Running in my Tutu

The saying goes nothing new on race day and with my first half marathon... the Disney Princess just 11 days away, it was time to try out the tutu.

This was my project on the snowy cold evening of Saturday past. My pretty purple and sparkly glitter pink tulle... there is pink glitter everywhere!! I want to give a shout out to Rookie for the easy no-sew tutu directions... found here

I am ready to race, but although have tried the outfit leggings and t-shirt at the gym... not in the tutu. 

My brother Jonathan said go for it... wear it on the subway too. You live in NYC and no one will say a thing. Well of course I still needed to sew on the snap so I did not wear it out, I did wear it home... leaving a trail of pink glitter behind! Who knew how much fun it would be to wear to TNT group training. It was :) and I fit right in with the Mardi Gras costume wearing folks too!

Here I am post run... thankfully I will not be wearing polar fleece at the race in Orlando... static cling.

Please consider supporting my efforts to fundraise for continued cancer research and support through the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society as I continue my training post Disney for the Nike Women's Half Marathon on their behalf. It is the thought not the amount that I will treasure. 

http://pages.teamintraining.org/nyc/nikewhlf13/dvorageller

Halfmarathonitis

I seem to have developed a new sickness (thanks to Jonathan and Claudia L and my cousin Ilene)!! It is called halfmarathonitis. Its symptoms cause me to consume mass amounts of Gatorade, dress in spandex and polar fleece, and give up sleep on the weekends and early mornings. I have been on a strict regimen of run/walking and yoga as well as healthy eating to overcome my sickness. I have 2 half marathons ahead and I feel the need to join more every day so clearly I am still ill.

While haldmarathonitis is not fatal, I have decided that I want to use it to help thousands who are fighting a deadly disease. I am training again (remember San Diego Rock N Roll Marathon in 1999) with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training to help raise money for research and patient services for people with leukemia, Hodgkins and non-Hodgkins lymphoma, and myeloma.

I am racing in memory of my mom as well as for the many honored patients, survivors and loved ones who inspire us each group training sessions.

I have been training for the last couple of months on my own and joining TNT has helped bring it to a new level. I am out in the cold NYC weather working to get stronger and faster, but I need your help to reach my other goal of raising $2700 by April 1, 2013. All donations are 100% tax deductible and every dollar will be appreciated. You can make donations online or by check.

Donate online at: http://pages.teamintraining.org/nyc/nikewhlf13/dvorageller

If you would like to make a donation in someone's honor who is fighting or lost their fight to cancer, I would be honored to add their name to my jersey.

Thank you for your support!

Love,

Dvora Geller

If you would like to know how I am doing with my training, please watch my blog, email or watch my runs on Facebook.

Training in the cold

I love the training I have been doing to prepare for a couple of half marathons. I especially now love Tuesdays and Saturdays when I do group trainings with Team in Training... except today. Today I had to choose between the pleasure of running with buddies and not freezing in 18 degree temps. Well actually I was more worried about not breathing so well. I missed my buddies, but managed a decent workout in the gym... on the treadmill which I don't mind for a workout but really detest for a training run (yes they are very different).

Saturday, you can bet I will be outside, even if its cold to train with the group. I am working to get stronger and faster and even hoping to volunteer with Team in Training for a 10K in June. I would love it if you can support my efforts to use my running to help thousands who are fighting leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. I am working hard to raise $2700 by April 1. All donations are 100% tax deductible. You can make a donation here: http://pages.teamintraining.org/nyc/nikewhlf13/dvorageller

Thanks for your support! Follow my progress here and on Facebook.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Self inflicted subway trauma

Twice this weekend I have had the longest subway rides home ever. I wish I could blame the MTA and their crazy weekend schedules but this time that would be unfair. No instead in very atypical fashion, I have gotten on the wrong train... not once (ok I could say I was not paying careful attention) but TWICE in 2 days. Last night I heard express train and hopped on and was well in the Bronx before I realized oops wrong express train. That time did not require a total return to my starting point but today... I was a good way to JFK before I realized my mistake so now finally an extra hour later, I am almost home (I will be by the time this gets posted). At least today I got in some prime knitting time. :/

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Back in New York City

So I know I have fallen off the wagon and was not so good about posting my Mexican adventures here. Needless to say they were many and so much fun! The middle of July, I moved back to New York City... where I am now living and working.

I am still of two minds with this move. I love my job and it is nice to be near my close long time friends and my family, but I miss living in another culture. I miss the food in Mexico City. I miss being the cool one who lives in another country.

I am adjusting to living back in my home country. It is nice to be able to search for an apartment in my native language, but really the rental market here is not a fun place. The renters can really get taken for a ride. It is my next challenge starting in October to look for a place.

I am enjoying living in a new neighborhood and going out in the evenings with friends old and new. I forgot how expensive life can be here in the city.

I will start to post about my experiences in this very international city as I experience life back in the USA.

Keeping up is hard to do

Sorry I have been so quiet on here. Since the end of January, I attended my Apple Distinguished Educator training in Guanajuato, Mexico and met so many amazing educators.

University of Guanajuato - our local host

I have also been busy at work trying new things in my classroom and in general working hard to keep up with grading... a never ending cycle.

Another fabulous new thing has been joining the gym. I love my new super nice gym with the lastest machines and a great array of classes plus towels and amazing showers. I forgot how much I enjoy spin class and how hard reformer pilates is. But it feels great to go and sweat. Still haven't tried out all the different options and looking forward to checking out a yoga class soon.

Back to work for now. Will try to check in sooner.

21 Day Yoga Challenge - Complete

So Yoga Journal decided to bring back their 21 day challenge for a second year. I participated a bit last year, but this year, they decided to join forces with Social Workout to keep us honest. They also added in a 15 minute meditation per day as well as trying to eat at least one vegetarian meal a day.

Well I did it!!! 21 days of yoga practice at home on my mat as well as 21 days of meditation. The vegetarian eating part is not too much of a challenge for me, but it did make me plan my dinners better. I even did Isagenix cleanse days along side and I am feeling great. I completed 160% of the challenge since many days I ate 3 vege meals and some days did 20 minutes of meditation.

I hope to keep up yoga at least 4 - 5 days a week and check out a new-to-me local yoga studio next week when I am back in D.F. and keep up the meditation practice too. Thanks for the push and the great yoga videos @Yoga_Journal and @socialworkout.  Let's see what new challenges they have to offer... anyone want to join me in the Dawn Patrol Challenge for February?