Sweet Blog o' Mine

I Want to Ride My Bicycle, I Want to Ride My Bike*

I finally dusted off my bike and went for a ride yesterday, which felt great. Given the prevalence of the new Citibike docks all around the city, I've been thinking quite a bit about bike riding lately. I was trained as a very safe rider thanks to the AIDS Ride folks back in 2000, but I'm still not super-thrilled about riding in traffic. I prefer to get over to a bike-friendly area that is blocked to traffic (Central Park, West Side Highway) and ride around there instead of using my bike for commuting. As safe and cautious as I am, I think that drivers are still not accustomed to cyclists and I'd rather avoid them.

That said, they're about to be everywhere. I'm incredibly curious to see how this whole Citibike thing will work. I plan to try it out (with a helmet, of course) and see if it makes me more comfortable using a bike as a mode of transportation rather than a means of exercise. My two big hopes are that 1) drivers will start to get used to and respect cyclists who share the streets, and 2) cyclists will ride safely, respecting traffic laws. The latter is something I don't see as often as I'd like. I constantly see cyclists riding the wrong way down bike lanes, not signaling, blowing through traffic lights, wearing headphones, texting (are you fucking kidding me?!) as they ride, and riding on sidewalks. I truly hope that with an influx of cyclists, this changes, and if not, that cyclists are ticketed accordingly for traffic violations. The sooner we all learn to share the streets safely, the better.

* Thank you, Queen.

Pushing Limits

On Sunday I went running outside. "So what, Laren?" you might say. "You're a triathlete and all, don't you do that all the time?" The answer is yes, I do, but generally not in 30ish degree weather. I hate running in the cold, and I probably haven't done it in about a decade, but I made myself do it. "Why?" you might ask. "Don't you belong to a gym where they have a perfectly good treadmill?" Why yes, I do, but I wanted to make myself a bit uncomfortable -- to push my limits, even if it was ever so slightly. I'm at a point in my life where I have to push my limits in so many ways -- I might as well start with something easy. Plus, there are only 129 days left until this year's NYC Triathlon. . .

Swim. Bike. Run. Done.

My 5th NYC Triathlon is now done. Once again, I marvel at my own consistency. I was a bit faster than last year, likely because I wasn't contending with rain on the bike course. My total time was 3:34:16. For comparison's sake, Laila Ali, Mohammed Ali's daughter and world champion boxer, finished in 3:06:22. I think that makes me fairly badass, given that I am *not* a world champion anything.  That said, I'd love to get another one under my belt in under 3:30. Many thanks to all who donated -- together we raised over $3000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. It's not too late to donate if you still would like to.  Also a special thanks to Mom & Stephen for coming out and cheering me on along the way.

Memorable moments: noticing the dead fish in the Hudson before having to jump into the water, being called pretty by a guy on the bike leg, getting/giving a high five to a woman in what appeared to be her 70's during the run -- an inspiration!

2012: Swim 23:28 T1 9:55 Bike 1:44:50 T2 5:02 Run 1:11:05 Total: 3:34:16

2011: Swim 22:19 T1 12:27 Bike 1:51:54 T2 4:58 Run 1:11:40 Total: 3:43:17

2010: Swim 20:54 T1 11:39 Bike 1:42:43 T2 6:26 Run 1:08:01 Total: 3:29:41

2009: Swim 24:30 T1 10:17 Bike 1:40:57 T2 4:01 Run 1:07:22 Total: 3:27:06

2008: Swim 24:30 T1 10:55 Bike 1:36:47 T2 4:00 Run 1:08:40 Total: 3:24:51

Well I Tri, And I Tri . . .

Sunday's the big day, kids, and I'm just back from France. Jetlag seems to be relatively under control and today I'm heading up to pick up my race packet. Tomorrow (when the weather report is predicting a high of 99 degrees), I'll ride my bike up to the transition area, where it will stay (protected by garbage bags), until I rejoin it very early Sunday morning.

If you're an early riser, and want to watch the race, you can find detailed info on that here (I'll be starting at about 6:30; will hit the run around 9 and finish around 10ish), and you can find me at the Team in Training tent near the bandshell at the end of the race.  I'll be wearing a purple Team in Training tank, Team in Training black and purple tri shorts, a yellow number 2388 and a white visor (for the run) and will be on a blue bike with pink handlebars (for the bike). Good places to watch the run are along 72nd Street from Henry Hudson Parkway to Central Park West, Cherry Hill before we head to the finish on Dead Road in Central Park, and Dead Road in Central Park near the bandshell off the 72nd Street Transverse. If you want to watch the bike, head to the West Side Highway. A detailed version of where to watch each event can be found here.

There's also an athlete tracking app this year! For a mere 99 cents you can track my progress on your phone. Android and iPhone versions are available.

If you're not an early riser, come celebrate anytime after 6 pm at the 8th St. Winecellar.

Regardless, please support my efforts by making a donation to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society -- it'll make you feel good!

Loop de Loop

I finally got my ass on my bike this weekend. As I did my six (yes, six!) Harlem Hill repeat loops (in addition to one big loop), I wondered to myself how many times I've lapped Central Park, either on a bike or running, since I started cycling in 1999. I'd be fascinated to know my total distance . . .

And since I finally got on my bike as part of my triathlon training, you may want to reward me by making a donation!

Weekend Wrapup

Plus a highlight from Thursday: the Momofuku Ssam duck dinner with Katie, Karen, Kim and Jackie -- which as absolutely delicious -- followed by my maiden visit to Corkbuzz. Will definitely return. Friday night I went to the Black Grouse launch party where I had some of Lynnette's amazing cocktails, then relaxed with Moxie for most of Saturday (with a few long walks and trips to the dog run, of course) after brunch with Jenn, Emilia and Vivian. I also cooked some spicy Asian wings for Sunday and did a few errands, and capped it off with a nightcap at the 8th Street Wine Cellar. On Sunday I threw some split pea soup in the slow cooker, did some writing then had lunch with Doug before heading to Brooklyn with Moxie for a tasty-as-hell Super Bowl with Colin and Jen. I had the wings in tow, and Colin whipped up some mac and cheese and his "beefy blue" potato skins. Perfect with some beer and a rye old fashioned.

Weekend Wrapup Redux

 
Wrote an entire post that got deleted somehow. Grr. So, here goes take two. As with the last post, I am noting, for the record, that this post will do absolutely nothing to convince my father that I do not, in fact, spend all of my free time jaunting about the city eating and drinking.  That said, I do it to keep up with the scene about which I write, but I do it mostly as a way to catch up with friends, who share similar passions (probably why we get along so well).  The weekend started off on Friday with post-work cocktails at Pegu Club with @daisy17 & @jordanarothman and then moved on to tapas at Tertulia, which is quickly becoming a neighborhood favorite.  I need to gather a large group to get their paella and also go sometime to their chef's dinner.

Saturday I slept late and shopped for provisions, produce and flowers at the Greenmarket. Once home, after lingering over coffee and the paper for a bit, I met up Karen once again for our maiden voyage to Smorgasburg, a food-only market by the Brooklyn Flea folks, where we joined up with Jordana and Daniel, and later John P. I had a decadent CT-style (all butter, no mayo) lobster roll from the Red Hook Lobster Pound followed up with a People's Pop made from Stumptown coffee, cream and sugar -- have to try to recreate those at home. Delicious. Next we walked over to Maison Premiere (where Vince joined us), where we lingered in their beautiful back garden over oysters, drinks and conversation. For the grand finale, the majority of us headed back to Manhattan, where we had a drink at Employees Only while we waited for dinner at Red Farm, another new favorite. Their dumplings are outrageous, as is the rib eye!

Sunday morning I went for a much-needed run, then headed up to Yankees Stadium with fellow USBGNY members where I was utterly spoiled from all future baseball games by sitting in a swanky suite. Truly luxurious!  Pictures from the game are here. After the game, a small group of us went out for drinks and nibbles, stopping at Pete's Tavern, Death & Company and Dram.

 
Monday, the bonus day, I relaxed at home, did laundry, and made a batch of cold sesame noodles using sauce I had gotten from the Shorty Tang folks at Smorgasburg (see, Dad? Relaxing! Cooking! Being domestic!). Those were my contribution to @BeerGuy1's barbecue later that afternoon/evening; the food was fantastic -- that's what you get when the team behind Hearth is manning the grill -- and featured falling-off-the-bone smoked ribs and these beauties pictured above, among other delights. I made one final stop before heading home to bed: back to Maison Premiere to visit a friend who was guest bartending from New Orleans. He made me a perfect French 75 on my last trip there and decided that his French 75 would be a perfect way to cap off an amazing Labor Day weekend.

Done and Done

My 4th NYC Triathlon is now in the books. I'm fairly consistent, and with each year comes a tad more slowness, but that's to be expected, I suppose. Given the rain, I was extremely cautious on the bike this year, and could have pushed harder, and I'm sure my first transition might have been a bit smoother had I not wiped out on the "watch out, it's slippery" mat at the end of swim exit (apparently, I was far from the only one).  Many thanks to all I saw along the way -- Mom & Stephen, Mike, Hannah, and especially Russ, who biked with me for a good chunk of the run, listening to my bitching and moaning, especially after mile 4.

After a fantastic shower and a solid nap, I met friends and family for a celebration at the 8th Street Wine Cellar -- thanks to those who made it for helping me celebrate! I slept for 10 hours last night, and am now about to head out to Kismet for the remainder of the week for some major rest and recovery.

An extra special thanks to all who donated to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society on my behalf, and congrats to Team D&P!

2011: Swim 22:19 T1 12:27 Bike 1:51:54 T2 4:58 Run 1:11:40

2010: Swim 20:54 T1 11:39 Bike 1:42:43 T2 6:26 Run 1:08:01

2009: Swim 24:30 T1 10:17 Bike 1:40:57 T2 4:01 Run 1:07:22

2008: Swim 24:30 T1 10:55 Bike 1:36:47 T2 4:00 Run 1:08:40

Gettin' Ready to Rock and Roll (and Swim and Run)

The triathlon's on Sunday, and I'm winding down my training (one more swim today, and that's about it), and getting my gear ready (I patched up holes in my wetsuit last night!), and I've even got my number by email: 2288. I'm feeling somewhat less prepared this year than in past years, but there's not much I can do about it now other than get plenty of rest, hydrate, and mentally visualize the race.

If you're an early riser, and want to watch the race, you can find detailed info on that here (I'll be starting at about 6:30; will hit the run around 9 and finish around 10ish), and you can find me at the Team in Training tent near the bandshell at the end of the race.  I'll be wearing a purple Team in Training tank, Team in Training black and purple tri shorts, a yellow number 2288 and a NYC Triathlon white visor. Good places to watch are along 72nd Street from Henry Hudson Parkway to Central Park West, Cherry Hill before we head to the finish on Dead Road in Central Park, and Dead Road in Central Park near the bandshell off the 72nd Street Transverse.

If you're not an early riser, come celebrate anytime after 6 pm at the 8th St. Winecellar.

Regardless, please support my efforts by making a donation to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society -- it'll make you feel good! And finally, I want to wish all of my fellow triathletes the best of luck, in particular the members of the newly minted Debevoise triathlon team -- kick some ass, gang!

Weekend Wrapup

Pretty damn good weekend, if I don't say so myself. Friday night was a long-overdue catch up dinner w/Lauren, Caroline & Tara at Porsena (which, by the way is delicious. Go.) Got up Saturday for my last long training run in Central Park -- the triathlon is less than a week away so I'm in taper mode now. Scary. That said, I plan on doing a mile swim Tuesday or Wednesday this week, just because I haven't yet. After some lounging about I met up with Karen for an impromptu lunch at Momofuku Ssam Bar, followed by some quality A/C time, then met up w/Jordana, Jay & his wife for dinner at Zabb Elee. I was supposed to go out after that but my run in the late morning head had completely zapped my energy so I opted to head back home.

Glad I did because Sunday was my second visit to the Liquid Lab (here's a bit more about my first visit). I'll be writing more about that elsewhere, but 11 hours on my feet tasting over 60 spirits and over 60 cocktails (including 8 of my own original creations) makes for a very long, albeit fun and educational, day!

Amazing to think that this time next week I'll be done with the triathlon and on my way to Fire Island for a much needed vacation on the beach. Can't wait. And by the way, donate!!!