Marian's Blog

Solstice yoga in Times Square: "Mind over Madness", free, June 21st

This is zehr cool... Mind over Madness public yoga, June 21st in Times Square, 7am to sunset. Has anyone else done this yet, say, in Nairobi, Sarajevo, Point-a-Pitre or elsewhere? About twenty-five NYC yoga studios are participating in this "free yoga-fest in the heart of Times Square. Yoga enthusiasts, both experienced and beginners, gather to face the challenge of finding tranquility and transcendence in the midst of the urban energy of the world's most commercial and frenetic place." (Inner) Peace.

MORE.com - Women's marathon & half-marathon for women over 40!

We're totally up for MORE Magazine's marathon & half-mara on Sunday, March 25th. The full marathon's also a qualifying race for NY Marathon. New York Road Runners is co-sponsor. The half = 2x round Central Park while the full marathon (obviously) is twice that. This incredible annual footrace is dedicated to women runners & walkers ages 40+ and last year drew more than 4-thousand women athletes. I'm impressed, and yup, I'm part of it. See ya there.

World Cup: Italy 2, Deutschland 0, tied with an azzurro-blue bow!

Well, folks, it was wine over beer in Germany last night! Roger Cohen's Herald Trib piece nicely summarises what went down as Italia came through with back-to-back goals in overtime! Everybody was shocked - including Fabio Grosso - as he made that first score. Over by Circo Massimo in downtown Roma they were dancing in the street late into the night. Grazie, Deutschland, for the 2006 hospitality and a hard-fought game!

World Cup: Italia advances 1-0 over Australia

Italia's Francesco Totti put it away today at the World Cup. It may as well have been a photo-finish since for 94 minutes (and thus into overtime) neither team scored. Then, an Aussie stumble and some fancy Italian footwork handed Italia the chance for a penalty goal. In the 95th minute Italia WINS on Francesco Totti's penalty kick. He came all the way back from a badly broken leg in 2005 to his first-ever World Cup goal today on the penalty. They must already be in the streets and will be partying tonight in Roma and across Italia. Bravo Francesco, bravo Italia! Just one tiny thing: Was it me or did I really see Totti stick his thumb in his mouth as he celebrated his goal?? Anyway... thanks, Australia, for a game well-played.

Team in Training: help Mel cross finish line(s) for cancer research

My friend Mel ('a girl') is doing Team in Training to raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. She and I (and a bunch of other civilian folks we know) have been together through thin and thick, doing human rights & election work in Bosnia, Croatia, Kosovo and Macedonia - but the other day she actually had to bike like halfway across the planet - or a similar distance. At least in my vivid imagination. So please visit Mel's training & fundraising page and make a donation. Thanks! Hang in there, John! Go, Mel!

How I walked MORE Women's half-marathon in 4:24

Here’s my saga of MORE mag’s third annual marathon & half-mara for women over 40. It was also an official race co-sponsored by New York Road Runners and a qualifier for the NY Marathon. In 2003 I ran Nairobi’s first women’s 10K in 1hr 40min. Compared to Kenya, nearly 4-thousand women registered for the MORE race while 10 to 11-thousand women ran Nairobi's women's 10K against HIV/AIDS. MORE was my very first half-marathon, even if I did walk. I registered early but two days before the race my participation was touch and go due to schedule conflicts. (Thanks Pam!) Finally I made it to NYC on Amtrak where I stepped off and discovered I’d returned to winter. Burrrr! Bummer. No hat; no scarf. Thank goodness I'd brought layers. Checked into hotel then made my way to MORE’s spaghetti dinner at Tavern on the Green where I met a nice group of women who traveled all the way from Lansing in Michigan to run. Post pasta and salad I popped into a pharmacy & bought an extra pair of tights. Lifesaver! At my hotel I hung out with an old friend and a new friend and had a ball catching up. Did I maybe stay up a bit late?! Early race morning I woke to drizzly weather & a craving for tylenol - effects of our bar-side chat. The first hour of the day was agonizing and not only because of my head. At 6AM the sky was ominous. Out the window I could see people with umbrellas raised. Despite my toughness I knew I was not mentally up for running in the rain with no headgear. Should I stay? Should I go? But we forged ahead. Washed, dressed, a little breakfast with fluids. Taxi’ed to Central Park where zillions of women were arriving to race. I was in the right place! The half mara started at 8:00. I started out jogging then switched to a walk. Weather was a bit chilly but thank God didn’t pour. The cool temp actually made near-perfect race weather. The half mara was twice around the park. Despite two restroom breaks (guess what: a women's race that needed more stalls - duh!) my official time was 4:24. I’d never even been in CP before. This was great fun and worthwhile so now I’m looking for more races and working to do even better next year!

Madonna racks up on horse

I thought I was the only one - and for some reason suddenly yesterday I remembered my own ignominious spill from a horse last summer while I was learning to jump. Now I hear Madonna's suffered a similar fate; well, worse since she broke bodily parts and (luckily) I did not. Reuters says she was riding a new horse and it was her birthday. As a matter of fact she walked past me last fall on a side street in central London. She was dressed so... normally. Jeans, jacket, and a cap. I was impressed. So, Madonna, when the time comes and those bones heal, you know what you might want to do. Advice to myself, too. Get yourself back on another wonderful horse and preferably one you really know.

Pow Wow homeboys from Wisconsin

Wisconsin 'homeboys' by MarianDouglas

On the last day of the Smithsonian Indian Museum's DC powwow Sunday we ran into two nice young men from Wisconsin - the Upper Midwest. They said I could take their picture so I did! I told them I'd put the photo on the blog - so here it is. Megwitch, guys. Behave yourselves, and travel well.

Kettlebells, and $$ to fight breast cancer

This week's off to a rolling start. Saturday I had an unexpected though enjoyable day with my grandbabies; I didn't make it to the 5K race for the Cure but all-told we did raise some money. Almost $300 for breast cancer education, prevention and research. And Sandra came by later in the day. Thank you again to everyone who contributed. We're already thinking of next year, and between now and then there'll be other races. By the way...has anyone tried kettlebell training?

Race for the Cure thank You ... and "Coming out Grandma"

Well I am up and getting ready for today's 5K. We have a woman-like change of plans. By now in my life I know: Women's lives are so - flexible. I'll be there with my granddaughters - a two year old and a two month old. This will be their first race. The 2 yr old loves running, the other one drinks alot. Luckily it's milk (not cow's). I've just about put aside thoughts of Burundi, Rwanda, Bosnia ... We'll see how the morning develops. Weather's good. I want to thank everyone who is supporting me by making donations. Detailed thank-yous later. "Italia" called this morning, in that "sarcastic" bemused voice, to let me know the town's rooting for me. And all of us are rooting for women and men all over the world dealing with breast cancer and other illness. Was it Susan Komen Foundation that notes in the US alone, about 1600 men a year discover they have breast cancer? Men have mammaries too. The rest of that is also a blog for another day.