I did it! I got to the gym today for 30 solid minutes of cross-training on my lunch break. 20 minutes on the rower and 10 minutes on the elliptical. “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery and today is a gift.” (that’s a quote I happen to love). I am so grateful to have had those 30 precious minutes to sweat out the small stuff. It’s been building. =)

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gym selfies and such

Traffic lately has been brutal. It’s part of what comes along with living in a city that has more than 8 million people I suppose. As I was sitting in traffic yesterday morning I started to think about how I could make it seem more appealing. So from now on I’m going to call it Traffique. It just sounds better.

I signed up for one more race this year. I caved! My friends are all running the Ted Corbitt 15K in Central Park on December 14th, and since it was only $23 to register I pulled the trigger. YAY! I’m actually looking forward to it and sorta hope it snows. Central Park is so beautiful with snow.

In other news, say goodbye to my little umbrella friend. She was sparkly silver when I got her and I loved her for being so compact and reliable. But today she broke. And she cut my hand twice! Apparently she likes to remain open and when I try to close her she pops back open again. She almost impaled me! I actually think that if there were a comedian watching me getting on the bus this morning they’d have enough material for an entire show. (I had a travel mug of hot coffee spilling at the same time as I tried to get lil’ silver umbrella to behave all while my bus driver insisted on driving mach 1 through a construction area that was bumpy as sh-t…It wasn’t pretty).

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Just got this email from our office manager. YIPPEE!!!

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Happy Thanksgiving’s EVE! And enjoy your festivities tomorrow. Remember to savor each and every bite. Then come back and tell me what your favorite part of the meal was. And I hope nobody has to get stuck in traffique!

As a runner, I find very few truly enjoyable ways to cross-train. Sometimes it’s the elliptical but mostly I just walk when I’m not running. I hate the gym, I’m not a bike person, don’t like to swim or do yoga. But yesterday, I found the best cross training workout..APPLE PICKING!!!

full body workout: apple picking

full body workout: apple picking

My niece and I spent about an hour and a half from beginning to end. We started with the walk from the parking lot all the way to the orchards. I’m guessing it was a good 1/2 mile warmup. We got our buckets and headed through the orchards to find the Granny Smith trees. Probably another 1/2 mile.

Then came the fun part. We climbed up and down through a dozen or so trees. I felt my core engage as I lifted myself up onto the branches and my arms were working hard to keep me steady.

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We made a quick pit stop to the pumpkin patch for a few pumpkins and after settling our bill we walked back to the car with a combined total of almost 35 pounds of apples and pumpkins!!!! I carried both buckets for some of the time and then my niece and I split the task for the remaining time.

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I suppose I’m on to something. A new cross-fit trend? There was a bonus WOD (workout of the day) too…

We went to Six Flags Great Adventure to ride some roller coasters AND get spooked during Fright Fest. Walking the length of the park, screaming and laughing….OH YEA! Another great workout indeed!

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Next to the runner’s high, I have to say, riding roller coasters are the next best high to have. It was a great day! And I got us season passes for 2014. I’m ditching my gym membership!

And now it’s Monday and nothing seems to be working, not my brain, not my computer, not my phone….

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Question: Do you enjoy rollercoasters? What’s your favorite? I really loved El Toro

My day so far:

Walked the dog this morning and passed the house with the cute cat in the window. Usually I don’t have my phone when the cat is there or the cat isn’t there when i have my phone so today I finally nailed it!

cute cat in the window

cute cat in the window

Walked past Diana Nyad swimming again on my way to the office. She was 25 hours in to her 48 hour swim…

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Worked a few hours, then had an apple and a granola bar…

Always emphasizing my snacks...I just made a snack exclamation.

Always emphasizing my snacks…I just made a snack exclamation.

Went to the gym at lunch and did a solid 30 minutes on the elliptical…

 

Now I better get back to work….

Question: Anyone have any exciting news to share? I’m all ears!