currently: march 2016

loving

Floating. I spent 90 minutes is the salty float tank at Awaken for Wellness in Saint Paul post Hot Dash 10 mile, and whoa… was it relaxing and restorative. I was a little tentative to even try it because I occasionally get claustrophobic, but I left the tank door open, just in case. Turns out, I wouldn’t have even noticed; my eyes were closed the entire time. With zero distractions, I nearly fell asleep. It almost felt how I imagine floating weightless in space would feel! More on floating in an upcoming blog post 🙂 

eating

A mishmash of whatever’s in the fridge. We’ve been sticking to our Sunday shops pretty well since starting them in January, but the meal planning? Not so much. Instead, we use this formula: lean protein, veggie (or two) and usually coconut rice (or quinoa). Not only is it delicious and fairly healthy, it pulls together in a cinch, important when you’re finishing a workout at 8p. 

Current favorites include ground bison (seasoned with our favorite seasoning, rogan josh), diced or grated sweet potatoes, spinach, green onions and cilantro over coconut rice; and chicken breast, broccoli or Brussels sprouts and green onions in a Nick-concocted curry sauce over coconut rice. And, at least weekly we have deconstructed tacos made with dark ground turkey (seasoned with Grandma Ferdon’s) and topped with avocado, pickled beets (my favorite!), spinach, cilantro and cheddar cheese over Whole Grain Milling Co. tortilla chips. 

reading 

A lot. I’ve been trying to make space for at least 30 minutes of reading (from an actual book) before bed. It’s such a great way to unwind, relax and disconnect from the blue glow of a screen. Recent reads have included Brooklyn, the Forgotten Garden and Let My People Go Surfing, and I’m just wrapping up the Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck. For the most part, it’s #ZFG around here (thanks for that hashtag, Beth!), but this book really narrowed them down further. 

Other good reads this month: 

• Triathlete Love: Side by Side. Great tips on triathlon training with your partner (including one from me!). 
• How to make sure your kids have grit, six secrets backed by research. While this article is primarily about kids, there are great takeaways from adults, too – like encouraging a growth mindset. 
• How people learn to become resilient. So many insights! Locus of control, positive psychology, reframing, and this: Do you conceptualize an event as traumatic, or as an opportunity to learn and grow? 
• Fear is boring, and other tips for living a creative life. Elizabeth Gilbert nails it with this piece (and in her book, Big Magic, which if you haven’t read, you really should). We are all creative, in different ways, so don’t for one second think you’re not. 

training

Training has been humming right along. Nothing very exciting to talk about, other than I’m putting in the work and giving each workout my best effort. And, for the most part, everything’s feeling great! There was some solid fatigue prior to the Hot Dash, but after plenty of sleep last week – 10 hours one night! – and many lavender Epsom soaks, I’m feeling much more rested and recovered.

Anyway, masters has been going really well and after every early morning practice – where I’ve been working on my flip turns – I wonder how on earth I swam solo for three years prior to joining. It’s a game changer! The bike is pedaling along, too. Workouts have been alternating between short + punchy (and painful!) and long + steady intervals, keeping the trainer interesting and fun (yes, I said fun). And, running… well, I couldn’t be happier with where it’s at right now! Excited to see what’s ahead, too. 

favorite quote right now

From what I’ve seen, it isn’t so much the act of asking that paralyzes us – it’s what lies beneath: the fear of being vulnerable, the fear of rejection, the fear of looking needy or weak. The fear of being seen as a burdensome member of the community instead of a productive one. It points, fundamentally, to our separation from one another. -Amanda Palmer in The Art of Asking