Hey there

I’m taking a little coffee break and watching some Olympic volleyball and thought I’d fill you in on what’s been going on with me over the last few days.

Well, Duncan has been as lazy as lazy can be. I guess he’s just giving that expression “dog days of summer” true meaning. I can’t help but smile at him though. He’s got it so easy.

This dog!

This dog!

Lazy pose #1,267,468

Lazy pose #1,267,468

He's blocking the return key AND the delete key. This is a problem.

He’s blocking the return key AND the delete key. This is a problem.

Waiting for me to get out of bed.

Waiting for me to get out of bed.

Seriously!

Seriously!

Stairs for the mid-day nap

Stairs for the mid-day nap

I went for a run on Saturday. It was a very “blue” run.

Blue Vivofit, blue shirt, blue socks, blue sneakers and even a blue poop bag that was the "in case it rains and phone needs to be protected" bag.

Blue Vivofit, blue shirt, blue socks, blue sneakers and even a blue poop bag that was the “in case it rains and phone needs to be protected” bag.

In the evening I put on my photographer hat and shot a 50th wedding anniversary.

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Sunday I spent with my boyfriend’s family for a small get together to celebrate his youngest’s 11th birthday. The cake must have “shifted in flight” and ended up looking like an Alice In Wonderland cake being all lopsided but it sure did taste good and nobody cared about the presentation.

IMG_4935We all laughed and tried to rescue it from the box with multiple spatulas. I spent my obligatory time with the adults having adult conversation and then I snuck away to chew gum and practice blowing bubbles with Mr. SOTSS’ oldest daughter. She just learned this fine craft thanks to her dad’s fine instruction. We’re going to petition to have it become an olympic sport for the 2020 Olympics so we have 4 years to practice 🙂

I posted a slow-motion video of this bubble popping if you wanted to be blown away. OK being totally dramatic. It's not that exciting

I posted a slow-motion video of this bubble popping on Instagram if you wanted to be blown away. OK being totally dramatic. It’s not that exciting

She's getting better!

She’s getting better!

Hanging with the pooches

Hanging with the pooches

Yesterday I had to run an errand in the afternoon and found myself near the boardwalk so I took a quick 45 min walk and enjoyed the sunshine. Of course there I was walking toward the Verrazano Bridge and found myself feeling the pangs of the NYC Marathon.

IMG_4973I am not running it this year or next year. But there’s a part of me that wants to do the 9+1 next year so that I can qualify to run in 2018. We’ll see. I’m barely getting through my 4 mile runs these days.

Later on in the evening i took Duncan for a walk. We went to a park we haven’t been to in months. It was a nice change of pace for both of us 🙂

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This afternoon I struggled through 4 hot mid-afternoon miles.

Duncan has become addicted to licking the sweat off my legs this summer

Duncan has become addicted to licking the sweat off my legs this summer

Well, I better get back to work. I’d like to be wrapped up before primetime so I can watch the Olympics….women’s gymnastics!

Have you ever run the NYC Marathon? If not, do you want to?

Who’s ready for the fall weather? ME!!!!

Woah! How is it 6 days into the new year already? Let’s catch up! How did you ring in the new year? Anything new and exciting planned for 2016?

So the good news is I have managed to break my 10-cookie-a-day-habit but I have been satisfying my sweet tooth with these candy canes I got on the half price rack after Christmas 🙂

IMG_0211Let’s face it—I have no expectation that my sweet tooth will just disappear for 2016 so I’ll do what I can to keep it under control.

I got a new couch and it comes with a classic Sally story. So last Tuesday I met some of my high school alumni at a local bar for our annual holiday get together. It’s always fun to catch up although we keep in touch on Facebook too. I spent 4+ hours there and it was after midnight when I got home. I was expecting my new sofa to be delivered between 6:30-9:30am the following day and knew I needed to get my existing furniture out to the curb. I couldn’t exactly call someone in the middle of the night. Mr. SOTSS’s suggestion was for me to just move my existing furniture into the dining room until he was able to get over to help but I’m stubborn and a little too type A to be able to handle having the old stuff lingering for a day or more. So I just hauled a$$ and got-er-done but I took out chunks of sheetrock, pulled some muscles and bruised myself along the way.

All because I was too stubborn to wait 12 hours!

All because I was too stubborn to wait 12 hours!

But I did it! #stronglikebull #stubbornasamule

But I did it! Down 2 flights of enclosed spiral stairs #stronglikebull #stubbornasamule

There was even a moment that the love seat was literally wedged in the staircase and I couldn’t budge it loose. I almost fell apart and cried but I pulled myself together and slithered under the railing to get beneath and jiggle the love seat free. While I’m still sore and bruised a week later, it was worth it.

And the new sofa? I love it!

IMG_0111It’s big enough for Mr. SOTSS, me and BOTH dogs. This was very important to me since Chester is a big boy and hasn’t been able to fit on the sofa with us without being a “lap” dog =)

we ALL fit!

we ALL fit!

So I thought it would be fun to go month by month and share my most memorable moments of 2015. They won’t all be running related but I’m sure you don’t mind. Gonna go in reverse and start with December first so that I can tell you all about my New Year’s Eve:

DECEMBER 31—New Year’s Eve/Day

Happy New Year

Happy New Year

I spent the afternoon strolling the outlet stores with Mr. SOTSS, his girls and his mom too! We then picked up some groceries at the supermarket for dinner. The girls and I took on the important responsibility of picking out ice cream flavors and before you knew it we had whipped cream, chocolate chips, sprinkles and chocolate syrup! If there’s one thing I know it’s that you need to make ice cream sundae’s to ring in the new year. Mr. SOTSS’ mom cooked an amazing dinner (his aunt and uncle joined us for dinner too!). We then put on our party hats and waited patiently for midnight. The girls played chess and then joined me in working on one of the jigsaw puzzles that I bought them for Christmas.

Matching shirts!

Matching shirts!

The finished puzzle. All glued together and ready for hanging.

The finished puzzle. All glued together and ready for hanging.

Party animal!

Party animal!

Siblings! Always a competition =)

Siblings! Always a competition =)

More »

Hi,

Hope you’re enjoying the weekend and Happy Halloween!

Thursday, on my lunch break I went to REI to get the Garmin Forerunner 220 but ended up getting the 25 instead. It was $30 cheaper and had everything I needed so I opted to use the difference to purchase membership to REI. It is a one time cost of $20 and you get 10% off everything in the store and online forever. Seemed like a win-win. I used money that I got from my folks for my birthday.

still in birthday celebration mode

still in birthday celebration mode

Oh and while I was on my lunch break this bus passed me by…

Time to get my amazing on apparently

Time to get my amazing on apparently

Then after work I stopped at Dicks Sporting Goods in search of a light colored v-neck tech tee that I could put my name on for the marathon.

My view on my commute home Thursday night.

My view on my commute home Thursday night.

I know they say not to wear anything new on race day so I plan on wearing it over another shirt. I found this day glow yellow Nike shirt and it was on sale for $10! SCORE. Then I went to the craft store to buy some iron-on letters. They’re black with sparkles in them. I put my name on the front and some special tribute initials on the back.

Say my name!

Say my name!

Abbie Z: an angel running with me

Abbie Z: an angel running with me

The initials are of a beautiful young girl who’s life ended earlier this year as a result of a tragic accident. She was crossing the street with her friend when they were struck by a car. I went to high school with her dad and learned through Facebook about her passing. While I never met her I can’t stop thinking about her. I’m heartbroken for her family. I see photos of her with the biggest smile you could imagine. I can’t bring her physical life back and I can’t heal her family’s grief but I wanted to remember her in a special way. I always choose to make my marathon miles as meaningful as possible. Abbie Z: You’ll be my wings tomorrow. 

So many people to remember during this 26.2.

Aside from Abbie, I will be thinking of Meggan Janota who has been gone exactly 1 year (10/30/14). I met her during the Dicks Sporting Goods Every Runner Has a Reason photo shoot in South Carolina that I got to be a part of back in February of 2013. I also met Leah there too. And yesterday, I got to see her again at the NYC Marathon Expo!

me and leah and a cool and inspiring backdrop

me and leah and a cool and inspiring backdrop

Her guy is running on Sunday and she’s here to support him. She’s in the process of some major knee repair so if you can keep her in your thoughts and send her some well wishes I’m sure she’d be thrilled.

Then there’s my friend Susan’s mom, Elaine’s mom, Tara’s dad, Elvia’s mom, and a former coworker Louise.

There’s no better way to change my mindset in those later miles when I feel I’m hitting a wall than to remind myself how lucky I am to be able to run. It’s a privilege.

I didn’t really stay too long at the expo. Once I got my number and shirt and spent a few minutes talking with Leah and her guy I left and headed home.

The woman I asked to take this pic said i should pose like that. It's kinda weird but hey I listen to directions =)

The woman I asked to take this pic said i should pose like that. It’s kinda weird but hey I listen to directions =)

Today I took Duncan to the woods for a little walk and photo shoot. I was in the middle of snapping away when he saw a squirrel and started chasing it. There was a creek but so many leaves had fallen on the water that he must have not realized it was water and he fell in. Poor boy had to swim back out and was so embarrased. He’s not a fan of getting wet.

Before falling in the creek

Before falling in the creek

Ma!!!! I got wet.

and after….Ma!!!! I got wet.

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some of the gorgeous foliage in the woods today

After coming home and bathing the doodle I went for a short 2 miler just to test my new watch and phone pouch. All systems go!

Then it was off to Panera Bread to buy dinner for tonight and for tomorrow night when I finally get home from the marathon.

2 steak and cheese panini sandwiches, 1 chicken salad sandwich, some creamy tomato soup and lots of bread and chips. Plus my FREE birthday cookie! I'm all ready for the RUNger post race =)

2 steak and cheese panini sandwiches, 1 chicken salad sandwich, some creamy tomato soup and lots of bread and chips. Plus my FREE birthday cookie! I’m all ready for the RUNger post race =)

So I’ve laid out all my gear and now I’m just going to hydrate and watch the World Series until bed time. Let’s Go Mets!

the gear!

the gear!

See you on the other side of marathon #7!

Happy Thursday!

My week started off a little rocky and I was really seeking out some cheer. Luckily I realized I can be my own cheerleader.

Go me!

Go me!

Duncan helped cheer me up too.

pile of blankets = perfect pillow

pile of blankets = perfect pillow

Always makes me smile. He's just my favorite.

Always makes me smile. He’s just my favorite.

But by last night I was feeling a lot better. My friend met me for sushi and we both agreed we were indulging in some fried ice cream.

Fried green tea ice cream. so good!

Fried green tea ice cream. so good!

too much spicy tuna, kani, shrimp tempura and a boston roll

too much spicy tuna, kani, shrimp tempura and a boston roll

Today, I went on a short 4 miler and tried out my new ear buds. (Yup, my last pair died during that 18 miler on Saturday.)

yurbuds inspire 200

yurbuds inspire 200

yurbuds inspire 200

LOVING THEM!

I bought the Yurbuds Inspire 200’s and wow are they awesome! (Got them in Target for $29.99). They stayed in my ears! They sounded great and there’s this nifty magnet that keeps the two buds connected when you’re not using them so they don’t get tangled. Seriously #gamechanger!

Today’s run was the first run since that 18 miler too.

thurs-runAfter all the muscle cramping subsided I realized my hamstring that I injured back in August while doing a cartwheel was killing me! So I’ve been just stretching and foam rolling up until today when I finally felt it was calmed down enough.

I drove to Brooklyn this afternoon to hit up the Rock n Roll Brooklyn Half Expo. Traffic was ridiculous and the expo was pretty lame but since they don’t allow anyone to get your race number for you and they don’t have race day bib pickup I HAD to go.

Shirt and race number: CHECK!

Shirt and race number: CHECK!

But one exciting thing….I crossed the Verrazano into Brooklyn and got so emotional…

VZ Bridge: Mile 1

VZ Bridge: Mile 1

NYC skyline

NYC skyline

I am really feeling so lucky to be able to run the NYC Marathon this year. Oh, they PAVED the highway right over the bridge (mile 2). I am so excited for fresh blacktop! It might only be 1/2 mile of the course but hey, I’ll take it. For those of you who haven’t ever run the NYC Marathon before, the course is not the best running surface. We have POTHOLES! Lots of potholes! =)

So Saturday I’m running the Rock n Roll Brooklyn Half marathon and Sunday the Staten Island Half. These back to back halfs are going to be in lieu of a 20 miler. And then the taper!

I’ll try and catch up with y’all over the weekend to let you know how everything went. Hoping my body behaves and I can get through all 26.2 miles. I’m totally going to take it easy for both of these events.

What are you doing this weekend?

How do you feel about race expos? I think our stuff should just get mailed to us. =)