The first race of spring

I ran the Run as One race today in Central Park, NYC, and I rocked it. I ran 8min 30sec per mile. My second fastest time for a 4 mile race since college (I used to run 7:40 in college)! This inspires me to train harder! Spanish guy was there to support me!

The Knicks

I've never seen referees make such bad calls in all my years watching basketball games than I am seeing right now during the Knicks vs Miami Playoff game. Its RIDICULOUS!

The Multitasking Queen

I am definitely the multitasking QUEEN these days, so much is going on, I'm amazed that I'm able to be successful at everything while keeping my sanity! Whats been up:

• My students film was accepted into the Tribeca Film Festival (so much goes into the prep for this, you wouldn't even imagine).
• My dad/family opened a business.
• My mom is very sick and has been in and out of the hospital for a long time now.
• I'm at an all time high with professional development workshops that I am conducting.
• I'm being sent away (to become a better writer) for July and am preparing my application and accommodation.
• I'm trying to finish an amazing documentary with my students that will be screened at Lincoln Center in June.
• I'm trying to be a good wife and good friend.
• I'm balancing a very tight budget in order to buy my first home.
• I have the first of many races this weekend!
• I train for 1-2 hours everyday!
• I'm planning a vacation with the hubby, somewhere exotic and serene.
• Trying to stay connected to the in-laws in Spain.

I'm tired just typing all of this! PHEW!

I got this though...

work

Its 10:30pm and I'm still working. I had to miss the gym today and run a few miles in Central Park to avoid the train commute, therefore providing myself more time to work... responsibility... it can be tough. Sigh.

At least I got to run, right?

Running around the world, training for the Brooklyn Half Marathon

I ran SEVEN miles yesterday, thats 11.2 Kilometers, in Prospect Park and I felt GREAT! I'm going to rock the Brooklyn Half Marathon, its five weeks away and Im already comfortably running seven miles. I'm ahead of the game, mentally and physically! This also means that I should be running super fast for the smaller races I have scheduled in the coming weeks. NICE!

I love running and I love training. 

Although I was away for a while, I still kept it going, in Costa Rica at sunset:

Alajuela, Costa Rica

I loved Alajuela. While we were there we stayed in a country home. It was a darling little place, with beautiful country views, serene nights and interesting insects.

[A little background info:

Alajuela is the second largest city in Costa Rica and is nicknamed, ciudad de los mangos (City of the Mangos).  Poas Volcano sits behind Alajuela City Center.]

I ran a few miles while I was in Alajuela, I ran more here than in any other city we visited. There aren't any sidewalks where we were, so I ran along the street. I passed by horses, cows, ran alongside huge grasshoppers. I got bit all over my legs, and we are not talking small NYC insect bites, these were huge and swollen and so itchy that I could have died from over scratching! It was nice to take in the scenery alone, and just to think and appreciate where I was.

One activity that I absolutely LOVED, and hands down felt like the luckiest person in the world to be experiencing was the Baldis Hot Springs. Its a natural spring, but made into a luxury spa/ bar/ water amusement park. All of the water was naturally heated by the volcano. Each pool and waterfall we were in came from the volcano, therefore it had natural minerals that nourished the skin at different temperatures. The sensation was overwhelming. I was so relaxed while there, and didn't mind at all that some of the pools were burning!

I was IN MY GLORY! ESTABA EN MI GLORIA!

A few other activities we did while we were there was Kayaking in the largest dam in the South of the Americas, The Pirris Dam (heres an article about its opening last year: http://www.ticotimes.net/Current-Edition/News-Briefs/Costa-Rica-inaugurates-Pirris-dam-amid-protests_Tuesday-September-13-2011) 

We also planted trees to help a local high school with their science project... that was nice. We felt like we were making a difference.

The three days we spent in Alajuela were amazing, unforgettable, so different from my daily NYC grind. It was amazing. 

More Costa Rica blogs to come.

Change is brewing...

Since I've been back from Costa Rica, which is almost two weeks now, I've been super busy. My professional life is at an all time high. I'm doing so much. Yesterday I was on a radio program, the day before my organization had a screening at Lincoln Center that I participated in, I applied for a freelance position with a NYC running organization to coach teens to become runners (crossing my fingers that I get that)... personally, I've been writing more, visiting friends and family, spending time with my husband and mom who is not well at all and training for upcoming races.

But while all this has been happening, another fire has been brewing inside me. I feel like I need change. I need to be doing more with my life. I don't know what it is, but I have such a passion for change and all things big, that sometimes I don't know how to handle it -- should I go with it, or ignore it and stay where I am. I am happy where I am now, but there is a need for change.

Does this even make ANY sense? Sometimes I don't even understand it...

More soon on this, IM GOING TO FIGURE SOMETHING OUT! Something big is coming!

Lincoln Center Screening

The Wild Animals of Costa Rica

These are a few of the animals that we came across during our ten-day trip throughout Costa Rica. New Yorkers never get to see these animals in the wild! It was a bit scary, but GREAT!

A Tucan (and his name isn't Sam)

A Lizard on the beach

A White Faced Monkey stole a banana.

A cow.

A sloth being slothy in a tree.

GATORS!

This animal is part of the Raccoon family. 

A poisonous (I forgot what this is, but it freaked me out). 

Coconut Farm: Costa Rica

I had the best coconut EVER in Costa Rica. I even learned how to poke a hole through it and chop it in half with a machete! 

I turned into a granjera! 

The Pacific Coast of Costa Rica

Im sitting outside my hotel right now, Terraza del Pacifica in Costa Rica, its super humid, and I'm so sticky. My whole body has been turning a darker shade of tan as each day passes. Today is our first day at the beach. So far we've stayed in-land, but this morning we woke up super early to drive for four hours so we have as much time as possible at the beach. When we got here we discovered that we couldn't swim because of the riptide, but what we found outside of the water was amazing...

Pure black sand.

The sand comes from the volcano. Its mixed with molten rock, which is gorgeous to look at. It was so nice to lay it in. I skipped using a towel just so I can connect with the environment a bit more.

I just rinsed off and am about to take a run by the beach. Its a bit ironic, but I need my beach body back... (sorry to divert).

Anyway, I'm really loving it here. Its amazing. I wish everyone could experience this amazing country.

More soon.
(I'll update this blog with pictures soon).

Volcano Arenal, Costa Rica

The volcano Arenal without clouds covering it. Its an active Volcano. Love it! 

Costa Rica, part one

I woke up this morning in the country. I opened my curtains and there was a view of Volcano Boa covered in a thick layer of clouds. 

I am in country heaven.

I'm in Costa Rica.

I am beginning my third day here with a traditional Costa Rican breakfast in the open-air kitchen on the hill.