currently: summer 2017

Here’s a look at what’s been up this summer. Well, mostly what’s been up since IRONMAN Canada. Because we all know that peak training doesn’t leave much time for anything besides swim bike run eat recover sleep repeat, right?

feeling

Better and more settled. Not gonna lie, the post-race blues were legit. More so than after any other race. I cried a LOT – and then looked at the 35-39F AG race results and got pissed. I honestly don’t know that I’ll ever feel good about IRONMAN Canada – and that’s ok – but rather than dwell on it, I’m choosing to look at it as an opportunity. An opportunity to really recover physically and mentally (five IMs in two years… yikes), to strengthen + sharpen my mental game (lots of books to read!), replenish the well, to swim bike run when I feel like it, and to focus on things outside of triathlon. Five weeks out, I’m feeling immensely lighter and better – and am hungry for redemption. This journey isn’t over yet! 

reading

So many fantastic articles lately! Some were shared via Mario Fraoili’s the morning shakeout (if you’re not a subscriber, sign up now! It’s excellent) and others found via social. I’m sensing a theme – a couple of the articles and the book I’m currently reading, Peak Performance, are by Brad Stulberg. He’s a great writer and his insights are thoughtful and spot-on. Here’s a round-up of my favorite recent reads. 

• Maybe we all need a little less balance. I’ve said it before – there’s really no such thing as balance. It’s all about your priorities. Stulberg says it well: Maybe [the good life is] about pursuing your interests fully, but with enough internal self-awareness to regularly evaluate what you’re not pursuing as a result — and make changes if necessary.
• If you don’t prioritize your life, someone else will. A thoughtful read on saying yes or no and I have to vs. I choose to. What do you say? 
• Why do rich people love endurance sports? What resonated most with me from this read: …endurance sports offer something that most modern-day knowledge economy jobs do not: the chance to pursue a clear and measurable goal with a direct line back to the work they have put in. This! This is one reason I love triathlon so much. 
• The most effective way to say no to things you don’t wanna do. I’m guilty of it – saying yes to things when when every ounce of my being is screaming no. So I’ve been trying the reframing suggested in this article: saying I don’t rather than I can’t. It works, too. 
• A woman’s place. Ladies, read this right now. All of this. I so relate to her. 

loving

Spending time with family and friends. While I always have time for my nearest and dearest, it’s harder to sneak in brunch + dinner dates during peak training. August freed up time to connect with my closest friends over brunch, attend my cousin’s bachelorette party in Wisconsin (a super late night with so much dancing!), and spectate friends and Coeur Sports teammates at the YWCA Women’s Tri. More to come in September with a trip to volunteer and spectate at IRONMAN Wisconsin (I may have visited the “register now” page multiple times… along with Louisville and Cabo!), a visit home-home for my dad’s and my grandma’s birthdays, and my cousin’s wedding. 

working on

Our new house! Nick and I bought a cute 1925 bungalow in south Minneapolis a couple months ago. So we’ve spent most of our free time (which wasn’t much until August) stripping wallpaper (OMG – it’s in every single room), patching cracks and painting. We finished the second level – and I’m obsessed with this nook in our bedroom. The perfect reading spot. 

Next up: Continuing to strip wallpaper (anyone have any pointers?). And prepping for our contractor to start the week of September 11. We’re gutting and completely renovating the kitchen and bathroom, and we couldn’t be more excited to create our dream spaces. The process so far’s been a blast! I love interior design – picking out tile, paint, furniture, lighting, etc. – as well as getting my hands dirty (if I knew how to hang sheetrock I’d do it!). It’s so fun to have a vision for each space and see it come to life as our home. More posts to come… 

setting

Goals for the second half of the year. IRONMAN Canada threw my original big goal out the window, so I’ve been reassessing what I wanna tackle the rest of this year. I have 10 goals for the next four months, including taking a couple personal + professional development classes, taking a kombucha brewing class, and launching my freelance website. Stay turned for goal updates as the year progresses! What are you working on? Any big goals? Share with me below!

favorite quote

One has to decide whether one’s fears or one’s hopes are what should matter most. –Atul Gawande, Being Mortal