Literary Bite: The Last Train to Zona Verde by Paul Theroux

Consider this post a long-overdue thank you note to the Newbie! She got me The Last Train to Zona Verde by Paul Theroux as a getting-into-grad-school present almost a year ago now...but she lives in CA, so we didn't actually see each other (so I did not have the book in my hands) until this past Christmas...and then because I'm in grad school it took me two months to read it!

Looking back at my reading list, this is the fifth Paul Theroux book I've read over the past four and a half years. So that's kind of a lot? What can I say, I like his travel writing.

The Last Train to Zona Verde is the story of Theroux's final trip to Africa. As a follow up to his Dark Star Safari, in which he traveled overland from Cairo to Cape Town, it chronicles his trip from Cape Town up the west coast of Africa toward Timbuktu.

My reading history shows that I like Theroux. And I like Africa (well duh). But unfortunately, this book is not his best...I feel like he was kind of lost on the trip, and somehow lost me as a reader. (Full disclosure: I read this in 2-5 page increments right before going to bed over the course of a couple months, so the lost-ness could have been entirely my own fault...)

But he seemed like a traveler without a purpose. Perhaps finally after a lifetime of traveling, he reached the tipping the point in his own curmudgeonly misanthropy. Part of this could have to do with the countries he visited and the context in which he was seeing them. He says himself that Africa is "the kingdom of light" where he spent the "happiest years of his life." And in this book he returns, decades later, to see the same old problems or even worse new ones -- not exactly inspiring optimism.

But the African optimist and explorer in me rebelled against his brutally truthful portrait -- the bush of Namibia and Angola apparently (and not surprisingly) do not have a whole lot going on. I get that. I would probably be cranky traveling alone there too. But as readers may recall from this summer, when I have a ridiculous or terrible travel experience, I recount it in the most amusing way possible. Theroux, on the other hand, wrote like (and maybe is) a world-weary grumpy old man. He just ddn't bring the same traveler's attitude of excitement and exploration to this book as he did to his others.

But Last Train did get me thinking about the day-to-day life in places where I spend so much (too much?) academic energy focusing on the big picture. And despite Theroux's pessimism, I want to go to all the places and see them myself!

I used to fear blue cheese. Cheese is a process of separating curds from whey and aging milk. So blue cheese, in all its pungent splendor, is (dare I write the word on a food blog? I do…) a very special kind of mold.

When I was little, my parents took my sisters and I to picnic at The Cheese Factory on the weekends. We fed the ducks in the pond, picked blackberries, and “rode” the ancient abandoned tractor. And at some point in the afternoon, those of us brave (or foolish) enough to go with my mama, would tour the factory.

I say “factory,” but it is far more farmhouse than industrial. Visitors step inside the cool dark stone house and are immediately hit with the odor of large quantities of aging milk. The tour guide describes the process, from sourcing the milk to adding the rennet to aging the cheeses and finally wrapping them up for distribution.

The tour always ended with my mama buying discs of breakfast cheese (Sister2’s favorite), brie (Sister1’s preference), and camembert (mine!) and eating them with crackers outside. 

It wasn’t until much later that I embraced the awesomeness that is blue cheese. My palate needed time to mature into the coffee consuming, dark chocolate devouring, strong flavor seeker that I am today. And now I just can’t get enough of blue cheese – sprinkled on salads, grilled into burgers, baked inside tarts, and now…in crackers!

The Newbie made these crackers/shortbread when she visited to run Cherry Blossom. This is an Ina Garten recipe, so clearly it’s going to be awesome! The original recipe makes a lot, so we halved it. Be careful with the salt though! I think it might be best to omit it completely, since blue cheese is pretty salty on its own.

Blue Cheese and Walnut Crackers

Ingredients

1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter at room temperature

8 ounces Stilton cheese, crumbled (about 12 ounces with rind), at room temperature

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 extra-large egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water for egg wash

1/2 cup roughly chopped walnuts

Directions

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and Stilton together for 1 minute, or until smooth. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour, salt and pepper and mix until it's in large crumbles, about 1 minute. Add 1 tablespoon of water and mix until combined.

Dump the dough onto a floured board, press it into a ball, and roll into a 12-inch long log. Brush the log completely with the egg wash. 

Spread the walnuts in a square on a cutting board and roll the log back and forth in the walnuts, pressing lightly, and distributing them evenly on the outside of the log. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or for up to 4 days.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Cut the log 3/8ths-inch thick with a small, sharp knife and place the crackers on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Bake for 22 minutes until very lightly browned. Rotate the pan once during baking. Cool and serve at room temperature.

We spread them with fresh ricotta. Because why not add more cheese to your cheese?

25 days to a 10-Miler Workout Plan

Here’s a hypothetical scenario for you: The Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run is happening on April 3, just 25 days away. Actually, I lied. This is not hypothetical for the Newbie right now, this is a scary-real scenario. 

The interwebs offer plenty of 10-weeks to a 5k/10k/15k programs…but we need the 3 ½ weeks version. Since I can’t find anything along those lines, looks like I’ll be creating one myself!

So here we go, I’ll do my best! [Disclaimer: I am not a running coach. I am a runner, and my parents are coaches/runners, so I do have quite a bit of personal experience to back this up. If you want a real coach, ask George.]

• The Challenge: Get ready for a 15k in 3 ½ weeks!
• Subject: The Newbie
• Exercise Background: Swam competitively through high school, ran NY Half Marathon 2010. Recently has been running on and off once or twice a week, no more than 4 miles. 
• Time Commitment: 3-4 runs a week
• Cross Training: Probably not going to happen.
• The Goal: To finish Cherry Blossom in as little pain and misery as possible.

The Plan: (I've separated it by week, but numbered the days in a 25-day count. This plan is flexible: runs and off days can be switched as needed. Be sure to stretch after runs and especially after workouts!)

1. Run 3 miles.

2. Off.

3. Workout: Warm up 1 mile, run 4x800m at a comfortably hard pace with 400m recovery, cool down 1 mile (5 miles total)

4. Off.

5. Run 4 miles.

6. Run 3 miles.

7. Off.

8. Run 3 miles.

9. Off.

10. Long run: Run 6 miles, after 4 miles run/walk (2 minute run/1 minute walk) as necessary.

11. Off.

12. Run 4 miles.

13. Run 3 miles.

14. Off.

15. Run 4 miles.

16. Off.

17. Workout: Warm up 1 mile, run 4x800m at a comfortably hard pace with 400m recovery, cool down 2 miles (6 miles total)

18. Off.

19. Run 5 miles.

20. Run 3 miles.

21. Off.

22. Run 4 miles.

23. Off.

24. Run 2 miles.

25. RACE DAY!

The Results: TBD. I will keep you posted, and maybe the Newbie will be back with a post-race guest post! 

The Weekend Report: A Day in NYC

The day started off with a cookie and a cup of coffee (as all days should).

But this wasn’t just any cookie. It was a Levain’s chocolate chip walnut cookie, and from the moment I took a bite I knew that cookies would never be the same again.

These monsters look like a scone on the outside, but reveal a dense and soft inside. They taste like everything a cookie should taste like, vanilla and chocolate and nuts and just straight-up goodness to the max. We took our time, breaking off pieces, and carefully considering every bite.

“You know, I have a new life goal,” I mused. “I think I need to train for a marathon while living in New York.”

LLC looked up from the morsel of heaven she was contemplating. “So wait, your goal is to run a marathon here?”

“No, that’s not the point. I don’t care about actually running a marathon, I just want to train for one so I can so I can reasonably eat one of these every day. Once I get up to 80 miles a week, these suckers are totally fair game!”

From there our day went from good to better. We stumbled upon the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade at Columbus Circle! Well, sort of. A film crew was recreating the parade for a movie, so we saw some floats, some balloons, and a truck bash through a marching band.

While walking down 5^th Avenue, we paused to listen to a choir of carolers and enjoy a cup of apple cider (it was wintery cold out!).

We walked and walked and walked and walked. The Newbie and LLC, despite about a 1-foot height differential, can move. Sister1 and I had to hustle to keep up!

We meandered around the Met after we paid the entrance fee in the interest of seeing their Christmas tree (no pictures allowed). Upon my insistence we saw the Impressionists, Picasso, and ancient Egypt - love me some mummies!

By about 4 o’clock we a little hangry, a little desperate, and needed a break. We went to Chelsea Market and contemplated getting sandwiches or crepes, but decided instead to go to Elephant and Castle to see if they were still serving brunch.

We walked in the door, not quite knowing what to expect, and were greeted by a warm and cozy restaurant tastefully decorated with garlands and Christmas lights. There were a surprising number of people considering the weird time, but everyone seemed very relaxed, just hanging out and enjoying their food or coffee.

Ooh, I think this was a good call.

We split 2 brunches. Eggs and Apples Benedict on French Toast with Maple Syrup was absolutely fantastic. Usually I don’t like mixing my savory and sweet, but the thick slices of brioche French toast topped with thinly sliced apples, a drizzle of maple syrup, and then a poached egg and hollandaise may be the best thing that’s ever happened to me.

The Pureed Spinach with Poached Eggs, Melted Cheese and Potato Pancakes was equally good. The flavors were bright and the potato pancake was nice and crispy on the outside. We took our time, enjoying the rest and warmth and deliciousness.

Pure happiness.

LLC looked up from her latte, “Mollie, this is the best breakfast I’ve ever had. And I’m a little bit upset about it, because nothing in DC will ever come close. We’re going to have to come back to New York.”

Agreed.

The Newbie: IT'S ALMOST RACE DAY!!

This is my Friday Guest Blogger, The Newbie:

Wooooosaaaahhhh. The beauty of blogging today is that I get to take a moment and think about running alongside thousands of others in 2 days...that I will soon get an opportunity and a day to try something new.

It definitely makes me feel *warm fuzzies* inside to remember the slow yet wonderful ascent of my training. I am in constant awe of how the human body functions and adapts to everything that you put it through! My work life has taken over a much larger part of my mental and emotional spheres in the past few months, and that has increased my stress levels tremendously. But as my friend says, running is great because for those minutes that you're out on a run, you don't have to think about anything else but your running. You cannot beat yourself up over not doing anything else because you're running, and in that moment---that's all you can ask of yourself. As much as this experience has been a self-challenge, it's also been my foxhole to hide out in when the going has been rough. 

This Sunday, I’m running the NY Half Marathon!

It's going to be a beautiful course: start in Central Park surrounded by the beginnings of spring…run through Times Square without the throngs of tourists and just take in the sights from a different view…and then soar down the West Side Highway with views of the Hudson all along the way to the Financial District. Afterwards my fellow-racer and I plan to completely let ourselves go at La Palapa, a gorgeous Mexican restaurant, with a bunch of friends! And then later reward ourselves with some amazing desserts at Momofuku Milk Bar. 

Everyone keeps asking me if I'm nervous. All I can say is: no way! I've stuck with the running plans that my AWESOME COACH-FROM-AFAR (Editor's note: aww, isn't she sweet???) has given me. I've got my outfit (Nikes, lime green shorts, depending on how cold it is in the a.m.---a black short sleeve or grey long sleeve, and my black baseball cap) and my pre-runs and meals planned. 

Along the way I've learned about my body, about the sport and even ran in a few small races leading up to this weekend. I'm not out to set a record or win it, but I'm there to finish and to finish strong. I'm there to enjoy the experience to its fullest and just have fun!  All I feel is ready and excited. I can't wait to just get out there.

Much love and happy running,

Newbie

The Newbie: Food for Thought

Editor's Note: The following post is from my fabulous guest-blogger, the Newbie. And these pictures are from my birthday at work (I know, you're SO JEALOUS!). So read the following post...then note the irony of these pictures accompanying it...then just get over it and have a great weekend!

Sorry for the later-in-the-day post, NYC teachers and students got another snow day! Wooo! Not surprisingly I needed to catch a few extra zzz's after returning to my slightly insomniac ways this week.

Now we can all agree that exercise is an amazing thing, whatever activity you do. According to webMD (yes, your guide to scaring yourself silly over a common cold) they list some amazing and agreed upon benefits from regular exercise such as strengthening bones, increasing your immune system to fight off chronic illness as well as improved moods and less stress. And of course one of the most popular reasons to exercise in this day and age, weight loss!

I am a firm believer that diets are stupid. Any changes, whether physical or mental, can only come from and stick with lifestyle changes. For the past two years a goal has been to learn to take care of myself, in all senses: mental, physical and emotional. (Hence my agreement to run and therefore train for the NYC Half as part of this on-going process.)

After being on a competitive swim team for almost 10 years, I quit because I had lost some of the joy. One of the first things I noticed was how much my body changed post-swimming. I wasn't eating as much because I wasn't expending as much energy (definitely loved the excuse to carbo load before a swim meet!), and I lost a ton of muscle. Suddenly I could fit into everything meant for my age. It was exciting and shopping became a much less stressful ordeal.

While I could have become another girl ravaged by an eating disorder at the new-found weight loss, I was lucky enough to have had that team athletic experience early on. I appreciate strength in my body over the inches of my hips. And I've kept that mindset: I would rather have a healthy and strong body than a sample size one.

As you get older it's harder and harder to eat what you like and figure you'll work it off later because well, nowadays it doesn't work itself off quite as fast! Before running I was doing Bikram Yoga three times a week. One of the things I loved about this exercise is that I had to be cognizant of what I ate because you aren't supposed to eat at least 2hrs before the class....and it is a 90min long session. So in total, you need enough energy to sustain you for 4hrs!!

Now, I am a clean-plate-carb-loving-portion-challenged eater who loves some snacks and sweets, so this was definitely hard for me. But the benefits far outweighed the challenge. My skin got better because I was making smarter choices in energy-dense foods as well as drinking TONS of water, and I was so relaxed at work from all meditative activity. Plus my core muscles shaped up and my balance became stellar!

With running I've felt so strong and been able to get up the 4 flights of stairs at work faster without being as tired. I also have way more energy and don't end up as spent at the end of the workday. Towards the end of my first 8mi run I was feeling uncharacteristically tired, I realized that I hadn't eaten enough. Other days the combination of work stress and the energy used to run throw me for a loop and then I am late-night nibbling into the wee hours.

It is easy to trip up---taking care of yourself is a full time job! Active people need to be more mindful than anyone because we're eating not just for our health but for our performance. Even if you're not world-class, we all want to feel our best when we're out punishing the pavement.

These days I've been using a food tracker online to keep a record of my meals as well as how I'm feeling from them (i.e. bloated, sluggish or content). While this may not be for everybody there is a lot of valuable information in terms of figuring out what's "well-balanced" for you and how your eating is affecting your daily activities. I find that lately I've been way more energized and satisfied throughout the day, as well as feeling less pain/injuries. 

I think health and happiness are all about arranging different pieces to fit in a way that works for you. Sounds ideal but it can get tricky sometimes. I am keeping my goal in mind (my secret mile pace that I'd like to run in the Half!) and remembering to keep eating an ever-enjoyable activity as it was before...just perhaps a little more thought-out. ;)

Much love and happy running,

Newbie

RW Article: The Best Food For Runners

Guest Blogger: Run NYC

Editor's Note: This is my fabulous Guest Blogger, The Newbie, who is training for her first half-marathon.

Here in the NYC DOE (Department of Ed.) we are smack in the middle of our wonderful mid-winter break. This break originated during the Depression: to save on heating costs they shut the schools down for one week during the coldest part of the winter. It worked out so well with the budgets that they've kept it (thankfully for us teachers!).

I love breaks probably just as much, or slightly more, than the average person. Teaching means you are always "on"; you don't get to mentally check-out in the middle of a lesson and heaven forbid you sit down---the kids suddenly run amuck thinking you're not paying attention. On an average day I am walking at least 3-5 miles....and then I come home and run.

Usually I'm heading home as the sun is setting (BTW: totally my #1 dislike about winter) so my only choices for running are the treadmill or the track. Now if it's snowing, I automatically head to the gym because there is no such thing as plowing the track (unfortunately). But on these glorious days of vacation, my options are suddenly thrown wide open due to the expanse of my free day-time! Running outdoors, I'm pretty sure all can agree, is better than anything indoors...hands down!! The wind in your face, the variety of things to look at while running (sometimes those long runs really do call for a little entertainment) and SUN!! Being active outdoors is a glorious thing.

NYC is a great city for its culture, food and sheer diversity. It's also a great place to be an athlete---especially a runner. Even though it is an island, it's got a lot of surface streets packed densely into it's little space, meaning runners have so many options---no matter what neighborhood you live in. There are so many online tools nowadays to find runs or to map and share your runs: MapMyRun.com or RunYourCity.com. It can make any distance an adventure.

Besides the magic of running in some of NYC's most distinctive neighborhoods (think: near Chinatown and all its bustling open front markets or in Harlem by the famous outdoor pick-up basketball games) you've got the beautiful scenery of being surrounded by water. I live on the west side of Harlem, not far from Riverside which is the large road (expanded in recent years for runners and bikers) that runs all along the west side of NYC along the Hudson River. In the spring and summer months it is gorgeous to see the trees flush with flowers and verdantly green. In the fall and winter months you see the leaves fall and the icy waters crash on the shoreline. It is a magnificent sight to have the Hudson scenery next to you while you run, especially if you get to have the sunset as you're on your way back home.

Another great location for running is Central Park, with its myriad of loops there is a distance for everyone and you are guaranteed not only a beautiful setting for your run but some interesting people watching. Last week I did my first 8-mile run and decided to head to the Park. Now I can say that I completed it but I did get a little confused with all the loops in there...you can't see the street numbers from inside the park so you have to use your intuitive sense as to when you should turn...otherwise you'll end up on the really long 6-mile loop like I did. :)

Even in the dead of winter the Park is full of bikers and runners, it's definitely motivating because suddenly you aren't the crazy girl on the block who wears spandex outdoors with snow and slush on the ground---you're just one of many enjoying the fact that running can take you places and you don't need anything to get you going except the sheer joy of the path.

Much love and happy running,

 

Newbie

The Newbie: Gym Amusements

Happy Friday! This is my guest blogger, the Newbie, who is training for her first half-marathon. (And in case you're wondering...yes - I am still snowed in!)

So currently in the throes of WINTER here on the East Coast. We were coasting along nicely with chilly but manageable (and runable? ok, not a word but go with me) weather until bam! blizzard alerts! As you may know, the creator of this lovely blog has been snowed in for 5 days! Thankfully, NYC was not hit quite as hard as DC, but hard enough that all the public schools were in for a snow day! Which was lovely and glorious.

Now, post-storm, we got so much sun that the streets are filled with slush. Gross. In NYC the slush is extra-disgusting because often it becomes so dirty that you mistake it for solid sidewalk, and the next thing you know you're ankle-deep in dirty, and NYC street slush is now seeping into your shoes. Not pretty. And yes this happened to me. Blech.

What does this have to do with running? Well due to about 2 ft of snow covering my local track and ice on my running street (yes, I have what I like to call my very own "running street" ---I bet you do too!) I'm confined to the gym and man's modern exercize invention---the treadmill. Now I think most people agree that running on anything where the scenery is static get sboring, and the gym is not the most inspiring environment to run in. But if you live where there are real seasons (unlike my native Northern California), it becomes a part of your exercise regime at some part of the year.

Now I have the great fortune of having a totally wandering mind...so when left along I can entertain myself for hours with my own thoughts (like a cat with catnio), but what else is tthere to muse on while treadmill-ing? Let me count the ways ---if you happen to also attend Riverbank State Park's humble gym:

1. The Dominicans. Many of the older gents attend this gym but hang out more on the machines then use them. I swear that the gym has become an extension of the barbershop! While sometimes annoying when you're trying to use the equipment, it's kinda awesome to see them in all their 90s sweats/track suit glory just...chillin'.

2. The Random Runner. There's an older man who comes in and spends about 90% of his time ambling around the gym. It's not very big and quite simply laid out so I'm not sure what he’s searching for exactly. All of sudden, after perhaps 10-15min of this dawdling will he jump on the treadmill and boost it up to around 7 or 8 (approx 8min/mi-7min/mi)! But only for about 3 minutes. Then it's back to the roaming. Odd?

3. Ladies of Leisure. These are the women who come together to "work out" yet seem more to be lounging i.e. languidly peddling on the bicycles or take a stroll on the treadmill. They seem to enjoy themselves so I suppose I shouldn't judge, but I'm pretty sure you're supposed to break a sweat while in the gym.

4. The Cyclists. While most the athletes at Riverbank are obviously amateur there is one guy who is hardcore. He has the insanely slim and wiry build of a cyclist with tattoos running up one leg calf and along a bicep. When he comes into the gym he is not there for any of the "frills" of medicine balls or weight machines---he's there purely to ride. There is one bike that he always chooses in the gym, and you can tell it's his because the floor is stained with his sweat. Walking into the room with the bikes while he's riding makes you feel like you've just walked into the middle of the street during the Tour.

5. The Riverbank Employees. Ok, to be honest, most of the time I'm not even sure if an employee is present in the gym overseeing things. I think they're supposed to be seated at the entrance to make sure everyone signs in/leaves their card but...that is often NOT the case. Randomly at times they will come around to check faces with ID cards in the little card holder, it often feels like taking the train system in Europe---while sometimes you can get away without a ticket, but if you're caught without one they're merciless! To be fair, they're all nice enough and it's cute to see them make the rounds giving nods to the Dominicans, checking up on the Ladies of Leisure and giving respect and space to the Cyclist.

And where do I fit in to this little gym community? Apparently I'm the "china" who never gets off the damn treadmill ;)

After I kept feeling my neuroma flare up I've resorted to running not as often but longer distances, this has worked for me. Now I am down to 4 days a week instead of my previous 5, and I've been feeling really good...even enjoying my long 6-milers. This week I will do my first 8-mile run...whooo! Then I'm off to Miami to enjoy a few days away, and the SUN. I'm not as anxious anymore about the Half because I just have to remember that part of the enjoyment of running is the random observations and musings that it allows you---sometimes insignificant, sometimes not. Either way it gives you a chance to let your mind stop, and let your body just go.

Much love and happy running,
Newbie

Guest Blogger: The Newbie is Back Again!

So I am perhaps the most unreliable guest blogger ever, oops! Last week I came down with what I like to call "the sickness." This is when you not only get the sniffles, coughs, sore throat and fever---but it all comes down like an ax to, quite literally, knock you down. I work with kids so an attack of "the sickness" at least once a year is requisite. Unfortunate side effect of getting "the sickness" is that you have either have to abstain or cannot physically handle a lot of exertion, hence I've been a bad, bad runner and have missed a lot of days of running. A lot of gorgeous, sunny days too! Grr. 

As I look at the calendar I am feeling a bit of apprehension and excitement---just about 7 more weeks until my 1/2 marathon. Unfortunately I have been a bit more like Rocky IV than Rocky I in terms of dealing with injuries and what have you. So I'm looking to find more ways to make my running fun and also re-dedicate to preparing for this race. 

There are lots of excuses and ways to get discouraged when venturing to do anything new---there's the fear of failure, the expectations and sometimes the childish voice that just says "I don't wanna!" because it feels hard or you experience setbacks. 

At the same time, I think of the movie A League of Their Own and this quote: "If it wasn't hard than anyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great!" (Watch it here.)

There's fun in doing something that is difficult because it's a challenge, a double-dog-dare that gets your goat and keeps you from giving in. 

Now there are a lot of reasons to stay motivated to run: the peace of mind, the better nights of sleep, excuses to make new playlists or browse running blogs (I LOVE blogs!). 

Something new that I'm dying to try is Hashing! 

"Hashing . . . it's a mixture of athleticism and sociability, hedonism and hard work, a refreshing escape from the nine-to-five dweebs you're stuck with five days a week. Hashing is an exhilaratingly fun combination of running, orienteering, and partying, where bands of harriers and harriettes chase hares on eight-to-ten kilometer-long trails through town, country, and desert, all in search of exercise, camaraderie, and good times."

If you've never heard of hashing, let me enlighten you: the "hare" for the week sets a trail for the "hounds" to follow. The hash run follows an unpredictable trail laid with simple trail-marks showing the way. A crafty hare will set "false trails," trying to foul-up the front runners in the group, thus allowing the pack the opportunity to catch up. To make sure that the group stays together, harriers yell "ON-ON" when they see a trail-mark and are heading in the right direction. Shortcutting is a well respected skill of the seasoned harrier! 

So the "hounds" follow the trail laid by the "hare" with the ultimate goal of reaching the end. Now hashing has become an excuse to run and drink, therefore the end tends to land at a bar. While this may sound blasphemous to serious-minded runners, I'm thoroughly looking forward to trying one out after my 1/2 marathon. 

It sounds like such an exciting and entertaining way to get your run in as well as a great way to get friends into running with you (especially those who are perhaps a bit reluctant). Plus, after running the NYC NYE's Central Park run I can testify that it is a great thing to be with a ton of people in spandex in a bar because you are obviously not vain (unless you're willing to lug a makeup bag and change of clothes while running!) and there to just enjoy yourself and company.

With every new experience you get exposed to more and more that you never knew about before---I'd love to know what helps you stay motivated, especially with winter's diminished daylight hours and cold. In the end, the spirit of adventure and trying new things keeps me going. Every time I run a distance a little farther or a little faster---I'm doing something I've never done before.

Sometimes it's all about the baby steps and small victories.

Much love and happy running,

Newbie