Hey everyone,
It’s been a while since I’ve posted an update! In the past few weeks we have really upped the training mileage. I was feeling good about my 12 milers (having done 2) and last weekend set out to do 14. Hot and sweating my butt off on the West Side Highway, it was not my best run ever, but I made it in one piece! I know I’ve done this before but sometimes you forget (maybe you block out) how difficult the mileage increases can be. Especially in this heat! Next month we’ll be starting our Saturday morning practices 30 min earlier - 8am. A rough time, but it helps tremendously when running in the summer. In other training news, we had our “run a mile as fast as you can… 3 times!” test last week. My fastest mile was 7:18! As a supposed 10-minute miler, I’m pretty proud of that, and hope to get even faster as the season progresses.

So training is going well! Unfortunately, my fundraising has stalled. I am up to almost $800 (some checks have not yet made it on the site) but I still need your help to make it to $2000! You have until November 2nd, when I hope to see you all on the sidelines, to click on the link and make a donation
http://pages.teamintraining.org/nyc/nyc08/rburkett

I want to share a story about one of our honored teammates, Cynthia was initially diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2000. She was in remission for 3 years before relapsing. She underwent more chemo and radiation, which put her into remission for 4 years. In those 4 years, she became very involved in Team In Training, completing 8 century rides and 6 triathlons, raising over $30,0000! Sadly, Cynthia was diagnosed with a recurrence of Hodgkin’s about two weeks ago, just three days after returning from Israel with her husband and newborn son. To read more about her journey, visit http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/cynthiagormezano.I will be keeping Cynthia and her family in my thoughts, especially during my runs, as she prepares for an autologous stem cell transplant in just a few weeks.

That’s all from here, thank you for reading and please pass the link along to your friends and coworkers.

Love,
Bex

In the past few years that I’ve been running, I’ve gotten faster!  Which is super exciting.  I mean, I’m by no means a Kenyan, but I am improving on my times and that feels awesome.  This past week we had test #1 - basically run a mile as fast as you can, 3 times.  Tuesday in Manhattan was brutal.  A hot and sticky mess.  I didn’t want to stand outside, much less run in it.  But run I did.  My first mile was 7:18, 2nd was 7:46, 3rd was 7:40.  And I feel great about that!  My fastest mile ever was 7:07, and that was after weeks of hill/speed training.  Since we’re just about to embark on hills/speed, I can’t wait to get through this torture and kick the pants off my time in test #2!

(and don’t forget to donate to my cause: http://pages.teamintraining.org/nyc/nyc08/rburkett)

Can’t sleep lately.  My mind’s been churning over too many things.  I just finished teaching.  For good I think.  At least a temporary retirement, with no pension.  This past year has been full of tummolt, from all directions, but at least my career is something I can control.  Then the lease to my apartment ran out.  And it was too much to renew.  So I moved.  To limbo.  Aka, subleasing a friend’s apt till mid-August as I reevaluate my life.  I’m 27, unmarried, unemployed, and now homeless!  Having no ties, I think it’s time for a change.  And it looks like that change might be a move to San Francisco.  In a few weeks, I’ll be out there for interviewing and scoping.  So I’m freaking out.  I love New York, to death.  But the city hasn’t been loving me back lately.  I know it will always be here, if I need to come back.  Right now the Pacific is calling my name, and it’s keeping me up at night….

Another year wiser?  I’m 27 today.  Sharing my birthday with the Dalai Lama.  Will be celebrating later with drinks on the balcony.  Thinking about new starts and new years.  New beginnings.  More on that later.  Cheers

The email I sent today:

Hey everyone,

First of all, I wanted to say thank you to the people who have donated to the cause.  I have raised over $600 dollars already (don’t worry Julie, I still have the check to mail), over 1/4 of the way to my goal of $2000!  You are incredible and generous people, thank you so much!

Training is coming along.  The weather in New York has been hot and humid for the most part, not exactly ideal.  I thought I was doing pretty well, ran 10 miles in the heat and humidity last Saturday, so I figured yesterday’s run would be a breeze.  Not so much.  In fact it was the worst run I’ve had thus far this season.  Only 9 miles (I know, “only” sounds silly), and  felt like torture.  In fact I even walked part of it, something I hate to admit.  I was feeling pretty down on myself when I reached the rest of the group, then I sat down for the day’s event - Connection to the Cause.  We have 9 honored teammates this season, 8 of whom are running alongside us.  Their stories were so inspiring, I forgot all about the bad run I had, and it brought me back to why I’m running, because we can make a difference.
Please visit http://www.sloaneroad.com/movies/kate_NIKE.mov to learn about 6 year old Kate Davis, one of our honored teammates this season (no, she’s not running with us!).

You can help by visiting my fundraising page: http://pages.teamintraining.org/nyc/nyc08/rburkett

Oh, and don’t forget to join my facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=42957260441

Enough with the links then, thanks for your support!  I will keep you posted on my progress till race day - November 2nd, 2008.

Love,

Bex

Lately I’ve been spending some lovely Sundays with Steven, the man I call my gay husband. He’s a guidance counselor at my school and he is just FABULOUS. One of my favorite things about him is that he’s like the paparazzi. Always taking pictures. We took over 200 at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens two Sundays ago at the cherry blossom festival (pictures can be viewed here). Yesterday he met me at Fish, a restaurant that I love for their Red White and Blue deal - 6 blue point oysters or clams on the half shell plus a glass of house wine or a PBR for $8! Can’t be beat. We each had two rounds. And Steven photographed along the way.

With a glass of white and an oyster in hand.

YUM!

Clams.

Fish has a delicious bowl of peanuts for you to munch while you’re waiting for your oysters to be shucked.

Um yeah, don’t ask.

Afterwards we went to the Blind Tiger Ale House across the street where they have many craft beers.

I had a tough time choosing one.

And scene.

Dear Friends, Family and Colleagues,

As many of you may know, I like to run marathons.  I also like to fundraise for incredible causes.  It’s been three years since my last marathon with Team in Training, and I’m feeling the itch; it’s time for another one.  I’m so excited to be running with Team in Training again, and I think it’s going to be an awesome season.  For those of you who don’t know, Team in Training is an organization that raises money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma society through endurance events.  The society’s mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.  I have run two marathons with them: San Diego in 2004, and New York City in 2005, raising over $6000 in total!  This year, I will be running NYC again, on November 2nd, 2008, and I hope to raise at least $2000.

You can use the link below to make a donation.  You will receive a confirmation of your donation by email and I will be notified as soon as you make your donation.

http://pages.teamintraining.org/nyc/nyc08/rburkett

Each donation helps accelerate finding a cure for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma through research, patient aid, and education. More than 712,000 Americans are battling these blood cancers.   I am hoping that my participation in Team In Training will help bring them hope and support.  Please let me know if there is anyone in whose honor or memory you would like me to run.

Of course my primary concern in sending this email is an effort to help raise  money, but it’s also to keep you posted on my progress.  I hope you will enjoy reading about my journey as I challenge my self and my body this season!  Please pass this email on to anyone you think would be interested.  And even if you can’t make a donation, I hope to see some of you New Yorkers cheering me on from the sidelines on November 2nd!

Till next time,

Bex

Last Saturday, Stefi and I went to Philly to hit up the big rivalry game - Mets v. Philadelphia at Citizen’s Bank Park.  The park is gorgeous.  Stef and I had standing room only “seats,” which meant we were able to score a really sweet spot standing behind home plate.  They have these bar-like ledges you can lean on, rest you food on, etc.  Totally brilliant idea.  Apparently they only sell the standing room seats for sold out games, and I would totally do it again (hint, hint, Citi Field).  Anyway lots of Mets fans were down there, including the girls of Spring Training - Zoe and Coop, and the “famous” Matt Cerrone.  It was a really great time (awesome to win on enemy turf), and for the most part, despite all the rivalry talk, the fans were cool.  But some of them were hideous.  First there was the drunk fan to our right.  He consistently tried to engage us in banter, but he wasn’t clever or funny and we had to keep brushing him off (quote of the night “Win, loose or draw, your team still sucks!” uhhhh….).  Same guy spat on a fan 10 rows in front of him - a Phillies fan!  Crazy.  Stef an I hung out at the McFadden’s in the stadium for a while after the game, then left around 8:30 to take the SEPTA back to out hotel.  At this point it was pretty dark and desolate, so we tried to catch up to a group of people we saw walking that way.  Apparently that was a mistake.  The men started harassing us and making crude remarks, and one of them slapped me on the ass.  They were with girls, who joined in on the heckling.  I never thought I’d feel unsafe somewhere just because I was wearing a Mets shirt.  Like I said, it wasn’t all the Phillies fans who behaved that way, but it was a turnoff.  Although what can you expect from a team whose mascot (WTF with the Phanatic?!) smashes a plastic Mets helmet between innings?  I know you haven’t won anything in a while, but let’s keep some good sportsmanship.  Stay classy, Philadelphia.

(Coop, Stef, Me, Zoe)

I realized today, while running and thinking about various blogs to write, that I’ve been spending a lot more time thinking about blogging than actually blogging.  In fact, I’ve been terrible about it.  I’ve barely touched my food blog, this blog has been neglected for ages, I just haven’t been compelled to sit down and do it.  Once upon a time ago, when I had a secret blog (I mean, it’s still there, but not, you know, updated…) I would write several times a week.  I do miss writing.  I should do it more.  I will do it more.  I think it will help.

I’ve been stressed lately.  What else is new, right?  I’m going through a bit of a quarterlife crisis.  My lease is up at the end of June.  My job is also up at the end of June.  There is no way I will be caught dead in a classroom next year, so I’m left in this limbo - what am I going to do come July?  I’d like to stay in NYC for the summer, perhaps sublet a place, but after that?  I feel like maybe the universe is telling me that it’s time for something new.  We’ll see.

In other news, I’ve been dating again.  Not loving it.  Have met a few cool guys.  But this last thing kinda messed me up.  I’m in the rebounding process, but not quite there yet.  Fucking men giving me trust issues….

Going to Philly this weekend to see the Phillies v. Mets on Saturday.  Instead of Passover dinner at my uncle’s.  10 miles outside Philly.  Yeah.  But I will be attending Passover brunch the next day (hooray matzo brie) and night 2 at my parents’ place in DC.  And to think, I’d planned on inviting the ex to Passover.  As my people would say, oy!

Then I’m off to San Francisco for 4 fabulous days with Melissa, one of my oldest friends in the world.  It will be lots of excellent food, drink, a day of wine tastings in Napa, and a perfect getaway from life.  Is anyone else looking to run away?

First off, thanks for the well-wishes!  That whole stomach virus/near blackout thing was pretty awful.

Apparently I have just over 50 school days left till summer vacation.  Huzzah!  Now I have to figure out what I’m doing with the rest of my life…

Really been hating on my kids lately.  The other day, I was particularly annoyed with my fat kid (who I never hesitate to mention is 7 yrs old, 4′2″, and 101 pounds of fun.  When I was 7, I MAYBE broke 40 lbs, just sayin…), anyway, I was hating on him and he came up to me later that day with a card he made that said “I love Ms. B.”  I just looked at him and felt so bad for being mean to him.  Then he did something stupid and I hated him again.

I went to a sports bar tonight.  Despite the NCAA game playing and the loud music, I could hear one loud douchebag shouting over EVERYTHING.  Listen, douche, you are not so interesting or important that I want to hear what you have to say.  PS. I hate you.

I am PMSing and haven’t had sex in over a month.  I might be a bitch right now.

And lastly, it just me, or are some of these college basketball players super hot?  I feel a little like Mrs. Robinson watching these games.