Author Archive

I TRIED IT: GREAT EASTERN STATE BREAKOUT 5K

A Saturday morning jaunt around Fairmount wasn't all awesome—but at least there was bacon.

Posted by Erica Palan on 10/15/2012 at 11:45AM | 2 Comments

Post-race glow. Pre-bacon.

On Saturday, I ran my first race in three years. I finished it still running, but lost to a bull dog, a toddler, and 368 other runners. I’m calling it a success—even though I definitely hit some snags along the way.

In 2009, I impulsively signed up for the Philadelphia Half Marathon. I ran a couple of shorter races leading up to the big one and had a blast doing the actual half. I fully intended to be a runner for life, but then I just … didn’t keep running. Three years and 20 pounds later, I laced my sneaks back up and started hitting the sidewalk a couple of times a week.

I’ve resided in Fairmount for five years and can’t imagine living anywhere else so happily, which is why I decided the 15th Annual Great Eastern State Breakout 5K would be a good race for me. Plus, the poster promised an awesome breakfast catered by neighborhood restaurants. I figured I would run faster if I knew there was free bacon at the end. READ MORE

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I TRIED IT: PICKLING GREEN BEANS THE FOOD IN JARS WAY

Using local canning expert Marisa McClellan's new book, Food in Jars, I made a healthy summer snack. (But not without some kitchen disasters.)

Posted by Erica Palan on 6/22/2012 at 12:07PM | 5 Comments

A few weeks ago, I spent some time in Maine, where I ate way too much lobster and blueberry pie. Hoping to detox from the decadence one afternoon, I stumbled into a pub looking for a salad. Skimming the menu, the phrase “dilly beans” popped out at me. Funny name, I thought before asking the server what on earth was in this appetizer. Dilly beans, she told me, are pickled green beans. The sounded like a healthier alternative to the French fries that were beckoning from further down the menu, so I ordered them. Delish! Crunchy and salty and compulsively snack-able, I knew I’d want to try making some as soon as I got home.

Fortunately, when I returned to the office, Food in Jars, the new book from local canning blogger Marisa McClellan was waiting for me—with a recipe for dilly beans. I whipped up a batch in my kitchen last weekend. Here’s how it went.  READ MORE

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10 BEST DOCTORS ON TELEVISION

A completely unscientific list of the medical professionals we'd want in an emergency

Posted by Erica Palan on 10/11/2011 at 10:18AM | 3 Comments

Despite the terrifying news that television is going to kill us all one day, the start of the new fall television season is always a little bit like a holiday for me. I celebrate with special clothes (read: pajamas) and food (read: snacks) and devote hours of time to worshiping at the altar of entertainment (read: my TV). However, if it’s true that television will one be my cause of death, it only seems appropriate that I start considering my medical options. Here’s a list of 10 doctors I would trust to help me during any TV-related emergencies.

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WHY WE SHOULD STOP CARING SO MUCH ABOUT BREAST CANCER

No matter how much we dye Philly pink, there are still worse illnesses

Posted by Erica Palan on 10/14/2010 at 10:08AM | 1 Comment

Our managing editor for Phillymag.com thinks that breast cancer awareness has become a huge money-making scheme. Do you agree?

In case you’ve been hiding under a rock for the last 13 days: It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. You can tell because the entire country — or at least this entire city — is drenched in pink. Of course, support shouldn’t be given simply because it is fashionable, but in October, that’s how it feels.

The fountain in LOVE Park has been dyed breast cancer’s signature color. Center City’s skyscrapers illuminate the sky with pink lights every night. Even the Eagles donned pink gear last weekend (and will continue to do so at home games this month.)

Why this outpouring of support? Because the Susan G. Komen Foundation told us we’re supposed to care. READ MORE

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I TRIED IT: ENERGIZING VINYASA AT WAKE UP YOGA

Should you do it or ditch it? We try out area classes so you don't have to waste time or money on workouts that don't make the grade

Posted by Erica Palan on 10/14/2010 at 5:00AM | 3 Comments

Photo courtesy of Wake Up Yoga

What I wanted: A not-too-hard, not-too-easy weekend yoga class that is welcoming, affordable, and near my home.

What I tried: The 10 a.m. Energizing Vinyasa class at Wake Up Yoga’s Fairmount location on Sunday, October 10, 2010.

Who was teaching: Biz Magarity

Student/teacher ratio when I dropped by: 14:1

Lockers/Showers: No showers or lockers, but there are changing rooms. Most importantly, there are free mats, blankets, and blocks available for use during class and towels and water can be purchased. READ MORE

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WEARING THE WRONG SPORTS BRA?

The wrong bra can cause everything from unsightly boob bouncing to back pain. Here, five ways to ensure a perfect fit

Posted by Erica Palan on 8/23/2010 at 11:55AM | 5 Comments

Illustration by Justin Renninger

I recently moved to the Art Museum area and I couldn’t wait to hit Kelly Drive. On my first morning run, I dressed quickly and hustled down to my starting point. As I began my warm up, I was almost instantly distracted by the heaving bosom of a woman jogging in place beside me.  She should really invest in a better sports bra, I thought to myself. I don’t normally spend my workouts scoping out the chests of my fellow exercisers, but I wear a 36D bra so, from one large-chested lady to another, I felt her pain.

A few minutes later, another female runner passed me and I noticed she had layered not one, not two, but three sports bras in order to restrain her bouncing breasts. On my left ,another woman’s  chest was bouncing so furiously under her T-shirt that I worried she’d get black eyes if she quickened her pace. Is it that difficult to find a properly fitting sports bra? I wondered. Then I looked down at my own doubled-up boob bondage and realized I was just as guilty as these women. Although I’ve been wearing a sports bra for most of my life, I’ve never learned how to purchase one that fits me correctly. And, the more I looked into it, the more I realized that in addition to being unsightly and a little uncomfortable, wearing the wrong sports bra can also be dangerous. READ MORE

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JUST OPENED: FAIRMOUNT RUNNING COMPANY

The owners of Jenkintown Running Company open a second store

Posted by Erica Palan on 8/19/2010 at 4:46PM | 3 Comments

Philadelphia runners, revise your routes and get over to Fairmount Avenue to check out the area’s latest running specialty store.

Fairmount Running Company, which opened August 3, is owned by former St. Joe’s track teammates Joe Lanci and Karl Savage. Also the owners of Jenkintown Running Company, the Philadelphia area’s first (and one of the most well-known) running store, the pair offers personalized, hands-on service.

“A lot of times people will go to a big box store and grab the cheapest pair of running shoes or talk to someone who really doesn’t know what they’re talking about,” says Lanci. “Then those people wind up getting shin splints or stress fractures based on the shoes they get. We’re a full-service running specialty store, so we do foot gait analysis. We look at their arch height and the width of their foot and we guide them through the shoe selection.” READ MORE

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I TRIED IT: HOT YOGA AT BIKRAM YOGA COLLEGE OF INDIA

Should you do it or ditch it? We try out area classes so you don't have to waste time or money on workouts that don't make the grade

Posted by Erica Palan on 6/17/2010 at 3:09PM | 3 Comments

What I wanted: A hardcore workout that will get us bathing suit-ready in five weeks.

What I tried: The 5:30 p.m. class at Bikram Yoga College of India on June 10th.

Who was teaching: Sandy

Student/teacher ratio when I dropped by: 25(ish):1

Lockers/Showers: Yes, two women’s changing rooms and one men’s. There’s not a ton of storage space, but the showers are very clean and functional. There is a hair dryer in one of the women’s rooms, which is always a nice perk. Towels are available for $1 each.

What I loved: For a runner nursing a toe injury, I needed a workout that makes me feel like I was, well, working. Bikram definitely accomplished that. I was exhausted afterward and sore the next day. Also, Sandy was extremely clear about how to do each posture and helped correct mistakes both verbally and physically so I knew I was doing it right!

Did I sweat?: Absolutely! The point of Bikram is to sweat out your body’s toxins by practicing yoga in a room heated to about 100 degrees. Most people look like they’ve been swimming after the 90-minute class.

Do it or Ditch it: Do it. But don’t forget to hydrate properly beforehand and to never stop breathing during the class. I felt dizzy and nauseous a few times, which I was told is a sign that Bikram is working. It’s hard, but totally worth it.

Weigh In: Have you tried this class? Tell us what you thought! And if you have a class you loved or hated, let us know. We could run your Sweat Test in an upcoming newsletter.

First week: $20 unlimited. Classes then sold in blocks on a sliding pay scale. Discounts available for students. Bikram Yoga College of India, 1520 Sansom Street, 215-977-YOGA. bikramphiladelphia.com

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