My Get In Shape By Birthday Plan

Anthony and I have a custom - it's a year old, so it's a newfound custom. Every year a few months before our birthdays, which are the same year(Year of the Ox), but 3 months apart, if we've gained a few extra pounds over the cold months, we try to lose the amount of weight that is the same as the second number in our age. For instance, if we were, say, 23 years old, we'd have to lose "4 by 24" and so on. OK, we are not 23, but I don't want to out us on such a publicly read blog (read by just a few, but still..). 

Last year, before my birthday, which is in April, if I was about to indulge in one too many bonbons or slices of pizza, Anthony would say "5 by 35 mate"(just picked a number out of the air. Not necessarily our real age), which could have been annoying after a while if he didn't have such an awesome Aussie accent. It worked! Down would go the donut, the last bite of fois grois(although I shed a tear about that) and in the end, a pound or two were lost. 

This year, the custom just got more exciting. We decided to step it up with prizes. If one of us loses the few pounds, the other takes him/her for a nice dinner, and vice versa. If either or neither of us loses, he/she/we must donate $100 to a charity(is there a charity for spreading the joy of running?). 

Luckily, running is the best way to take it off (see the above link). Slow long runs burn the fat, faster runs burn more calories. Healthy diet of less fat and sugar, more grains and veggies. 

I have exactly 5 weeks. 

Game on Anthony.

Addendum on last entry

I wrote in the last entry about the need for youngish single men (with many good traits and skills) to join Team Joe for the chance to meet the amazing women of Joe. I erroneously failed to mention that there was one such man who has been an important and dedicated member of Team Joe for 2 years now. But I grabbed him for myself. Sorry ladies.

Cheers mates

NYRR 8000 coming up Saturday

Firstly, last Saturday was so awesome for me. The weather was perfection! 60ish degrees, sunny, with a crisp coolness along the Hudson. I was able to run the whole 6 miles, slowly. It was like taking a bite of chocolate after giving it up for lent for 40 days, although Jews don't have anything like lent...but I can imagine how tasty that would be. That was Saturday's run for me.

There was a lovely group of woman running, and it made me think, where are all the cute single men for all these gorgeous, fit, smart women of Team Joe?- those that are single, anyway (I don't want any angry boyfriends and husbands coming after me...). I am known to be quite the yenta, and since I have set up 2 couples, it is my goal to set up just 1 more, thereby going straight to heaven and giving me a clean slate for all the mischief I have wrought in my life.

Men, if you are cute, single, educated, have a job, are fit, don't live with your mama, can cook and clean, give up your seat on the subway for old or pregnant women, don't scratch yourself in public, then you should come on down for a Saturday run! The ladies aren't picky, except for those few stipulations...

But I digress...this Saturday, March 14th is the 8000 Meter Race, 5 miles in the park. This will be the beginning of the racing season 2009 for us. What a great way to kick it off and also to see the park in the nascent days of Spring!

The race is full, but if you are already running it, we will see you there! Go Team Joe!

Ran 2 whole miles Saturday!

After a couple Saturdays of attempting to run and then quickly realizing sometimes there is no gain in pain, I ran about 2 miles this past Saturday. Well, more like lumbered, crawled, speed-walked(sped-walked?). No offense to speed walkers. I know that's a serious sport, and all...

I was very excited to feel the wind in my hair again! The freedom, the rush, the sweat! I have a long way to go to get back in shape for the upcoming races, and my foot being swollen and bruised still, I will not be piling on the miles as of yet.

In the meanwhile, I feel so luxurious riding the stationary bike. It's temperate. There are tvs. I learned to make a mean Chicken Cacciatore from Tyler Florence. I read the entire NY Times. I need to get the hell outta there!!!!

upcoming races

Here are the races I am signed up for in the next few months. If you care to join, the more the merrier!

March 22nd New York Colon Cancer Challenge 15K

March 14th NYRR 8000 meters

April 11th Scotland Run 10K

April 5th DC Cherry Blossom 10 Miler (sold out)

April 26th More Magazine Half-Marathon

July 26th NYC Triathlon (sold out)

Great news from Dr. Klion!

Yesterday I limped over to Dr.Klion, a sports/orthopedic doctor that Anthony sent me to. I was apprehensive about the diagnosis, especially in regards to my need to exercise. When I entered the little room, I saw that Dr. K had all sorts of pictures of himself finishing Iron Mans and Marathons. I was duly impressed and knew that an athlete like him would never tell a fellow athlete not to work out unless things were truly terrible.

After having me move my foot in circles, do heel raises and squats, he told me that it was looking good and that I could absolutely resume working out, but maybe wait a couple more weeks for a run, letting pain be my guide. Of course, as stubborn as I am (Ox & Taurus), I'll probably be pretty lax with admitting I have pain.

Saturday run

On Saturday, I ran 6 miles with Team Joe. Took about 50 mins. A skim latte was waiting at the end.