{FITNESS} that time i did something kinda crazy!

you guys! 

i havent posted over here since my duathlon {in october!} i have been so focused on my kindness blog & my new business, that this part of my life has kind of fallen down on the list.

in the past few days, i have really been wanting to come back, re-invent this blog & make it something that i love again.

one of my 2014 goals is to complete 12 fun runs // rides // races // events. i have registered for 2 and have a few more on my radar. {i dont belong to a gym and its been too cold // icy to get my road bike out} i cant really sign up for spring races until we can better gauge what our weather is going to be like..

when i first started this blog, it was for scrapbooking. and then for random musings {because nobody was reading, so i didnt need a filter}, and then crafting // creativity and most recently, it evolved into a vegan lifestyle blog. 

i would really love to focus more on fitness, good food, wellness, racing, ect ; i think that is where i am going next. and the truth is, i have been so consumed with my new business {which i LOVE}, that staying in super-shape hasnt been a top priority. im not biking or running {its been cold here, man!}, but am walking the dog 2-3 hours a day and getting in a workout video each evening before bed.

i havent gained any weight and my eating habits haven't gone out the window, but i am not taking care of myself the way i use to.

and staying accountable on this blog was a huge part of that. 

so, i am bringing the blog back.

this fall, i took some beginner swimming lessons through community ed. i am pretty afraid of the water and dont really know how to swim. its always been a fear that stresses me out. i am an adult, i should be able to get in the water.. i took 6 weeks of lessons, so i could learn some basic fundamentals. ill take more lessons in the future, feel safe in the water, and someday, complete a triathlon!

i have always thought that completing a tri would be awesome! i loved my duathlon last fall & plan do to a few more this year. i am strong on a bike, strong enough as a runner {i can always improve}, but being in open water has always held me back.

so, {here it comes}

yesterday, i signed up for 7 weeks {3x a week} of open swim at our local high school. that should give me time to feel safe in the deep end, work on strokes and get my breathing down.

i felt so empowered by my choice to leave fear behind, that i signed up for a sprint triathlon this morning!

you guys! that is huge! 

having something that takes practice on my radar, is so good for me. i can create a training plan & have a tangible reason to track my progress and continue to grow.

i am too old to let fear defeat me and my goals!

the race : 

you can see all the details here.

{its at the end of july, near minneapolis & its a 1/4mi swim, 22mi bike & 3.1mi run}

i am really excited. i can do it. i know i can. there might be days taht i get discouraged or feel overwhelmed, but i can do it. i can bike 22 miles. i can run 3 miles. i can learn how to swim ; how to move my body in water, how to believe in myself and call myself a SWIMMER. i totally can!

have you done a triathlon before? are you a strong swimmer?

what tips, tricks and resources do you have for me? 

come running with me {and lets talk about Girls On The Run!}

monday!
and the last day in september!
right now, i am laying on the bed, next to daphne and i have the window open. i love the breeze, hearing the traffic and seeing the leaves change color right outside the window!

do you know girls on the run? they are an international non-profit focused on inspiring young girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experienced-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.

i love this!
each 'session' is 10-weeks long and includes 20 lessons, empowering girls with a sense of self-aweareness, a sense of achievement, and skills for powerful team building. 
the girls run, play games & discuss important issues ; such as body confidence, bullying, contributing to the community and making healthy decisions.
i have two friends that are GOTR coaches & its something i have always wanted to be involved it ; but until recently, it just never fit with my work schedule.

programs like this are just so awesome! 
i was a 'poofy' kid; never skinny & never overweight. also, i had very little athletic ability. i played softball from ages 5-17, but in high school, it became a popularity contest & i was turned off.
i was the kid that cut corners around the track during the mile & was totally fine being picked towards the back of the pack in gym class. i was heavier than most girls in my class and i had friends that were really awesome athletes {actually, a few of them went on to play some huge games in college}. i never saw myself as 'heavy' or 'chubby' ; my lack of self-awareness was incredible. i didnt realize until i was in college that some our bodies look differently. {i know that sounds hard to believe, but i really was not aware of my size or the size of others until i was an adult}
i was pretty active as a kid ; i rode my bike, played with friends, played sports in high school {volleyball and softball} ; but i just never saw myself as an athlete. although, i was SO aware of others talents & had NO confidence in myself.

now, as a 29-year old adult, that makes me sad. i wasnt a sad or depressed kid ; but how awesome would it have been if there was a girls on the run-type of program in my town when i was younger? think of the confidence i could have built YEARS ago?!

i finally now see myself as an athlete. i am aware of my strengths {huge hills on my bike} and of my not-so-strengths {10:30 min miles and PUSH-UPS!} i make healthy choices & feel good in my body.
i feel lucky to have organically evolved into healthier choices & finding a good balance in my life. sadly, many women {my age and older} are STILL dealing with body-confidence issues. binging, self-loathing and sabotage ; all of that makes me so sad.
i strongly believe that if we all had programs like GOTR ; it could really change the way that ALL women see themselves!
we owe it to young girls everywhere to teach them the power of confidence, movement and other life skills.
there are GOTR chapters all over the country ; so if you are interested in becoming a coach, a running buddy or just connecting ; go here to find a location near you.

and minneapolis folks! 
want to run with me?
on november 16th, GOTR is hosting their end-of-session 5k and for the first time ever, its open to the public! {thats really cool!}
the run will be held at lake nokomis and is a fun run; it wont be chipped or timed!
i will be there and would LOVE to have you join me! we will be running {or walking!} with tons of girls from the cities and their running buddies!
if you want to feel awesome and inspired, i highly recommend running next to and cheering on young girls!
{this gives me goosebumps just typing it out!}

if you want to register, head here to sign up.
or, head here for a chance to WIN an entry!
{all runners get a shirt and food after the race}

stay connected to GOTR 
website // facebook // twitter // instagram // pinterest
{and here is the GOTR twin cities site} 

tell me : are you familiar with girls on the run?
did you have a positive body-mentor when you were a kid?
are you local? do you want to run with me?!

*disclaimer : Girls on the Run provided me with a few talking points & photos in exchange for a free entry into the 5k ; but all stories & opinions are my own!* 

#poweredbybits // an ENERGYbits GIVEAWAY!

happy tuesday, everybody!
after taking two days off after my race this weekend, i jumped right in to a new workout program!
i re-started the beachbody turbokick series. when i lived in portland, i use to take a turbokick class & it was my absolute favorite! i have the dvd workout series & will follow the program through the fall & winter. i have some super-exciting fitness goals on the horizon that i will be sharing soon ;)

lets talk about energy bits!
have you heard of them?
they are aspirin-sized tablets of spirulina {fresh water blue green algae} that give you a huge boost of energy. they are perfect for sleepy days or to help power you through your workouts.

i was sent a sample to try out & to be honest, it took me a while to get up the nerve to take them.

the tin contains about 75 tablets & the company suggests you take 30 tablets before your workout. im not a good 'pill taker' {i get that from my mother.} pills are hard for me to swallow; let alone 30.

from their site :

Spirulina is nature’s equivalent to an energy drink – but its even better because it’s 100% natural, 100% green, is carbon neutral, has only ONE calorie per tab and contains no sugar, no caffeine, no chemicals, no gluten and no soy. It is the richest source of protein in the world (60% - 70%), has more beta carotene, more antioxidants, more iron than any other food  

with my race coming up, i decided to try out the bits for some of my harder workouts {40min run + 60min bike, 90min bike, ect}. i am totally convinced they work, you guys! on a few longer rides and harder brick workouts, i felt really great. my legs weren't as tired and i didnt feel as 'bonk-y' towards the end!

bonus : two weeks ago, at the healthy living summit, all attendees got a tin of bits.
bonus x2 : the ONLY ingredient in energy bits is the spirulina algae ; nothing else! no crap, no additives ; NOTHING ELSE!

saturday morning {duathlon race day}, i drank some water, 30 bits & an energy bar and felt really great on the first run & during the bike ride.

you can read my whole recap here ;)

the folks at energy bits are looking to give a tin away to one of my readers!
i have made it super easy for you to enter!
if you are looking for an energy boost ; go ahead & enter! 
good luck ;)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

*disclaimer : energy bits sent me a tin to review. everything i have said is my own opinion!*

that time i completed a DUATHLON // a full race recap!

happy monday, everybody! 

so, this weekend, it happened! after 4+ months of training ; i finished the 2013 treadman duathlon!!!

i have done 10ks, a half marathon, an inline marathon {26.2 miles on rollerblades} and i even biked 460 miles across the state of iowa last summer ; but this was my first multi-sport event.

and honestly, this was the most fun! 

i noticed a huge difference this time around.

i had fun! 

seriously ; i enjoyed my training, i took care of my body and i never allowed negative self-talk to destroy me.

{confession : i have been that runner // rider in the past. i have talked myself down & brought myself to tears ; bullying myself for not being thin // fast // good enough to do anything}

i hate that. i hate that we allow ourselves to get into that mental state.

the awesome thing this time around : it never happened.

i am not a strong runner {biking comes way easier for me} ; but during the training AND the race ; i focused on the music & my form and continued to remind myself that i can do this. small steps are better than no steps at all. and i am so very lucky to have a body that allows me to run! 

how about a small race recap?! ;)

the race was last saturday in pine island, mn. it took about 90 minutes to get there ; so we left at 530am.

i drank a tiny bit of smoothie {maybe half a cup?} on the road ; but was starting to feel pretty nervous.

it was 44* when we got out of the car. i signed in, pinned on my bib & they marked up my legs {your bib number went on the back of your left calf & your age went on the right} and got my bike set up in the corral. {your bike, helmet, shoes, hydration pack &/or any other gear you need for your ride goes in a bike area}{when you are coming in from the run, you pick up your gear and WALK out of the bike corral ; then you can mount & take off} 

about 25 minutes before the gun went off, i took 30 energy bits tablets {im giving some away tomorrow!!}, a bit of water & had an energy bar from the people at ninja kitchen {they gave them out at the healthy living summit!}

i headed towards the back of the pack for the start of the 3.3mile run {seriously, not a fast runner} & *bang* ; gun went off, people started running! we started on a nature trail & went on gravel, past some farm houses, back onto pavement & into downtown.

my time after the run was 34min {pretty good for me!} and i was feeling great. good energy, great mindset, finally warming up & ready to nail the bike ride.

my transition from run to bike was 55 seconds ; in that time, i slipped on my hydration pack {filled with dark chocolate zico coconut water} & my helmet and ran out of the transition area.

when i read the race course description ; it said the ride was pretty flat, so i assumed i would be able to ride 17-19mph, pass a ton of folks & gain back a bunch of time. {the bike portion was 21.6 miles} 

WRONG! the first 8 miles were super flat, so i tucked in & rode hard {probably close to 18-20mph} ; but then we turned and the wind and the hills started! there were probably 15-20 hills ; some were rolling and pretty easy, and others were more intense. 

right around the halfway point {mile 12} ; there was a MONSTER hill! i mean it ; straight up and looked like it was going on for DAYS! i was in the lowest gear possible & got 1/4 way up the hill and my heart rate was 191 {also known as a heart attack!} ; so i got off and walked.

when i was doing the hill, there were 25-30 other folks on the hill and there were 3 people that rode all the way up ; everybody else was walking. it was seriously a beast! 

my goal time for the entire race was 2:19 ; but when i had 5 miles left of the ride, i noticed i had 25 minutes left until i missed my goal {and i still had another run...}

i didnt plan for the hills, but man, i was so proud of myself. i have really trained hard on how to use my gears and the best way to shift ; plus, my legs have gotten so much stronger. i would say that biking up the hills were my strongest suit for the entire race. i was so proud of how strong my legs have gotten.

coming in from the ride, i had no idea how fatigued my legs would be. i parked my bike in the corral, grabbed a handful of gummy bears from my pack & headed out for the last 3.3 mile run! i still felt pretty good, but i knew that this run would be a bit longer than the first. i told myself that i could walk when i needed to & i would run when i was ready. every few minutes, i would walk 15-30 seconds & then just keep truckin' along.

when i was on the bike, i probably passed about 30-45 folks ; many of which passed me once we were on the second run.. the second run was the same route as the first, but in reverse.

as i was getting closer to the finish line, i picked up my pace & crossed the finish line in 2:40:58 ; not bad for my first race! 

when i was planning for the race, i wanted to finish anywhere between 2:19 & 2:45 ; so i did just that.

i felt really great after the race. i hung out by the finish line & cheered for others that crossed and even high-fived a few of the racers that i recognized from the ride. i stayed for the awards ceremony, as well. i knew i wouldnt place in my age division ; but its so inspiring to see folks older than me crush times & records.

as i was picking up my bike, an older lady came up to me & said 'you passed me on the bike & i just wanted to say that you did a really awesome job!' awwww ; you guys, i felt so great. im sure it was easy to recognize me because i was dressed like a highlighter ; but she made me feel so great! 

this race was great! i had a lot of fun & felt really amazing. most of the folks in the race finished before me {the first guy finished in almost HALF my time} ; but i really felt so proud of myself.

4 years ago, i got on a bike for the very first time {as an adult}. i went from commuting on a 20+ pound steel-framed commuter bike to starting {and finishing!} an actual race. last summer, i biked across iowa and hated it. i cried every day & thought it was so hard and SO miserable ; but this weekend, i nailed every hill and felt so confident in my abilities. 

every race // ride i have ever done ; i have never trained properly & certainly never listened to my body. i have been injured {mostly IT band stuff} before // during most races i have ever done.

the fact that i trained, started AND finished this race with a smile, confidence AND without injury ; that makes me a winner. it totally sounds cheesy, but im super proud of my time!

also, i will definitely do another duathlon in the spring // summer, so if you are in the area {or want to come here!} i would love a training buddy!

finally, just a shout out to everybody that has been following my training, left comments, sent emails, tweets and good vibes ; i really appreciate it! 

ymx review // new workout gear

*these clothes were given to me from ymx by yellowman, through my relationship with fitfluential. of course, all the opinions are my own*

hi everybody! ive taken a couple days off from the blog & its felt great.

today was my LAST day working with kids! my 13-year career has come to a close! im super excited to be able to spend more time on both of my blogs! {and to sleep in. and hang out. and go to the library. i could go on... ;)}

lets talk about workout clothes! 

ymx sent me a couple workout tops to review ; one long sleeved & one tank. 

smart move, cuz fall will be here any minute & long sleeves are great for early morning rides & walks with the dog.

top #1 // here is the tank top ; its called the infinite flower scoop neck

i took this top for a couple of runs and did some stretching.

the pros : its SUPER lightweight and i really love the color.

the con : it rode up around my middle quite a few times while i was running. 

verdict : i like this top & i think it would work best for yoga & other low-impact activites

top #2 // infinite geometry long sleeve top here

{the color of the shirt is more accurate on the website vs my photos ; my lighting isnt super great} 

i like this top the best! {also, please excuse the mess on my bed ; im packing for a trip!}
the pro : again, super light weight & feels a little longer {so you dont have to worry about the ride-up as much}
the con : nothing

as a fitfluential ambassador, i am grateful to test out these clothes & share an honest review. i will gladly wear both pieces & add them to my 'fitness clothes' rotation.
as a consumer, i DO wish these pieces were more affordable {tank : $62 & long sleeve : $98}. IF they were made in the united states, i could see {and justify} paying that much for clothes {this brand is made in the us & i will gladly pay more to help create jobs & improve our economy}

have you ever tried their products before? feel free to head to their site & see if anything catches your eye!

website // twitter // instagram // #lifeartsport

4 weeks til my duathlon // THE HARDEST TRAINING WEEK SO FAR

oh my goodness ; gimme all your good vibes!
the race is in 3 weeks {whaaaa?!}
i have a lot on my plate right now & my goal for this week is to take all of my stress & use it to fuel my training. just to keep pushing & keep moving forward.

i weighed myself this morning {not a huge fan // believer in tracking progress by the scale} and since i started my training, i am down about 6 pounds. i am under 150lbs for the first time in YEARS ; thats pretty cool. i havent been nailing all of my training workouts, but when i go, i have been going hard.

my other big goal for this week {aside from actually getting them done} is to really work on fueling. on race day, i think i will eat something small & drink something before i start. i plan on RIDING with my hydration pack, so ill add some liquid electrolytes to my pack and sip & ride. then {depending on how i feel} i will pop a few chews before i start the last leg of the race.
any hydration // fueling tips are welcome!

three weeks to go //
monday : rest day // bike to work&back
tuesday : run 35min // bike to work&back
wednesday : run // bike brick {15min run + 80min bike} {either drive to work or end my brick there}
thursday : run 45min // bike to work&back
friday : bike 90min {either drive to work or end my ride there}
saturday : cross train 20min {EASY!} this will probably be a walk with daphne or some light yoga // stretching
sunday : THIS IS THE BIG ONE! my first ever run // bike // run brick!! {10min run + 70min bike + 15min run}

 here we go!
wish me luck!

july kona kase review! PLUS a discount code // fuel your inner athlete

happy tuesday! 

lets talk about kona kase! 

they are a monthly subscription box that sends snacks and food for fitness-minded folks.

i reviewed the june box here.

and below is what came in the july box.

disclaimer : both boxes were provided FREE to me in exchange for my review through my partnership with fitfluential. of course, all opinions are my own!

my favorite things in the box : LOVED the seed and nut trail mix from enjoy life! and the coconut chia bar from health warrior. i plan on buying both products from now on!

blake took the body glove surge gel to work. my stomach is SO sensitive to gels & blake rides to work each day. its good fuel for him. 

i tried the garukabar without reading the ingredients. it was good, but contained BUTTER. i talked to the  company & they say they know the farmers and its a small local dairy in vermont. thats fine if you eat dairy. i didnt check the ingredients {my fault, i know} ; but i have never had dairy in an energy bar. also, if you head to their site, you can request a free sample! {you cant beat service like that!}

 

daphne LOVED the perky jerky! she is taking some behavior classes right now, so we need treats that she totally digs & she loves beef jerky! {that dog eats pretty well..}

i have a 90 min brick tomorrow morning ; so i will try out the pro bar bolt chews. i have never had the chews, but ive had a couple different pro bars.

we also have not tried the paleo cookies yet.

if you are interested in kona kase, i definitely recommend it. we have had pretty good luck & you get a bunch of samples in your box.

for me personally, as someone who doesnt eat meat, eggs or dairy, i dont find a huge value in this box ; but have found new products that i have added to my grocery list!

bonus : if you want to try out kona kase, type in GIFTSUMMER to save $5 on your box! 

the healthy living summit : lets talk about bikes, minneapolis & making blog friends

happy tuesday! 
do you know the healthy living summit?
its an annual health // wellness // fitness conference, held in a different city each year.
this year, its held here, in minneapolis!
which makes total sense, you know? minneapolis is almost always rated as one of or THE top city for health & wellness in the country.
this state is really amazing. we have over 15,000 lakes. in the twin cities alone, we have hundreds of miles of biking and walking trails. the people of minnesota are known as a hearty bunch. it gets a bit cold here in the winter, but you still see people out each day ; running, skiing, walking their dogs.
having the conference here is super exciting. 
i feel like minnesotans are pretty proud of what we have got here.

so, lets talk about the conference!
its being held downtown minneapolis, september 13-15th.
there will be speakers, cool sessions, free food, city exploring and lots of new friends!
you can read all the faqs here.
the cost for the weekend is $130, but you can try to win a free entry here. {but hurry, you only have 5 more days!}
so far, there are over 80 people that are attending // speaking at the conference. the girls behind HLS were awesome enough to create a pinterest board with the blogs of ALL the folks attending! you can check that out here. click around, leave a few comments & make some new friends!!

for local folks, or people that are flying in on thursday or friday, there will be a whole bunch of fit mingle events. {love this idea!} all the info for the fit mingles has not been announced yet, but think 'active happy hours.' i will be hosting one friday morning that involves biking & being really nice ;)
on saturday, there will be a keynote speech & 10 break-out sessions.
{fun fact : i will be hosting a session about bike commuting & everything you need to know to stay safe & have fun on the bike!!}
you can see the entire schedule here.

i am super excited for the summit!
also, in the next couple of weeks, i will be creating a few posts about all the awesome things to see & do here in the cities!
if you are coming from out of town & need a place to stay {most attendees are staying at the hilton downtown} ; blake & i would love to host you. we already have two girls staying with us {hooray for new friends!!} ; but we have more room if you are on a budget or need a bit of space to recharge.

tell me : are you attending?

6 weeks til my duathlon // this weeks training plan

SIX! 
let me just say : i went for a run this weekend and it was really hard.
{i will talk about this more later this week} but i really need to get my act together with my running.
i have been making excuses, doing a bit of self-sabatoge {NOT OKAY!} & struggling!
i know i am capable of completing this race and i know how lucky i am to have a body to is ABLE to move. i need to find my rhythm & really use this next month and a half to get prepared!

week 8 // recovery week {also a good excuse to hit all my workouts!}
monday : rest day
tuesday : run 30 minutes {quicker pace than usual}
wednesday : bike 75 minutes {17-20MPH}
thursday : run 30 minutes
friday : 60 min hot yoga
saturday : bike / run brick {75min bike + 15min run}
sunday : run 30 minutes

want to catch up?
week 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6  

i would love to hear your advice for getting 'unstuck' or out of a training rut!!

{celebrity sighting} the time dolvett quince pet my dog

can you believe its almost AUGUST?!

[the eighth month of the year!?!] 

a few weeks ago, i was contacted by a local PR firm, asking if i would be interested in taking a fitness class hosted by dolvett from the biggest loser. its a class designed to keep both humans & their dogs in shape & healthy.

sign me up!

the class was last weekend & was pretty fun.

blake & i tag-teamed with daphne ; she has some pretty intense fear-based nervousness with other dogs when she is on the leash.

shes fine with humans ; but when other dogs approach & shes on the leash ; she has a really hard time. in the past six months, we have made some pretty incredible progress [last year, we couldnt be within 4 blocks of another dog without barking, splaying, growing & pulling]. right now, she still isnt able to greet dogs, BUT we can pass // be around dogs 10-15 feet away with pretty good results.

daphne attends daycare a few days a week & does really, really well ; but when the leash is on ; she struggles.

we knew that an event like this [50 humans + 50 dogs] might spell trouble, but we wanted to give her a the benefit of the doubt & a chance to interact with other dogs.

look at the air this guy is getting on his box jump!! {i love dolvetts face here} // tiff & wotan doing a relay // my friend sho carrying maggie

the event was held at a park in the suburbs of minneapolis. there was a 30 min window to register & the class was 45 min long.

dolvett led the class & it was sponsored by banfield pet hospital.

we did jumping jacks, planks, relay races, laps around the park, squats & other exercises. daphne, blake & i were in the back of the class, off to the side. daphne did a pretty great job, overall. she laid down while we were planking & she ran on the very outside of the circle when the other dogs were doing laps.

the group doing laps // daphne taking a bit of a break // my friend tiff with her 2 pups

after the class, we were able to meet dolvett & take a photo.

he took the time to introduce himself, ask our names [and our dogs] and pet each pup. he also took a minute & chatted while he was taking photos.

i think dolvett is a total babe & was really impressed with how he treated everybody in attendance.

and OMG ; can we all just 'sqeeeee' at this second picture ; look how he is looking at me. haha.

i think dog fitness classes are a great idea & wont be surprised if they become a new fitness craze.

*also, when we took daphne to the class, we brought along both her pinch collar & her bark collar. if you have any questions about how they work // why we use them ; please ask before you leave a nasty comment.  both look scary & mean ; but we have been trained on how to use both. her bark collar wasnt turned on [she wears one when we are around other dogs & it seems to have the same effect on her as a toddler with a pacifier] & we use the pinch collar to a) keep her from pulling my arm off & b) keep her focused. ALSO, a pinch collar is NOT the same as a choke collar! i am happy to answer any questions!*

see you tomorrow!!