Today is the Big Day!!!

Wish us luck. We'll be thinking of you!

21 Days and Counting

Here's something inspiring one of our fellow marathoners, Alicia, found on Runner's World. Get ready for Nov. 4th!!! Oh yea!


I AM A RUNNER because my runs have names. I do tempo runs and threshold runs and fartlek runs. I do long, slow runs and track workouts. My runs are defined, even if my abs are not.

I AM A RUNNER because my shoes are training equipment, not a fashion statement. The best shoe for me is the one that makes me a better runner. I choose the shoe that goes with my running mechanics, not my running outfit.

I AM A RUNNER because I don't have running outfits. I have technical shirts and shorts and socks. I have apparel that enhances the experience of running by allowing me to run comfortably. I can say "Coolmax" and "Gore-Tex" in the same sentence and know which does what.

I AM A RUNNER because I know what effort feels like, and I embrace it. I know when I'm pushing the limits of my comfort and why I'm doing it. I know that heavy breathing and an accelerated heart rate--things I once avoided--are necessary if I want to be a better runner.

I AM A RUNNER because I value and respect my body. It will whisper to me when I've done too much. And if I choose to listen to that whisper, my body won't have to scream in pain later on.

I AM A RUNNER because I am willing to lay it all on the line. I know that every finish line has the potential to lift my spirits to new highs or devastate me, yet I line up anyway.

I AM A RUNNER because I know that despite my best efforts, I will always want more from myself. I will always want to know my limits so that I can exceed them.

I AM A RUNNER because I run. Not because I run fast. Not because I run far.

I AM A RUNNER because I say I am. And no one can tell me I'm not.

Waddle on, friends.
By John Bingham

From LA, with Love

The most wonderful thing about the marathon is that I get to go back to New York.

You better prepare yourselves, cause in under a month, I will be there.
Oh, yes...
there is where I will be......

20 Miles Club

9/15/07

4:30 am woke up
5:00 am transit to Central Park
6:15 am registration and Team for Kids warm up
7:30 am START
8:30 am conquered Central Park's Harlem Hill and 6 miles
9:20 am rain drizzles our course with 9 more miles to go
11-11:30 am 20 miles - mission accomplished!



LoAnn and I still managed to stand once we arrived home so we thought a picture (above) was necessary to document this momentous occasion. Both of us have yet to run this far continously so to have it under our belt was quite a confidence builder. 26.2, piece of cake! ha.

Here are a few words from LoAnn of her 20 miles experience:

Today, my roommate, Yen, and I awoke in the wee hours (4:30am) of the morning for the 20 mile NYRR marathon training run in Central Park. We were early enough to spend some quality subway time with our fellow New York Party-goers, who were on their ways home from the bars and clubs. I love New York City!

We ran one 6-mile loop, two 5-mile loops, and one 4-mile loop. This was my first "race-like" experience ever, and by far the farthest number of miles I have ever run at once. I managed to run the entire length, stopping only once to pee and a couple times for water. In the end, I finished in about 3 hours and 40 minutes, giving me an average of 10 minutes per mile. The goal of 26.2 miles is much closer to a reality after today.

The run got challenging after the 12th mile. After all, the farthest I've managed to run prior to today was around 13 miles. But running amongst my team mates, all wearing their bright green TEAM FOR KIDS jerseys, and having my coaches cheering me along was enough inspiration to keep me going. Also, even though it wasn't the Marathon, we had a decent crowd of people - regular Saturday morning Central Park visitors - cheering us on. It was great! I had to laugh when one of them yelled, "on Marathon day, there's gonna be about a million more of us doing this, so get used to us!"

And I realized, this is wonderful thing about running the NYC Marathon. I've spoken with many experienced marathon runners (naturally, as we don't have much else to do during our long runs) who unanimously agree that the New York Marathon is the best to run, and all because of the millions of New Yorkers who come out to show their support. Today, I heard one woman state, "the NYC marathon is the best sporting event EVER to participate in! Better than the Olympics... better than the Superbowl!" Ha ha, I don't know if most would go so far as to agree with that, but you get the idea.

If you are in the area on November 4th, 2007, I really really encourage you to come out and watch! It's a lot of fun! I watched the marathoners last year and it was a great motivator. Again, thanks for all of your support. I couldn't keep going on without it!

Unfornately Jac was out of town and of course Nini is in Cali. We missed them on the course, but wish them HAPPY TRAINING!

And We're Back ....

HAPPY HAPPY SEPTEMBER EVERYONE

It's a new month with new happenings. I promise an update post will follow, but for now all I want to say is:

We miss you, Nini (and Killer)!!!!

Big Changes

In the blink of an eye, we find ourselves two weeks away from Labor Day. How did this happen? Where did all that time go? One minute we were celebrating our entry into the race, and the next we're at the height of our training. From here on out, we're told that we are to build the distance we run for the next two months, starting with 16 miles last Saturday. Sixteen miles!! Sixteen miles is farther than I'm generally willing to drive, let alone run. But with the marathon being 26.2 miles and all, it's a good thing we've got great coaches and a great team to push us forward as we approach November.

Well, none of the Turtles actually went running with the Team last Saturday... we meant to, we really did. But some big changes have been a-brewing here at the Myrtle Avenue Mansion, and we are taking some time off as we find ourselves at a crossroads.

Yen, having left her beloved position as an AmeriCorps VISTA, will be starting her graduate studies in International Public Health at Columbia this fall. She is the first to leave the nest for the remainder of the summer, and is now back in Texas with her family.

LoAnn is also leaving her old VISTA position behind, and will be starting a new job at the Bronx-Lebanon Hospital in September. Her and her visiting brother, Ben, will be going back to Minnesota tomorrow to spend some quality time with the family as well.

Jac is preparing herself for her move to the sexy state of Florida at the end of September. Having spent years away, she's feeling the urge to be closer to family and friends, and is looking forward to the sunshine and beaches.

Nini is packing as we speak, and is leaving in two days for her move to Los Angeles. She'll be starting her next trimester of school at Yo San University in Venice, and has plans to grow up one day, hopefully some time in the near future.

Let's take a moment to acknowledge the accomplishments of these fine individuals, and celebrate change. Change is good!

So for the next couple of weeks you might not hear from us. Don't be alarmed! We're still here! The same forces that brought us together from the four corners are now sending us on our way back out into the world: Lo in Minnesota, Yen in Texas, Nini in Cali, and Jac holding down the fort in New York.

The party continues in September, so stay tuned!!

Countdown: 89 Days

The excitement builds as we count down to the date of the marathon. We've been training hard, attending thrice-weekly workouts with the team at Central Park whenever possible. Other times we must fill in the gaps of our training schedule on our own, either on a treadmill or through the city streets. Despite the hard work and constant effort, it's hard to believe that the race is really less than three months away.

The marathon is less than three months away!?!

Yikes.

After hearing stories of people passing out at finish lines, pissing and soiling themselves, and having blisters and chaffing sores on every imaginable surface of their bodies, I have to wonder whether or not I'll actually make it. It makes me nervous, but excited nonetheless. Especially when I meet up with my other team members who have done it before, and are living proof that you can run 26.2 miles without keeling over and dying.

So the excitement builds, and the pressure heightens, and the need for reassurance exponentially increases.

Our first fundraising deadline is fast approaching in 10 days. We are looking to have a collaborative $5,000 in donations by August 15th, and are working nearly around the clock to meet our deadline. If you've considered donating before, and have been waiting for the right moment to inspire you, now's the time!

And if you know anyone with lots of expendable cash that they don't know what to do with, send them our link!

Mighty Mouse strikes again!

Yen is the best!

She came in number 5,993 of over 14,000 runners today in Nike's NYC Half Marathon. The race wound through Central Park, past Times Square, down the Westside Highway, and ended in Battery Park. Her computed finish time was 2 hours and 6 minutes!

The winner of the race, Haile Gebrselassie, ran the race in under an hour, clocking in at 59 minutes and 24 seconds!! Whoa Jeebus!!

A brief interview with our beloved Turtle:

nini: Can you describe for us what you were feeling at the starting gate this morning at 5:00 am?

Yen: At first, I was really excited, but then after having to wait in the corrals for over 45 minutes... I kind of felt like a horse. Then it was like, "let us go already!"

nini: Can you give us a highlight and lowlight of your experience?

Yen: The highlight was hearing the crowds, and their roaring cheers, as we approached 57th and 7th Avenue, as we were coming out of the park. We could hear them while we were still inside, and it was so exciting! The low was definitely the four mile stretch towards the end on the Westside Highway. It was really boring. It was really crazy in the end when a lot of people started keeling over, falling off to the side, surrounded by medics... one of the top three guys were taken to the hospital!

nini: Whoa! Are you serious?!

Yen: Yeah! I mean, it was crazy! I saw at least two or three [people]... Wait, another highlight was high-fiving Coach Frank by the finish line, the last 100 meters or so. It was so endearing... like an unspoken moment.

nini: How do you feel now, that you've accomplished the impossible?

Yen: I can't wait for the marathon! It was really inspiring. I can't wait! Hopefully we'll have more of a cheering section then. - (the rest of the Turtles were home asleep... cause we're all douche bags... but we did make it up to her by decorating the door and cooking brunch!)

nini: So how does it feel to be number 5,993?

Yen: Well, I wish I was number one, but I'm gonna save that for the marathon.

nini: You will always be a champ in our book!

Congratulations, Yen!!!

You are Great!

My sore back is a testament to the fact that Habibi Lounge was a complete success! Dance, dance, and more dance!!! Thanks so much for coming out and partying with us on Thursday night. We really appreciate it!

Why we do what we do

Training for a marathon is a difficult thing. You've got to run a good 30+ miles a week to stay on top of your game, not to mention practicing running up hills, and down hills, and picking up your pace towards the end, and practicing how to eat and drink while you're at it. It gets tricky. At times it's downright discouraging, especially on a hot, humid, New York summer day... in the city... when it's 100 degrees in the shade with humidity... and no breeze... the concrete seemingly absorbs, reflects, and radiates the heat of the sun simultaneously. I've been told that there is a temperature at which even flies are too hot to lazily hover about, and resort to just sitting around instead. Sometimes I wish I were a fly.

Besides the temperature, there's the smog in the air; the constant flow of automobile traffic making it unpleasant if not virtually impossible to train in the streets. The emissions mixing with the other fine smells of the city is some kind of awful. Sometimes, on my way across bridges, where the cars bottleneck and the pollution stagnates along with them, the air is so thick that it hits me like a sucker punch to the chest, and my throat starts to itch and my eyes start to sting. It's that bad. On a hot day especially. The repetitious pounding of the pavement does no good for the knees either, so you've got to find your way to a park with some packed earth of some sort just so you can run and breath at the same time.

Then you've got yourself to contend with. I know after a long, hard day of work and school, the last thing I look forward to is running another 6 miles on top of rushing to and from places, up and down stairs, and in and out of buildings. It gets hard. It gets arduous. It gets harrowing.
The mental fatigue coupled with the physical exhaustion of simply surviving on the day to day in the city is enough to acquiesce to resting at home all nights of the week and whenever possible; forget about having a social life, really. Now imagine convincing yourself that at the end of the day, all you really want to do is strap on your shoes and go for a nice long run.

What is this all for? Why are the four of us fabulous fine women subjecting ourselves to this kind of self-torture? Besides generating excitement simply by being a feat on its own, running the marathon for charity has been, thus far, a really enlightening experience. Fund raising has proven to be a far more daunting task than the running itself. We've thought about dropping out at times, but then we think about what we're doing it for, and it all makes sense again.

Did you know that more than 43 percent of New York City children are overweight or obese? That's nearly half of all kids in NYC. That puts them at risk for early onset of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses that undermine their quality of life and that, nationally, leads to health-care costs in excess of $100 billion annually.

Also, the student-teacher ratios for physical education in New York City elementary schools are estimated to be 730 to 1. That's ridiculous. Can you imagine having PE with 730 kids? That would be one GIANT dodgeball game.

Two out of every five New York City public schools offer no fitness activities at all. I used to tutor a girl in middle school whose fancy schmancy uptown private school had no gym of its own, and shared one with several other schools, allowing the students to be there once a week, requiring transportation to and from the facilities. Sometimes, when she forgot her swimsuit or her sneakers, she didn't have to go. If her school was inadequate in providing physical education, imagine the multitude of other schools in NYC that don't have the benefit of financial support.

That's where Team for Kids comes in and provides schools and other youth organizations with running programs that gives kids something to do. Gets 'em active. Gives 'em a sense of belonging to a community. Gets 'em to set goals and work towards achieving them. Having them learn by doing, by running, thereby making them aware of their own health and how to be an active participant in their physical well-being.

I know that I've benefited immensely by running for Team for Kids. It's made me think about my own limitations, and the limitlessness of what one can do with the right amount of desire and encouragement.

Thanks to all of you for your continued support in this overwhelming endeavor! Big hugs and sloppy wet kisses!

Habibi Lounge

A hookah (Hindustani: हुक़्क़ा / حقّہ huqqa) is a multi-stemmed, often glass-based, water pipe device for smoking. Originating in India, it gained fame in the Arab World when it traveled from Persia to Arabia. A hookah operates by water-filtration and indirect heat, never charring it's contents and thereby never releasing additional carcinogens. Unlike cigarettes, the molasses tobacco used with a hookah has no chemical additives and no tar.


Habibi Lounge is where we are gathering this Thursday night. Happy Hour drink specials 'til 10pm, DJ Skittlez on the ones and twos, and 15% of the sales from the night will be going to Team for Kids. So come on out and have a drink, or two or three... maybe more!

Habibi Lounge
198 Avenue A, between 12th and 13th Streets
Thursday, August 2nd
9:00 pm til we're all partied out

One of our very own Turtles will be moving cross-country in a couple of weeks, so join us as we send her off in style! Lay back on some velvety pillows, bop your head to some rhythmic music, and sip on some fine libations in an atmosphere of luxuriously flavored plumes of sheesha.

Warning: where there are Turtles, there will be dancing!!!
(Carol, watch your knees!)

Friday night = FUN!

Thanks to everyone who came out on Friday night! It may have started out slow, but we definitely ended with quite a lot of madness. Only two casualties have been reported so far: a ticket from the NYPD for public drinking of a PBR, and a busted knee for dancing like a maniac. I know I haven't danced like that in months. You guys are tons of fun, and I'm glad you were all there, supporting us and Team for Kids!

By the way, Paul says "hi" to everyone! (Hi Paulie!)

Party with the Turtles this Friday!

Come join us for a night on the town!
We're stepping out of our shells and onto the streets of Manhattan.

Here's the deal: Donate $10 and get a wristband

With this wristband you get free and discounted drinks at bars and clubs in the East Village all night long.

Fun starts at 6:30 pm: meet us at Singas Famous Pizza on the corner of 11th Street and 2nd Avenue for happy hour, where you get a free pint of beer with your personal pizza. Then the party moves on....

We will be bar-hopping, or pub-crawling, so-to-speak, and your job is to come have a good time. Different place every hour; you can follow us or move at your leisure. You come buy a wristband and we let you in on the details.

Bring a friend/lover/brother/sister/mother/enemy (of the state), as long as they're over 21, and we'll make sure you get your $10 bucks worth!

Besides supporting a good cause, and saving money on drinks, you are guaranteed a fun evening, as we promise to be as entertaining as always!

Kids don't walk to school anymore

I read an article on Tuesday in one of those publications that they hand to you when you get off the subway... You know, the kind you grab when the headline is ridiculous enough to amuse you into reading it, or it's raining out and you need an umbrella-of-sorts to cover your coif. Well, an article about fat kids spotted my eye, and it said that some study has concluded that children walk less now than they did before. So all that stuff that your parents have said about how, back in the day, it was so much harder for them, and how they had to walk 6 miles uphill both ways to get to school, apparently, is true. Well, sort of true.

Kids these days are getting less and less physical exercise. Whereas before there was some passive opportunity for physical activity in walking to and from school, kids are being driven door to door, and encouraged to stay indoors once they get to where they're going. Parents are reporting that it's just easier to drop their kids off on their way to work. It's also perceived to be safer, as parents are increasingly concerned about violence, accidents, and disasters that can occur while walking down the street, especially in the cities.

So with the decrease in the number of children who walk to school, and the decrease in physical education programs and funding within the school system, America's kids are becoming more and more sedentary as the prevalence of childhood obesity rises.

Good thing there are foundations out there like Team for Kids working to provide cities like New York with something for these kids to do... like running.

What you've all been waiting for...

Congratulations to the winners of our Fourth of July raffle!

First prize of a gourmet dinner for two goes to:

Paulie!!!
(crowd goes wild!)

Second prize of a One-Hour Therapeutic Massage goes to:

Sung!!!!

(whoot! whoot!)

Third prize of Date with a Turtle goes to:

Edward E.!
(can I get a what-what?)

Runner-up prize of a beach ball and rubber ducky goes to:

Ron M.!!!!!!
(yay!! cheer explosion!!)

Contact nini.wienie@gmail.com to claim your prize. Lack of response within 48 hours will result in a re-drawing and another winner will be chosen in your place.

Yen's sincere apologies

Here's a G-chat conversation from earlier today:

nini: I'm posting on the blog right now

Yen: please mention that if i offended anyone with my drunken behave i apologize
i am usually very tame and have been known to be a grandma most of time

nini: that's the old yen
we drowned her in a bottle of wine and shots of johnny walker
grandma yen hasn't been seen around these parts in months

Dancing in the Rain

To all you party people who came from far and wide to celebrate the Fourth with us, I salute you!!! You're a bunch of freakin' animals, you are.

As the sky darkened and the clouds loomed menacingly overhead, I was convinced that the barbecue would be a bust. The first few drops of rain seemed harmless enough, but as they increased in frequency and volume, I got a little nervous and we began devising a plan for the downpour that would inevitably follow. We moved the party downstairs, but the spirit of the flame had already taken hold, and there was nothing I could do but keep the grill dream alive.

Edward and Kevin were kind enough to rig an impromptu outdoor kitchen, which consisted of a piece of particle board perched precariously on top of the door to keep the rain off of me. How it stayed there throughout the night is a miracle of physics. We went through 60 hamburger patties, 16 hot dogs, 18 Italian sausages, 24 veggie burgers, 12 tofu dogs, homemade pasta salad, fresh greens, chips and dip, guac, hummus, pretzels, cookies, brownies, a big ol'bowl of cherries, and a big-ass watermelon... and folks were still hungry! There was nothing left to do but fill up on booze.

What began as a relatively mild fundraising event turned into a house party explosion after the fireworks extravaganza. Rain on the roof meant bodies went indoors, and when the music was turned up, it was all over from there. People were leaving, only to come back from the bodega across the street with fist-fulls of beer. After midnight, it was back on the rooftop, with bigger speakers and more stomping and screaming. When the skies opened and the rain came pouring down in buckets, you animals didn't stop. Do you even know when to stop?!

WE LOVE YOU! THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT!!

It was fun kicking you out.
I hope you all made it home safe last night.

The Party Goes On!!!!!!

Rain or shine, we will grill. Oh yes, we will.

Fourth of July Party's moved into the abode. Come one, come all. I feed you.

Fourth of July Barbecue!

Where Memorial Day marks the beginning, and Labor Day marks the end, the Fourth of July sits at the pinnacle of all outdoor grilling holidays. It's getting hot... Not hot enough for you to want to strangle your neighbor for his air conditioner, but definitely hot enough to justify doing absolutely nothing while the sweat starts to pool in the crevices of your body.

So what are you going to do for the Fourth of July?

Why don't you come over to our lovely rooftop, where it's shady by mid-afternoon, and the elevation guarantees a nice breeze as you look out over the fabulous view of downtown Manhattan. Stay through the evening and watch all four of the fireworks shows visible from the heights of our abode, while we grill for you and entertain. There will be prizes and refreshments, not to mention the company of four very enthusiastic, very determined young women who are just trying to do some good in this world.

Not enough to entice you? We've also got central air and cold beer.

So, I guess we'll be seeing you on the Fourth of July, right?

As always, please RSVP at nini.wienie@gmail.com to let us know how many animal carcasses to butcher and booze to buy (and veggie burgers!), or you can just let your favorite Turtle know you're coming! Talk to us, we give you the details.

Kazaam!

Seems like childhood obesity is a cause worthy of everyone's support nowadays. Shaquille O'Neal and his team of wellness pros are going to change the lives of six school children in Florida on his show, "Shaq's Big Challenge." He's got the expert on childhood obesity on the show, as well as a nutritionist, a chef, his doctor and personal trainers, and his old coach from LSU to provide motivation for the kids. They've adopted a whole school, and are implementing stretching and exercise for five minutes at the beginning of every class to insure that everyone gets at least an hour of physical activity a day, and the six lucky kids are going to get more exercise after school. Watch it on ABC on Tuesday night, June 26th, at 9pm.