Where Does Motivation Come From?

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I wanted to share the rainbow salad I made yesterday. It was so pretty! In the mix: butterleaf lettuce, sprouts, cucumber, olives, avocado, hemp seeds, grape tomatoes, shredded beet and carrot, yellow bell pepper, with lemon wedges and hummus for dressing. Delicious, energizing summer food. Too often, I’ll toss a bunch of ingredients into a bowl and mindlessly eat my lunch while scrolling through my phone. But yesterday was different. I took some extra time to prepare my salad with love, then sat outside and slowly enjoyed my meal without distractions. It was such a treat – and something I need to implement consistently.

Speaking of practice…

I’ve been reflecting on a Dean Dwyer podcast that I listened to yesterday. He was talking about how simply receiving information doesn’t change our lives. Or create a positive change. Listening to inspirational podcasts, reading books, blogs, etc are great and can serve as an inspiration, but it’s the actual practice of doing something – anything that creates momentum towards our goals, dreams or even a little nudge into understanding who we are. The idea doesn’t teach us anything – it’s the process of figuring how what works for us and actually doing the work that creates that shift we crave and the world we want to live in.

During last nights training run, I had a few light bulb moments…

Aside from distracted eating, another thing I haven’t been practicing are my mobility exercises. As a runner who is prone to muscle imbalances in my hip, I can’t afford to skip it. (I do this weird thing where I turn my hip and leg outwards when I stand, walk, run and I get all kinds of SI pain/tight glutes.) I *know* how to fix it, but, like an idiot, I got lazy and now I’m in pain, angry and frustrated. My problem isn’t that I didn’t have the information to do it, it was that I decided NOT to apply it.

-Everything we do (or want to do) takes practice, and the work never ends. Healthy eating, exercise, meditation, self love, learning a new language, training for a sport, etc. It’s an ongoing process! Simply saying, “I’m going to eat healthier” doesn’t do anything – it’s the choice to consistently follow through with the idea sets in motion a chain of events. And we know this – but where (and why) do we go wrong?

-We’re constantly being told to “eat more veggies, less processed foods”; “exercise more” but that information isn’t helpful. We’ve heard the same message over and over again but there’s still this huge disconnect. Why is that? We go out and buy the book that promises xyz, or listen to a lecture, and we feel inspired and energized for…oh, 5 minutes, then it’s back to our old ways. Is it because we forget? Or is it because we haven’t figured out how to apply a new skill set?

Great advice – but how do we apply this?

-You know what we probably need less of? Pinning endless motivational Pinterest mantras, recipes and workouts. Sharing Facebook quotes. Looking at IG photos of peoples early morning workouts that seem to imply “If I can get up at 4am to workout, so can you!” #GETAFTERIT. No. What we NEED are less words and more action. That’s where the authentic, lasting motivation comes from. Not our Pinterest boards. Action is the rocket fuel that will propel us into the life we want.

-I have one final thought. The question of “How”. How to eat better, how to exercise, how to find the time, etc. “I know I need to change but I don’t know how, just tell me what to do!” This makes me sad to see people trying to give their power away – to me! As much as I’d love to add to my collection of souls, it doesn’t work that way. What I can say is, everyone’s “how-to” plan is different. A one size fits all answer doesn’t exist.

Does this make any sense?! I hope so. Putting my thoughts into words can be challenging.

I’ll leave you with a zen photo, because it seems appropriate.

Who inspires you?

Lavender Lemonade

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Last weeks training:
Miles logged: 25

What went well: Eating oysters and sushi after Friday’s long run; ditching Sunday’s run day in favour of a nerd’ing it up with my ereader, and a casual evening walk.

Not so great: I don’t want to talk about it. Running hills against the wind on three separate occasions is all you need to know. I’ve been having trouble sleeping – the long daylight hours are starting to mess with me, and as a result I’m not experiencing quality, restorative sleep. I’ll get in bed at my usual time (4pm, hahaha) but I’m still awake after 11 pm. I wonder why… oh right, because it’s still light out! I just added black out blinds, a white noise machine and anesthesia to my shopping list.

*********

I broke my ‘no alcohol until my birthday’ rule over the weekend. Oops. My family came over for a Fathers Day celebration, and I made frozen mango-pineapple margaritas for everyone. I wasn’t about to sit back and watch everyone enjoy the fruits of my labour. Margaritas are my favourite summer drink!

Into the Blendtec went:

Frozen mango and pineapple, fresh lime juice, fresh mint, ice, tequila, triple sec and a pinch of salt.

It’s basically tequila infused sorbet after. Yum! I loooove tequila. I haven’t had a decent frozen margarita since I visited Puerto Vallarta in 2007. It’s all about the fresh fruit – I can’t handle radioactive green margarita mix… it makes me want to throw up, poop and die – collectively.

We snacked on Simply Sprouted tortilla chips and salsa with our summer drinks. Have you ever tried dousing tortilla chips with Cholula? It’s the best. We had elk burgers, veggies and potato salad, too.

My sister brought her new puppy, Daisy along. Cute, hey?

She was chilly so we made her a makeshift sweater using one of Courts socks.

She also terrorized our cat. He let his anger be known by making this face.

It was a nice, laid back celebration, complete with a bonfire I spent the remainder of the weekend curled up with a book.

Apparently lavender grows like a weed on steroids. Within a month, my plants have doubled in size and are trying to annihilate the rosemary I planted next to it. I’m on a mission to try and incorporate it into some dishes and homemade beauty products.

First up: Lavender Lemonade!

Ingredients:

4-6 sprigs of fresh lavender
2 large lemons
Optional: unpasteurized honey, sweetened to taste. Don’t you dare ruin this with stevia!!! I kid. (Not really.)

Directions:
Tie the lavender together with twine or an elastic band. Bring water to a boil and pour into a glass pitcher, submerge the lavender, add the fresh lemon juice followed by the sweetener. Allow the lavender to steep for 20 minutes. Refrigerate and serve over ice.

Simple, summery and delicious.

I’ve been placing mini bouquets around the house, and have plans to make a lavender infused body mist/fabric spray soon.

What herbs do you use most in cooking? Any other ideas on what I should do with all my lavender? Want some?

How did you celebrate Fathers Day?

Do you get summer seasonal affective disorder? Winter makes me tired, summer makes me an insomniac. I’m excited/scared to experience the Midnight Sun in a couple weeks. We’re going kayaking at 2am, just for fun.

8 Things I’m Loving Lately {June}

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I am so excited for tonight – I have some major plans in the works.

-A long run, which I’m not really in the mood for. I can’t tell if I’m tired or just being lazy.
-An hour long sports massage, which I’m also kind of dreading, as my massage therapist is a sadist.
-SUSHI FEAST
-Long hot shower, clean sheets, and catching up on Real Housewives

***HEAVEN***

What can I say, I’m a simpleton, and it doesn’t take much to please me.

What are you up to this weekend?

This months Loving Lately list:

1. Field Boxes (aka CSA)

Do you live in southern Alberta? Want to enjoy fresh, local, organically grown vegetables, dairy and pastured meat without the hassle of tending to a garden or *gasp* driving to the farmers market like some kind of animal?

You can shop for produce, meat and dairy online through Field Boxes and pick it up the following Thursday or have it delivered to your doorstep for an additional $8.

Here’s how it works:
There’s an option for a weekly or bi-weekly membership (it works out to a little over $20 per week) OR you can create your own custom field box, like I do. If Court and I didn’t have 45 heirloom tomato plants, root vegetable crops, lettuce, herbs, etc. I’d totally get a membership! It’s such an incredible value and helps support our local economy.

This is what $15 worth of produce looks like! If I bought the same amount of organic Mexican produce at the grocery store, it would come to $786. I have some grass fed beef on order too, which will be ready in July. Exciting!!! SIGN UP, FRIENDS.

2. Alba Pina Colada body wash. I know, I have a slight obsession with Alba products… they smell incredible! I’m not drinking right now, so this pina colada body wash is the next best thing. I tend to buy super moisturizing beauty products, and I don’t even have dry skin.

3. Jalapeño pistachios. HOLY MOTHER OF…

As if regular pistachios weren’t already the most addicting thing in the universe. Sprinkle a little spicy stuff on ‘em, and whoa… I don’t even know how to finish that sentence.

4. This combo.

I can’t decide if I’m a super genius or super lazy, but mixing these together makes for an awesome soup… that tastes like Alpha-Getti. And really, who doesn’t/didn’t love Alpha-Getti?

Don’t knock it til you try it!

5. Homemade sweet potato fries

Sweet potatoes only taste good when they’re roasted. I just can’t get on board with a plain old baked or steamed potato. Too mushy. And gross tasting.

6. My love is still going strong for Court’s apple sage turkey burgers.

I think he must put oxycontin, ecstasy and heroin into the patties. Dare I say it – I love them more than sushi. The heart wants what the heart wants.

7. Arnica cream – for sore, tight, achey muscles

I’m a fairly big skeptic when it comes to the validity of health claims in ‘lotions and potions’, but I’ll be damned. It actually works. My hip flexors and glutes are always aching, and since I can’t start busting out sun salutations and hip opening exercises at work, I rub some of this into my muscles when the going gets tough. (At my previous job, I kept dumbbells at my desk, and did dips, squats and walking lunges during my breaks – hahaha!)

8. Michael Kors global watch

Are MK watches still ‘trendy’? I’ve had my eye on a rose gold one for a few years now, but, if I were to finally get one, this would be it! Earth inspired, my fav colours, AND a portion of of proceeds go towards the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to fight global hunger. ‘For every sale of the 100 Series watch, WFP will deliver 100 meals to children in need.’

Now, if only Garmin & MK would team up and create a fashionable GPS watch….

Do you have a watch? And by that I mean, do you ACTUALLY wear it?

What’s are some of your favorite things to buy at the farmers market?
Fresh pork tenderloin, berries, goat cheese.

Summer Soup: Cream of Asparagus & Leek

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I am THE WORST at losing those little grippy things on earbuds. I don’t think I’ve been able to keep a pair in tact for more than a day. I was intrigued by this brand and design so I decided to give ‘em a try.

I like that there’s no ‘grippy things’ to be mindful of, and for $30, they sound pretty good. They definitely don’t fall out, either. Not even while running in the rain. (I bought them at the Running Room.)

Skateboarding is a good hip-opening/core stabilizing form of exercise - and it doesn’t feel like a workout!

I’m not very good at boarding (Clearly. I’m wearing Nike Free Runs, FFS) – my only goal is to not be struck by a minivan, land on my head and die. *Dream Big* The thought of attempting a trick is the most terrifying thing that has ever crossed my mind. Not going to happen. Ever.

Let’s talk soup!

105. That’s the number of times my Blendtec has been used in the past two weeks. (!!!) Granted, half of those were for cleaning it, but still. I’m impressed! I’ve been making lots of smoothies, soup and nut butter <– Not a good idea. I’m thinking that a nut grinding machine should be my next kitchen appliance purchase.

Soup and smoothies are my current favorite way to pack a bunch of nutrients into a meal without having to spend a bunch of time prepping, cooking, eating and digesting. I know, first world problems, right? But, with my running, work and school schedules, I just don’t have the time and patience to sit around waiting for my stomach to digest a bunch of food.

My go-to green soup:

Cream of Asparagus & Leek
Serves 2

Ingredients:

1 lb asparagus, ends trimmed
1 leek, sliced (white part only)
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2-3/4 cup veggie or chicken broth
juice of half a lemon
1/2-1 teaspoon sea salt + a dash of pepper (to taste)
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1 tablespoon butter - set aside
1/2 cup full fat milk or 1/4 cup heavy cream – set aside

Directions:

Place all the ingredients except for the butter and milk (or cream) into a blender or food processor and process until creamy. (About 90 seconds)
Melt the butter in a stockpot on medium-high heat, then add the soup. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and allow the soup to simmer for 15-20 minutes. Stir in the milk towards the end, and adjust seasonings, if needed.
Garnish with fresh parsley or sunflower sprouts.

Questions:

What’s your most recent fit-gear purchase?

Have you ever bought freshly ground nut butter from a health food store? (I’ve heard gross germ stories about them)

Name your favorite soup:

Step By Step

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First up, some {weekend} stuff…

1. Look at this crazy persons chair I found at Pier 1.

Ahh! I feel stressed out and anxious just looking at it. I bet it’s really comfortable, but still. I just can’t. I can say with 100% certainty that anyone who owns this chair is also in possession of 25+ cats, is a hoarder of creepy collective dolls and has a cackley laugh.

2. This journal is also at Pier 1.

Perfect!

3. I tried a mango fruit punch Tea Pop from Davids Tea. It’s just iced tea with soda water added to it – nothing groundbreaking, but it hit the spot when I became parched at the mall. I’ll be making these at home all summer long!

5. I WON THE LOTTERY. The Old Navy lottery, that is. I’d been procrastinating on returning some merchandise and when I finally decided to deal with it, all of their running shorts were on sale for $5!!! One day only though.

I got 3 pairs, plus this fun tank. I need to get some more loose fitting running tanks – Court is getting annoyed with me stealing all his muscle shirts and drenching them in lady sweat.

Last weeks training:

Total Miles Logged: 19 (28-ish km)

Most unconventional songs that gave me my second wind: Eric Claptons “My Fathers Eyes” and Whitney Houstons ‘Step by Step’. <– whenever it comes on, I start sprinting. I don’t know why. I played it 3 times in a row while pushing through the end of a long run on Friday.

Favorite path: I took a detour off one of my usual routes and did some loops through a cemetery. Is that morbid? It was so peaceful and relaxing – I took my earbuds out and enjoyed the sounds of the breeze rustling through the grass and leaves, crickets and birds.

What went well: After taking an extra rest day earlier in the week to recover from last weeks blister battle wounds, I bounced back the following day with a lot of extra energy and speed. I put moleskin over my ‘hot spots’ on my feet and shoulders = NO NEW BLISTERS. Yay!

Not so great:
Running in dry heat SUCKS. You know what’s even worse? Battling windy dry heat. *ugly cry*
Oh well, it’s important to train in all kinds of weather conditions. It helps to build mental and physical stamina. Whenever I start feeling sorry for myself, I think of all the elite triathletes running along the scorching, windy and dry Kohala coast and suck it up.

Not the Kohala coast. Just a street by my house.

Nutrition/Mind Body Spirit:
I tried some Vega electrolyte powder (they’re one of the very few supplement brands I trust to deliver a decent, clean, product) and wasn’t a fan. I think they sweeten it with stevia or sugar alcohols, but the fake sugar flavour was alarming to my tastebuds, brain and stomach. Plus it made me bloated. Lesson learned: if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. I’m sticking with my own homemade electrolyte drink.

FOOD: I felt less hungry this week – I think my body has accepted that we’re not entering a famine and we’re not running from a tiger. I try to eat and train in a way that doesn’t wreak havoc on my endocrine system. Deep nasal breathing, adequate REST days, yoga, meditation, sleep and good, wholesome food are key. I’m eating lots of green smoothies, eggs, and meat with special attention paid to iron and B vitamin rich sources, which I have a tendency to become depleted in. Lady athlete problems.

And then, there’s times when you just *need* some soul food. After a long run on Friday night, I refueled with a nourishing dinner of wild salmon and vegetables… which definitely did my body some good. A few hours later I ordered a GF pizza as my bedtime snack. Sharing a pizza on the front step at 10pm with your spouse = pure bliss. It had pesto, prosciutto, olives, artichokes, feta, provolone, red onion and pineapple. YUM.

What are your must-have pizza toppings?
Feta, black olives and anchovies!!! I prefer pesto instead of pizza sauce, too.

Fave #treatyourself foods? Sushi, Marble Slab ice cream in a waffle cone, tortilla chips, goat cheese stuffed dates wrapped in bacon.

HAVE YOU TRIED OLD NAVY ACTIVE GEAR YET?

{Healthy} Summer Picnic Ideas

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Happy Friday! Any fun weekend plans in the works?

Running and eating a pizza are at the top of my to-do list, along with doing some yardwork (today is the day I proclaim my love for mowing the lawn. Is that weird?) along with reading and napping in the backyard.

It was mine and Court’s wedding anniversary last week. We technically celebrated a few weeks ago in Canmore (you can read those posts: here, here and here) but I still wanted to plan a little something in lieu of.

Since the weather has been so beautiful, I organized a sushi-themed picnic lunch for us.

I love picnics, but sometimes I get stuck brainstorming healthy yet low-maintenance dishes to bring. Back when Court and I first started dating, our picnic dates consisted of a bucket of KFC and slurpees. {Are we all in agreement that Coke slurpees taste WAY better than Pepsi? But yet, when it comes to pop, it’s the other way around?}

For this trip, we ended up packing:

-salads (a mix of cherry tomatoes, cucumber, oil & vinegar, sesame seeds + romaine & broccoli slaw with oil, lemon juice & Costco “organic” seasoning. Elitist name, mediocre flavour.)

-salmon sashimi (we buy it from a Japanese market & prepare it at home once it’s thawed)

-sushi & salad rolls (Superstore)

-SeaSnax

-watermelon

-Zevia sodas (Dear Canada: can we get on bringing in the strawberry & grapefruit flavours?)

We love our sushi!

Salad roll + SeaSnax sheet = amazing

After lunch, Court wanted to dig around this specific rock/cave we spotted a few weeks ago (the same one he found the sparkly stuff rock in), and I opted to take a nap instead. I felt like I had just drifted off, when I was jolted awake by a full body spasm/frightening heart attack. Does that ever happen to you? It seems to only occur when I nap. Weird.

Me + Benadryl = naptime FOREVER

While I waited for Court to return from his fossil-quest, I watched this pretty blue bird working on it’s nest above me. I prayed it wouldn’t drop a BM on me. My prayers were answered.

Court came back with a giant fossilized seashell. I’ll post a picture of it once he’s had a chance to clean it up.

Since sushi isn’t everyones cup of tea (I don’t understand why, though here’s some other ideas I have in the works for future trips.

Start with a salad:

-Mixed greens, spinach, strawberries, avocado, feta, balsamic vinegar & olive oil.

-Cocktail tomatoes, chopped basil & goat cheese, tossed with balsamic vinegar

-Greek salad

Add some protein to make it a meal in itself. Grilled chicken, tempeh, hard boiled eggs, thinly sliced bison or beef steak, etc.

Then add some sides:

-Assorted cheese (aged cheddar, goat mozzarella, goat brie are some of my favourites)

-Shrimp cocktail with salsa

-Cubed watermelon, tossed with fresh squeezed lime juice, chopped mint and a dash of salt

-Berries + fresh, unsweetened whipped cream. Try infusing the whipped cream with vanilla bean or lime/lemon zest for a summery twist!

-’Healthier’ chips & dip: Simply Sprouted tortilla chips, cucumber slices, flax crackers, etc with homemade guacamole, hummus, herb infused greek yogurt and salsa

Drinks:

Wine is the obvious choice, but, aside from that you could try…

Homemade fruit & herb infused water such as:

-lemon & thyme
-lime & mint
-basil, lemon & cucumber
-frozen mango & mint
Vodka is optional, and recommended.

-Zevia soda
-Coconut water
-Unsweetened iced tea (DavidsTea Coconut Grove is a good summer blend!)

My brain is now empty. If you have some recommendations, add them in the comments! I’m always looking for food ideas.

When’s the last time you went on a picnic?

Favorite slurpee flavour: I can’t remember the last time I had one, but lime is very dear to my heart.

In My Grocery Bag + That Time A Mini Van Tried To Kill Me

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More like, that never-fail weekly occurrence (<– I just had to spell that 18 times to get it right) where a mini van attempts to end my life. WHAT IS IT ABOUT VANS? I know I’m not the only one living in fear with the unknown of when and where they’re going to strike. Driving, walking, running, climbing a mountain, lounging on the beach… they’re everywhere just waiting to mow something down.

(source)

Ok, so, the most recent incident. I’ll set the scene:

I’m running along a city sidewalk in a school zone, where the speed limit is 30km/hr. A van slowly approaches an alley-sidewalk intersection. My spidey senses start tingling; I just know how this is going to unfold.

I’m wearing:

A fluorescent green t shirt
Fluorescent pink shorts
Fuschia shoes
Pink headband

So basically, I could not have been more blatantly obvious – Chris Hadfield could’ve tweeted a photo of me during his space mission.

The van stops at the intersection. Looks both ways. I slow my pace and pause, waiting to see if it’s going to barrel in front of me. It seems safe, so I decide to go. The second I step forward, the van decides NOW is the time to turn left and I begin rolling across the hood. HAHAHA. It didn’t even stop, and continued on it’s oblivious, merry way. It was just like the taxi scene in Elf! I was totally fine – my ninja reflexes saved me from dying (AGAIN), but still. How and why does this keep happening?!

Whenever I’m crossing a street and I see a van coming towards me, I start sprinting away from it – just to be on the safe side. Mini vans are my new arachnophobia.

How many times this week has a minivan tried to kill you?

Anyways, enough about that. Here’s a glimpse at my most recent grocery shopping trip.

Kale, leeks, oranges, lemons, a lot of bananas (smoothie season!), baby carrots, strawberries, yogurt, coffee cream, Braggs all purpose seasoning, brown rice wraps, chicken (whole, breasts, thighs), ground bison and sockeye salmon. The end.

Save On has a decent produce and organic meat selection, and I like that they carry local stuff, such as goat dairy and bison. I buy almost everything else at Costco. I’m so glad I don’t hate Costco anymore! Well, I do, but I deal with it. I just take 4 doses of Ativan and Xanax washed down with a bottle of champagne before I go. It helps take the edge off the insane crowds. Seriously though, even if you’re a Costco-phobic, consider getting over it because they actually carry some decent stuff now!

For example:

-Blendtecs & Vitamixes
-Organic produce (leafy greens, carrots, berries, frozen fruit)
-Haas avocados
-Silver Hills sprouted grain & gluten free bread
-Frozen mahi mahi & wild salmon
-Natural peanut butter (they carry roasted Maranatha almond butter here – I’m not a fan)
-Coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil
-Chia & hemp seeds
-Vanilla beans & extract
-Earth Pure tomato sauce (THE BEST)
-Coconut water
-Unroasted nuts
-Salsa
-Olives, hot peppers, marinated mushrooms, artichoke hearts
-EOS lip balm (4 packs!)
-”Natural” junk foods like organic tortilla chips, larabars, roasted nuts, Marys Gone crackers, root veggie chips
-Chicken breasts, which I turn into cat food. One of our cats breaks out in cystic acne when he eats grains (just like me!), so in addition to eating grain-free dry food (Acana), he gets some shredded chicken with olive oil & spirulina powder. It ends up being a LOT less expensive than buying expensive canned cat food! And his coat is so shiny and soft from the olive oil.

Do you shop at Costco? What do you buy from there?
I hear the ones in the U.S. are a LOT better. I need to hit up a Montana Costco this summer.

What do you feed your pets?

I worked in a pet store right out of high school, and it’s funny to look back on how there was this huge emphasis on animal nutrition/allergies and why pets shouldn’t eat grains. Grain-free pet food was all the rage (and still is), but, humans are just starting to catch on now that maybe, just maybe grain-heavy diets are not the ideal for most people. Duh. This just dawned on me last week.

What are some of your kitchen pantry staples?

Summer Soup: Creamy Tomato Basil

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Court and I have a slight hoarding problem… we’re currently in possession of 45 tomato plants. 35 of which are already in the garden, while the rest are being raised indoors. From Romas to heirloom pineapple tomatoes, we have a little bit of everything! {Yikes/yipee/hold me} While we’re waiting for our crop to flourish, it’s the ideal time to start experimenting with recipes since we’re going to be over our heads in tomatoes in a couple months. Please send help in mid-August!

I made a simple and summery creamy tomato basil bisque the other night – from prep to finish, it was ready in about 15 minutes and my blender did most of the work. Man, I love that thing. It makes prepping and cooking a breeze.

But first, a training update! {Since you are ~~probably~~ definitely lying awake at night, wondering…}

Last weeks training
Total miles logged: 21 (33km)

What went well: I’ve been meditating and practicing deep breathing for a few minutes before my run to calm my nerves and get more oxygen flowing. As a result, running has felt easier and I still have lots of energy by the time I’m done. {Yay!} I’m running at an easy pace, and breathing through my nose the entire time, which has helped tremendously. I feel like I’ve been able to transition into ‘the zone’ immediately, and avoid that ‘fight or flight’ feeling that I typically experience during the first 20 mins of my run. Instead of my body wondering, “WTF IS GOING ON? Why are we doing this?! What are we running from?!” it’s just chill, relaxed, and happy.

What I need to improve: Making sure blister-prone areas are better protected. I’m struggling with determining which shoes to wear – I’m afraid that my minimalist (Nike Free Runs) will be too hard on my feet during longer distances, yet, my thicker sole Asics tried to kill me when I wore them during a 10k. I had to take an extra rest day this weekend after developing massive painful water blisters. I could hear my feet ‘squishing’ during the final leg of my journey. Ugh, gross, hey? There’s nothing worse than shoe betrayal.

#truth #quotes #wordstoliveby #inspiration #livewithfire

Cross-Training & Rest: Rodney Yee is my hero. He has my dream life – making yoga vids in Hawaii. I want to come back as Rodney Yee in my next life. If you are a runner, you neeeeeed his yoga conditioning for athletes program in your life. (I stream it off GaiamTV – a subscription is $8/month). Tight hip flexors and glutes will be the death of me if I don’t stay on top of it with stretching and yoga. What I love about this practice is it’s focus on opening the hips and chest, without 4324 sun salutations to complete before getting to work.

Nutrition:

I forgot how hungry running makes me. My stomach is an insatiable beast! I’ve been craving and eating a lot of eggs, avocados, salmon, almond butter, coconut butter, green smoothies, salted cucumber slices and cherries. Salty foods are all I want right now – I’ve been experiencing impure thoughts about Costco sized bags of tortilla chips and roasted nuts. And sushi. I totally thought by the end of the week, I’d be crawling into an ice cream shop and begging the staff to let me swim in the ice cream pails or stick my face under the soft serve machine, but nope. I only did that at a sushi bar. Give me salt! All of it!

Cream of asparagus & leek soup + avocado

Summer Soup: Creamy Tomato Basil
Serves 4

Ingredients:

8-10 small tomatoes, quartered
1 cup canned white cannellini beans, drained & rinsed
1/2 cup fresh basil
1/2 cup milk of choice (I used 3% cows milk)
1 heaping tablespoon coconut manna, set aside – to amp up the creaminess and sweetness. A touch of coconut in tomato soup is life changing! You can sub with regular butter if needed… and use canned coconut milk in place of the cows milk)
1 tsp minced garlic
salt & pepper, to taste

Directions:

Place all the ingredients except the coconut manna (or butter) into a blender or food processor. Blend until creamy, about 80-90 seconds.

While the soup is blending, preheat a pot on medium-high heat, and melt the coconut manna. Now add the soup. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes. Serve with a sprig of fresh basil.

Questions:

Fitness enthusiasts/athletes - What kinds of foods do you crave (and eat!) while you’re training?

What do you eat pre & post workout?
Before (if needed)- a spoonful of nut butter, and I just eat a regular meal after. I try to plan my workouts between meals.

What do you like to do on cross training/rest days?
Yoga, upper body strength, napping in a lawn chair, watching Real Housewives in bed

Why I’m Doing It.

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Are there certain hobbies or activities that really make you come alive? What sets your soul on fire? For me, it’s running – it’s my sport and I love it. Over the past few years, it’s become a meditative practice and has served as a powerful self-awareness tool in my life. It’s taught me how to show up in life: to be present and do the best I can in each and every moment. To not divert my attention too far in the future, and to focus on achieving my goal(s) one step at a time.

Court’s Mom recently asked me (in a slightly horrified tone) why I like running so much and why I’m focused on a goal of running a half marathon distance later this summer. At the time, my answer was, “It’s just what I love to do” and left it at that because I didn’t want to go off on some enlightenment tangent. But, as I reflected on that conversation later on, I realized that maybe I should talk about my ‘why’ more often. Plus, this post could serve as some inspiration during training when I’m cursing my myself/wishing I was dead.

So, my ‘why’ for running 13.1 in August, in the Rockies is:

-Running in nature, especially within a spectacular mountain setting brings me immense joy. Some of my most treasured memories are the hours that I spent running solo on the Big Island’s ‘Red Road’.

-The trail I’m eyeballing is exactly 13.1 miles – it’s like it was meant to be!

-It’ll be an opportunity to bond with Court – he’s going to be on his mountain bike carrying my water and snacks. I’m excited! He’s not. Hahaha

-It seems like a good way to say farewell to summer, before winter arrives in September.

-I haven’t challenged myself enough with running, and I want to overcome self-doubt that has previously held me back.

Next up, ELECTROLYTES.

Not the neon-hued kind, or anything that comes out of squeeze package. Not only are those products filled with chemicals, but a TON of sugar which make me feel absolutely terrible. (And kind of defeat the purpose of working out, don’t ya think?) There’s always a better alternative.

Coconut water = nature’s Gatorade

Oh yeeesss.

In the tropics, the water from a young coconut does the trick. In Canada, I have to improvise. I’ve been making my own homemade electrolyte drink before my run so it’s ready for me to chug as soon as I get home.

Proper electrolyte balance it crucial in preventing and correcting fatigue, achey muscles and dehydration. I made the mistake of skimping on replenishing after two shorter distance runs and went to bed that night with an awful headache and restless, achey legs.

In a water bottle, I add the juice of:
-1 lemon
-2 small limes (FYI: Costco limes are terrible)
-2 tiny oranges (or 1/2 a regular orange)
-1/2 tsp Himalayan-kelp salt (any sea salt will work, just make sure it’s not table salt- Himalayan & Celtic sea salt are less refined)
-filtered water

Instant thirst quencher/energizer. It tastes like a margarita! I’m going to be bringing this on my summer hiking trips, too.

Questions:

Do you have any summer fitness goals? What are they?

What’s ‘your sport’? Or hobby, passion, etc. What do you love doing?

Lately {My Life Is Over!}

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A terrible tragedy has occurred… I’m dead inside and my life is over.

I used up the last of my favorite protein powder!

Kill me now.

{The nice folks over at Raw Organic Whey sent me a sample a few months ago and I’m afraid of what the shipping rates and brokerage fees to Canada will cost.}

I’ve been searching stores for something comparable, with no such luck. I prefer using organic whey protein vs. plant based protein, as it’s easier for me to digest, tastes better, and, quality whey is more readily absorbed for quick nourishment and repair. It’s also good for promoting and rebalancing intestinal health. A solid nutrition ‘plan’ is crucial to me right now since I’ve begun training for a half marathon distance. I’m not entering a race, I just want to run the distance during our next trip to Canmore/Banff. In terms of my nutrition “plan”, it’s very simple. I already eat pretty healthy and don’t have to change much, other than doing my best to stay away from alcohol, sugar and high-glycemic foods, all of which make me feel cranky, tired, sluggish and slow.

The lilacs are blooming! We have 3 in our yard, and every time I walk by one of the bushes, I stop and stick my face into the blooms for a few deep breaths. Ahhh.

On Sunday, I ran what I thought would be an easy 6.4km (4 miles). I felt really weak and just couldn’t get into the zone. It was like I didn’t have enough oxygen circulating throughout my body, and had to take a few walking breaks. Or maybe I’m just dying. It’s probably because I just donated blood a few days ago, which made me realize that I should probably cancel my upcoming summer donations because I need my RBC’s. All of them!

When I got home, I chugged some water + apple cider vinegar, then made my go-to green smoothie (greens, frozen banana, blueberries, cinnamon, ice, almond milk, nut butter), along with the last scoop of whey. So long, sweet friend. You’ve been good to me.

I drank my smoothie outside in the sun. And had a little rest.

Moving along…

I ordered some stuff from iHerb recently.

Vitamin D, “Raw” vitamins, Super Cookies, nori sheets, sunflower seed butter and almond butter.

I’m on the fence with multi-vitamins, but I like that this one has digestive enzymes and probiotics added to it, so I thought I’d give ‘em a try. Do you take them? In case you’re a nutrition facts nerd like me, here are the details:

{I’m sure the added fruit & veggie blend is BS and has very little – if any – nutritional benefit}

Justin’s is in my Top 5 list of awesome almond butters, so you can imagine my excitement when my jar of vanilla AB arrived. Another tragedy occurred: I was so disappointed – it tastes like play dough and is way too sweet! What the hell, Justin?! Friends off forever! >:|

I’m really excited to have found Go Raw’s Super Cookies for about half the price of what I would’ve paid in store. I LOVE them – they’re an awesome ‘healthy’ and crunchy sweet treat. The ingredients are: dates, coconut and sesame seeds. That’s it!

(If you want to use my iherb discount code, it’s NWG259)

What kind of protein powder do you like? I’d love to hear what you use – my only request is that it’s unflavoured and unsweetened – I can’t deal with Stevia, it’s the worst.

What supplements do you take? Vitamin D, C, multi, probiotics and at night, a cal-mag. Speaking of which, do you find calcium/magnesium makes you sleepy? It acts like Ambien in my body!

Name your favorite almond butter(s):
I’m on a mission to sample every almond butter brand in existence. Superstore’s Blue Menu crunchy almond butter, Justin’s plain/maple, Maranatha raw, and my homemade raw almond/flax butter with vanilla beans – it’s so expensive to make, though! And hard on my food processor.

Living Mint Green

a holistic living blog: whole foods, recipes, running & adventures!

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