Plant-A-Tree: Odwalla Goodness Giveaway

21 Tuesday May 2013

Tags

Eating, Eating After Running, Giveaway, healthy food, Healthy Living, Leisurely Runs, Manhattan, non-running, smoothies, Vegan, Vegetarian

Fair warning here peoples; this will be the last entry you see until next week. Fortunately, I’ll be leaving you with the chance to win an awesome prize package with food and shades (details on how to enter at the bottom). So you can’t be mad.

As you know, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how to boost my running ego.

I know I am a runner. That was never the question. The answer that I’m searching for is how can I learn to love all aspects of running again?

On Monday, I woke up with a certain sense of excitement about lacing up and running that I’ve been missing out on as of late. The easy choice would have been to head uptown to Central Park and complete my daily morning lap around the lower loop of this midtown oasis. Yet over the last few months I’ve found the monotony of this course to bring frustration and boredom. So instead, I shook up my routine. All that before 7AM on a Monday.

To the west side!

Monday morning’s run consisted of a somewhat basic circle from my apartment to the southern entrance of the High Line, back up and east through MSG (that’s Madison Square Garden for you non-New York folk) madness to my humble abode. While only May, the air was already beyond thick, gross and humid, but the run itself proved far better than the conditions in which it took place.

Monday’s adventure over to the west side was a great first step in recallibrating my sentiments. I even took a mid-run break here, at these stairs…

…to do lunges and a few forearm planks…

…before picking my sweaty-self up again…

…and running back up toward my apartment.

(No, I do not live in the Standard Hotel; it just towers over the High Line.) But if you want to buy me a night there, donations are welcome!)

However, part of the exercise I outlined last week — part of reaching the overall goal I set forth for Under Armour’s What’s Beautiful campaign — will be to look beyond the act of running alone.

It’s one thing to go for a run. Being “a runner,” on the other hand, often requires that we pay attention to many other aspects of healthy living that complement our ultimate objective. And to be clear, this has to go beyond the food we put in our bodies (though this is a big part of the equation too).

(Monday’s lunch salad with homemade, mayo-free coleslaw.)

It’s for that reason that I was intrigued by Odwalla’s Plant-A-Tree campaign. I know I have the discipline to exercise almost daily and the knowledge to fill my plate with nutritious greens and grains, however I’m far less involved in the healthy living community that surrounds me. And let’s get one thing straight. Here in New York City — here in this amazing space on the Web — the sense of community abounds. To feel as though this part of my life is whole again, I need to look at the big picture. I need to get involved.

I’m a huge fan of Odwalla products to begin with, so I was stoked to be given the opportunity to team with the brand. How? Well, the company is partnering with The Nature Conservancy’s All Hands on Earth initiative in an effort to plant up to 100,000 trees this year alone. Nature — being able to frolic in the park every morning — is why I’m able to find calm throughout the rest of the day and beyond. So, naturally, I was pumped to learn that, since 2008, Odwalla has donated more than half-a-million dollars worth of trees through their Plant-A-Tree campaign to help out our mother earth.

Feats such as these tend to put things in perspective, don’t they? All of a sudden, logging 20 miles a week doesn’t seem so hard. Stop complaining, Stacy.

Anyway, here’s how you can get involved. Now through the end of May, Odwalla will fund the planting of a tree for each person who registers for a chance to win a $10,000 gift card and a year’s worth of Odwalla goodness. They’re literally rewarding you for trying to win a grand prize. Not so hard, right?

That said, since chances are most of us sitting right here and reading this won’t actually be selected as the winner of this hefty grand prize (hey, I’m a realist! that doesn’t mean I don’t wish you all the best of luck), Odwalla is also offering Will Run For Glitter fans the opportunity to win a nifty gift package right here, right now. The whole shebang is worth $55, and contains Odwalla goodies galore — like bars, coupons for drinks, and even sunglasses and a tote.

Interested? Mouth watering? Itching to win? Entering this Odwalla giveaway is easy. Simply leave a comment below with your favorite smoothie ingredients. Mine are obviously strawberry, banana and spinach. I’ll draw a winner when I return from Hilton Head (!!) when I return from my little escape on Thursday of next week, feeling — I hope — refreshed, renewed and ready for a lovely urban run, that is, after a week of beach excursions.

So, what are you waiting for?

What are your favorite smoothie ingredients?

Weekend Recap: Cloudy with a Chance of Lazy

20 Monday May 2013

Posted by Stacy Lazar in Healthy Living, Running

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

East River, East Side Runs, Eating, Eating After Running, Favorite Food, Leisurely Runs, Manhattan, Morning Runs, Running, Running Gear, Running With Friends, Weekend Runs, Wine

Every year since I turned 3, I’ve spent the third weekend in May upstate New York fishing with my dad and brothers. It’s a beautiful, easy escape from the city, which has made me appreciate it even more in recent years. Last year, I even incorporated a couple of trail runs into the trip.

But after spending several weekends on the road over the past few months, from Philly to D.C. to my parent’s house out on the Island, I decided I needed a solid break from travel, especially with a long weekend away coming up. And so this weekend, Noah and I stayed put.

There were a number of incredible events going on all around us in New York City this weekend — the AIDS walk and Brooklyn Half Marathon included. I’m sure many of you are already writing about and recapping your amazing stories of PRs and finish lines and post-workout brunches, and I can’t wait to read every single one.

For us, this was a very low-key weekend, but of course, we managed to run. After dining out at an awesome restaurant on the Lower East Side on Friday night — Mission Chinese — we continued the evening in the West Village, sharing drinks with friends, before heading home around midnight or 1.

On Saturday, we slept in until — wait for it — 9:30am. After lazing around the apartment eating Cheerios and picking up after the messy, weekday version of ourselves, Noah and I went out for a 4-5 mile run along the East River heading north.

I should mention here that I ran in purple compression shorts that I nabbed last year for $4.50 at the Paragon Warehouse sale. They were incredibly obnoxious and amazing all at once.

(So, this happened.)

While overcast, the temperature was actually pretty perfect outside, and it was nice to choose a route that differed from our usual downtown routine.

Noah and I met my cousin at the 59th street dog park beneath the Queensboro Bridge. Some of the run took us along 1st Avenue, and the rest took place along the water; we ran on the promenade that lines Carl Schurz park, and when we got to the end, we turned around and made our way back home.

While this weekend definitely had it’s moments of pure debauchery (my old roomie had a house party, in addition to another super late night out), I certainly tried to stay conscious of infusing my days with healthful tidbits here and there.

Among the top 5:

1. After our run on Saturday, we chose to pick up fresh apricots from the market and nosh on those instead of the bag of dark peanut M&M’s sitting in our freezer. (We went to town on those later anyway.)

2. After staying in bed until 2pm on Sunday watching action movies and rotting our brains, we made a simple salad of arugula, endive and Parmesan cheese for lunch instead of eating the final few handfuls of dark peanut M&M’s. (We aim high in our apartment!)

3. Whipping up a nutritious bowl of guacamole — a wonderful addition to any rainy bbq.

4. Eating said guacamole on endive leaves instead of Tostitos. (Disclaimer: This does not make up for the mountain of chips I ate the night before.)

5. Placing raspberries in my wine spritzer. Hydration and vitamins.

So, there you have it. Another weekend come and gone, and still no races in sight. On the bright side, I’ve been enjoying the freedom to run as far or little as I please; all I really need to work on now is enjoying it as much as I know I am capable of. Fortunately, Noah and I are heading to Hilton Head this coming weekend for Memorial Day, and that should offer a really nice break from the monotony of my Manhattan mornings.

Did you PR this weekend? Or, just laze around a drink raspberry wine spritzers?
What’s one way you infused a healthy practice into your Saturday or Sunday?

Always, Always on the Run

17 Friday May 2013

Posted by Stacy Lazar in Healthy Living, Running, Yoga

≈ 4 Comments

I’ve obviously been thinking a lot lately about why I’ve grown tired of my daily morning runs. But it wasn’t until yesterday morning that I had a moment of clarity.

I am always, always running. I am always on the run.

Now, to be clear, I’m not running from anything. I’m just constantly on the run, as in, always on the go. See the difference? Running from something typically carries with it a negative connotation, whereas being on the run is simply a way of existence — a very, very frenzied way of existence at that.

Of course, this “aha” moment came to me at just the right time. For the first time in a while, I wasn’t running at all. In fact, I was walking — slowly — to my very first yoga class in months. Let that sink in for a minute: months.

One of the biggest things I’ll be making an effort to do this month will be to rediscover my love of running. Some of the ways I plan on doing so are by alternating my running routes…

(This was on Tuesday morning. I ran somewhere between 4 and 5 miles on the east side, taking 10 minutes to stop, stretch and lunge at the parks on Sutton.)

…and searching for snippets of inspiration by way of keeping running magazines in my presence at all times.

But, as one of my good running buddies also recommended just last week (oh hey @beth1126), maybe it’s time I took a break. Stop. Slow down. Soak it all in. Breathe.

Enjoy Manhattan.

Enjoy soft serve fruit.

Make quesadillas.

Maybe happiness can be that simple.

As I’m sitting here writing this, I can’t believe that this week marked my first yoga class since last year. Has time really flown that fast? Did I really allow myself to forget about one of my favorite ways to relax and unwind before (or even after!) a stressful day at work?

In all fairness, there are a few valid reasons why I’ve neglected this outlet for some time now. Let’s explore them here:

1. Running. I think that as part of my attempt to love running again, I decided, for whatever reason, that it’s all I was allowed to do. Yoga would only get in the way. (I realize how crazy this sounds, but I’m just trying to give you an open look into my wacky brain.)

2. Location. I used to work in Union Square, which is home to a serious hub of yoga studios. From posh to pedestrian, there is a space to practice for anyone and everyone. Now, I work in midtown — only a few blocks from my apartment at that. Anyone who lives near Grand Central knows there are very few yoga studios.

3. It’s spring! And it is so, so lovely out. As much as my runs have been particularly tough, they’ve also been especially beautiful. I have not regretted a single run I’ve taken. I’ve simply felt challenged along the way.

On Wednesday evening of this week, I made a decision and promised myself to stick the hell to it. I resolved to go to yoga on Thursday morning, and I resolved to not back out.

I’d been intrigued with a little studio in Murray Hill — one of the few — for a while now, and have otherwise neglected to go. To be transparent, it’s a $20 class, which is typically much more than I’m willing to spend on any single workout — not when Central Park in all it’s glory is absolutely, 100% free.

Desperate for calm and peace of mind, on Thursday morning, I caved. With a 50% off birthday coupon in hand, I met the morning sun in flip flops and spandex, and walked a few short blocks over to Mang’Oh. The studio is conveniently located on 39th between 2nd and 1st.

As it turns out, Mang’Oh is a lovely space — and the teacher who led Thursday morning’s class, Angelina, was even lovelier. Despite a slight payment snafu (apparently I had taken a class in the past, and never paid? me thinks I’d remember that!), I enjoyed almost every aspect of the experience. Angelina’s morning flow was perfect from start to finish. The music she played in the background perfectly complemented it too, the sequence which consisted of a varied blend of strength, core and balancing poses, along with a nice, long shoulder stand at the end.

Ah, I feel better already recounting the experience today. Part of me can’t believe how long I’ve gone since being able to say, yes, I am grounded, I am centered once again. But then again, part of me knows exactly why I haven’t; I am simply constantly on the run.

Mang’Oh is a bit pricy when all you purchase is a single class, however their packages are actually pretty reasonable. For 10 classes, you pay $160, or $16 per class. For 20, you bring it down to $14 — and you have 90 days to use up your card.

I’m genuinely excited to return to Mang’Oh again, but I think a big part of making this feeling of ahh (of ohm?) last will be incorporating it into my schedule on the reg. I’m not making any promises yet, but for now, this big change of heart is a great place to start.

On that note, congratulations to Ashley on winning the ibodyfit giveaway!

Do you incorporate yoga into your routine? How often do you go, and do you do it for physical reasons or mental (or both)?