Muddy Buddy.

I've always wanted to participate in a mud run and now my chance has finally come. I just registered my manfriend and I to run the Columbia Muddy Buddy Race Series in New York.

The New York Muddy Buddy is July 24th, I know it is far way but these races sell out super quick. 

It's a six mile race consisting of three miles of running and three miles of biking for each member of your team. The fun part is that it is extremely muddy and you get to go through obstacles after each mile marker. 

After running and racing all different distances all over the place, I'm excited to try something different and liven up my sport a bit, especially since I'll be in the heart of my Half Ironman training. It will also be fun to compete with my manfriend, he's super competitive so I am a little nervous. 

Check out the Muddy Buddy website here; 

http://muddy-buddy.competitor.com/. They have races all over the country, but like I said it sells out quick, so register soon!

Time to Get Muddy!

PS 22 Chorus at the Oscars!!!

I am so proud of the 5th graders from PS 22 Chorus in Staten Island who rocked it at the Oscars last night. When I saw them sing Somewhere Over the Rainbow, I got goosebumps. They are a truly talented and special group of kids. It definitely makes myself and fellow Staten Islanders extremely proud. 

You have to love the passion of their teacher Gregg Breinberg, who believes in his students and pushes them to be the best.  Because of him these kids have become so passionate about music. 

Way to go PS 22 Chorus, I can't wait to see what you guys do next!

Here is their performance from last night's Oscars.

Quote of the day + A Tune.

Hey loves, hope the weekend was swell!!! Have a great Monday go into the week with a positive attitude and great things should happen. Today the manfriend and myself are taking my cousin up to the Acropolis, I love it up there, there is so much history and the view is ridiculous. 

I want to wish my parents a very Happy Anniversary, they got married in 1976, it's now 2011 you do the math. I'm proud of them and love them so very much, to be married and happy for 35 years is something rare these days, and they have it. I am one of the luckiest kids in the world to have a set of parents like them. I wish them even more happiness and love in the years to come.

Today's quote is great, I found it on QuotableCards.com. The author is unknown and that is a shame because his or her's words are great and powerful. 

Enjoy!

Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints on your heart.

To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart.

Anger is only one letter short of danger.

If someone betrays you once, it's his fault; if he betrays you twice, it's your fault.

Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people. 

He who loses money, loses much; he who loses a friend, loses much more; he who loses faith, loses all.

Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art. 

Learn from the mistakes of others. 

You can't live long enough to make them all yourself.

There is no beginning or end. 

Yesterday is history.

Tomorrow is mystery.

Today is a gift, that's why they call it the present. 

-Unknown

Here is a lovely tune I thought you might enjoy and it just so happens to be my parents wedding song. Their song was the original In My Life, by the Beatles. This is Dave Matthews cover of In My Life and I freaking love it. The words to this song are so powerful and maybe one day I'll borrow it for my wedding song. 

Enjoy!

The Nike Story

I found this and thought it was pretty dope, figured I'd share it with you guys. 

Enjoy!

Something Borrowed!

Finally! When I first read Emily Giffin's Something Borrowed, I thought that they needed to make this great book into a movie. When I found out that thought was becoming a reality I was so excited. I got even more excited when I saw who they casted to play the characters in the book, they were so spot on.

Now the trailer has finally been released and the movie will be hitting theaters this May. 


If you get a chance try a read the book before the movie comes out, Something Borrowed is great and Giffin's other books are awesome as well such as her follow up to Something Borrowed called Something Blue. Also, Love the One You're With and Heart of the Matter are fantastic and so freaking real. I'm hoping that if Something Borrowed is a box-office hit, they'll make her other books into movies as well.


Here's the Trailer.
Check it out.

Quote of the day.

Happy Sunday Lovers, hope everyone is having a nice, productive, fabulous weekend. I'm definitely enjoying having my cousin here and Greece, it really means so much to me that she came out here to visit. Today I'll be taking her to her first basketball game overseas and it should be memorable to say the least.

 I've been a little lax this week with my workouts, but I figured my body needed a little vacation, once I'm back in New York and into a routine it's show time, more runs, swims and biking, mixed with some CrossFit stuff. I'm actually pretty excited to take my training to the next level. 

Today's quote comes from Kristen Armstrong, Lance Armstrong's former wife, she is an author and blogger for Runner's World. I came across this quote and fell in love with it, mostly because I need to learn how to do some of these things. 

Enjoy.

Do the things you used to talk about doing but never did. Know when to let go and when to hold on tight. Stop rushing. Don't be intimidated to say it like it is. Stop apologizing all the time. Learn to say no, so your yes has some oomph. Spend time with the friends who lift you up, and cut loose the ones who bring you down. Stop giving your power away. Be more concerned with being interested than being interesting. Be old enough to appreciate your freedom, and young enough to enjoy it. Finally, know who you are.

- kristin armstrong

Quote of the day.

Hey everyone, hope you all have a great weekend! Yesterday we took my cousin to see some of the sights in Greece which included the Temple of Zeus and the Ancient Olympic Stadium, which are only about five minutes away from our apartment. I can't get over how awesome and old these landmarks are. I'm not sure what's on tap for today but whatever it is, I'm sure we'll have fun. 

Today's quote comes from Mother Teresa, I found this quote of her's at QuotableCards.com. This is a fantastic quote, I love it because I am a big believer in love. 

Enjoy!

We have been created for greater things, not just to be a number in the world, not just to go for diplomas and degrees, this work and that work. We have been created in order to love and to be loved.

-Mother Teresa

Thank You Livestrong.

Before I ran my Livestrong Austin "Athens" Half Marathon, the folks at Livestrong asked if I could send them footage of my race day experience. 

I ran my race and had my manfriend record some footage, put a little video together and nervously sent it to Livestrong. The response I received from the Lance Armstrong Foundation was amazing and put some tears in my eyes. 

I want to thank Team Livestrong and The Lance Armstrong Foundation for being great motivators and pushing me to become a better me. I look forward to running or maybe even doing a triathlon for Team Livestrong in the near future. 

Everyone has mountains to climb and the higher you climb the more windy it gets but you have to keep climbing.

-Sean Swarner, 1st Cancer Survivor to Climb Everest

Here are my videos from my Livestrong Austin "Athens" Half Marathon. Can't wait for the next one.

A Lovely Tune for Friday.

I love this Linkin Park song off their most recent album, A Thousand Suns. The song is called Waiting For the End, man it's a great tune, perfect to run to and it really get's me pumped. 


If you like this song check out A Thousand Suns because the album is truly awesome, it has one great track after another.

Quote of the day.

It's Friday, whoop whoop! I can't believe February is on it's way out, what a quick month. I'm so happy my cousin is here, but I do wish the weather would get a little nicer for her. It rained here yesterday so that ruins a lot of plans but I'm pretty sure the rest of her time here will be fantastic. 

Today's quote is from an unknown author that I found on 

Hollies Quotes. It's a really simple quote and I love it. Make sure the choices you make in life are thought through and just go with it. Life is to short to look back and say, "I should have, I could have, I would have."

Enjoy!

Life is the sum of all your choices. 

-Unknown

Run! I'm Excited.

Dean Karnazes an ultra marathon runner and author of Ultramarathon Man:Dean Karnazes and 50/50: Secrets I Learned Running 50 Marathons in 50 Days, is coming out with a follow up book called Run!: 26.2 Stories of Blisters and Bliss.

Run! will be available next week, March 1st and I can't wait to get my copy. It will be perfect reading material for my flight back to New York on Wednesday. 

Dean Karnazes is a beast and I had the privilege of meeting him this past October at the Chicago Marathon, I blushed like a little school girl and couldn't say much. He was a really great guy and extremely motivating. 

Dean and I in Chicago.

This week Dean starts his Run Across America, where he has teamed up with, Live! with Regis and Kelly. His goal is to run from California to New York, running the equivalent of two marathons a day for 75 days. He's running for an amazing cause, Action for Healthy Kids. The money raised during his run goes towards creating healthier schools and combating the childhood obesity epidemic throughout the country. 

I posted a link below that shows you how you can get involved with Dean's Run Across America, and I know I'm definitely going to join in the effort. He will actually be running in my hometown of Staten Island on May 9th, can you say, AWESOME! 

RUN ACROSS AMERICA!!!

I'll be sure to let you know how the book is, most likely I'll be obsessed.

Quote of the day.

Yay, it's Thursday and my cousin Lyndsay is finally in Greece after a long day of travel, she is truly a champ. I hope everyone has a fantastic day, I know I'm going to.


It's nice to see that Carmelo Anthony's first game with the Knicks was a successful one, way to go New York, still a long road to go.


Today's quote was found on the Hollies Quotes website and I found in the "Life" section, it's by an unknown author. The quote is very short and self explanitory, I dig it.


Enjoy.

That perfect moment never comes if you don't seize it.

-Unknown

Pat Tillman.

Last night the manfriend and I watched a great documentary, The Pat Tillman Story, directed by Amir Bar-Lev. I've been very intrigued by Pat Tillman for awhile now reading two books about his life and it's tragic end. Those books were, Jon Krakauer's Where Men Win Glory (amazing) and Mary Tillman's Boots on the Ground by Dusk: My Tribute to Pat Tillman. 

Pat Tillman was an NFL football player who after the events of September 11th, signed up with his brother to be an Army Ranger leaving a five million dollar contract with an NFL team. While serving Pat was killed in Afghanistan. 

What is most tragic about Pat's story was that at first his family was told he was killed in the line of duty and would be awarded a Silver Star for his heroism during the firefight. Weeks later after his death and memorial service his family found out that Pat wasn't killed in Afghanistan by the enemy but was in fact killed by fratricide "friendly fire".  Fratricide unfortunately happens in the fog of war, but in Pat's case things just didn't add up. 

His mother began investigating what really happened to Pat and what she uncovered was unbelievable to say the least. There were so many discrepancies in the documents, it was clear that the government used Pat's death to promote their foreign politics, such as the War in Afghanistan. The painted Pat as a war hero who left the NFL joined the Rangers and died in a heroic battle, when that clearly wasn't the case. 

The documentary goes through Pat's life and what he was really all about. We see how hard his family has worked to bring justice and light to what really happened to Pat. They've done everything to prove there was a massive cover up in his death. We also see how backwards our government can be at times, and that is a very sad sight. 

Definitely take the time to check out this documentary, read one of the two book or do all three like myself. The story of Pat's life will intrigue you to say the least. 

Pat's wife Marie has also set up a foundation in Pat's name and every year there is a 4.2 mile race at Arizona State University's Sun Devil Stadium. All the proceeds from the race go towards the Tillman Military Scholars Program. Here is the link to the Pat's Run page Pat Tillman Foundation.

Quote of the day.

Hey there my beautiful lovelies, happy Wednesday. My cousin Lyndsay gets to Greece today, her flight was a little delayed but she'll be here soon enjoying the lovely sights. I can't believe I'll be back in New York a week from today and moving into my new apartment the next day, time has really flew. 

Today's quote comes from one of my favorite bands, Red Hot Chili Peppers and their song Wet Sand. I absolutely adore the Red Hot Chili Peppers and I really wish they would go on tour or come out with a new album sometime soon! Wet Sand is such a great song and the lyrics are great, I really felt I had to share it with you. So here are the lyrics and I included the song after. 

Enjoy!

My shadow side so amplified
Keeps coming back dissatisfied
Elementary son but it's so...

My love affair with everywhere
Was innocent why do you care
SOMEONE START THE CAR, TIME TO GO You're the best I know

My sunny side has up and died
I'm betting that when we collide
The universe will shift into a low

The travesties where we have seen
Are treating you like Benzedrine
Automatic laughter from a pro

My, what a good day for a, walk outside
I'd like to get to know you a little better,
God knows that I really tried

My, what a good day
just to take out bride
i'd like to know you a
did it for the better of

I saw you there so unaware
Those hummingbirds all in your hair
Elementary, son, but it's so

The disrepair of Norma Jean
Could not compare to your routine
Balarama beauty going toe to toe

My, what a good day
Just to let it slide
I'd like to say we did it for the better of

I thought about it
and I brought it out
I'm motivated by the lack of doubt
I'm consecrated but I'm not devout
The mother, the father, the daughter, yeah

Right on the verge, just one more dose
I'm traveling from coast to coast
My theory isn't perfect, but it's close

I'm almost there, why should I care
My heart is hurting when I share
Someone open up and
let it show

My, what a good day
for a walk outside
I'd like to think we did it for the better of

I thought about it and I brought it out
I'm motivated by the lack of doubt
I'm consecrated, but I'm not devout
The mother, the father, the daughter- Oh

You don't fall in the wet sand,
You don't fall at all.

-Red Hot Chili Peppers, Wet Sand

Testing Your Limits.

On Sunday I ran the toughest race of my life and that is truly saying a lot. I've run the infamous Heartbreak Hill in the Boston Marathon, I've battled the sweltering heat in the Chicago Marathon, I've run with a bloody heel in New York City and none of those races touched what I endured on Sunday. 

I ran a half marathon by myself in Athens, Greece. I was supposed to run the Livestrong Austin Half Marathon but circumstances left me unable to attend. So instead of scratching the race, I decided to challenge myself by running my own half marathon because I am not one to bow out on something I've committed myself to. 

I knew the race was going to be a challenge for various reasons, I was running by myself, the course was monotonous, and I had to enjoy a nice hill every 800 meters, ouch. I was willing to test myself though because I knew what I was running for. I signed up to run the Livestrong Austin Half as a member of Team Livestrong and as a member of the Team I committed to raising funds for the Lance Armstrong Foundation, along with that I told my family months in advance that this race would be dedicated to my late Uncle Mike, I knew I couldn't back down. 

So on Sunday I toed an invisible starting line and set out on what ended up being the biggest test I've ever encountered. It was tough from the very beginning, I only had my boyfriend there for support, who was nothing short of amazing. The course was brutal, I had to run a total of 26 hilly loops in the park to complete my 13.1 mile race. I knew that this was a race against myself, I knew the only person or thing that would stop me from reaching my destination was me and I wasn't going to fail. 

When you are running that length of distance you think about so much and the main thing I thought about was how lucky I am. Lucky because here I am twenty five years old, healthy, happy and being able to do something I love. I thought about why I was running and who I was running for, this pushed me to keep moving. I thought about how awesome the Lance Armstrong Foundation is and what it is we are trying to accomplish. I thought about how much support and love I've received from family and friends back home in the United States, who were cheering me on. Most importantly I thought about my Uncle Mike and what his family had to go through because of cancer and maybe by me running and all the other members of Team Livestrong running, that cancer will one day be a word of the past. This thought motivated and carried me to the finish. 

The run was in no way easy and not that enjoyable, but I ended with a smile on my face because I knew I passed one hell of a test. I tested my limits and I learned a lot more about who I am and who I am trying to be. I'm not looking for a pat on the back because I raise money for charity, that's not why I do what I do. I run because I can and if I can help people, do what I love and be a part of the global war against cancer then I'll do everything in my power to be a part of that. 

I may be sore today, my toes may have blisters but I am excited to take on another challenge on the road of becoming a better me. 

The real purpose of running isn't to win a race. It's to test to the limits of the human heart.
-Bill Bowerman

Livestrong!

Here is a clip from race day. 

Quote of the day + A Tune.

Happy Tuesday Loves, I know there are a lot of happy New York Knick fans today, learning that Carmelo Anthony will now be a New York Knickerbocker. I am happy for New York and basketball right now, The Knicks in the near future will be playoff contenders and St.John's was ranked #25 this week. 

I am so excited because my cousin Lyndsay leaves for Greece today and I will be picking her up at the airport tomorrow morning, it's going to be an amazing week. 

Today's quote comes from is from Saint Francis DeSalas, and it's about being the best you! Be true to who you are and constantly work at being the best you.

Enjoy!

Do not wish to be anything but what you are, and try to be that perfectly.

- Saint Francis DeSalas

After finding this quote it made me think of Feist's song, I feel it all. I love this song, take a listen and enjoy!

Quote of the day.

Monday, Monday...the beginning of a new week already, I hope everyone has a productive one. I am so sore after my half marathon run yesterday and I am looking forward to a nice relaxing day off from working out. Tomorrow it's back to business, this Ironman Triathlon is sneaking up on me.

Today's quote is from author Cecelia Ahern, known best for, P.S. I Love You. I could read her quotes all day, they all have wonderful messages. This quote tells us how precious time is. We should all spend our time wisely because we truly don't know how much time we actually have. So spend it happy, doing what you love and being with people that you love.

Enjoy.

Time is more precious than gold, more precious than diamonds, more precious than oil or any valuable treasures. It is time that we do not have enough of; it is time that causes the war within our hearts, and so we must spend it wisely.
— Cecelia Ahern

Time.

Quote of the day.

Happy Sunday Loves! I headed out to Nea Smyrni Park in Athens this morning and completed my first half marathon of the year for Team Livestrong. It was the most challenging race I've ever run and I can say that I am very proud of myself. Now time to celebrate with a nice cold beer. I hope everyone has a relaxing Sunday. 

Today's quote is from an unknown author. I love this quote and it reminds me of what I went through today. The race I ran was hard and it tested me, but through this test that was given to me I became a better me. 

Enjoy.

When you look at a person, any person, remember that everyone has a story. Everyone has gone through something that has changed them.

-Unknown 

Nea Smyrni Park

You vs. Them

A friend of mine who knows I'm a sucker for motivational sport commercials told me to check out these clips from the VERSUS channel. They are truly inspiring. Check them out, I also included the speech from the first commercial called "Underdog". 

I really like these commercials from Versus because they show a wide variety of different sports, including running. 

Underdog Speech

Heres the thing that makes life so interesting. The theory of evolution claims that only the strong shall survive. Maybe so...maybe so...But the theory of competition says just because their the strong doesn't mean they cant get their ass's kicked.

 Thats right. See what every long shot, come from behind underdog will tell you is this. The other guy may in fact be the favorite, the odds maybe stacked against you, fair enough. But what the odds don't know is this isn't a math test. This is a completely different kind of test. One where PASSION has a funny way of trumping logic. 

So before you step up to the starting line, before the whistle blows, and the clock starts ticking. Just remember out here the results don't always add up. No matter what the stats may say, and the experts may think, and the commentators may have predicted, when the race is on all bets are off. Don't be surprised if someone decides to flip the script and take a pass on yelling uncle. And then suddenly as the old saying goes, WE GOT OURSELVES A GAME!

Quote of the day.

Happy Saturday Loves! I'm just one day away from running my first half marathon of 2011 for Team Livestrong. I couldn't be more excited to race in honor and memory of my Uncle Mike . What makes me even more excited is knowing that my cousin Lyndsay will be here in three days. So much to look forward to and be thankful for. 

Today's quote is a little motivation for my race tomorrow, it comes from one of the greatest running coaches of all time, Bill Bowerman. Bill Bowerman was the legendary coach at the University of Oregon and the founder of NIKE. His words are truly motivational and inspiring. This is a quote to his team at 

the of U of O.

Steve Prefontaine and Bill Bowerman.

Enjoy and Livestrong!

Men of Oregon, I invite you to become students of your events. Running, one might say, is basically an absurd past-time upon which to be exhausting ourselves. But if you can find meaning, in the kind of running you have to do to stay on this team, chances are you will be able to find meaning in another absurd past-time: life.

- Bill Bowerman

LiveStrong Austin "Athens" Half Marathon.

Just two days away from my first half marathon and race of the new year. I wish I was in Austin, Texas to be there with all the other members of Team Livestrong but the challenge of Athens will do just fine. You can check out why I am running in Athens and not Austin in this previous post, From Austin to Athens for Uncle Mike.

The course I will be running on Sunday is pretty difficult, running two steep hills every mile, but I know that pain is temporary and my reasons for running this race will carry me through the finish line.


My mother assured me that my whole family will be thinking of me on race day and that I am making my Uncle Mike proud. I can't wait for Sunday afternoon after the race, knowing what I achieved and who I achieved it for.


Love and Livestrong.


Here's a video I made for the Livestrong "Athens" Half Marathon.

This Chick Can SING!

Check out this cutie, Maria Aragon singing Lady Gaga's, Born This Way. This little girl is super talented and to be honest I like her version better then Gaga's, since Gaga's sounds way to much like Madonna's Express Yourself. 

Check out this YouTube sensation.

Enjoy!

Quote of the day.

Friday already, man this week went quickly. I'm about to do a nice little yoga workout and get the apartment in order for my cousin's arrival. I'm so excited she is coming to visit, and even more excited for this amazing weather she'll get to enjoy. I'm just two days away from my first half marathon of the year and it is definitely going to be a challenge but I'm up for it. 


I also just want to wish my sister good luck, she's doing her first "BIG" baking event this weekend, and I am so very proud of her. You are going to do amazing Becky, love you sister.


Today's quote is from the movie Million Dollar Baby, staring Hilary Swank. I've used this quote before in my life to motivate me to do the things I love, so I thought I'd share it with you. 

Enjoy!

It's the magic of risking everything, for a dream nobody sees but you. 

-Million Dollar Baby

Life As We Know It.

Last night my manfriend and I watched a super cute romantic comedy called, Life As We Know It, staring Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel(Yum!). Now I don't want to talk to much about the movie and give it away, all I will tell you is that it is definitely worth watching and I think you will most certainly enjoy it.

I also noticed the wonderful soundtrack in the movie. During one scene I heard Eddie Vedder's voice, so I did a little research and found the song. It's Pearl Jam's song called, Just Breathe. Once I really listened to the words I freaking fell in love with this tune. I don't know if it was the words, Eddie Vedder's voice or most likely the combination of both but this song gives me the chills. 

It made me realize how lucky I am to be surrounded by so many people I love. Even when I am thousands of miles away from my home and family, they let me know they love me each and everyday. Some people aren't that lucky, it makes me so thankful. 

My family, I love and miss them so much!

This may sound a little mushy but if you get the chance to love someone or something, love them. Love plays such a powerful role in life, it can be hard but love is the most amazing thing one can possess. Never stop fighting for love.

Here is the song, Just Breathe. Enjoy! 

Quote of the day + Some Motivation.

Hey loves, happy Thursday! I've had such a productive morning, getting a lot of little things done and I had an awesome yoga session + some core for workout number one of the day. Later I'll be doing the CrossFit Endurance workout of the day and I am a little scared but this is my last hard workout before the half marathon on Sunday. The weather keeps getting better and better here in Athens and I promise to bring the sunshine to New York when I arrive in less then two weeks. 

It was sad to hear that Lance Armstrong retired yesterday, he's made such a huge impact and not just in the world of sports. What he has done with the Lance Armstrong Foundation and cancer research is nothing short of amazing, he has made cancer a global priority. I know the cycling world will miss this icon, but I am sure we will see more of Lance in an occasional marathon or triathlon for years to come. 

So in honor of Lance's retirement today's quote comes from him, he's been a motivation to millions and his story is so amazing. He believes that you should never give up, always have hope and keep fighting for what you want and believe in life. 

Enjoy and Livestrong!

Anything is possible. You can be told that you have a 90-percent chance or a 50-percent chance or a 1-percent chance, but you have to believe, and you have to fight.

-Lance Armstrong

Watch some of the BEST commercials of Lance from Nike. Get Motivated!

Oh My Yummm.

Last night my sweet boyfriend surprised me with some cupcakes from the awesome I Love Cupcakes shop in Glyfada. I was absolutely delighted to see that cute little box and very excited to see what was inside.

Tonight on the menu where some really sweet treats, a classic vanilla (always a must), a vanilla marshmallow, vanilla brownie and last but certainly not least the oatmeal cream cheese cupcake. 

Cuppy Cakes.

I was really intrigued with the oatmeal cream cheese cupcake, so we had this one first. This cupcake was awesome, the combination of the oatmeal cake and cream cheese icing accompanied by a blueberry spread on top. I really didn't want this cupcake to end!

 Oatmeal Cream Cheese Cupcake.

Next we had the vanilla brownie cupcake, this cuppy cake was so yummy. It was the perfect combination of moist chocolate brownie cake and classic vanilla cream icing. I Love Cupcakes definitely knows what they are doing when it comes to cupcakes. 

 Vanilla Brownie.

We saved the vanilla marshmallow and classic vanilla to enjoy tonight after dinner, and I keep staring at the box anxiously awaiting the yummy treats inside.

 Classic Vanilla.

Vanilla Marshmallow.

I Love Cupcakes!