20 New Year's Resolutions (for all ages)

Yes, I realize it is almost April!  But I feel like it's never too late for some resolutions and these ones come courtesy of my friend/co-worker Mike.  I saw them hanging in his cubicle and knew I had to steal it.  Also, I know they are technically for 20-somethings, but I genuinely feel that some of these points (ok, most or all) are applicable for all ages.

I personally think the entire world should get behind #6.  Sorry Kardashians.  You just annoy me.

So true for all ages

Updated 30 by 30

So I have another race for the 30 by 30 challenge.  I registered this week for the Brooklyn Half Marathon with NYRR. I have done Brooklyn before (5 years ago actually!), but this is a new course this year.  Starts in Prospect Park and ends in Coney Island.  It'll be in the middle of May, so weather should be nice (fingers crossed).  That leaves only 3 races unplanned:

24 - New Jersey Half Marathon
25 -Brooklyn Half Marathon (new)
26 - 
27 -Virginia Beach Half Marathon
28 -
29 -
30 - Disney World Half Marathon

30 by 30

This upcoming January will be my 30th birthday (holy cow, it feels weird saying that!).  This is not an "I'm turning 30, let's freak out" post, because a) it's still like 10 months away and b) I'm not really freaked out by it (see a).

But I did come up with an idea/goal for my 30th birthday - run 30 half marathons (i.e. 30 by 30).  Honestly, I'm not really that far away from 30.  I'm currently at 23.  So I have 7 still to go and already have a couple planned (I originally thought it was 24, 6 left but then realized I was counting a half relay in there and can't have that).

24 - New Jersey Half Marathon
25 -
26 - Virginia Beach Half Marathon
27 -
28 -
29 -
30 - Disney World Half Marathon

Not sure what those remaining 3 will be, maybe the Disney Wine and Dine will be one of them...still trying to figure out my schedule.  Hoping to find a local one for June and maybe another in July.  I am doing a full the last weekend of September so need to factor that in.  Either way, I do know the Disney World Half will be my 30th though!

Will update as I get closer to my goal!

5 Food Cleanse

As I said in my last post, I came home from New Orleans feeling incredibly full.  Like crazy full and overstuffed (not a good feeling, but at least it was from good food!).  I got this 5 food cleanse from my friend Melissa (who was also on the trip with us).  It's not a cleanse in the traditional sense (at least what I think of traditional - i.e. the juice cleanses that disturb me).

This one involves only eating the following 5 ingredients: almonds (dry roasted or raw, no extra oil), fat free yogurt, spinach, eggs and raspberries.  I am not sure the science or thinking behind it, but basically it's a lot of protein to help burn fat and clean your system.  I started it yesterday (first day back from the trip) and I definitely feel less bloated.  Probably helps that I am not eating as much and drinking a lot of water, but whatever helps!

So far, I have been eating a lot of egg and spinach omelets and yogurt and raspberry parfaits with almonds.  Given the limited food choices, I thought I'd be starving, but I am shockingly not (so far).  The eggs are pretty filling (breakfast) and the parfaits are keeping me full (I'm also snacking on some almonds throughout the day, but am limited myself, this isn't a gorge yourself on the 5 foods cleanse).  I think it's also making me focus on drinking water and I'm realizing a lot of the times when I am hungry and eat something, I'm actually probably just thirsty.

Only on Day 2 though and I'll only be able to do it through Friday (which will be 4 days and probably a good number, one can not live on 5 foods alone).  I'm off to a wedding this weekend!

New Orleans Weekend

Spent this past weekend in New Orleans for the New Orleans Half Marathon.  Had a wonderful time with friends and really enjoyed the city.  I love trips that include races.

This is the second time I've done the New Orleans Half (although it was called the Mardi Gras Half then) and they have changed the course slightly, but it was still a lot of fun.  The course is very flat and takes you through most of New Orleans giving you a nice view of the city.  Officially, I ran a 2:20:59, but we did take an 8 minute bathroom break!  I didn't go down to the race to race it, went to spend a long weekend with friends.  Ran the whole things with my friends Amanda, Melissa and Michelle.  We had a great time.

The rest of the weekend was basically all about food!  We had some delicious food while we were ranging from low key places we found by chance to some of the nicer more "famous" restuarants (Emeril's).  Everything was delicious.  Definitely came home feel full.  For days (more on that later).

Overall, had a great weekend with friends.  We reverted to teenagers a little bit and laughed so much during the trip.

I'll be back in NOLA at the end of April for Jazzfest.  Can't wait!