Flash Cards, Fancy Cheap Eats, and New Brooks

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Hi guys!

Yesterday was my rest day, so I just foam rolled, sticked, and stretched a bit. Oh, and watched a lecture and made piles and piles of flash cards, as I've been doing all day every day since I started studying for the bar. So many notecards, so little time!

Each stack is 1-2 inches thick. Yes, I need to (try to) memorize all that by the end of July, plus the three weeks more of lecture material I still have coming. Operation: Learn ALL the law!

Unfortunately I got a bit behind because I spent most of the morning reading legal analysis of the DOMA and Prop 8 Supreme Court decisions. I was so incredibly excited that the Supreme Court struck down DOMA!!!

Quick law talk: the ruling doesn't mean that gay marriage is legal; it means that the federal government recognizes gay marriages from states where gay marriage is legal. And, unfortunately, it's not clear that states will have to recognize gay marriages from other states because that part of DOMA was not challenged.

But it does mean that people like Sourabh's friend, whose husband was kept in Canada for months because he could not get a visa, will no longer be separated. I was tearing up as I read some of the language of the opinion because this issue is particularly close to my heart. I not only have close friends and relatives who are gay, I'm part of an interracial couple. Just over 40 years ago, Sourabh and I could not have married. It was a Supreme Court opinion in 1967, Loving v. Virginia, that proclaimed that laws banning interracial marriage were unconstitutional. Yesterday felt like another important step in equality for all loving couples.


New Shoes!
In less life-altering but still running blog newsworthy news... I bought a new pair of long run shoes yesterday!

BOOM. Brooks Adrenaline 13's!! I had the 11's and really liked them, so I'm super excited to try these  out on my long run Friday morning. Or this morning for an easy run, since I have no patience.

I also tried on a pair of Hokas for fun since I'd read about them on several other blogs. They were crazy! I felt like I was walking on pillows and my legs seemed to turn out a bit. Ultimately it felt a bit too different for me -- I don't want to totally change my gait as I start marathon training. But I'd love to try them out further at some point.


"Cheap" Eats at Fancy Restaurants
We rarely have a weekday off together, so Sourabh and I also went out to lunch at one of our favorite Indian restaurants in the city, Junoon. They have this awesome $20 thali platter where you get several different curries, lentils, raita (yogurt), and bread and rice. It's a Michelin-starred restaurant that's normally quite expensive, so this weekday lunch deal is amazing. I got the vegetarian platter and Sourabh got the non-vegetarian.

A lot of the "top" restaurants in New York have much less expensive weekday prix fixe lunch specials. I've taken my family to some amazing restaurants where we've spent less than $50 per person, tax included, when a meal is normally $100+ each at these places. For example, Del Posto and Jean Georges are $39 and $38, while dinner is $115 and $118, respectively. If you're visiting New York, it's definitely worth checking out!

I was roundly mocked for the food picture. Whatevah, Sourabh, I do what I want. Also, c'mon, the presentation is great.


Cool New App!
Something all you iPhone users might want to know about: Tempo Run. It helps you sync up music to the pace you're running. It sounds amazing and I want it terribly, but it's not on Android yet! Get on that, people. If anyone gets it on their iPhone, let me know what I'm missing.


Do you have any dining out tips? Do you feel like a super hero when the song you're listening to syncs to your foot beats?

Nike Free Bionic Event

Do you live in New York and, if so, have you signed up for the FREE Runners' Boot Camp class on June 29??? If not, RSVP here! Hurry, there are only a few spots left!


Last night, I got to attend an incredible event hosted by Nike to publicize their new Nike Free Bionic training shoe, which is apparently the only training shoe designed specifically for women!

The Nike Free Bionic

The event was amazing. On Tuesday, we went to the Nike store in Flatiron to pick up bags with our free Nike gear. Each bag was slightly different, although everyone got a pair of the Free Bionics and a Nike Fuel band to measure activity. My bag had a sports bra, tank top, pullover, shorts, and crop tights. THANK YOU, Nike!!

Rocking my gear.

The event divided us into five teams, each of which was led by a master trainer. I was on Holly Rilinger's team -- I found out about the event through her Facebook page, which is how I got to go. THANK YOU, Holly!!

I've mentioned before, in my post on how to save on fitness classes, that following instructors you like on Twitter and Facebook can pay off because they'll often let you know about awesome fitness events they're doing. Like this one!

We arrived at the 34th Street Ferry dock and, after waiting while everyone checked in, piled onto a ferry decked out by Nike.

As the ferry headed toward Brooklyn, Holly led everyone in a dynamic warm-up.

I'm in the back, rocking the purple leggings and pink sunglasses.
(credit: Nike)

As we floated past the midtown skyline, I had a major "WOW I love this city moment."

I mean... how could you not? There's just something about New York. It's so big, there's so much promise. I've lived here three years now and still am constantly finding new things to love about the city.

Anyway... we docked in Williamsburg and headed to a gorgeous loft space where we met up with our teams, took some photos, then headed to the roof to hear all about how the evening would work. Ary Nunez, trainer to celebrities like Rihanna, walked us through how our trainers would take us to a special location, give us a high intensity training workout, then lead us to our final destination.

The teams were meant to compete to see which team could get the most fuel points on their Nike fuel bands. This meant that we were all trying to move our arms as much as possible to rack up fuel points and we all looked a bit, uh... spastic.

Team Crazy Pants!
(credit: Nike)

Extra bonus to this event was that Beth, Kim, and Kristin were all at the event as well. Beth and Kim ended up on Holly's team, too! Go Team Crazy Pants!

Rocking our Just Do It shirts!
(credit: Beth)

After getting the general schedule for the evening, we still had no idea where we were heading to work out... when Holly yelled for Team Crazy Pants to follow her. We jogged through the streets of Williamsburg (which is really cool and I really need to get back to and check out), following her toward our workout destination.

HI! I love running!
(credit: Jolene)

Our run ended at... the Williamsburg Bridge! Yes, I got to work out on the Williamsburg Bridge. Hands down one of my coolest fitness experiences to date.

(credit: Nike)

Holly led us through 30 minutes of non-stop movement. We were burpeeing, we were squatting, we were jumping, we were squat-jumping.

It was a great chance to see that the Nike Free Bionics are a great training shoe. I really liked the balance and flexibility the shoe had. It's incredibly light yet has good support, so my feet weren't hurting despite jumping up and down on concrete.

(credit: Nike)

One of my favorite aspects of Holly's workouts is that she leads them like a basketball coach (which makes sense, since she was a professional basketball player for a few years). There's a lot of cheering and sports-type team-building that makes you feel like the people working out alongside you are your teammates, not just someone else squatting.

(credit: Nike)

After 30 minutes, we were totally exhausted. We'd gotten to work out on the Williamsburg Bridge as the sun set over New York City. I would have been happy if the night had ended right there! But Holly brought us in for a final group cheer, then we headed off the bridge to a waiting shuttle bus for our final destination.

(credit: Kim)

Yes, there was more to this evening. Nike sponsored a party for all attendees at Beauty & Essex on the Lower East Side, where we were given mini makeovers, three drink tickets, and delicious appetizers. Although Team Crazy Pants didn't win the award for getting the most Nike Fuel points, it was still a great end to a wonderful evening. I want to go back to Beauty & Essex and try all their dishes!

Thank you, Nike and Holly, for an amazing night!!


What's the coolest fitness event you've ever been to?

Fit Blog Gear Review: Saucony Kinvaras, Reebok SubLites and Yoga LBT

Today, I'm sharing a few of my favorite fitness finds from FitBlog 2013! At this point I've been able to wear them enough to truly judge their quality, and I am super happy with these items.

Remember this? Yes, FITNESS Magazine was incredibly generous with giving us an assortment of things to try out. The shoes and top we were given were stand-outs to me and have been added into my regular rotation of workout gear.

Saucony Kinvara 4 running shoes

I am loving these Saucony Kinvara 4's for short runs! They're so easy breezy and the neon yellow is super fun. I need a supportive shoe for longer runs, and need to roll out my foot after running in these for a few days in a row, but these fantastically light shoes are great for short distances.

I normally hate traveling in closed-toed shoes but I wore these on my trip to Cuba for both travel days and a walking-around-town day and felt great. They're just so light, without sacrificing comfort.

Some stats from Saucony:

Offset: 4mmHeel: 22mmForefoot: 18mmWeight: 6.7 oz (women), 7.7 oz (men)The redesigned upper continues to utilize FlexFilm for a lightweight, seamless feel. Kinvara loyalists will love the upgrade from ProGrid to PowerGrid in the heel landing zone for even smoother transitions and an improved overall ride.

I'm thinking these will be my speed and short run shoe, my Mizuno Wave Inspires will be my short-mid distance shoe (4-6 miles), and my Brooks Adrenalines will continue to be my "long" run shoe. Anything at 6 miles or more and I seem to need extra support to avoid foot pain. I know some runners run marathons in these, though, so it's all about what works for your feet.

Reebok Yoga Long Bra Top

I wasn't sure about this Reebok Yoga Long Bra Top tank when I received it. For some reason, it just seemed really shapeless on the hanger. Then I tried it on when my laundry pile was huge and I needed something for a Refine Method class, and lo and behold, it was adorable! I love the cut and how it hangs. It's body-conscious yet roomy in the middle for those days when you don't want something super tight (and after two weeks of vacation and graduation festivities, I didn't really want anything too tight!).

My favorite part is the back detail, though. I love that little triangle cutout!  I assume it would cause weird tan lines if you were working out in the sun, but for indoors workouts, it just looks awesome. This top comes in mint green, which is my current favorite color, so I might need to pick up another one!

The bra top is not that supportive, but as a solid B cup I find it to be fine for a workout like Refine Method, which has some jogging in place and jumping jacks. Wouldn't recommend it for an active workout for someone who needs or likes more support, and I won't be wearing it running, but it'd be fine for yoga even for larger-chested ladies.

(By the way, we also got a Sparkly Soul headband in our FitBlog bag. I've mentioned them before so am not going to review the headband here. But as you can see from my picture of the Reebok top, they are my go-to workout headband, and I love them. Thanks for the sponsorship, Sparkly Soul! I <3 you!)

Reebok SubLite Train 1.0 cross-training shoes

Finally, this is probably my favorite item -- the Reebok SubLite Train 1.0! I love these for cross training. I have terrible balance, in part because my right knee turns inward slightly, which isn't great for any kind of balance-oriented exercise. It's hard for me to get the full benefit of a lot of exercises when I'm standing on my right leg. I've had way fewer issues, however, since I started using these since they provide much greater stability!

From Reebok:

• Medial support harness keeps your foot centered for stability

• 3D SubLite foam midsole for lightweight cushioning that is responsive and durable

• Raised dual density heel counter for the added stability you need for lateral workout movements

My trainer, Amanda, actually pointed them out and said she loved them when I wore them to a training session. Obviously the mint green laces and accents are also awesome! These are fine for some brief cardio moves, like jogging in place at Refine Method, but ideally shouldn't be worn for running. These should last me a while, but I've been pleased enough with them that whenever they wear out, I plan on getting another pair.


Do you have separate cross-training shoes? What shoes are you running in right now? Do you use different short and long run shoes?

Spoils of Black Friday

I love the week after Black Friday and Cyber Monday! Almost every day I can count on coming home to something in the mail since I can never seem to completely ignore the deals. Mostly I shop online because I like to avoid crowds, but I also do so because I love receiving packages. It's just more fun to know you have something waiting for you at home!

this is what I get to walk past on my way to and from the law school now!

Oh and I also love the week after Thanksgiving because it's now perfectly acceptable to have holiday decorations. I'm a sucker for bright colors and twinkly lights, what can I say.

So, what have I been receiving in the mail?

A Garmin!

picture of it before it came out of its package? yes, that's how excited I was for it

I'm extremely psyched about this one. I've been running Garmin-free and using Nike Plus, but as you might have read in my Stanley Park Seawall Race Recap, I realized that Nike Plus was pretty far off on distance tracking. It also wasn't great for checking in on my pace since I'd have to listen to the voice tell me my pace. I feel weird categorizing myself as a "serious runner," but it's a hobby that I'm dedicated to, so having a Garmin should be very helpful. I got the 410 because it was 50% off on Amazon over Black Friday weekend!

A new Sparkly Soul headband

I'm a huge fan of Sparkly Soul headbands

Sparkly Soul had a 20% off sale for Black Friday and I had to snap up this blue and orange headband while it was discounted. But wait, you might wonder -- why did she get NYC Marathon colors when she didn't run the it? Well, orange and blue are also Knicks colors. Since I'm not about to wear my Knicks jersey while getting my fitness on, I can wear this on runs and workouts to show my Knicks pride.

Runner's World

This wasn't a Black Friday deal, actually, but I'd subscribed recently and just received my first issue of Runner's World this week. I was surprised by how useful and informative it was. I stopped subscribing to magazines for a while because I always felt like I was reading the same thing every month, but I've already bookmarked multiple recipes and running tips in this month's issue. There are also some great stories about

New shoes!

shoooooooes

I didn't order these, instead I picked them up at the Jack Rabbit Sports clearance sale over Black Friday weekend. I am CRAZY excited about them! I've been having foot pain for a while and after meeting with Jess for a one-on-one run-coaching session to discuss my form, she advised me to get new shoes because I'd been incorrectly told by Jack Rabbit that I did not pronate (apparently I do -- a lot).

My foot pain was mirroring plantar fasciitis symptoms (suh-weet, totally what I want for Christmas, thanks Santa) so I knew I needed a new pair of shoes. But, um, shoes are expensive and I had gotten my New Balance shoes in early September so I really wasn't sure I could swing another pair. I like to think of the Jack Rabbit clearance sale as Jack Rabbit kind of making up to me the misdiagnosis the first time -- I got a pair of Brooks Adrenaline GTS 11's for only $50! The perks of having big feet; they had several options in my size in their $50 shoe sale.

The Brooks have arch support and I haven't had any foot pain in them so far, so fingers crossed the Brooks are the answer to that. Running my first half-marathon with foot pain the entire time kind of sucked. I'd like to not repeat that experience on New Year's Eve, thanks.

Oiselle runfinity scarf and long sleeved run tee

infinity scarves are awesome because you don't have to figure out how to tie it
(source)

Oiselle didn't have a sale on Friday, but they included free shipping and since I'd been wanting to try this brand forever, free shipping was just the tip-over-the-edge I needed. I couldn't get a good picture, but the scarf and top look even better in person than in the online pictures (a rarity, I've found). The runfinity scarf is way too cute -- grey with white stripes made of moisture-wicking material. I'll wear it on runs and with regular clothes!

I love how long the sleeves are! no cold wrists for me :)
(source)

I love a hometown brand. And by hometown I mean home state since they're in Seattle, WA, and I live two hours away from there, but still -- we're basically connected! The top is comfy and cozy and should be a great addition to my winter running gear. I had been waiting on this purchase almost as excitedly as the Garmin since I've heard so many people rave about Oiselle, and I wasn't disappointed. I'm going to wear it in my race on Sunday!

Iman Shumpert Knicks t-shirt for Sourabh

taken from the NBA's website because *someone* doesn't like to model
(source)

We're both Knicks fans and our favorite player is Shumpert (AKA Shump or "21 Shump Street"). He hustles on both sides of the floor and made a huge impact defensively for a rookie last year. Oh, and his twitter is hilarious. When he was injured during the first round of playoffs in May, Sourabh and I were both really upset that our favorite player was out (of course, the Knicks were out soon after that since they had no chance against the 2011-2012 Miami roster).

We've been searching for a Shumpert tee forever, but it was somehow impossible to find one anywhere. When I saw the 20% off sale the NBA Store was having online, I tried to look one more time and realized that I could customize a Knicks tee with any teammate's name and number, so I was extremely psyched to design a t-shirt just for Sourabh. I was hopping up and down when it finally arrived Thursday night and I could give it to him! He loved it and wore it while we watched last night's game.

Magnolia Bakery has the right idea...

In addition to all this, there were also several gifts purchased for friends and family, but those obviously need to remain anonymous until after Christmas! No spoilers here.


How did you spend Black Friday? Do you like to shop in stores or do you prefer to shop online (or not at all)?