retails at $135.95, so I’m really excited to give away such a functional, good-looking, all around awesome jacket!

GIVEAWAY INFO

You can get up to two entries to be in the running to win:

(1) Leave a comment below telling me what you look for in a running jacket OR if you have a favorite local food spot OR your advice for fitting in workouts with a very challenging work schedule (

2) Tweet about the giveaway, leave a comment here letting me know you did. Suggested tweet: I entered to win an @IronmanTri Women’s Convertible Versa Jacket from @thedorigray: http://dorishinyblog.com/2014/04/a-running-update-ironman-jacket-giveaway

Good luck!

Oh! Unrelated, I’m using Instagram more these days but can’t for the life of me figure out how to add the icon to the top of this blog. It’s not one of the options in my template. Anyway, you can follow me there.

All entries must be received by Sunday, May 4 at 12:00 am EDT. The odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received.

Seattle, The Super Bowl & An Interview with Marshawn Lynch

It’s Super Bowl week and I live on one Super Bowl Drive (and the street where the Broncos are staying) and I work on the other Super Bowl Drive (next to where the Seahawks are staying.) The other Super Bowl Drive didn’t get officially named that, but the signs are out on the street so let’s just go with it.

Super Bowl Drive - Jersey City

As someone who never thought she’d blog about the Super Bowl, it’s pretty funny that this is my second post devoted to it.

But I have a few things to say. Most importantly, my husband Andy managed to snag an interview with Marshawn Lynch of the Seattle Seahawks (who famously does not like talking to media). Conducted via phone last night from our living room couch with Larry Gary on his lap, Andy asked the hard hitting questions real fans want to know.

Like, for example, what his dog Ice (Marshawn pronounces “Iiiiiiiiiiiice”) does while he’s busy playing football. “He’s out doing his doggie dog thing, living in his doggie dog world. You feel me?”

Andy said, “I feel you.” Dori with nephew Harrison

Read the full interview:
Hot Clicks Q&A: Marshawn Lynch

It’s actually funny timing, since Andy and I coincidentally spent this past Saturday through Tuesday in the Seattles. We visited my brother, sister-in-law and 13-month-old nephew.

The trip itself was perfect. We escaped the polar vortex and enjoyed 50 degree temps. I didn’t always wear a coat. I ate really, really well. Like, the best I’ve ever eaten in a four-day period. I played with the cutest, funniest baby I’ve ever met. I tried eating up his thighs.

And in running news, I ran outside twice because the weather in Seattle is amazing. The best part? Absolutely no knee pain at all for the first time since the Portland and Richmond Marathons! I finally feel recovered, and I will continue focusing on strength this month before I jump back into marathon training in the not-so-distant future.

Also, I ran up the most giant hill of my life.

Kirkland hill

This photo (taken from car) does the hill NO justice. Elevation gain: 264 ft.

Anyway, from the moment we got on the plane in Newark to head to Seattle, the pilot talked about the Seahawks over the PA. The flight attendants cheered and I realized then that this would be a pretty special weekend to happen to be in Seattle.

Once we landed, we walked into SeaTac Airport to Seahawks balloons all over the place and every employee dressed for the occasion. As we walked by a flight that was about to board, we heard the employee announce “Priority boarding for anyone wearing Seahawks gear.”

No one had anything for me to borrow to board early on my trip back.

I thought all the Super Bowl stuff would get annoying, but it didn’t. Throughout our time there, we passed countless cars and houses all decorated to show their support. We saw someone selling Seahawks merchandise out of a tent in the parking lot of a gas station.

And in the airport going back home, once again every single airport employee I came across was dressed up with at least item sporting the Seahawks logo.

I felt the energy and excitement everywhere I went. Even though Andy clearly loves his Patriots and I like whoever Andy likes (the only way in which I am actually a good wife, said woman who doesn’t cook or clean or write wedding thank-you cards),  being around this excitement made me really want the Seahawks to win. It doesn’t hurt that I absolutely love Seattle and would move there in a second if I could. But that alone didn’t make me care much either way — it was getting caught up in the incredible energy there right now that did.

So when Andy got the opportunity to interview Marshawn Lynch, I felt thrilled for him! Especially since he’s not really talking to anyone else. What a coup!

One more reason Seattle > NYC/NJ? THEY SELL ALCOHOL AT WALGREENS.

walgreens seattle

TL;DR -  My husband interviewed Marshawn Lynch and I hope the Seahawks win because I like Seattle.

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