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24/7 My Marathon Week in Pictures

Marathon Week 1

I had so much fun in the past seven days, so I thought I’d share what I’ve been up to?

Friday Oct 30^th

After a morning swimwear shoot and a couple of castings, I met up with an ESPN crew in Soho. The channel approached me to shoot a documentary about me running the New York City Marathon. I met with the producers and filmmakers, Ben and Alvaro, and I realized I’d committed to quite a lot in just a few days. They also told me they wanted to shoot at my house, so I rushed home and got cleaning!! A rock’n’roll Friday night!

Saturday Oct 31^st

I didn’t get much sleep the night before the marathon, I was both anxious and excited in equal measure. I met up with the ESPN crew at the Health Expo in the Javits Center early that morning, where I collected my running bib and the guys interviewed both myself and some other runners about the course. Then it was off to my apartment in Williamsburg.

I prepared a meal for the cameras; my own invention- “Strawberry Goodness”. I’ll share the recipe once the documentary airs. I’ve never cooked on camera before, obviously, it was actually quite tricky. All the utensils have to face the camera, so you need to remember where all the buttons are from memory. Well, I managed, but had to make a lot of fun of myself, it’s just going to be a little messy. We called it “Adela’s Cooking Show”, so original!

Sunday Nov 1^st

The big day! The one I’d been preparing for, for a such looong time. Months of training and commitment were about to pay off, hopefully!

I got up at 4:30am to head for the Staten Island Ferry and then a bus to take me to the start line. I got maybe 4 or 5 hours of sleep, which is my pre-marathon record, so I was in high spirits. It seems nuts, but not many runners actually sleep the night before a marathon, everyone is so nervous, so much adrenalin rushing through your body. I finally got to the start line 3 hours later, and then there was a lot of waiting around. I took my own pack of oatmeal and was really glad that I had. We were ushered to our corral quite early and I threw my fleece jacket and gloves in the charity bins provided (love this idea). Two deafening canons and then Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” provided a magical start to the run. (Read more about it here.)

Well…I did it and it felt awesome, so painful, but so incredibly rewarding, when I crossed the finish line I wanted to cry. I wanted to cry even more when I realized I had to walk another 30 blocks to meet my friends and family! I eventually reached them wearing my huuuge blue poncho, they struggled to pick me out from the ’Smurf march’ but it was wonderful to see them. Finally home, I had a quick shower and headed out to celebrate with some pizza and red wine at my local Italian favorite, Acqua Santa.

November 7, 2015 0 comment

I DID IT!

I conquered one of the hardest marathons out there, the TCS New York City Marathon.

There’s no point telling you how hard or how painful it was running through the 5 boroughs of this incredible city, it seems obvious. Instead, let me tell you how much fun I had, and why everyone should do it?

The crowds! It was the atmosphere that kept me going. The bands playing “We Will Rock You” and my fellow runners raising their hands to the rhythm. The churches with their doors thrown open so we could hear the singing choirs along the way. My fellow runners clapping their hands together at the steep Queensboro Bridge to stay positive where cheering spectators weren’t allowed. The volunteers who screamed my name and the lady who held the cardboard sign that read: “Pain is Temporary, Pride is Forever”. So much energy, so many cheers, that’s what kept me running. Thank you New York!

From now on I always want to start my runs to the voice of Frank Sinatra’s words: “Start spreading the news, I am leaving today, I want to be a part of it, New York, New York” The two canons that set us off onto a 42 km journey weren’t bad either. So powerful the whole bridge shook.

November 6, 2015 0 comment

Hotel Series: citizenM, Amsterdam

I’ve just returned from the Netherlands, where I was visiting my little sis, who lives there. We had such a great time as always and all our favourites, may it be a coffee, a very green green juice, a cow or a tulip, will be included in our little ‘Holland Guide’, coming soon.

We stayed all around the country, but when in Amsterdam, this time we spent a couple of nights at the amazing citizenM hotel (I already reported about their New York one here), just to change it up from our usual spot, the ghostly Lloyd Hotel.

citizenM Amsterdam charmed us with its quirkiness, freshness and comfort.

October 12, 2015 0 comment

Palm Leaf and Bananas

Palm leaf print is a serious weakness of mine, as is banana leaf print. I can’t really explain where this little ‘obsession’ comes from, nor when it all started; all I know is that I love the print as much as I loved eating bananas when I was a child.

I suspect it stems from food rationing during communism when I was growing up in the Czech Republic. The food truck would rumble into the village and allow one banana per family member, these tropical, exotic looking yellow fruits blew my mind, it was the most amazing treat possible, subliminally that must have stuck with me, as they still feel like an amazing treat today! (Do not forget to check out my recent Banoffee Pie recipe).

October 1, 2015 0 comment

Healthy Eats: Wild Food Cafe, London

Here’s another one of my favorite healthy places from around the world– Wild Food Café, it’s a serious fuel stop for me in-between castings.

My friend Olivia told me about this amazing raw vegan place located right in Covent Garden, London. Once you get to Neal’s Yard, it’s up the stairs on the first floor, second if you’re an American.

For lunch, come early to get a spot at one of their long tables. The menu is buzzing with options and you can’t walk out of here without tasting their wild kale chips.

If nothing else, come here for the sweets. I’ve eaten one of the most delicious and healthiest desserts ever here, hands down. Their bannofee pie is out of this world! I even had to ask for the recipe so I would be able to share it when I’m back in the US. So here it is, I’ve made it a few times already for dinner guests and it is the most popular dessert to date:

September 23, 2015 0 comment

From Saturday through Friday… 24/7

Here’s my week in pictures again:

Saturday:

Last Saturday, during the fashion week madness, I still managed to squeeze in some time for myself and went flying. One of my very last exams is slowly but clearly approaching, so we made sure to practice all kinds of maneuvers all over again. We flew over the ocean and got great views of Fire Island, south of Long Island (this is called the ’South Practice Area’). We spent a lot of time trying to navigate through low cloud which was new and I did 11 landings with some serious cross wind, it was amazing and fun, I’m still learning but it’s finally starting to become second nature.

I ended the day at one of my favorite Asian fusion restaurants in NYC, Buddakan, where my man took me out for ‘date night’. We ordered a lot of new dishes this time, if you go, definitely try the Charred Filet of Beef with Mustard Sauce, Chili Rock Shrimp or Szechuan Pork Dumplings!

Sunday:

Sunday started with a half marathon in Central Park. I got caught in rain but that meant I had the park to myself, which was a nice change from the Sunday madness.

I had a couple of castings, work never stops, especially during Fashion Week.

This year we were again lucky enough to be invited to the US Open finals at the Arthur Ashe Stadium. The game was postponed due to rain but it’s always worth the wait to watch Federer play. I wish he won, but hey, he’ll do better next year. We also got to see Serena and Venus on Tuesday night. We were sat by Oprah which was nuts, but most of all, just watching these two athletes, they’re so fit. I want to play tennis now!

September 20, 2015 0 comment

Homemade Almond Milk

I use almond milk in so many recipes. It’s my staple ingredient. I’m lactose intolerant, so this is a great alternative.

I haven’t been lucky finding good quality commercial brand, so I make my own, it’s super easy. I usually make it on a Sunday night and make enough so it lasts me the whole week:

September 14, 2015 0 comment

Reformation

I’m currently in Prague having just finished shooting a commercial campaign with the Norwegian, LA based director, Ray Kay. We shot Christmas ads and had fake snow all around, which made me daydream of the previous week’s vacation in Italy, even more than I already was.

Tomorrow I’m running another race as an ambassador for the Women’s Challenge, so come and cheer us on at 7:30pm on Namesti Republiky. On Sunday I’m heading home to New York, right into the middle of the fashion week madness. I have a Chloe presentation next week, which I’m so excited about, their line for next season is breathtaking so I’ll get to wear a few beautiful pieces.

September 4, 2015 0 comment