Running Solo

I did it. I signed up for the Capital 10 Miler and I'm running the race solo. I decided to signed up anyway since I'm doing the sprint triathlon next weekend all alone too, and I think running the Capital 10M will help calm my nerves about my solo triathlon race. Besides, 10 miles will be great time to be on my own, collect my thoughts and enjoy the view. The race goes through downtown Richmond, Oregon Hill and ends right at the Capital. I certainly won't be alone as there will be plenty of other runners with me. Plus, I am scheduled to run 9 miles this Sunday anyway for my half-marathon training. At least I get it out of the way early in the weekend!

Actually, now that I think of it, it's definitely good I'm squeezing my training in early Saturday morning. Not only will it help me get use to the "race environment" for the real run, but there's another race immediately after the Capital 10M that same day I'm participating in... Don't worry. I'm not crazy to do 2 races. The reason being is that the 2nd race is called the OK5K, and it involves lots of drinking!

The OK5K is a 5k run and you stop at various bars throughout downtown Richmond for a drink in between. my cousin Greg runs the event (his German Club) in line with the Oktoberfest events throughout the area. A few of us did it last year and had a blast running across the Manchester bridge to Legend's where we enjoyed a pale ale out of the deck looking over the water. It was a lot fun and we're very excited about participating this year for sure! You should too... Go to OK5K.org for details. We will be starting at Penny Lane around 11am!

Shipping out to Boston

Welcome to Boston!

I love this town. Every time I come to Boston I want to move here. My twin sister lives here, great friends all around, great sights, scenes, and of course food. Not to mention great movies are filmed here. If you haven't seen The Departed, you are totally missing out.

Lucky for me,

Hurricane Earl ended up being a total wimp and did not

screw up my trip to Boston over Labor Day weekend for my 27th birthday. I flew in on an earlier flight though, just in case! My twin sister, Weezie and I took over the town, and as if I don't say this every time I visit Boston, this weekend might just be one of the best. To start, we took a stroll through Boston and stopped at the Barking Crab, a little seafood dive right on the Harbor. We enjoyed fish and chips and of course a Lobster roll, a New England Tradition. The view was beautiful and the weather was perfect. And take a look at our incredible crab cake appetizer to start. Delish! Anyway, we wrapped up the first night with dinner at Zen, a killer sushi restaurant in Beacon Hill (near Weezie's apartment), followed by Sake bombs and a local bar. Hurricane Earl soaked my clothes and flip flops, but certainly not the mood as Weez and I celebrated our 27th b-day together.

Saturday: I decided to cure my hangover with a run along the Charles River. Now I know I brag about the great trails and riverside runs I have back in RVA, but this run pales in comparison. The fresh sea water wind whipping my face gave me the kind of energy only negative ions can do when they come off the surface of the water. The theme song to Boondock Saints and Braveheart came on my iPod Shuffle during the run and I swear that can't be a coincidence, right? Fast forward to Sunday morning... I decided to go on the same run but this time I'd cross the Mass Ave Bridge over the Charles River and run along the other side, only to cross back over the river once more on the Longfellow bridge. Words can't describe how beautiful it was. Hands down the Charles River run beats out the San Diego Harbor, Pony Pasture and all the other runs with great views. It was about 75 degrees too, which was absolutely perfect.

Left: The Mass Avenue Bridge; Right: The Longfellow Bridge

The other reason this weekend tops my "best weekends in Boston" list is because I got to go to my first Red Sox game at Fenway Park! We kicked our Saturday with lunch as Baseball Tavern across the street from the stadium. Weezie's roommate works the rooftop at the restaurant and naturally wrapped up lunch with a few shots and a trip to the liquor store to hide a few mini bottles (or as Bostonian's say "nips") in our purses for the game. Fenway Park has old wooden seats and a traditional feel to it. It was truly a great experience.

Following the game, my sister took me up to Top of the Hub, the restaurant on the top of the Prudential Building, where you can see 360 degrees of the Boston skyline. It's quite the view despite the $12 mojitos and expensive brie appetizer. Definitely worth it!

And speaking of views, Weezie and I decided to walk to Charlestown, MA and have lunch at Tavern on the Water, a harbor-side restaurant similar to the Barking Crab, but on the other side of the harbor with a view of downtown Boston. About a 2-3 mile walk, we eventually sat down for lunch, enjoying their incredible bloody mary bar, their thick and hearty new england clam chowder, and some of the best tuna tartare I've ever had. I was so full, I didn't even bother trying the teriyaki flank steak skewers that Weezie ordered. It was the best day, spent with my wonderful twin sister. We eventually walked back, and caught an afternoon matinee before I had to fly out that evening. "Going the Distance" was a perfect movie to see since it has a strong sister bond story line to it. Plus, Weez and I LOVE Christina Applegate. I mean, who doesn't?

Left: Twin sister, Weezie; Right: Me at Tavern on the Water in Charlestown, MA.

What a great weekend. Thank you Weezie and the Boston crew for one of the best birthday weekends ever! I definitely had a blast and I can't wait to make it back up to Boston again soon!

Introduction

"May the best of your yesterday's be the worst of your tomorrow's."

Welcome to my blog. I've been toying with the idea of starting a blog to share my passion for food and fitness, just like everyone else. I'm a native of Richmond, Virginia. Made it a stone's throw away to Charlottesville to attend college at UVA. Pursued my odd obsession with Russia by studying abroad in St. Petersburg the summer after college, and landed back in Richmond for good, settling down in the Fan, where every 20-something belongs.

Ah, the good life. That's been a major theme for me as every year passes. I look back and realize how lucky I am to have such an amazing family, wonderful friends, and fulfilling experiences. I hope to share some of "the good life" in this blog, focusing on my most passionate hobbies of food and fitness. Yes, I will also throw in a plug or two about foreign policy and other interests of mine.

So, where to begin... I feel that I should start at the beginning so you can understand the foundations of why I am so passionate about food and fitness. I grew up in a large Italian family. My Dad is Sicilian, second generation and full of knowledge and insight. My Mom is a product of West Virginia and pure motivation. I am 1 of 5 girls, and most importantly, I am a twin. My twin sister is my best friend, my confidant, my soul mate, my life saver and everything in between. You will hear me talk a lot about her, that's for sure.

Let's fast forward to my my not so distant past. If you can imagine, growing up in a large Italian family lead to large meals, large clothes, large everything. I was overweight from since I can remember and it was tough. But in February 2007, I decided it was time to change my unhealthy habits and turn over a new leaf. I had always been athletic growing up, but I certainly didn't eat well. When I decided to join Weight Watchers, I never thought it would truly change my life. The program taught me to eat right. It provided me with the education and tools to make healthy decisions and understand my boundries. The added bonus was that it allowed me to launch my creativity with what I cooked and the things I could eat. I love to cook, and Weight Watchers was the key to reinventing that hobby.

And so, here I am, 3 years and 45 pounds later. During that journey, I also started running. Running was my new routine to add to the new foods I was eating. I wouldn't say I'm an addict, or even that good of a runner, but I love it. I've had the pleasure getting a "runner's high" on a couple of my runs and the feeling is incredible. I sign up for various races year-round and that helps motivate and feed my habit. I completed my first half marathon last year in under 2 hours and I'm damn proud of it! Once running sunk in, I picked up other activities such as kickboxing, swimming, biking, and bikram yoga. I love to try new things and love to learn. I look forward to sharing many adventures with you all as well. Hope you're hungry... You are in for a real treat!