drinking
Homemade booch. At long, long last, Nick and I finally brewed our own kombucha. Not sure why we waited so long… it was so easy. Thank you, Coeur Sports teammate Erin, for the scoby! It made six bottles – flavored with fresh raspberries – which were gone in a few days with both of us drinking it. Next batch definitely needs to be doubled!
asking
If I keep doing what I’m doing, what will my life look like in five or 10 years? It’s not where I want to be, so I’m making changes. My new gig started last week (I forgot how mentally draining a new job is), and even though I always said I’d never go back to corporate America, here I am, a positive step at a great company.
reading
A House in the Sky. You guys, read this book. Wanderlust aside – holy wanderlust (even to Somalia if it weren’t so dangerous) – Amanda Lindhout’s memoir is incredible. The epitome of heart, courage, determination, perseverance and never giving up. She is one inspiring woman.
WITSUP’s excellent hormone nerd series. If you’re a woman and you participate in triathlon (or, any sport for that matter), this is a must-read. So much good information!
coaching
My first athlete! It was completely out of my comfort zone when I first started in January… ok, it still is a bit because I have her triathlon season in my hands(!). But, it’s been so much fun for a couple reasons. One, it’s been a great learning experience, teaching me about the other side of the sport. And, two – and by far the best part – is seeing Monica (also a Coeur teammate!) rock her training each week, reaching milestones that come with training for your first IM, smiling through the ups and downs. I cannot wait to race CdA along side her and watch her cross her first 140.6 finish line!
training
For Ironman Coeur d’Alene… and loving it! I talked about doing this race for a few months before officially signing up about a month ago when I heard it was close to selling out. Hard to believe, but race day is now just 72 short days away (how is that possible?!). Watch for a training update next week!
supporting
#50womentoKona. How is this even an issue?! It’s 2015! It’s not just about equal numbers racing at Kona (though that obviously needs to happen now); it’s about equality in general, which is a HUMAN issue. Because I want the same opportunities as men. Because I want my niece to have the same opportunities as men. Because it just. makes. sense.
A few great resources on the issue:
- Julia Polloreno‘s excellent piece in Outside Online
- Fifty Women to Kona: twitter
- TriEqual: facebook, website and twitter (find t-shirts + temporary tats here!)
What bums me out is that I’m registered for two WTC races this season, and as much as I’d like to put my money elsewhere, the lure of the possible opportunity to race Kona is strong. Because KONA! I dream of running down Ali’i Drive…
loving
The Garmin 920‘s sleep tracking function. There are many great upgrades to this multisport watch – I wear it most days for the activity tracking – but by far the best feature (for me) is the sleep tracking. When I started wearing it in early March, it was eye-opening to see how little sleep I was getting (6-7 hours a night). Because of it, I’ve made a conscious effort to hit the hay a little bit earlier. Two weeks ago, for example, I got 10+ hours on two consecutive nights! (Granted, I had a short flu bug, but still… even when sick, that much sleep is rare for me.)
visiting
Home-home. There’s nothing quite like being home-home and spending time with family. It fills me up and puts life and all that’s important into perspective ♥ (Can you believe we didn’t take one family photo?!)
quote of the week
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. -Marianne Williamson
33 Comments
Congratulations on the new job! That with the coaching makes it sound like you’re moving in a positive direction 🙂 Winter was so cold and long, spring really snuck up on us-good luck at IMCDA!!
Thanks so much, Amy! Upward always, right?! 🙂
When I read ‘Drinking’ my first thought was ‘Alcohol?’ 🙂 That is awesome about coaching: the IM Coeur D’Alene finish line will be so rewarding, in so many ways.
Ha! I could count on one hand the number of glasses of wine I’ve had in the last five months 🙂 Thank you, friend!
So awesome that you are coaching one of your Coeur teammates! And congrats on the new job. Glad you are enjoying it so far!! Keep on rockin’ your IM training. 🙂
Thank you, Kristen! YOU keep rocking your training for two! 🙂
Great to hear what is happening on your front!! Congrats on the new job!!!! Like you, I didn’t realize how “hard” starting a new job is. I am literally exhausted every night and it is not because I am doing 2 work outs a day. (I am used to that!) 🙂 That is so fun that you are coaching!!! I am sure you are rocking your training and can’t believe CDA is 72 days away which means Victoria is 58 days away!! Dang! I hate WTC and don’t want to do their races but they are becoming the monopoly. There is a race in Bend that I wanted to do and I just learned that WTC bought it. So SAD!!
I know! So much harder than two workouts a day, right?! Hope your new gig is going well, too. Gah… that IS sad that WTC bought it. It seems they’re buying a race in every single market. Sigh.
Okay, you could have left 72 days out of this post because COME ON!!! I’m over here with the broken wing, stupid tape job, anxiety. Okay, really though it’s exciting! And you are an AMAZING coach!!!! I like feeling like it’s collaborative-at least, like I have a say, and you will explain to me what the logic is, and work with what I do or don’t like to do. It is making it a super happy experience! I cannot WAIT to see you killing IMCDA out here!!! And coffee before and after!!! Note: there is a coffee shop in downtown spokane, so not WILDLY convenient to where you will be staying/where we race etc… but maybe on the way to the airport or from it (I’ll go too!) you MUST visit because: http://www.coeurcoffeehouse.com/
xo
I’m SO glad you’re having a happy IM training experience! That’s what it’s all about 🙂 SUPER pumped to race with you and watch you cross your first IM finish line – and, for good convo over Coeur coffee, obviously 🙂 xo.
Ohhhh, you going to tell us what the new gig is?? Also, I started ‘booching it up again too, but can’t for the life of me achieve the same fizz factor that I could when I lived on the east coast. I swear, it’s something in the ocean air! A friend just asked me to coach him…I’m a little scared to take it on–big kudos to you! Also loved Julia’s article, especially Julie Moss’ quote at the end. Happy training Erin!
Ha! Yes 🙂 I doing internal communications at UnitedHealth Group… positive change, and it’s going well (despite the commute)! Hope your ‘booch is brewing nice and fizzy! Mine didn’t get that fizzy, either, but maybe that’s because it was my first batch? Any tips or tricks? Yes to coaching! Do it! You’ll be a fantastic coach!
I loves me my booch!! Congrats on the coaching gig…it is so rewarding to inspire and help others find the same passion for endurance sport that we have 🙂 I love it!! I can’t wait to see your IMCDA performance and cheer you on from afar. I love that course 😉 I too am very disappointed with Ironman and their lack of support to get #50womentokona…grrr. Why is equality so difficult…not just in endurance sport, but everywhere?!?!?!?! I hope you are enjoying your new job. Keep training hard and inspiring 😉
Thank you, Kecia! Totally agree… we shouldn’t have to fight for equality ever. It’s 2015! Keep training hard and inspiring, too!
Congrats On your new job! And coaching!? I just told you the other day I needed a coach!! We need to talk 🙂 happy training! and hopefully I’ll see you this summer!!
Yes, let’s talk, Kathy 🙂 Yes to seeing you this summer… it’s happening!
I bet you are a fantastic coach! It must offer such a different perspective in terms of racing. Sounds like you are making some positive changes in your life – that you’ve wanted to make, while also staying focused on other aspects (like training!). Can’t wait to hear about your CdA training and the race!
Thanks so much, Kristina! The positive changes have helped immensely and have been so refreshing!
I love the quote in the end! Chills! : )
I know, right?! One of my favorites.
Again, so many things in common! New job and coaching!
My job was tiring for the first week or so, as I was in training, but now I have the hang of it and it’s not to bad. I have significantly less responsibility (and stress!) compared to my last job, so maybe that’s why I’m not wiped out.
I’m coaching one of my friends through her first 70.3. It is SUCH an honor that she trusts me with her journey.
Happy the booch worked out and slow usps shipping + cold didn’t wipe it out. In summer, you’ll have more booch than you can drink. It ferments super quick when it’s warm.
We do! How fun! I’m in the same boat at my new gig, though it’s more responsibility, but less stress than my last job (where I had a HORRIBLE boss). So cool you’re coaching, too! I agree… it IS such an honor to be trusted with something so important 🙂 Keep rocking it!
Ah so nice to catch up with you Erin! Congrats on the new job and your first athlete! That must be so exciting and to race together at CdA will be so fun! Thanks for sharing the “hormone nerd series.” I’ve been really interested in all things female athlete for the past month or so, so this will be an interesting read. Sounds like life is swell 🙂
Thanks so much, Kelsey! Our bodies are fascinating, right?! Hope all’s well with you, too!
Once again you’ve inspired me…to start brewing kombucha again! Thanks for sharing Erin!
How’s your brew coming along, Megan?! Any good flavor combos?!
Can’t wait to hear about your new gig. Please do share the details!!! And… you are COACHING!!! This is so exciting, Erin. Are you planning on taking on more athletes, or are you just getting a feel for what it might be like? It sounds like life it treating you well and that things are going good. IMCdA is coming up quick. Woot woot!
Thanks so much, Kristen! I’m working in internal communications at UnitedHealth Group 🙂 And, yes, coaching! It’s been a great experience and definitely gets me out of my comfort zone. Maybe more athletes in the future? I think it would be a rewarding side gig! The countdown is on… 45 days!
How fun you are coaching and the two of you are racing CdA together! You will love it so much.
We tired brewing kombucha but couldn’t get our scoby to get growing, now I am inspired to try again!
I can’t even explain how frustrated I am about 50 women and Kona, there really is no excuse for WTC not changing the rule. I feel the same way about boycotting but since I already gave them my money I will be showing up.
So excited to hear about your training =)
Yes, try again! Maybe it was just a bad scoby? Ugh to WTC, and now Challenge dropping the pro prize purse. I hope something changes asap! Hope your training is going well!
Congrats again on the new job!!! I can’t wait to hear more about it:) It’s not easy training for an IM when starting a new job… that is for sure!! I have just jumped on the kombucha bandwaggon and I had no idea you could actually make it on your own! I had no idea you were training Monica, that is SO awesome!!! What a great experience for you, and I’m sure you will take on many more athletes in the future! Keep rocking it !
Thanks, Kristin! Yes, stressful for sure, especially the first few weeks, but getting in the swing of things, finally 🙂 Yes, brew some booch! It’s super easy! Hope you’re well! Keep rocking your training, too!
[…] and focused… focused on each interval, each session, how my body feels, getting more sleep (more here and here), squeezing in functional strength + stretching sessions, and most importantly, enjoying […]