I finally got the chance to sample the vegan chili today at Fresh & Co. It totally blew me away. They use Beyond Meat, and totally nail the spice level.
729 Broadway, NYC
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Now, I understand that some of my mobile readers were unable to access the skating video which I posted a few days ago. It is called "Slomo: The Man Who Skated Right Off the Grid." It can be found on You Tube. Or, my hope is that you'll click on the below link and be transferred directly to it.
Finally . . . I'm totally into doing at least 10K tomorrow. It will be interesting to see how far I actually go. I've got my route selected, and I am ready to face the morning.
Those are my knees after having gone rollerskating.
Now let's get something clear. A rollerskating rink is made of wood. Any of you who know me from way way back or way way way back know what I'm talking about: the Levittown Rink, United Skates of America. You'd fall and get hurt, but not really hurt. Falling was a part of the fun.
Lakeside in Prospect Park is an ice skating rink. It's too warm for ice skating right now, but you can roller-skate or blade where the ice was. The surface is called "CEMENT And Lots Of It," and it hurts like hell when it smacks bone and flesh
But I'm ready to head back out to the rink right now, with my helmet and gear this time. The work out was incredible. I could totally feel the special attention some of my muscles received. A few times my legs started to scream WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING TO US?! YOU MADE US DO A 5K YESTERDAY!!
Slomo
This video was passed onto me by an incredible performer, who I have shared many an open mic with. This video is about a man who just wants to live simply . . . and skate. I totally get him. Give yourself 15 minutes and watch it, all of it.
So I'm out there today, busting my ass. I tear up Shore Road. I conquer Owl's Head Park like no simile I can think of right at the moment. There's work being done at the BQE underpass, so I continue south along Shore for my return trip, and I cut through the Narrows Botanical Garden. I'm keeping a great pace. I am keeping some of my mile minutes below 13. Just as I'm about to hit the steps down to the park, I reached down to lower the volume on my iPod. And that was it. It all stopped. The music. The timer. The woman in my iPod who keeps me updated during my power walk. And then I stopped. I searched my iPod for the three miles I had just completed. I mean, I'm trying to do 60 miles in four weeks. I can't just lose 3 miles like that. But they were gone. My body certainly knows I completed them, but according to my technology-- Fuck it. I just restarted my application, and hauled ass for another two miles and that was that. As far as my 60 mile goal is concerned, I have found an 8 mile route in the neighborhood for me to do on Thursday. By the way, I keep my iPod in this amazing contraption called a Spi Belt. When I reach down to change the volume or check my progress, I do so blindly, while my iPod remains in its holder. There just may have been some human error here. And yes, I would be that human.
Yesterday morning I left my apartment at 7:47am. A few months ago, I never would have been able to start an Ambien induced story like this.
I traveled from the first stop on the R train to the last stop on the 1 to do the RMHA 5K in Van Cortland Park. It wasn't my worst time but it was pretty close. I'm not sure why. The weather was perfect. I actually ran a few portions of the race. And I loved the surface of the path. It wasn't exactly gravel. It looked like crushed slate to me on top of solid dirt. Maybe it slowed me down. I will say that according to my Nike+ we actually went 4.98K. Are the race people right? Is my devise right?
You know what? I don't really care. I was out there and I did the race. And it felt absolutely fantastic. I turned in a 22.38 mile week and I'm very proud of that. I spent a total of three hours commuting via subway to a race I competed in for roughly 40 minutes, and I'm ready to do it again.
Of course I came home and signed up for another race. Here are how the next few unfold. Should you choose to join me, your team or club name is Green Dub:
A few days ago, my training took me in a different direction. I decided to do the 2.1 miles around the Dyker Beach Golf Course.
During my walk to the Course, I passed Kentucky Fried Chicken. There was a huge sign in the window that they were giving away their cakes for free. Of course you have to buy a meal laden with all sorts of bad shit that will kill you first. But here is what you get in your free cake:
•A whole lot of Americans are out of work and have been for a while. •I believe it is because we're not making anything in this country. •A whole lot of people in America are overweight or obese, and are just straight up not healthy. And we are raising a nation of children who are significantly less healthy than their parents. That's just scary. •I believe that a major reason why so many Americans and their children are way too overweight is because there are no jobs, and they are eating garbage.
YOU are an athletic company. I dare you to start manufacturing your athletic gear in the US. I don't care what the cost is. It's time to break the cycle. Lives are at stake here, American lives.
Discussion Thread
Response Via Email (Miguel)
04/25/2014 09:28 AM
Dear Karen,
Thank you for sharing your feedback with us.
We appreciate that you took the time to let us know your thoughts. It’s through feedback like yours that we are able to grow and improve as a company, so we have passed it along to the appropriate department within Nike.
Head up. Shoulders back. Look at the horizon, and head towards it. When I'm in here, there's worry, and angst about the usual shit: money, career, clutter, bills, work, dick heads, where the hell am I going, what am I doing with my life, what's the point to all of this . . . the stuff in my head that challenges my ability to sleep. When I'm out there, it's me and the road. And after the first mile or so, the head noise disappears. And it's me and the road. And the horizon. And my tunes. And I know that this road will take me somewhere. Destination unknown. But this direction . . . totally feels right.
Today was opening day at the new Under Armour store in Soho. I went in search of free swag. Instead I was encouraged to try their TRX suspension trainer. I think I did pretty well, and the other customers were treated to my version of performance art. AND Under Armor let me clean their floors for no extra charge. Let the comments fly!
It is a beautiful store. Everyone was super retail enthusiastically friendly, and they have a great selection. Their tags were a little bit pricey, but I was in Soho.
The part that I hated, the part that got me really annoyed is . . . that they have New York everything. Under Armour New York. Under Armour Harlem. Under Armour Brooklyn. Under Armour Mike Tyson Brooklyn. I'm not kidding. But none of that shit is made here. Not in New York. Not in the US. It's all from China and Malaysia. And it drives me bananas that none of my athletic ware is made anywhere near America.
What are my options?
I think I should start with contacting the major companies.
This morning's AMPPW (morning post pee weight) was 128.6. According to my Menstruation Calendar, it is five days before my next cycle. Aside from being a tiny bit more emotional, however, I am showing no pre-menstrual signs. I feel fantastic. This vegan thing has made me significantly more conscious about what I eat, and I'm certain that next month's visit to the doctor is going to prove significant changes.
I will not be racing the 5K this Saturday in Long Branch. But if you're near Da Bronx on Sunday, I'll see you at the finish line. I'll be racing The 5th Annual RMHA Healthy Minds/Healthy Bodies 5K. Don't be scared. Van Cortland Park is such a beautiful place that my dad proposed to my mom there.
DATE
Start: Sunday, April 27, 2014
ADDRESS
The Tortoise and The Hare/ Van Cortlandt ParkBroadway north of West 242nd Street Bronx , NY10471
Savoring a home blended smoothie on my way to work is so much better than chowing on a Dunkin Donuts vegan bagel. They're not very good. They start to disintegrate in your mouth. That's not good.
Coconut juice, apple, red leaf romaine, cucumber, turmeric, Vega Protein Smoothie (Oh Natural)
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Friday. Alarm clock. 4:30am. Job B. 7:30am-1:30pm. Return home. Nap and roast eggplant at the same time. Job A. 7pm-10:30pm.
Saturday. Alarm clock. 4:30am. Job B. 7:30am-1:30pm. Return home. Nap. Job A. 7pm-10:30pm.
Sunday. Job B. 1pm-9:30pm.
Monday. Job B. 10am-6:30pm.
So . . . I have to admit . . . there have been some minor bursts of candy and sugar binging. I have caught this . . . and have applied the brakes.
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Nike+'s response to my work(s) schedule:
OFF TRACK
On again off again. Run some extra miles this week to get back on track to your goal.
I set a goal for myself on my Nike + Dashboard. I shall power walk 60 miles during the next 4 weeks. I started today, banging out 4.6 miles. It is difficult to share my progress via this blog. Endomondo is significantly more blog friendly. With Nike+ I can't save jpegs or pdfs. I have to go through Facebook and share my contacts with Nike. This is not the avenue I wish to take. This blog is not very graphic cut & paste friendly. Here's what I mean:
RUN MORE MILES
4.60/60miles
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4 weeks left
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Run or Dye was a complete and total blast. I was actually disappointed when I first learned that it was not a timed race. This is actually a part of what makes it a "fun run." I was even wondering when the race began, how I was going to log the work out time. And then I let it all go. You can't possibly log everything in this life, no matter what you're pursuing. So I guessed my time and let the purple dye snow all over me. There were many dye stations. But of course, purple is my favorite.
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There is a huge site wide sale at Guayaki.com, and I'm currently cooking kelp noodles with organic tofu.
