Ali on the Run!
A couple weeks ago, the lovely Lisa, from I’m an Okie, tagged me in her 7 Links post. I was so excited because 1) Lisa is one of my favorite bloggers and 2) I love going back and reading my old posts.
Alas, I haven’t found the time to do it! I promise I’ve been extremely busy since getting back from vacation. Between random trips to the Hamptons and scandalous exercise classes, I swear I haven’t even had the time to focus on important things…like watching the Jersey Shore last night.
Okay, that’s a lie. Despite two social commitments last night, I somehow found the time to watch Jersey Shore.
Don't sass me, Sammi - You need an intervention!
I could probably spend an entire post talking about how disappointed I am in Sammi (I mean, come on girl, we’ve all been there, but isn’t the fact that you’re on national television enough to motivate you NOT to beg Ron to cuddle? Get it together Sammi Sweetheart.) However, I’ve got far more exiting things to talk about!
Meeting Ali
Last night, I met my running idol, Ali on the Run! I attended her fundraiser for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation at Jack Rabbit on the Upper East Side where I had the chance to mingle with amazing people, participate in mind boggling Saved by the Bell trivia and buy a t-shirt that says “I Heart Sweat.”
Brilliant shirt concept, Ali!
But, of course, the highlight of my evening was meeting Miss Ali herself!
Just as cool in person as on the blog - talk about authentic!
And she did not disappoint. She’s just as witty, vibrant and energetic in person as the girl I read about on her blog every morning. I started reading Ali’s blog right around the time when she was dealing with lots of changes in her lives…while working at a demanding job, training for a marathon and basically just being great at life.
From day 1, her incredibly positive resolve, even in the face of adversity, such as living with Crohn’s disease, has completely floored me. It’s made me reexamine the way I approach difficult situations. In fact, whenever I encounter a challenge, I think WWAD (What Would Ali Do)…Okay, that’s not true, but if I did deal with adversity the way Ali does, pretty sure I’d kick a** at life, just like her :-).
I stole this from her blog header...I mean, does she not just seem like the coolest person alive?
She’s training for her first marathon, the Hamptons Marathon (which most of you probably know, because you probably already read her blog), and it’s been very fun to follow her on her training journey. I’ve been so impressed with all of the progress she’s made.
Along with meeting the lovely guest of honor, I also enjoyed chatting it up with other attendees, including Lindsay, Megan and Margaret. I even met a reader of the Sometimes Healthy Living Blog who showered me with the nicest compliments and pretty much made my night (see Sometimes Healthy Mom, someone reads my blog!).
And, then there was the trivia. I arrived just in time for Saved by the Bell portion. As someone who owns all 5 seasons of that groundbreaking show, I thought I’d kill it…I was wrong. Those questions were tough! “What was the name of Jessie Spanno’s radio station?” I thought I knew it all, but Ali, you proved me wrong.
Ali rallying the troops for Saved by the Bell trivia
There was also a raffle, which offered a variety of prizes. I’m not sure what they were because I put all of my tickets towards the Peanut Butter & Co gift basket prize. Sorry for partying. I didn’t win.
Lots of raffle prizes...I had tunnel vision to the peanut butter.
Finally it was time to head out, because Jack Rabbit was closing. First I closed out 16 Handles on my birthday and now this…wow, I’m really getting crazy in my old age.
The Ali on the Run "fan club" before being gently told to leave the store 😉
NYC’s Latest Hip Club
And speaking of 16 Handles, since Jack Rabbit is conveniently located a mere few blocks from 16 Handles, Lindsay and I figured we might as well stop by. And apparently, we weren’t the only New Yorkers with this idea…
The New Boom Boom Room - Get Involved
Between the neon lights, the crowd of people and the hip hop music, I almost thought I was at a club for a hot second…but then I saw the Birthday Cake fro yo dispenser and the Fruity Pebbles, and I remembered I was at 16 Handles. PHEW.
Lindsay and I “fought” our way through the crowd and created some pretty tasty yogurt concoctions – hers fruity and covered in gummy bears and mine chocolatey and covered in cherries and fruity pebbles.
Mines the one with the cherries...I once ate an entire jar of them...in one sitting. Where was my Reddi Whip when I needed it?
It was a beautiful evening in the Big Apple, so we enjoyed our fro yo outdoors along with a little bit of people watching. Lindsay is not only one of the fastest runners I know (she placed in the top 100 among women in the New York Marathon!), but she’s also my coworker. So, whenever we get together we always have lots to discuss. Interestingly, most of our conversation tonight centered around the dating scene in NYC…but I’m not going any further on this topic, because it’s certainly not this Sometimes Healthy Girl’s area of expertise ;-).
All in all, I’d say it was my idea of the perfect Thursday night. Thirsty Thursday used to mean something completely different for me when I arrived in NYC a couple of years ago and was Party Animal Sometimes Healthy Girl. But these days, shutting down a running store, eating my weight in frozen yogurt and gossiping about the NYC dating scene is the best way for me to close out another hectic week in the city.
And most of all, it was just refreshing to spend part of my evening with such an incredibly talented, ambitious group of people at Ali’s fundraiser. I know it sounds cheesy, but there was a certain positive energy in the room last night. I continue to be amazed by the people I’ve met through Sometimes Healthy Living blog – people who inspire me to keep going after my own dreams and goals.
A running store and a room full of inspiring people = A Perfect Thursday Night
Ali’s blog inspires me nearly every morning, and I’m so glad I had the chance to meet her. Good luck in the marathon, Ali! Let’s meet up at NYC’s newest hot spot, 16 Handles, VERY SOON!
But, back to the 7 links. I intended to cover them in this post, but it’s getting too long, and yet again, I’ve run out of time. I promise it’s coming soon…Good things are worth the wait. (Not that my 7 links is that exciting, but still, I felt like I needed to say this to justify the delay on the post).
Off to purchase some cupcakes, get in a quick workout and then eat those little cupcakes on a rooftop with some beer and friends. Now, that’s a perfect Friday night in NYC.
Question:
What’s your perfect Thursday and/or Friday night?
Um…if I lived in NYC, I would probably invite myself over tonight…is that creepy? I hope not. I think we’d get along fabulously :). I’ve actually never read Ali’s blog, but now I’m going to! Sounds like you had an awesome time last night!
OMG how did we not meet officially last night?!?!?!?! ahhhh. meet up soon please! xoxox
I hope you had a great time last night! Cupcakes + beer + friends all enjoyed on a rooftop with a fab view? Sounds rather ideal to me 🙂
I read Ali’s blog way back in the day and then forgot about it somehow… boo! Off to check it out again!
im with you 100% for poor sammi. I actually kind of rooted for them and wanted them to beat the odds and suddenly start being nice to each other but at this point, let it goooo
Perfect Friday night? TV, couch and snacks…or Starbucks and good magazines.
Thanks for the link! 🙂 It was so great to meet you! And Amanda (the incredibly sweet girl who showered you with compliments) really was one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. Hope to see you again soon!
I’m so sad I left Ali’s event before you arrived! Would have loved to meet you (and accompany you to 16 Handles, of course). Sometime soon, I hope!
Perfect Friday night: going out to dinner and relaxing. But lately, hanging in my apartment, catching up on DVR and going to bed early so I’m ready for my Sat. a.m. long run. Party animal I am.
SO cute- I love those shirts and what an awesome event! NYC froyo places look so wild- annnnd totally agree with you on Sammi. She’s majorly pissing me off, she needs to find a rebound Italian man PRONTO stat!!! -Jamie
Ali is my idol, too! I wish I lived in NY so that I could meet her…so jealous!
Holy crap, this post was way too much for my ego to handle. SO glad you could make the fundraiser. I loved meeting you in person & we will absolutely have to do it again very soon.