This morning I hit up the gym for strength training, but didn’t do any cardio. So, I took a walk on my lunch break. I need a walk a day to help keep me from having an anxiety attack and it was nice.
On my long run this weekend I ran to Whole Foods and the organic kale was on sale. I love kale, but mostly only eat it as kale chips. But, roasting the hell out of such a healthy veggie and then drowning it in ketchup didn’t seem right this time.
Tuesday night I made a massaged kale salad with my own dressing. That is pretty fancy for me! I even washed the kale! <- I know, who am I?! Cochina.
Anyways, one bunch of kale made a huge bowl of greens and I dressed it with:
1 Tb. Olive oil, 2 Tb. maple syrup, 2 Tb. OJ and salt.
I added a handful of raisins and peanuts to complete the salad and it was delicious! 
We had it with these chicken kabobs I got from Costco. They are perfectly spicy and delicious. 
I recently created my #FitnessBucketList on Pinterest 
I’m not done with it yet, but here’s what I have so far…
1. Complete a triathlon
2. Climb Half Dome – DONE. Actually I already did this, but Half Dome, along with running a marathon, were my 2 original goals I’ve had for years and years! So I wanted to make sure I gave myself credit for that.
3. Another epic hike. I think I might want to do the Grand Canyon…?
4. Run in every state. This is going to take a long time!
5. Run the NYC Marathon. After the Long Beach marathon I was ready to hang up my marathon shoes. Then, I decided I wanted to do one more mary first.
But which marathon would be a good finale?!
Well, I’ve heard for years that the crowds and experience of running New York is unlike any other race I’d ever do. Also, according to the marathon machine, Skinny Runner, the best marathon is The ING New York City Marathon.
So, run the New York City Marathon was on my Fitness Bucket List. I wasn’t sure when I’d be able to actually do it though since NY is really hard to get into and the race plus travel would cost a lot!
(source)
Well a few weeks ago I got an email with the subject line…
“NY Marathon Web Series Casting”
Um, okay. I thought this is a total scam but I’ll check it out.
Turns out the ING New York city marathon is putting together a web series featuring all different kinds of runners. The webisodes will share stories and tips from a few people running New York.
Well, I was picked. I am going to run the New York City Marathon in November!!! AHHHH! This is beyond a HUGE deal. When I got the email that I was chosen I read it 3 times and then called Ben at work and read it to him to be sure. 
(source)
Yes. I don’t know who or why or how they picked me, but they did.
So, I am going to New York on Sunday to film some of the webisodes. My series will be about FOOD. Of course 
I had a call with the producers today and it sounds like what I’ll be doing is super exciting and fun!
I’ll be filming in New York Monday and Tuesday and will be back home Wednesday and back to “real life”.
My head is spinning over all of this. I know I don’t deserve all these awesome things that happen to me because of RER, but I’m accepting my blessings with the grace of an adult and burying the fear and doubt deep down where I can’t find it.
Details about my webisodes will come as I get it. Oh, and I’ll post about training for the mary as soon as I figure that out! (Yes, I just realized I have to actually run 26 miles and it’s not all fun and games. I asked and they won’t let me take a cab to the finish…)
Question: Got a “must do” race or fitness goal? What is it?
Congrats! What a great opportunity! Looking forward to the web series. I’m running NYC in November, too. Hope to see you there!
Congrats! That’s awesome 🙂 Do you have a post about hiking Half Dome?
that’s super awesome!!!! Congrats! NYC is definitely on my bucket list but i had serious burnout after marathon #4 and i’m not ready to jump back in to train for something that serious. I am however, competing in my first tri in July which was most definitely on my fitness bucket list!
I totally reject that u don’t deserve awesome things. You’re an incredible blogger and you make the hard stuff look easy, all with a dash of good humor. Congrats on the NY Mary!!
That is FANTASTIC, Monica!!! I am so fricken excited for you (and jealous)!! I ran it last year in 2011 and had a blast. I entered the lottery but didn’t get in this year…even with my Aussie address! I can’t wait to live vicariously thru you! So excited for you and all your blessings. 🙂
What a super opportunity! Wow, I am jealous! Congratulations!
how exciting!!! everything happens for a reason 🙂
there are 3 marathons i’d like to run… nyc, boston, and one in another country (not sure which?)
congrats!
Wow! Congratulations! That is so exciting. I am running NYC this year for the first time and absolutely can’t wait!
im so excited for you! it is going to be completely awesome.
Wow!!!! How exciting!!! I think it would be awesome to run NY but getting in will be the problem, tried this year with NO luck, so maybe by the time I am 60 I will get in that gives 28 years to keep trying !!
I love your idea of a visual fitness bucket list! Sounds like you’re on your way to achieving your goals. You are an inspiration! 🙂
That is beyond exciting! Congratulations – and you totally deserve it.
Oh my this is such exciting news! First of all, I love the bucket list idea on Pinterest! Second of all, YOU ARE RUNNING A MARATHON! AND BEING FEATURED! Congrats and good luck with training!
that’s really awesome! congrats. running marathons is on my bucket list, but during my last half i decided i can’t do it until my youngest is in school, so I’ve got 3 years to work on getting a faster half PR.
Holy crap!!!!!!! Congratulations!
yay how awesome!! what a great experience..congrats!
That is so exciting! Congratulations!!
Congrats!!!
Congratulations!!! That is so awesome and exciting!
I would be interested in running the Big Sur Marathon someday.
In all honesty, the NYC Marathon doesn’t seem like one I’d like, mostly because of the 5+ hour wait time from shuttle to starting line. Ugh. My current bucket list just says, “do races outside of Philadelphia” cuz I’m bored of Philly races right now. 🙂
Congrats again!! AHH!!
Congrats Monica, that is huge! Have a great time in NY.
I would love to be able to do the Old Goat 50!
Congrats!!! That is really awesome. You have so many great opportunities.
On my bucket list:
rim2rim2rim
Comrades
Great Wall Marathon
Through hike Appalachian or Pacific Crest trail
(this will have to wait until I am a hundred when my kids are out of the house)
THAT IS SO AWESOME. You’re the perfect person for something like this– Can’t wait to see the webisodes!
My “must-do” marathon has been Marine Corps, and I will be running it this fall. After that, I’m going to decide if I’ll keep running full marathons, or just stick to shorter races. I’m coming back from a stress fracture, and it’s been a mentally and physically challenging road. Just to run one more marathon seems daunting, but we’ll see how I do this time around. Maybe if I can stay healthy, my brain will cooperate.
Hi Monica! I totally think you should hike the Grand Canyon. Actually, what I think you should do is the “Rim to Rim” hike/run. It is fabulous! I have done it twice. It is one the hardest things I have done, but one of the best! http://www.dayhiker.com/directory/GrandCanyonrimtorimDayHike.htm
Wow! What a great opportunity! I just ‘like’d your facebook page a couple weeks ago and am really enjoying it. I ran the Long Beach marathon the last two years so I (and 10K’s of others) can say I’ve run with you! I’m in a phase of running less, but reading your blog is inspiring me to get back to it. I love that you kinda eat whatever you want* (because you seem to having a healthy relationship with food). I too was a chubby kid ! I shaped up this ship around 18ish (and am now 31) and keep wanting to do a ‘big city’ marathon so I will be living vicariously through you as you prep for NYC!!! Good Luck!
Thanks for “liking” me 🙂
Congrats! I love going to to the NYC marathon and now I get the bonus of seeing and cheering you on! Super happy for you!
Congratulations on getting this opportunity. NYC is actually me dream race. I am a New Yorker and it was the first marathon I was aware existed.
ahhh that’s amazing monica!! NYC marathon is my dream race too!
That is awesome!!!! A little jealous!
That is freaking awesome!!! NYC was my first back in 2001 and it really is a race like no other!!!! I will be running it for the third time this year. I will be looking for your red hair among the thousands but you are speedier than this old lady. I am aJersey girl born in Brooklyn so if you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask. So excited for you! You deserve it. Your blog is so fun to read and inspiring too. Good luck this week and with your training!!! Train some hills!! Lots of hills actually….
Hills! Oh no.
soo happy for you chica!! Congrats & Good Luck!!! 🙂
Wow, that is awesome. Congrats and good luck with training! 🙂
Congratulations! You are so lucky!! New York is on my running bucket list too!
that’s so exciting!! congratulations!! still waiting to get my first marathon crossed off that list!!
I am running NYC in November also. I was lucky enough to get in through the lottery and this will be my second time running it. It was my first marathon in 2010 and it is an amazing experience.
I can’t wait to read all about your training as I blog about mine!
That’s super awesome about the NY marathon! I’m really excited for you!!! You have an incredible blog so it’s not surprising that someone has taken notice!! Congratulations!
I’m running NYC as well!!!! I’m fundraising for Chances for Children of AZ! I’m SO excited! !
So exciting! I can’t wait to read all about your adventures in NYC.
That is Fantastic!!! Sounds like you are going to rock it!!
My running/fitness to complete a half marathon.
… you’ll be talking about your disordered relationship with food, then?
That’s so exciting, I’m doing it too! Maybe we can meet up! This is my third year doing it and, trust me, it’s an experience you will never forget. Let me know if you would like any advice about the course!
Thats so awesome monica! Hard blogging work pays off!
Congrats! I am a firm believer in when you put it out there (ie make a goal list) things can and do happen! Have fun and enjoy the process to the fullest!
Congratulations Monica, how exciting!!! Can’t wait to watch the webisodes.
Congratulations! :)) so this will be your last marathon?
In theory…
Yay! Soooo awesome! And congrats on a legitimate excuse to postpone baby RER 😉
Double or triple thumbs up!!!!! Toes too!!!!! Congrats Monica. Will be cheering for you from this side of the world. A friend did it last year and had a blast.
That is so cool! It pays to be a famous blogger!!!
how awesome!
That’s so exciting – congratulations! You totally deserve it and I’m excited to watch your webisodes 🙂
What an amazing opportunity! I am so excited for you. I know several people who have the NYC Marathon on their bucket list. Good for you to be able to cross that one off. Wahoo!
Congrats Mon! You absolutely deserve it–and I can’t wait to read about your experience!
Wow. That is a huge, important “annoucement,” the kind you might want to spell check.
Fail. Thanks for pointing it out.
AHHHHHH SOOOOO EXCITED FOR YOU!!!!!!! I hope we can meet up while you’re in NYC!!! EMail me and let me know!!! 🙂
Fitness goal is to get into swimming. I bought my first one-piece bathing suit today 😀
That is soooo cool!!!! congrats!
I never comment on blogs but instead tend to use my favorites as motivational tools to get my butt moving. Yours is one of my favorite blogs to hit first thing in the morning and throghout the day, and to read this news today well I just wanted to say CONGRATS and also wanted you to know I’m smiling ear to ear with excitement and anticipation for what I know is going to be a monumental experience for you. I can’t wait to read your journey and hey you deserved this experience! Take care and on your mark, get set, go go go Monica!
Thank you Claudia!
How freaking awesome is that!!! I am so glad they chose you! 🙂
Wow, that’s awesome!! Congratulations!!! 🙂
How freaking cool that you got chosen! I’m sure that experience will be beyond amazing!!! I day dream of going to NYC.. one day it will happen. One day.
you totally ‘deserve’ to be a part of the web series! NYC and london are the only 2 marathons I would ever run, I can’t wait to read all about your experience. congrats!
Wow! That is so awesome. I am so excited to read all about your NY adventure.
Long time lurker here…I rarely comment… CONGRATS!!! That is HUGE and I know that you are proud and freaked!
Thanks for unlurking!
THIS is insanely awesome! I know you want to feel humble, but girl, embrace this privilege! Not everyone gets to experience such luxury and excitement as you are about to…. Though we can live through you 😉 Some may argue this isn’t fair (wah) But you have put yourself out there, unabashedly, and I totally think you deserve this opportunity, Monica! Super excise for you! Cannot wait to follow your training and travels!
That is so awesome, congrats!!!
OMG, Monica!! That’s freaking amazing! You deserve every bit of the good things that come your way, regardless of it being because of the blog or not. I’m stoked for you, and can’t wait to hear about your adventure!! 🙂
That is absolutely amazing- congratulations!
Have so much fun in NYC! It won’t be so bad to train for; you’ve done many others and there is so much incentive to train for this one!
Wow! That is amazing!! Congrats! I’ll definitely be out there cheering you on on race day!!
Huge congrats your way! You should be so proud of this!
Awesome! I’m so excited for you!
That is totes exciting!!! My brother is running it this year (he’ll be flying in from Hong Kong!!!) and so I was already thinking of going out and cheering. I live right by the Verazzano in Brooklyn so I’ll be one of the first to be out there cheering!
That is a really amazing opportunity, I’m so excited for you!
Well deserved… you’ve worked hard to get that! Worked hard on the blog, on your running, etc. You are the biggest C-Word I know. C-Word = Cochina, duh (whatever that means… kitchen?)
This is especially funny because I opened the page and told Ben, “Let’s see if anyone called me a see you next tuesday…”
CONGRATS!!!!!! What a good way to go out. 🙂
congrats. on another note…you should so be doing this race: http://www.tryusevents.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/Summer_Solstice_Watermelon_Run_2012.110154349.pdf
That is so exciting!! Congratulations and have fun in NYC 🙂
Yayy!! I got in too and am beyond excited. This is very cool cuz you and your blog will keep me super enthused when the miles get high and I get cranky:)
congrats girl! that’s so awesome!!
You _definitely_ deserve all the good things coming to you!!!
That is so cool!!!!!!!!! Congratulations!!
So jealous. I got in, but my running partner didn’t so I had to drop:(
Here are my current fitness goals since I lost NYC
http://backatsquarezero.blogspot.com/p/bucket-list.html
or my pinterest list which I just started
http://pinterest.com/backatsquare0/fitfluential-fitnessbucketlist/
Congratulations! This is wonderful news 🙂
I will be running it too! Congrats it’s a great race and a ton of fun!
How amazing, congrats and enjoy your time in NYC! You’re going to be great!
WOWZER, Im so excited for you!! I know why you get picked to do these awesome things. You have a gift of writing in a way that makes us all feel like we are good friends, even though this is just your ideas and life. You make us excited to train and give us great food ideas and cravings late in the evening, ha! Congrats Monica, soak it all up and keep sharing the fun!!!
Congratulations! That is very well earned and deserved!
So excited for you!! I just ran NYC last year. It was my first (and only full so far) marathon. I live in staten island (where it starts) and you are more than welcome to stay with me and I would drive you right to the start village. It’ll save u lots of money and the hassle of getting up super early to come in from manhattan. (seriously I can get u there in 20 min from my house:) just puttin it out there. I am so excited for you! You are gonna be amazed at the crowds. Omg just going to the expo made me more stoked than eating a dozen chocolate chip cookies. 🙂
SO awesome!! Congrats, what a cool surprise!
and girl, you deserve it, you’re great!
So awesome!!
Congrats!
My must do…..new Zealand marathon. Half of my family lives there…been there 5 times…just need to get there on race day!
congrats! look forward to seeing how it all goes down!
Oh wow – congratulations!!!
That is nuts, and so very cool. Can’t wait to see how it all turns out! Do you have a time in mind for the marathon, or are you just going to go for it?
No time goal, I want to try and enjoy it 🙂