Coconuts, Hikes, & Sunshine

Is it just me, or is it incredibly satisfying to enjoy life's simple pleasures?

Exhibit A: I call this the trifecta breakfast: fresh-picked flowers, juicy watermelon, and the Living Word.

Exhibit B: I have a new Thursday tradition with my dear friend, Carrie!  We chit chat, catch up on life, and generally just build each other up while hiking in God's beautiful creation (usually somewhere in the Cuyahoga Valley Nat'l Park).  This park is my favorite location for a long hilly run, as well as hiking.  It's really hard not to smile at this place.  You can become blown away and simply in awe of how much God showers us with beauty in the world.

We usually bring our dogs along, too!  What a joy to watch them frolic about the park off their leashes (and swim after Canadian geese)!

Exhibit C: I have, what some might call, an unhealthy obsession with coconut.  If you would like to know a key to my heart: put coconut in anything and everything; salads, raw vegan desserts, on fruit.  I even use coconut oil as lotion (which I highly recommend!  I haven't bought lotion since I tried it a few months ago).  

So needless to say I have been a regular customer at Heinens where they sell whole coconuts for $1.50!  They are preferable over the bagged, shaved coconut for several reasons: there are no preservatives, they aren't coated with sugar, it's cheaper, the water inside the coconut can also be used, and it's a super fun afternoon project to crack them open!  Or maybe I just enjoy using a hammer...

I am planning on rolling raw organic dates in this freshly grated coconut.  It's my favorite pre-workout pick-me-up!

I hope you can enjoy life's simple pleasures today.  :)

This week has been strange for me in that I'm no longer on a rigorous triathlon training schedule!  I'm feeling a little blue that triathlon season is over, but also very refreshed and well-rested.

Although this next topic is highly arbitrary, I wanted to share anyway.  Today I've been reflecting on Luke chapter 12:48.  I try to pray on and think about this verse a lot because I feel it's how God has been specifically trying to work on me.  In a nutshell, it talks about to whom much is given much is required.  We have been entrusted with and blessed with so many wonderful things in our lives that we are expected, and should want to, pour out that thankfulness in the form of praise and giving to others.  If we really think (and I mean REALLY think) about our lives, we should be absolutely floored and blown away about our amount of possessions, loving family and friends, wealth, health, prosperity, opportunities...!  I want my life to be less about me and my wants and desires.  I want to live every portion of my life in awe and gratitude to the one who has blessed me.  :)

I have three treats for you: my professional photograph from the race on Sunday, a little video, and a great ab workout. 

Enjoy! 

Killer Ab Workout!

What a Wonderful Weekend :)

Do you ever have one of those days where you're so thankful to be alive?

That happened to me.  3 days in a row!

My weekend included (but was not limited to):

-Campfires and conversation

-New friends and close family members

-Hot tubs and sunsets

-Boating and water sports

-Organic fresh food and relaxing movies

-A triathlon with a chilly swim, a hilly cycle, and strong run all complete with a loving "cheering section"

The view from Ashley and Jimmy's house :)

Jimmy is a stellar wakeboarder!

If you know Ashley, you are blessed.  If you don't, you should.  :)

Jimmy is first in the video doing a flip.  He's awesome.  I'm next on the skis and I'm not so awesome.  I was pretty excited that I got up on my 2nd attempt!  But I enjoy my scream, the wipeout, and Ashley's laugh even more than my getting up quickly.  Third is Jim's friend Brandon.  He was unbelievably talented on the wakeboard (it usually takes someone an entire day to figure out how to get up.  He did it on his first try AND cleared the wake).    

The Portage Lakes Triathlon was this morning and it was the coldest race all season!  45 at the start and 68 at the completion.  It was lovely.  And it was also the largest race all season (the most participants). 

  

Swim: It was 48 degrees when I entered the water!  I felt extremely strong throughout the whole swim.  Although the abundance of seaweed was a nice surprise.  :)

Bike: This bike course was VERY hilly.  I expected it, so the last few weeks included a lot of hilly workouts.  The bike leg is my favorite portion of triathlons, so naturally I enjoy the steep inclines.  I also am a HUGE fan of shouting "thank you!" to the policemen directing traffic at each intersection.  As well as encouraging racers who are struggling with a polite "keep it up!" and "passing on your left".  I was not used to the frigid breeze blowing over my bare legs, arms and shoulders when traveling 35+ mph downhill.  But I loved it anyway.

Run: I'm usually pretty exhausted halfway through the 6.2 mile run.  However, I had so much fun during this 10K because of my cheerleaders!  Ashley, Jim, Brandon, and my friend from church Travis came!  It is delightful to see smiling faces and hear encouraging statements from "fans" of yours.  My goal was to finish under 54 minutes (9 minute miles) because of my lingering hip flexor injury, but I actually finished slightly over 51 minutes.  Not too shabby.  :)

Au revoir, 2011 triathlon season!  See you next year! 

"I will not boast in anything; no gifts no power no wisdom (no triathlons).  But I will boast in Jesus Christ; His death and resurrection!"  

I had an exceptionally wonderful run yesterday.  It was 90 minutes long at gorgeous Kendall Hills in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.  And bonus: it was breezy and 55 degrees (at 5pm)!

Kendall Hills was (and still is) my high school's race location when we host cross country meets.  The copious amount of hills makes it the 6th hardest course in the state! 

This 90 minute run I completed has a name.  In high school the joke we used to make for this type of workout (in our slightly immature and witty banter) was LSD: Long Slow Distance.

During a long slow run you are NOT to calculate your miles.  You are to simply run a certain amount of time.  The control freak in me wants to know exactly how long it takes me to run, let's say, 14 miles.  But you are simply going by time.  

And SLOW is the other factor.  This workout requires some self control to slow down your pace by a few minutes per mile when you would rather go your normal speed.

Just 2 more days until the Portage Lakes Olympic Distance Triathlon!  

1500m swim

26 mi bike

6.2 mi run

I am a lucky girl to get to spend the next few days at my sister and brother-in-law's house!  And even luckier that they are coming to the race to cheer me on.    Ashley still holds the award as the cutest pregnant girl.  :)   

This season I have developed some traditions the night before races: 

-I paint my toenails (usually a happy pink color).  :)

-I watch a 90s movie (the last one was Driving Miss Daisy.  The one before was Turner and Hooch).  

-I get all of my items ready for the race and leave my outfit lying out.

-I eat a Raw Revolution bar (they are unbelievably tasty!).  They have 2 flavors that are 100% raw and the rest are about 80%.  This one is my favorite:

I also have some fun traditions the morning of races:

-I eat another Raw Revolution bar.

-I have a devotional and Bible time.  It really puts me in the right mindset for the race.  It puts my life into perspective and helps me start the day with a thankful and grateful attitude.

-Driving to the race I eat 8 dates, a banana, and an apple.

I'll post race results and pictures on Monday.  Stay tuned!  

If you haven't watched my video from the previous post I talk about how I'm doing a juice fast this Monday (the day after the race).  This is, of course, AFTER I treat myself to a vegan dessert Sunday night.  :)

Have a lovely weekend!

“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past…we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude.  Isn't life 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it?  Let us be thankful: we are in charge of our attitudes!”
-Swindoll

La Joie de Vivre :)

My apologies for a severely belated post.  

Life has been wonderfully busy training for my last triathlon of the season!  It's this Sunday in Akron and should be delightfully challenging.  I will continue to participate in running races throughout the fall and winter, and am already looking forward to spring for the next triathlon.  :)

Enjoy.  

Dare greatly.

I have a confession to make:

I did not want to run in my 5 mile race this morning.  Not even a little bit.

The reason for this sudden bad attitude is three-fold:

1.  For the past few days I have been ignoring an injury.  At my hip flexor to be exact.  And I am confident this injury stems from overuse.  I am often bad at listening to my body when it tells me that I need to take it easy. So I simply push through pain.  I suppose that is a blessing and a curse.

  

2.  Last week I experienced some hurt and pain in my personal life that is still nagging me like a bad cold.  It's a long story and full of details that would make this post the antithesis of "cheerful, informative, and succinct".  But let me just say that when someone says hateful, hurtful things to me it brings my spirit down immensely.  Wishing I could be more like my little sister and not let silliness bother me so much.  She is one tough girl and I admire her for that.

3.  Only about 75% of my diet on Saturday and Sunday was fresh, organic, raw food.  My body has informed me on several occasions that it's upset with me.  Must go back to 100% raw vegan.  I'm craving it and ready to get back on track.  I went to bed last night lacking some confidence I would perform well since I reintroduced my system to cooked vegan food (and, don't judge me, some red wine with a side of wedding cake). 

Nevertheless, I had a debate with myself yesterday that lasted a good 3 hours as to whether or not I was going to run.  It went a little something like this (and yes I made a list).

Pros: My Dad and Jayne are coming to watch!; you are already registered; the race is for a good cause (Akron's pregnancy center); it's in the midst of a Christian family-friendly festival (talk about livening up my spirit); you can ask God for help!; this run will make you feel better; it's a much needed opportunity to not be down on yourself and think, pray, and be thankful.

Cons: I don't want to.  I just don't want to.  I'd rather stay in bed; I don't want to make my injury worse; if it starts hurting badly I'll have to slow my pace down significantly; my diet has been yucky the past two days; I can't stop thinking about nasty things that were said to me and would rather just sleep in; I just don't want to.

What I've found with this lifestyle is that it's just that: a lifestyle.  

My participation in races and eating raw vegan food is similar to my relationship with Jesus: it's something that I desire to pursue each day (accompanied with a great attitude) and not let life's struggles and hardships dictate how I feel at that moment.  Satan has a way of letting temporary pain and sadness really throw me off track and try to convince me to give up (and be stubborn.  I could use a little less stubbornness in my personality to be honest).  We are all called to make a loving and interesting journey from cradle to grave.  Wouldn't life be a lot less interesting to not make mistakes and get off track now and then?  It definitely gives me an opportunity to self-reflect and seek God.

Listen to this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbvgOJl8H2c

If you haven't figured it out, I did run in the race, and finished quite well with an injury if I do say so myself (39:59...right at 8 minute miles).

And I did quiet my mind, think, and pray during the race.  It was really enjoyable.  And I loved having my Dad and Jayne there to cheer me on.  I even ran into my old cross country coach who is has always been full of vim and vigor and ever-encouraging.    

Lovely Jayne.

Isn't it funny how much I resemble my Dad?  

Coach Howard: cross country and track coach extraordinaire.  
"...if you fail, at least you can fail while daring greatly". FDR

ipod schmipod.

I have quickly evolved into, without force or torture, what triathletes call a "workout purist".  It's a rather new term because it's referring to exercising without ipods, mp3 players, etc.  

During triathlons, ipods are not permitted for two reasons: safety, and an unfair advantage.  I do not complain about this policy because I happen to agree with both reasons.  It is nearly impossible to hear someone say "passing on your left" (which is the correct and considerate phrase to say when passing another racer) while on the bike with an ipod.  In addition, racers with music have the potential to be more motivated, pumped up, and all around less bored during the 26 mile cycle and 6.2 mile run.

I have third reason as to why I prefer to race and workout without music: it gives me the opportunity to quiet my mind and thank God.  For everything!  Not only for the fact that He blessed me with health and ability to compete, but for the simple realities that I take for granted every day.  These thoughts usually rattle off in my brain during runs and cycles: How blessed am I to have a warm bed and a roof over my head every night?!; I have an abundance of delicious and nutritious raw food to eat; I have wonderfully loving and supportive family and friends; and the classic: how neat is it that I'm able to swim, bike, and run?!  For a hobby!

A few months ago I cut out listening to my ipod altogether during workouts, and hence, became a "workout purist".  It was tough at first; cycling for 3 hours in silence really forces you to enjoy the sound of your own breathing (which is not terribly entertaining), and running for over an hour without the help of a catchy tune makes you notice the pounding of your feet on the pavement (which is even less entertaining).   As an added bonus, eating only raw foods has made my thoughts more clear and precise (which is an aberration for someone as scatterbrained as me). 

Cutting out music started out as practice for races.  But I quickly began to look forward to long runs, bikes, and swims simply for the fact that I could quiet my brain to think and pray.  How often in our over-articulated and over-technologized culture do we get to enjoy silence?  I think it's a lost art that needs to be resurrected from time to time.  I challenge you to practice being quiet this weekend; whether if it's not using music during a workout, or simply reading a book outside in nature. 

  

And if you're very lucky, racing without music also lets you hear the chants and cheers of loved ones who came to the race to support you. :)