i am happy

I get to wake up to the two cutest, snuggliest faces in the whole world every single day. This is one of them. Who needs stuff when this is all I need to be happy?

6 things...

...I did this week:

1. Started my taper. Wahoo! Although I did take a TRX class for a story and realized that, while I can run and surf for hours, I cannot hold a plank for more than minute.
2. Saw Ben's CMJ show. Excited to see him make things happen. It also made me realized that I am way old. I used to love going to Cat's Cradle shows back in college, but now I much prefer a comfy couch and cuddly cat.
3. Wrestled into my wetsuit and hit the waves with Sarah and Amanda. Holy chilly!
4. Did about a hundred interviews for stories this week, including some with "celebrities" with diva-like personalities. So silly.
5. Went to a beer-and-burger tasting with the newly engaged Mara and Amanda, where I inhaled about 1,000 calories. It was so worth it. Also, the founder of Sixpoint was there, and he is awesome.
6. Dropped by Erik's office and rode one of his company's skateboards, only to promptly wipe out (after scoffing at Erik's warnings). I was all, "this is like surfing!" and then, two seconds later, I ate it so hard. Ha.

one year ago today

One of my earliest memories if my dad calling me mei-mei baby (little sister) as I would giggle with glee. I remember him tossing a blanket over my brother and me as we wriggled away in a game of "goo-la-lee." (It wasn't until my teens that I realized goo-la-lee was a made-up word, not Chinese.) In high school, Babi—our pet name from baba—would wake up at 4:30 AM to drive me to swim practice, then stay up to help me with my calculus and physics homework. In his later years, after a string of heart attacks and strokes left him fragile, small, and egg-like, he would smile broadly and wave his hand like the Dalai Lama to waiters and Harris Teeter check-out ladies, who would then crumple at his cuteness. He also grew sentimental in his golden years, often telling me how proud he was of me and that he had created a good life in America. I can still feel the pat of his brown-spotted hand over mine and picture his wrinkly-eyed smile. It's been one year since my sweet Babi passed away, and I miss him more than ever. <3

P.S. This weekend, Tim flew home to see my mom, and they went to go see dad and put fresh flowers on his grave. Isn't my family the greatest?

another year wiser

Last Saturday was my birthday! It was a low-key one. After running for a really long time, I rested, chatted with friends, and then headed out with Erik for an evening out. We watched Argo, dined at a favorite restaurant from our getting-to-know-you days, and ate Momofuku Milk Bar birthday cake truffles. It was perfect. This past year has been a big one, full of both struggle and joy, and I've learned so many lessons. Life just gets better and better with each passing year, so I can't wait for what lies ahead.

marathon training, post five

Twenty-one miles, done and DONE! Friday night, I met up with Kim and Aphrodite to carbo-load, which is admittedly my favorite part of marathon training. I washed down my seafood pasta with three glasses of wine, which left me sluggish the next morning. (My theory: If I do everything wrong beforehand, I'll be ready for anything! Ha.) After shoveling in breakfast, I dressed in my full-on running-nerd marathon gear. Between my neon synthetics and gigantic watch, I looked like an alien! The weather was perfectly crisp, and I felt great heading over the bridge on the same route I ran last year. Since I don't know what my pace should be, I just ran how fast my legs wanted me to go. My feet ached (I wonder if it's the new shoes? They're an updated version that are a lot cushier), so I stopped to readjust my sneakers a few times. Given those pauses, my splits were around 9:30 or so along the West Side highway. I couldn't believe how strong I felt, even as I was trucking around Central Park. Then, around mile 20, my body started insisting that I stop. I don't know if I hit The Wall, but all of a sudden, my legs went from "okay, I've got this" to "hell to the no." New strategy: I'll slow my pace a bit to 9:45-10:30 until mile 18 or so. My plan called for 20 and I thought about doing 22, so I called it even at 21. I was a bit sore afterwards and not in the slightest hungry (weird?!), but all in all, felt pretty good. Now...taper time!!!

P.S. A childhood memory that popped up during my run: Back when I was swimming, our coach would throw "Christmas camps" where we would swim like crazy over the holiday break. On more than one occasion, I had to run to the bathroom to puke up my breakfast before I jumped back in the water. Dude. Hardcore at 15! I think I'll finish the marathon, no matter what. :)

birthday week!

Today is Erik's big day, and Saturday is mine. Compared to last year, where we wined and dined through Paris and Rome, this year's birthday week is a little anti-climatic. Erik has two big-deal meetings, and I have marathon training and deadlines galore. Womp, womp. But, not to worry, we have a birthday-anniversary-Christmas trip planned in November to...Japan and Thailand! I couldn't be more excited. Erik used to live in Tokyo, so he has friends and favorite restaurants, and Thailand is probably the most gorgeous place I've ever visited. Can't wait!

marathon training, post four

Between my cold and surf trip, I've barely run over the past week and a half. So I was pretty nervous about tackling the 20-miler that I missed last weekend. After all, a quick five-mile run on Tuesday had left me feeling winded. Here's how it went:

In typical dummy fashion, I chowed down on a huge meal of fish tacos, sangria, and truffle fries on Friday. In the morning, I was still too full, so I chugged some coffee and a protein smoothie and tucked a pack of Swedish fish and a freebie PowerBar gel into my pocket. Off I went! The weather was warm, so I worked up a sweat running over the Williamsburg bridge and around the East River. All of the runners were out in full force -- a parade of people covered in water bottles and brightly colored synthetic fabrics. To entertain myself, I listened to an audiobook (Lisa See's Dreams of Joy) as I ran down the tip of Manhattan and up the west side. It's a good book, but a little slow, so I switched to tunes after I passed David Blaine getting electrocuted over on one of the piers. (Seriously, David Blaine?) My legs felt surprisingly strong as I headed across town to Central Park for my final six miles. I choked down that chemically-tasting gel (note to self: pack enough candy/Shot Bloks for the race) and cruised until the final two miles. At that point, something shifted and I could NOT wait to be done; my legs hurt and I was dying to walk. But then...my Garmin beeped 20. Hallelujah! The run was such a confidence boost and my splits (about 10:33/mile, including trips to the water fountain and waiting at stop lights) were decent. Only 6.2 more on November 4...

6 things... (surf trip version)

...we did on Figure Eight island. I think the best part of the trip, for me, was hanging out with so many rad down-for-anything, no-drama ladies. But these other activities were close runner-ups:

1. Took a nighttime boat trip around the bay.
2. Surfed super-friendly waves. They were gentle, but long enough to think on; I actually turned and stepped forward to speed up. Progress!
3. Spotted dolphins (porpoises?) swimming north.
4. Rode stand-up paddleboards. It was my first time -- not too hard, but what a workout (especially between surf sessions).
5. Went clamming. Who knew the ocean held so many delicious things? Paula whipped up her famous clam linguine with our bounty. Yum!
6. Tried wakebording. It was fun to pretend I was a surfer who could carve all around. A girl can dream, can't she? :)

Photo credits: Corine, the coolest (and only) surfing geologist that I know

surf trip reunion

Just got home from the most magical surf reunion weekend on Figure Eight Island. Most of the ladies from our El Salvador trip made the trek to Paula's beautiful beach house. We surfed, stand-up paddleboarded, clammed, ate, drank, wake-boarded, and just had about the best time ever. Paula and Anne used to run an East Coast women's surfing competition, so, on one day, more than 40 female rippers took over the beach break. It was amazing to meet so many interesting, accomplished women. I'm inspired by all of these successful surfer moms! And there's just something so healing about the beach; I feel like a new woman -- and my croaky voice is almost healed (thanks to Sarah for putting up with my coughs on the 12-hour drive down!). What a lucky life I lead.