My Tri Day Off

 Yesterday was my son's last day of the first grade.  I honestly don't know where the time goes.

Yes, this is what normal people look like after having a baby, Beyonce!

Since he had a half day I took off from work so in the morning  I dropped him and the little one off and headed to the gym to make the most of my "Me Time".  I had purchased a Groupon for the local Synergy gym and finally went to register yesterday.  I am still following Jamie Eason's LiveFit program and so I needed to get in my Day 45 chest and  abs workout.  Registration was seamless and the facility was sufficient.  They even have a childcare room with evening hours (mental note).  After weights, I did 15 minutes on the elliptical before heading out.  I had to pick up my boy at 11:30 so, after the gym I headed over to 5Boro Yoga for a class with Karen who is awesome!  I was sweating from places that I didn't know could sweat and it was very sexy (not) and because I am sexy and clean I went right from yoga to get the boy at school.

Lucky for him, and everyone in Staten Island, I decided to take a quick shower before we went for lunch and to the park.

Grilled chicken avocado wrap with salad

The mangled, empty wrap when i was done.

My boy's delicious lunch.  I had exactly 1 bite of the burger and 1 french fry.

The park was packed and we stayed for a while.  It was much easier to watch one child than having two running in separate directions.

The park is at the shore so it's kind of a beachy park. :)

Then we picked up mini-me and took her for her visit with the pediatrician.  All went well.  Two shots and she didn't even flinch.

My little bad ass

I thought that deserved frozen yogurt. :)  When we got home, I should have known dinner was going to be light.

Hubby got home just in time for me to head to my third leg of the day, Bad Ass Academy bootcamp in Brooklyn.  Some of the Killa Beez went to go check out a good workout on the other side of the Verrazano Bridge.  I was already spent, but I gave what I could making sure to let them know that I had indeed already worked out today. :)

Teammate Heather working it out

Dan, captain of the Killa Beez beating that tire.

Me & my friend/amazing hairdresser at bootcamp.

I hit the bed about 11 p.m. and fell asleep to some quality television.  Okay it was bad reality tv, same thing in my book!  After my Tri, I deserved it!

What's your record for number of workouts in one day?

Finding my Zen

Most days after work I stick to the same routine, which includes commuting from work, picking up the kids, then home to eat, bathe, do homework, and get everyone to bed.  Once in a while we deviate from that and it is usually exhausting in the end.  Yesterday, I was invited (is a Facebook event invite considered an "invitation" these days?) to "DJ Yoga Party on the Beach" in Staten Island.  It was part of the Luna Free Yoga Series that was hosted by Karen Torrone (she runs 5 Boro Yoga, which is the first and only actual yoga studio that I have ever been to).

Well, I thought it might be fun, especially since they were going to have yoga for the kids so, I planned to go. I picked up the kids, stopped home to change and made a quick stop at the TJ Maxx.  Well, let's just say that shopping with kids is not fun, ever!  My daughter decided to test my patience, which ended in my putting down an adorable pink yoga tank for $10 that I soooo wanted  (fact: I still want it).  We went back to the car and then my son spilled a full bag of Wild Harvest Organic animal crackers all over my back seat (fact: I was equally upset about the mess and having no more crackers. They were so good!), but  I decided to keep going.  We ended up on the beach and I am so glad that we did.

The class was free, but they were taking donations for Food Fight, an organization that fights obesity in children and is trying to change the way Americans think about food.  I love this mission and I only wish I had more cash on me yesterday to give to its cause since they work in the NYC public schools.

I dropped my kids with one of the instructors who was doing downward dogs and frog poses with the kids and I set up my mat in viewing distance of them.  

The kids doing yoga right next to us.

 I jumped in at a warrior pose and got into my groove.  My groove is clumsy and not very flexible, but luckily there were instructors walking around to help.  The class was so much fun and left me surprisingly relaxed after a stressful afternoon.  This was in spite of the fact that during a series of wheel poses at the end, several spectators from the boardwalk were making me feel slightly awkward.  I took a deep breath and remembered that they are up there because they are afraid to do what I am doing.  And I am leading by example.  You're welcome gawking onlookers!  Hopefully, one of you will get the courage to start moving.  Do something!

My view

Naptime!

Afterward, I picked up my sand-covered children, a few Luna bars and we headed home for showers and bedtime feeling more Zen than earlier.

**Did you ever do yoga on a beach?  What makes you feel zen after a tough day?  Is there a secret to shopping with kids that I don't know?

Updates from my World

I am going to apologize in advance.  I worked out this morning and I'm mid-way through a 20 oz. coffee, so I am a bit giddy today.  If you are looking for the tired, grumpy Jen, check back about 2 p.m. and I'll likely be sleeping with my eyes open at my desk.

With all this energy, I thought I would update you on a few things going on in my world:

Blogger 101: You may have seen the banner on the right of the screen, but if not, I am going to the Healthy Living Summit!  I am so excited.  It is taking place in mid-August in Cambridge, Ma.  I am hoping to come way from it with some new blogger friends and some ways to improve your experience reading about my life.  This blog started as an outlet for my thoughts, feelings and workouts, but I really feel like I can do better.  I want to give you guys more.  I have gotten so much knowledge and inspiration from other bloggers and I want to give back.  Plus, my life has become so much more focused due to an increased emphasis on health and fitness, this just seems like the logical next step.  I know it is a commitment of more time, but I have the dedication so I will make it happen.  Just be patient, please.  It's all new to me.

Team Spirit: Several times I have mentioned that I belong to a team that trains and runs road races and obstacle course races.  The Shaolin Killa Beez is a group of like-minded (read crazy) people who support and challenge and keep each other accountable.  The team captain also tends to come up with challenges for the team to keep us moving every day.  The most recent challenge is six minutes of burpees.  Yup, that's six straight minutes of doing burpees every day for a full month.  I started at 50 burpees on day 1 and my personal record is 74 burpees in six minutes.  I have done burpees first thing in the morning, just before bed and drunk at a party.  Every day, without missing a single day!  I mention this today, because today is the LAST DAY OF THE CHALLENGE!  I am so excited to do however many burpees I can squeeze into 6 minutes today.  I may even record it!  I started tied for 9th place and I am currently in 2nd place!  It would take an act of God to steal first place but I do plan to hold onto second!  Wish me luck!

The Killa Beez

Weight/Marathon Training: I am still following the Jamie Eason LiveFit program and I'm mid-way through week 6 of the 12-week program.  While the number on the scale continues to yo-yo around the same five pounds, I definitely see results.  My muscles are definitely more visible and I am lifting heavier weights than I ever have before.  I feel strong.  The clean eating is more of a challenge.  I started strong with it, but I think I have found a level that is manageable in my life, without being too difficult to achieve.  I try to have 4-5 "meals" a day and my diet is very protein and veggie heavy.  I seldom have bread and when I do have a starch, it is never "white".  I have a whey protein shake in the morning and a casein protein shake before bed.  I plan to start marathon training in July.  I think I have chosen my training plan, but I'm just not ready to announce it and make the commitment.  I'm pretty sure that I am just nervous about actually starting to train.  Last year's training ended so crappy so, I still worry.

During my last marathon in 2008

Upcoming Races: Next weekend I am doing the Rugged Maniac obstacle course race in Brooklyn.  Then I have the third leg of the "Staten Island Triple Crown" on July 4th.  I am also doing the Underwear Run on 7/7.  It is 1.7 miles in your underwear through Central Park to kick off the NYC Triathlon weekend.  After that I am race-free for a while, unless something fun comes my way.

My Luck: Yesterday as I drove home a bird was nice enough to poop through my sunroof and right into my hair.  Some people say this is good luck.  I think it's just gross and will be using air conditioning from now on.    My good luck came earlier this week when I got an email to let me know that I won a giveaway from BexLife.  I am going to be receiving a necklace from www.dogeared.com.  I cannot wait!  By the way, if you do not follow BexLife, you should!

Now, I think I am finally coming down off my endorphin high and you have been properly updated.

Now let me know what you think:

• Try the burpee challenge and let me know how many you can do in 6 minutes
• Are you going to the Health Living Summit?
• What's your next race?
• How can bird poop be lucky?
• Do you have any updates for me?

2 Legs Down (literally) & One to Go

In spite of the fact that it is Monday, I am in a pleasant mood.  It could be this morning's yummy omlette or the 20oz. coffee, either way there are no Monday blues in my world today.

Being that yesterday was Father's Day, it started with the kids and I bringing hubby a cup of coffee, some homemade cards and a new pair of sneakers.  After that, I ran out for a 9 a.m. 5K.  I usually would not run on Father's Day, because well, it's Father's Day and the father in my house does not run.  However, yesterday was also Jeff's Run, the second leg of the Triple Crown for which I placed 10th in my age group in the first race on Memorial Day.  I never even look at the "top 10 lists" on race results, just my time.  My teammate Janet let me know that her and I had placed and I basically registered for Jeff's Run right then and there with hubby's approval.

It was great to leave my house only 30 minutes before a race start.  The start was about 15 minutes from home, but I wanted to leave time for parking, bib pick-up, etc.  I met up with Janet and her husband and we headed to the starting line.  It was then that I realized something that I had taken for granted, although the local races have "B-Tags", they only clock was mid-way and at the finish line.  There is no time recorded for your start so, no matter where you start (front line, mid-way or the back) your time is clocked from the gun start.  Needless to say, at that moment of realization I moved to the second line of runners.  I stood behind the obvious line of local winners because well, I'm determined but not delusional.

As the race began, I saw my teammate Janet fly out and then I saw her back and very shortly after that, I no longer saw Janet.  I spent most of the first mile trying to find Janet again. You go girl! Less than eight minutes in, I was exhausted.  I blamed it on the celebratory red wine I drank in excess the day before at my nephew's baptism party.  Then my Garmin beeped.  Huh?  A mile?  What?  I had run my first mile in 7:44.    Kudos! to all of you fast people, but I knew I was not keeping that pace without literally passing out midway, so  I slowed down a bit and tried to keep breathing.  Luckily, since it was a 5K, I  figured I would just put it all out there and hope I make it.  Not the best plan, but it's all I had.  By the time I could see the finish line I was fighting my legs to keep moving.  Usually, I sprint the last 400 meters (at least) of a 5K, however, this time  I literally slowed down and kept trying to make my legs move.  I finished in 25:42...  And (drumroll) I placed 9th in my age group!  The worst part is that someone in my group got ahead of me and finished :02 seconds before me.  Damn legs!

The final leg of the series is on the 4th of July.  It's the Arielle Martin 5 miler.  Of course the last race would be the longest and most hilly race. Can't wait!

I spent the remainder of yesterday with the kids by the beach.  Then we cleaned, did laundry and had homemade pizzas.  Guess which part they liked best?

Photo taken by my boy <3

Whole wheat with veggies (spinach, orange/green peppers, zucchini, garlic, fresh & sun-dried tomatoes, onions, jalapenos)and goat cheese

The Boy's: Salami, mozz, pizza sauce, pepperoni "purple" onions and basil  (like in the pizzeria)
The girl's: Salami,  pizza sauce,  mozz, and orange peppers

**Any suggestions on good speedworks/hills for my 7/4 race, please let me know. :)

Lunch with Ladies & Run with Corporations

It's Friday morning and finally my day is looking up.  I usually get up at 5 and hoped to do some stretchy runner yoga today, but my body was happier in the horizontal position until 6.  Then it was a usual hectic morning trying to get myself and the kids up and out.  In the end, I got in my car and realized that my protein shake and was missing the protein.  I remembered the almond milk, frozen banana, strawberries and even some ice.  And then blend.  Oops.

So be it, maybe I can just eat a spoonful of protein powder like these silly people who do the "cinnamon challenge"...or maybe I'll just go on about my life.

Yesterday was a busy day for me.  Aside from the usual 9-5, I actually stepped out at lunch instead of working out.  One of the sweetest people in the blog world, Janae was in NYC for a Brooks event.  She and a few others are Brooks Run Happy Ambassadors (how do I score this gig?  Hey, Asics, Brooks, call me!)....  So, Janae had tweeted that some bloggers were meeting in Grand Central for lunch.  Two train stops from work at lunch hour, I'm in!  I grabbed a yummy wheat pita with grilled veggies and hummus and the group (ok, it was me) stole a table from two unsuspecting young men.  Sorry guys!  Bloggers are here!  I learned that Janae is even sweeter and cuter in person and I got to meet a few other great bloggers.  Celia (who I met just last Sunday at brunch following the 10K), Abby, April, Meghann (also a Brooks Ambassador who came in from Florida), Lish, Catie, Sarah (who designs awesome running skirts, check them out!) and of course, my companion for lunch, Nurys.

Me and Janae (she is leaning down so i don't look so short)

Celia, myself, Meghann, and Abby

After lunch, I headed back to work to finish my day, before heading to Central Park for the JP Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge.  As usual, it was a packed race.  They tried using corrals and a staggered start to space out the crowd, but with 15,000 people, you can only do so much.  Plus the corrals were by time that each person said they would run.  Since alot of the race was not habitual runners, I think some of them just made it up.  The good thing was that for the first time (I think) they had a separate start for walkers.

Still, I spent the first mile or so trying not to run into the person in front of me and the rest of the race getting around people.  It was quite humid as well.  With that, 32:27 is a 3.5 mile time I can live with.  Hopefully I am saving my speed for Sunday's 5K.

We'll see.  Enjoy your Friday! xox

#10 = #1 in My Math

So, yesterday I saw a post on Facebook from my teammate that our team (The Shaolin Killa Beez) was mentioned in an article in the Staten Island newspaper.  I clicked on the article and to my surprise, I placed in my age group.  What?!  Yes, me, I  placed 10th in my age group for the Memorial Day Run (shout out to Janet Bailey, my awesome teammate who placed 7th!).

35-to-39 

1. Amanda Tripodi  

2. Melissa Kraker 

3. Victoria Finkelstein 

4. Tara Marcantonio 

5. Jen Thomas 

6. Rosa Lyn 

7. Janet Bailey 

8. Caroline Brady 

9. Amy Eshelman 

10. Jennifer Correa 

Memorial Day Race! Janet on the left end and me on the right.  Cherilyn and Janine in the middle.

Disclaimer: It's a small, local race.  Most of the fast 35-39 year olds were probaby away that weekend.

Still, I was so so excited!

The Memorial Day race was the first of the "Triple Crown Series".  The second race is on Sunday.  I previously decided not to run, because I figured that I should save the $25 and not deal with babysitting logistics.  However, that has all changed now.


_____ Transaction Details_____
Amount: $20.00
Online Fee: $2.95
Registration: Jeff’s Run : 5K Run/Walk
This confirms your registration completed successfully


Oh yea, I'm running it now!  Stay tuned!

**Have you ever placed in a race?  If so, were you this excited (the first time it happened)?

Me!

Yesterday my friend told me that I "get to do a lot."  She meant that I "get to do" a lot for myself even though I work full-time and have a hubby and two kids at home.  The latter is my main focus in life.  My kids and my husband ARE my life and my heart.  They are the reason I get up every morning and say "Thank you."  My job is, well, my job.  It is how I pay the bills.  I work for a good company and I work with some good people.  I don't love what I do right now, but I don't mind coming to work each day. So, those are my responsibilities in life.  Wait, there is another one... ME!

I was given life 37 years ago and given the task of making the most of it.  I surely did that through my 20s.  Then at 30, I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy and the world as I knew it changed forever.  This tiny human relied on me for everything it needed to survive. I embraced that, and to this day, I'll give every moment and every breathe for my children and my husband.

Living life (before marriage and the baby carriage)

Happiest day of my life (don't let my expression fool you, it was a ROUGH day)

This is what it's all about!

Now here I am 7 years later and life has shifted again.  I have two kids and I am teaching them not only how to survive, but how to be good people and make this world a better place.  I teach my 2 year old to say please and thank you and I teach my 7 year old about telling the truth and "making good choices" (my favorite daycare phrase).  They will be my footprint on this planet, so I need for them to be the best that they can be.  However, it is also my job to SHOW them that Mommy also says please and thank you and makes good choices.  I want them to be proud of me.  So, I am trying to be the best that I can be, which for me, means being healthy and fit and helping others do the same. I want to be here on this planet as long as possible and I want my friends and family to be with me as well.  I want to help them be happy and enjoy life along with me.

I am currently training to become a certified personal trainer through ACE and  I have this blog.  I also workout and/or run most days of the week.  I even occasionally get a pedicure (who wants to see my feet looking messy? No one!).  Do I get more hours in a day?  Nope!  I just try to use each minute wisely.  That sometimes means that between helping my son with homework and dinner, I do burpees.  It also means waking up at 5 a.m. every morning to workout.  Some might think me crazy, and to each his own, but I know that this is how I can find happiness and balance in my life.  I don't do it alone.  My husband is helpful and does what he can to make me happy, even when that means getting up with the kids after working all night so I can do a race in the city.  My kids play in the park while I work out.
There is a community of people who live a similar life to mine and yet a world of people who do not.  Hopefully in the next generation, the ratio will change.  I am doing my best to get the word out and teach two future leaders (my babies of course) a good path.  What's next for me?  Hmmm, we'll see.  As long as I have another day, I will try to make it better than the day before.

I guess what I am trying to say is help the world, but start with yourself!

**What do you do for yourself and how do you use that to help others?


Btw, my good friend and running partner that I often mention in my blog finally revamped her own blog. She is again sharing her satire on life with the world. It's definitely a different perspective than mine, but nonetheless worth checking out here--->  Random Musings of a Runner in NYC

Yet Another Weekend... Keep'em Comin

I had a good weekend that I would label as moderately productive.  Friday after work the whole family headed to my son's summer camp orientation.  It was actually quick and painless, but the kids were starving by the time we got back in the car.  We had a gift certificate for a local restaurant, care of Mom for our anniversary, so we headed over there and met up with some friends.  In lieu of going all out, my friend Jenn and I split a delicious salad with fresh fruit, veal scallopini and one of my favorite desserts, a warm crepe filled with Nutella, bananas and strawberries.  Even though I am part Italian, I was only introduced to Nutella a few years ago.  And thank goodness for that...  I would have had a major childhood addiction to this stuff had I known it existed.

My dinner "Share-r"

Little Mama loves bread

This WAS my nutella crepe.

Saturday, morning was the NYRR Mini 10K.  I left the house at 6:15 a.m. and managed to get out of the train station, which was thankfully also the starting line, just after the race started.  I met up with my friend, Nurys and we started running.  I had no goals for a PR and just wanted a respectable (by my standards) time.  I definitely could have had a better time if I was there earlier and started a bit further up.  You really do use a lot of energy getting around walkers, etc.  That said, we kicked it into gear for the last mile (thanks to a fast Radiohead song on my friend's headphones).  I'll take 1:00:17.

Post Run

Nurys and I waiting for the bloggers (in the wrong spot... oops)

Afterwards we met up with a few bloggers including Theodora, Leticia, Stephanie, Meggie, Celia and Christine (still trying to collect everyone else's blog links) for brunch at Whym.  Good food, great company.

Egg white omlette and a Fellini (Pear Bellini)

After I scooped up the kids and got all cleaned up, we had some lunch and then we went to the park and beach and played for most of the day.  I love living near the beach!

Chicken Meatballs and a Sweet Potato...

... which I shared

At the park

And then the beach

Sunday, I had a kettlebell workout with my team in the morning followed by church/rehearsal for my nephew's baptism.  Then the day was ours.  The kids and I decided it was a pool day.

The boy's handstand

Phoebe chillaxin in the shade

All in all, a successful weekend!

How was yours?

National Running Day

In honor of National Running Day, (some of) my running life in photos...

Memorial Day 2011

Al Gordon Classic 2011

Scotland Run

Manhattan Half 2011

Memorial Day 2012

Scotland Run 2011

Memorial Day 2009

NJ Marathon 2007

Memorial Day 2012

Little Runners (Niece, Jocie and my boy) - July 4, 2011

Battle of Brooklyn 2011 with Ali of AliOnTheRunBlog.com

Brooklyn Half 2012

Nurys volunteering at ING NYC expo 2011

Last Prego Run Summer 2009

Rock n' Roll Half

                                                                 New Jersey Marathon

The girl who started it all... Rachel convinced me to do my first race!

Local Halloween Race with sister and sister-in-law

Volunteering at ING NYC with sister

Spectating ING NYC 2009

Marin Corp 2004 - First Marathon with TNT Mentor

TNT Training 2004

Circle of Friends 10K 2004

First 10K 2004

Cosme's 5K in Coney Island

Hoban Run with Aunt Jeannie and Rae

Hoban Run

Another Hoban Run

And another Hoban Run

                                                                  Scotland Run again!

My goddaughter - also a runner :) <3

Hope you have a Happy Running Day!