Last year, my Tuesday Blags post was a bulleted recap of my Memorial Day weekend. I thought it would be fun (for me more than you, but this is my blog, so I win) to see what was similar or different between this year and last — and then see which year wins.

I really, really love long weekends. Especially summery ones.

Because I did not include Friday last year, I will have to leave out my friend Emily’s awesome birthday party at the Frying Pan — which is a bar on a BOAT — from this past Friday night:

Exercise

Last Year: Core Fusion Cardio, Walk from SoHo to Upper East Side, Walk from East Side to West Side to East Side

This Year: Core Fusion Cardio, Core Fusion Yoga, 6.75 mile (pain free!) run to and from SoHo, Walk from East Side to West Side to East Side

Winner: This year. That run was magnificent, the classes were intense. I loved every second of it.

Friends

Last year: I saw a boy, and I saw my friend Emily for her birthday — where she did some handstands.

This year: I saw a (different) boy [I'm the whore of Memorial Day], I saw my friend Emily for her birthday (no handstands) along with our friend Rae (both my friends since first grade), my friend Missy and our friend Kristine

Winner: This year. Many more friends!

Central Park Visits

Last Year: Two days spent in Central Park; one included a nap.

This Year: Two days spent in Central Park; one included a nap, the other a BluePrint Cleanse Pineapple, Apple, Mint sangria with blueberries:

Winner: This year. Due to wine consumption.

Outdoor Meals

Last year: Three meals eaten outdoors

This year: One meal eaten outdoors

Winner: Last year. Clearly.

Alcohol

Last Year: Margaritas, Bubblegum Vodka, Lychee Martini, Other mixed drink

This Year: Lychee Martini, Strawberry fancy drink thing at Apotheke (the bartenders wear lab coats), BluePrint Cleanse Sangria

Winner: This year. It was a very close call, but the BPC Sangria was just brilliant. Healthiest Sangria ever!

Work

Last Year: 2-hour conference call on the holiday Sunday night with Asia, where there is no Memorial Day

This Year: Took a holiday from my weekly NBC New York GO Healthy NY – Dori’s Quest post. Did not work at all.

Winner: This year

Shopping

Last year: Purchased a real, used Prada bag for $10 at street fair.

This year: Purchased sunblock; forgot to use it and fell asleep on my stomach at the park. Awoke to burns behind my legs.

Winner: Last year

[Photo: Saks Fifth Avenue]

Post-Weekend

Last year: Back to a full week of work

This year: Off to Atlantic City for a cheesy fun night thanks to Living Social Escapes

Winner: Do you really need to ask?

Overall

And the winner is. . .

While both last year and this year’s holiday weekends included staying in the city (which I LOVE), exercise, Central Park time, drinking and relaxing . . . I would say this year’s was even better than last due to a number of reasons, some not even stated above. While last year’s $10 Prada bag purchase made the competition close, I hereby declare this year’s Memorial Day the winner.

[Photo: Missy Maintains. Our view in Central Park on Memorial Day]

I hope you all had a fantastic holiday weekend like I did! Check back later this week for my information on the FREE IntenSati class in Central Park that Missy and I are hosting on Saturday, June 11 at 10:30 AM with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for their launch week of BeFitNYC.org.

Here is a little preview of something exciting I am working on. I will provide more details next week, as well as an explanation in my own words about this event.

I’m just really excited to share what we’ve got so far and want you to save the date. If you will be in New York City on Saturday, June 11 at 10:30 am, I’d love for you to join us at a FREE IntenSati class in Central Park!

As I said, I will give you the  specific details next week! And  follow me on Twitter where I will tweet the details as I get them.

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Dori of Dori’s Shiny Blog and Melissa Engel of Missy Maintains team up to support New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, as it mounts a summer-long physical activity campaign to encourage New Yorkers to use their fair city as one big gym.  NYC is already a great city for Active Transportation as so much of the city is walkable.  Plus, the public transportation system ensures that most commuters get a title brisk walking and even stair climbing in when they ride the bus or subway.  And with more and more bike lanes all over the City, there are lots of opportunities to get where we’re all going on our own steam.

In addition, the Health and Parks departments have upgraded and improved BeFitNYC.org, the Parks-hosted source for free and low-cost activities in city parks and rec centers and beyond.  The campaign is also promoting this great resource as a way to Make NYC Your Gym and the site will officially launch the week of June 6th with a city-wide celebration of fitness.

To help get the word out, Dori and Melissa are spearheading a free, open-to-all, IntenSati class led by Lindsay Davis of Lindspiration. Launch week will help propel the importance — and not to mention, good times — of physical activity among their fellow New Yorkers.

The event will take place on Saturday, June 11th at 10:30 am while embracing the city of New York as a gym.   Follow @dysterious and @missymaintains for more information about Dori and Melissa’s BeFitNYC Launch Week Events.

I’ve got some running news for you on this humid May Tuesday.

• I went on a work trip to Huntington Beach California earlier this month. Faced with the opportunity to run along the Pacific Ocean, I had no choice but to go for it.
• Here is some photographic proof of the 10 miles I ran during my three days there. Yep. 10 miles. Two three mile runs at a cautiously slow pace and one amazing and speedy four miler where I finally felt like I was back from my injury:
  
  
• This was not taken during a run, but look at the sunset from this trip:
  
• Since coming back to New York City, I have now ran three times. All have gone well and been at a good pace considering I’ve been out of commission for months.
• Don’t worry! I am taking it easy. I don’t run often, and I don’t push my pace. I just run in a way that feels natural.
• Someone please explain to me why running is so much easier when there is a destination? For example, when I am running just to go for a run, I am constantly thinking about how long I have been running, how much more time I have left, my pace, my mileage, checking my watch, etc. But when I am running to a destination — like to Core Fusion Cardio this weekend — I can just enjoy my run because I know exactly how far I have to go and how close I am. Why is this? I want to enjoy all my runs in this easygoing way.
• Case in point: This morning on my 3.5 mile run run, my first two miles were completed in 10:10 and 10:22 respectively. My return mile and a half was completed in 8:09 and 8:12. Because coming back, I had a destination: home.
• Please explain.
• Because of my hip injury and the possibility of not making it to the marathon, I decided not to run with Team for Kids this year.
• I love Twitter. Without the training perks of Team for Kids, I needed a good marathon training plan that allows me to keep Refine Method and Core Fusion in my mix. I put out a request for help to create a marathon training plan. Stacy from Stacy’s Bootcamp created a magnificent custom training plan for me. She is awesome. Go take her class.
• I am excited to start marathon training in July for the ING NYC Marathon!
• I am excited to blog about my experience marathon training. How many people get to have a detailed account of training for their first and likely only marathon? I mean, in this world, lots. But in the grand scheme, not so many.
• I am shocked by how many people commented on my hip injury posts to tell me I should just go ahead and get the surgery even if I’m not in pain. As I explained, I went to two different hip surgeons who BOTH told me I don’t need surgery. One of them was even a jerk! Surgery is their bread and butter, and if they both advised me to NOT give them thousands of dollars, I think there is a good reason for that.
• My hip has been feeling so much better (knock on wood). I still avoid turning out, but I haven’t felt pain in awhile.
• I am so happy I did not get surgery.
• I registered for the Queens Half Marathon on July 30! I was on the fence because I don’t want to pay for a race that I might not be able to run (who knows what will happen with my hip), but it was about to fill up and I’d rather secure my spot and eat the $25. The race takes place in my hometown, so I won’t have to deal with the stress of traveling to an outer borough early in the morning. I can just stay at my mom’s and if she doesn’t want to drive me, it will be a $10 car service ride!
• I also registered for the Celebrate Israel Run on June 5. Jews! It is a 4-miler, which I am totally ready for right now. I am excited to run in a race again. I will NOT try to PR — especially since my PR for this distance is my fastest race (not counting the 5th Avenue Mile) ever. I am proud to represent my people at my first race back.
• I am obsessed with analyzing my Garmin maps post-run. I mean, look at this crazy one from last week! I ran to errands, to Core Fusion Cardio and to lunch. As I said above, destination running rules.
  
• I will have an exciting announcement very soon. If you live in the NYC area and are around on (I think) Sunday, June 12, I would love you to participate in an outdoor fitness event! More details TK.
• Even if my hip gets bad again, I am thankful for this time right now when I can run pain free. I am back!

In other news, check out my latest NBC New York GO Healthy NY posts!

Dori’s Quest: Bassett’s Bootcamp

Dori’s Quest: Nicola Yvette Pilates Bootcamp

Ever come back from an injury? Did you jump right back into exercise or were you cautious? I feel like I am managing a nice mix.