YERGAH!

I love running, it is one of my favorite activities. But believe it or not, it isn’t the only thing I love to do. I know at times it seems like I am all running all the time, especially after surgery and training up for a half, then running back to backs halfs, then Ragnar it probably seemed that way. But honestly, if I lived in a more bike friendly area- I would be cycling every day and running only on occasion. I also love, love, love group fitness classes. I spent the first couple years of my journey taking every class I could find/afford before I even thought about running. There is something special about the camaraderie to be found in group fitness- whether it’s boxing or yoga, it’s there and it’s awesome.

After Ragnar I was all set to start PiYO. E bought me the DVD set for Christmas and I was just waiting to be out of HM/Ragnar training mode before I started it. I wanted to be able to dedicate myself to the program- following its 6 day a week for 8 weeks schedule. So a few weeks ago I started it and guess what??? I really did not like it. Maybe it’s because I dislike straining my neck as I look up from the floor to the TV to see what is happening. Maybe it’s because I felt it was boring and it did not grab my attention or raise my energy like T25 or Combat did.  I am not sure but I knew I wasn’t going to make it the 8 weeks. I hated to quit PiYo but it felt inevitable. Instead I opted to start back at real yoga classes taking advantage of a great deal one of our local studios was offering for May and bought a month of unlimited classes pass. And so it began…

One of the reasons I love yoga is that it helps me feel centered and calm. It brings me closer to a zen-like state and I like that. Heck, I need that. With all the running (literal and figurative) around I do, I need something to balance out the chaos. My life, most days, is almost all yang with very little yin. And that takes its toll on me- mentally, spiritually and physically. It’s only been a week back into my practice and I have already noticed a huge difference in my mood and my anxiety. I was super stressed all the time before. I would stress over any little thing so easily. It was eating away at me. And as much as I love running it does not have a calming effect on me. It is the opposite. To me, running is aggressive and impactful and although it is awesome, it is not my calming, happy place. It is my I am empowered and awesome and doing all the things and I just want to run and run and run but it is not my zen.

And like I said, I need some more zen in my life. And E, well he needs me to have more zen in my life too!

This go around, when half marathon training begins later in the summer, I need to make sure I do a better job at balancing both. My goals need to be both running AND yoga related. I need to do better with my activity balance, remind me I said this in a couple months ok?

Until then, I am just going to enjoy trying out a new studio and sampling any/every class that works into my schedule and, of course, treat each like the gift it is. The gift that can bring me inner peace if I allow it. That right there is priceless.

All the yoga memes FTW!

Yes, a million times yes! 

Just kidding! I drink beer in my yoga pants. 

Love and hugs,

Dacia

xoxoxoxo

Working My Way Back

I spent this weekend trying to get back on track. It has been a little less than a week since we moved into our new place, I had a week of working at my new job under my belt, I learned what grocery stores carried what, what fitness centers available to me (yeah, I have three FREE options- work, base, and the apt complex) had what equipment and my Vitamix arrived Friday so I had no excuses left not to get my life (RE: training and eating) back on track. So, on Saturday morning Paul and I set out to do just that.

Our first stop was the local farmer's market. It was pretty small and most people were selling just baked goods but we managed to find some amazing rainbow swiss chard, baby kale, carrots and broccoli. It was raining so I think there were probably less vendors that usual. It was our first trip there so we aren't really sure what the norm is but we still plan on going back. Especially since it is on the way to base, which was our second stop.

My half marathon training schedule called for a 7 mile run but the weather forced me to run inside instead of the awesome chip trail I ran on the week before. Sidenote: Sunshine State...is that sarcasm? We've had 2 sunny days out of the 2 weeks I've been here. I don't do well in these conditions. I need sun daily or I go a bit mad. Hopefully the weather gets better. Anywho...7 miles to run. I am still not great when it comes to running a constant speed on the treadmill so I ended up splitting my time between the treadmill and the elliptical. I did just shy of four on the treadmill (snooze fest) and a bit more than three on the elliptical. I was hoping to use the arc trainer but there weren't any available so I grudgingly used the elliptical. I know those elliptical miles don't really count as running but hey, I did the best I could.

Then we headed to the natural foods co-op to pick up some bulk goods. I am a huge fan of buying grains, seeds, nuts, etc in bulk and now that I have a Vitamix I am can use them whole or grind them to make my own flours, nut butters, non-dairy milks, and such. So far I used the Vitamix to grind my own corn meal out of popcorn kernels, flax meal out of flax seeds, and I made some apple juice (for a recipe that called for it as a cooking liquid) using an apple and some water. This week I plan on making some hummus and almond milk as well. I am so excited to be able to make more of the things I eat at home especially almond milk. It's hard to find a decent non-dairy milk that isn't pumped with funky chemicals and preservatives. I used to only buy the Whole Foods brand but I don't have that option down here. I have been using a brand of soy milk I found that has just two ingredients; soybeans and water, but I prefer almond milk over soy so I am glad I can make some myself.

This weekend we also created our meal plan for the week:

Sunday: Stuffed peppers with swiss chard hash

Monday: Polenta (made from the cornmeal I ground yesterday) with green lentils (which I am currently sprouting) and portobello mushrooms topped with a creamy basil/spinach/sun dried tomato sauce and steamed broccoli

Tuesday: Veggie burgers (new recipe out of the Vitamix cookbook) with fries and greens

Wednesday: Tofu scramble with tomatoes, mushrooms, onions and spinach with hash browns

Thursday: Portobello steaks with roasted cauliflower and sage carrots

As I mentioned above, I am sprouting some lentils right now. I am also sprouting some quinoa to use to make my own rejuvelac- a natural probiotic. I have found kombucha down here but it's more expensive and I am kind of sick of paying so much for it. I can make 64 ounces of rejuvelac using only 1 cup of quinoa. That will save me between $13-$15 just by making my own. And if it does the same thing as the store bought kombucha then I totally think it's worth the effort.

I also made up a huge double batch of steel cut oats in the crockpot yesterday. It was pretty simple recipe; I just threw some oats, water, soymilk, an apple, and two plums in the crockpot with some pumpkin pie spice (couldn't find the cinnamon) and let it cook. Then I portioned them into 1/2 cup servings (which I will have 2 of for breakfast) by scooping them into lined muffin tins and freezing. So that took care of breakfasts for the next two weeks. Score.

My training plan for this week will be running Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Hot yoga with my friend Jodi on Saturday morning, and hopefully a bike ride around the UWF mountain bike trails on Sunday.

It feels good to have a plan, to be able to eat 'real' foods again, and to finally be able to shift my focus back to training and being active. I feel like crap when I eat crap and I feel like a sloth when I act like one.

Happy Monday!