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indoor lighting
Outdoor lighting (I wore my orange flats that day- and I love them! š )
Itās pretty, right? It looks like winter in nail polish form š This blue was a bit of a hassle to get off last weekend, as the blue color seemed to get ALL over my fingers as it was coming off! Does anyone have good hints to deal with this? Itās also more difficult for me to clean up my nails as I want them when itās blue (i.e. the few specks that are on my cuticles). Even with that though, I just love this color.
Ok, now onto some random Friday Facts:
1. I watched my first episode of āFriday Night Lightsā the day before my half marathon in November (the one I set an awesome new PR at!), and have been slowly making my way through the showĀ since then (I took most of the Christmas season off ofā¦ everything, pretty much, except for Christmas movies). I just started the third season on Thursday, and am loving the show!
2. I watched the movie āGone Girlā this past weekend (I read the book this past summer and really enjoyed it), and thought they did a great job with it! I forgot just how twisted it was, and felt myself getting anxious, even though I knew the story-line. Have any of you seen it yet? Thoughts?
3. Iāve been on a reading kick since the start of the year, and just finished my 6th book of 2015! I know the next few months are going to be really really busy, with very little time for reading, so Iām trying to enjoy the time while I can!
4. I took my outdoor porch lights down last weekend since it got up into the 40s and the snow melted off of it, but Iāve been really dragging my feet at the indoor lights. I love turning on the white lights when Iām in my living room- they make it nice and cozy!
5. I finally took down my Christmas tree and the final Christmas decorations still up in my living room yesterday. I was going to do it the previous weekend, but it just didnāt feel like quite the right time to do it. I did leave one strand of white lights up in the living room to enjoy in the evenings (it just makes everything feel much warmer). I try to leave my tree and lights up a bit longer than normal to help ease the transition into the long weeks of winter ahead š The room definitely feels a bit empty now.
Now itās your turn to share! Tell me a random fact from your week! When do you take down your Christmas tree and/or Christmas decorations?Ā
Hello hello, and happy Thursday! Ā Hereās what Iām thankful for at the moment:
Iām thankful for a āJanuaryĀ thawā:Ā There were a few days that we were in the upper 30s and low 40s, but it felt absolutely amazing outside (7 days before the start of the thaw, the feels like was -25, so really the temperature feels about 60 degrees warmer). I loved being able to take walks without 5 layers of clothes on, and I REALLY loved being able to run outside instead of the treadmill last weekend!
Iām thankful for game night!Ā This past Saturday night I helped put onĀ a game night for a group of people, and we had a great time! I love a good night of fun, snacks, and laughter with friends š
Iām thankful for laughter.Ā I laugh a good amount in life, and itās so hard to imagine life without this little joy in our days.
Iām thankful for beautiful sunrises.Ā The colder weather seems to bring beautiful sunrises and sunsets, and Iāve been really enjoying them! This past weekend, I stood outside on my porch for almost 5 minutes and just watched the sunrise; it was beautiful! Iām thankful for these gorgeous displays of color each day.
Iām thankful for blankets.Ā Honestly, cuddling into a cozy blanket is one of my favorite parts of winter, and Iām taking it to the max this year! Most days Iāve had anywhere from 3-5 blankets on my couch, and have enjoyed snuggling underneath them!
Now itās your turn to share! Whatāre you feeling thankful for today?
Reading while on my bike trainer
This autobiography, by Chrissie Wellington, is about her journey from undergrad student to Ironman (I wonāt spoil it by saying how many times) and World Triathlon Champion. This story held my attention the entire time, and was truly inspiring. I actually took pictures of a few pages along the way because they spoke so much to me! I found myself feeling nervous and cheering out loud as I read this book.
a cozy night with lactose free hot chocolate & reading
This was a really quick read, and it takes the reader all over the world through various races and experiences in many cultures. If youāre looking for an inspiring read, even if you arenāt a triathlete, then Iād encourage you to consider this book! Iāll leave you with a quote from the book that stood out to me:
āI am motivated above all by the little voice inside that urges me on to fulfill my potential. Everyone has the same voice in them somewhere, but many are too scared to listen to it, too scared to try, too scared of failure. The fear is immobilizing, but it is also our own personal construct andĀ thereforeĀ doesnāt exist inĀ reality. Never imagine anything is impossible, and never stop trying out new things. My life has taken me to so many wonderful places and has truly enriched me. None of it would have been possible if Iād let timidity overcome the impulse to exploreā (p. 143).Ā
Encouraging and inspiring, right?
Last ThursdayĀ was different, though. It was one of those days where everything seemed to click on the bike. Sometimes staying in one place gets really monotonous, but not last Thursday. I have my bike in front of the windows that look out onto my porch, so I feel like Iām at leastĀ closeĀ to fresh air and nature.
I threw in a movie,Ā Life Is Beautiful. The movie is in Italian with English subtitles, so I knew that it would hold my attention just a bit more.Ā Life Is Beautiful is one of my favorite movies, and is about a family (mom, dad, and son) during World War II. I find it deeply emotional and touching, and have loved it ever since I first saw it at the end of high school. Movies sometimes naturally allow for a pseudo-interval workout, because I find myself picking up the pace during intense parts, and backing off during the lulls of the movie.
I hit 20 miles and was absolutely astonished at how quickly the time had gone, so I decided to keep going. The movie ended, and I picked up Chrissie Wellingtonās book āA Life Without Limitsā to enjoy while I kept riding. At some point I decided that I would bike until 30, making sure to focus on form over those last miles (I havenāt ridden this distance since my ride into Mackinac back in August).
I didnāt take in any fuel throughout the ride (why is it that 30 miles without fuel on the road is too much, but 30 miles inside is fine?), and felt great, but I did drink about 50 ounces of nuun!
I hit 30 miles on the bike, and felt great knowing that I set a new distance record for my indoor bike (my outdoor PDR is 64 miles, which I did last August). So, there you go- a new bike trainer PDR! š Now only a few months until I can get outside againā¦
Now itās your turn to share! How do you pass time on the bike trainer or treadmill in the winter?
disclaimer: I received all the products shown and discussed below from Nite Ize to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming aĀ BibRave ProĀ (ambassador), and check outĀ BibRave.comĀ to review find and write race reviews! I received this products for free, but received no other form of compensation; all opinions are my own.Ā
Ok- now letās get to the good stuff. When I got my package from Bibrave, I opened it up to see all of these goodies:
So many things, and I was excited to try them all. Honestly, Iām SO impressed with each of these products, and there was clearly a lot of thought put into their creation. So, here are someĀ thoughts on each of the items.
The top two pictures are of the āslap litā which is almost exactly like a slap bracelet. In the top left picture, right where my thumb is, is a place to push that turns the band on and off. Pushing it once turns it on, pushing it again turns it to a flashing red light (SO COOL), and pushing it a third time turns it off. Honestly, I am SO impressed with this. Because it slaps on, it conforms exactly to whatever part of your body you wrap it around, without slipping and sliding. I LOVE IT. The bottom picture is of the Marker Band. This has an elastic band on the back that is moveable, so you can tighten it around wherever you put it. Here itās over my shoulder, and itās so comfortable I canāt even feel it!
Now this product is REALLY cool. These āShoe Litsā easily snap around shoe laces (making it SUPER easy to put on and off), and then you just need to twist them and they pop on! As you can see in the bottom picture, the green is bright and vibrant, and definitely stands out in the dark! These are in a little basket with my keys right at my front door, so theyāre quick and easy to grab as I leave the house!
Next up is the Nite Ize INOVA STS Headlamp! Iāll admit that figuring out how to work it was a little frustrating. You have to swipe the top of it to turn it on and off, and it takes me a few times of swiping to get it to work every time. Now for the cool parts: the light switches between white light (top right picture) and red light (bottom picture), and high, medium, and low light. The actual light part also adjusts up and down, allowing you to see more right in front of you, or allowing light to shine straight in front of you. The strap is obviously adjustable, and it was really comfortable walking around, but I havenāt tried it while running yet, so I canāt speak to that.
The top pictures here are of the curvyman. I constantly struggle with my headphones getting tangled in my bag or purse, and this little guy solves all those problems. I quickly wrapped my headphones around it, locked it into place, and they stayed put that way until I used them again! Thereās a clip on top as well, so you could hook him to keys, a jacket, etcā¦
The bottom pictures are of a pack of gear ties that the company makes. OH MY GOSH these are FANTASTIC! They are nice and thick, and donāt dig into cords the way that some items do. They secured my cords with only a few twists, and it was good to go! Storing things will be that much easier with these ties! As you can see in the bottom right picture, the pack comes with a series of sizes, so you could wrap up bigger appliance cords all the way down to something like a phone cord will traveling or something like that!
Ok- onto the final item now! These gear ties are much larger, with clips on them, and can be used to hold things like luggage together, as well as holding up some smaller objects in a place like a garage. This is the only item that I havenāt been able to try yet, so I canāt tell you how it works, but if itās anything like all the other products, than it will be fantastic!!
I could go on and on about these products, and I have SO many good things to say. Itās clear the Nite Ize company has done their research on what people need as part of their exercise/outdoorsy lifestyle, and provide excellent products to help meet those needs. As Iām about to embark on another training cycle, I look forward to integrating these products into my training. The shoe lights and slap lits will be especially beneficial, and I feel so much safer wearing them while outdoors. At this point, I donāt exercise at night or early in the morning, because the area I live isnāt safe enough. However, I do workout at dusk, which can also be a difficult time to see people, and Iāll definitely be wearing those products out on walks and runs during that time from now on! And most of all, I look forward to staying safe while exercising in the dark!
If youāre interested in more about the company or want to connect with them, here are their social media profiles:
- Twitter:Ā https://twitter.com/NiteIze
- Facebook:Ā https://www.facebook.com/NiteIze
- Website:Ā http://www.niteize.com/
- Instagram:Ā http://instagram.com/niteize
Now itās your turn to share! What do you do to keep yourself safe while exercising outdoors at night?Ā
This is a fantastic navy blue color, and Iāve been looking forward to wearing this since I found it in September (I tried it on briefly, dubbed it my āJanuary colorā, and was so excited that it was finally time to wear it!). In low light it looks a little more dull, but in brighter light and outdoors the shimmer comes out, and itās truly beautiful. I only needed to use 2 coats of nailpolish, and it went on fairly easily. Dark blues are difficult in terms of painting (I canāt help but get nail polish ALL over my cuticles and tops of my fingers- oops), as the blue was difficult to get off my skin. It all ended ok, but I had to use a qtip with nail polish remover and scrub at my skin, which isnāt necessary with any of the other polish colors Iāve worn this year.
Ok- onto some facts.
1. This weekend I took off gel polish for the first time. I was nervous, as Iāve heard if you scrape your nails it can take off a layer of your nail, and leave your nails ragged and torn up. I didnāt want this to happen. I ended up cutting cotton rounds into 1/4 pieces, soaking in acetone, and putting them directly on each nail, avoiding the skin, and covering with aluminum foil (I first took a nail file and buffed off the top coat layer so the acetone could get at the polish). I did each hand separately, but if anyone else had been around I wouldāve just had them wrap my other hand. I kept each hand on for about 25 minutes, and the gel polish came off no problem, leaving my nails as good as new! In the meantime, I got in a good bike ride as the polish was coming off š
My first attempt at wrapping was a little bit rough
My 2nd attempt went a little better
2. Sometimes I scrap having a really healthy breakfast, and go for something fun instead. Yesterday morning I made oatmeal using 1/2 cup dry oats, 1 cup of almond milk, 2 tsp of cocoa powder, and a handful of peppermint marshmallows! Itās one of my favorite āJanuary mealsā (Iām SO into seasonal things itās ridiculous), and I enjoyed it. The marshmallows melt part way because of the heat of the oatmeal, and itās just fantastic. Try it some time š Hereās a similar chocolate peppermint oatmeal recipe.
3. Iāve had fantastic dinners this week (I ate this meal three days in a row)! I had spaghetti (ground turkey, marinara sauce, onion, red pepper, and egg plant for the sauce), spinach salad (with a pre-made kale salad on top of it from the grocery store deli), and garlic bread. YUM. Iām obsessed right now, and Iām definitely going to buy more of those pre-made salads! A little bit adds a lot of flavor to a big handful of spinach!
4. I wrote my first thank you note for 2015, and it felt so good to write it! Iām on my way to expressing gratitude as part of my 15 challenges in 2015!
5. Iāve been obsessed with reading the autobiographies of runners this year. Yesterday I started my 3rd one since the start of 2015, and I have no desire to stop!
Now itās your turn to share! If youāre wearing nail polish right now, what color are you wearing? Share one random fact from the week!Ā
Happy Thursday!! Iām sitting here enjoying a bowl of chocolate oatmeal with peppermint marshmallows on top as I type this (nothing like having ādessertā to start the day!). Hereās what Iām thankful for right now:
Iām thankful for a nice weekend with my parents.Ā My parents were driving through on a trip, and ended up stopping for two nights to see me. It was fun to spend a little time with them.
Iām thankful for sunshine.Ā Itās been pretty chilly this week (many days the āfeels likeā temp has been close to -25 in the mornings), but itās been wonderfully sunny, and Iām loving it! To have sun hitting my eyes in the middle of winter is just fantastic, and Iāve been going outside for walks (just layer up and youāre fine in cold temperatures!) just to get out more in the sunshine.
Iām thankful for space in my life to read.Ā Every evening this week Iāve made time to lay on my living room floor (Iām not sure why, but I find it really relaxing to lay on the floor) and read for at least 45 minutes. Iāve really loved ending my days like that, and itās felt really calming and relaxing. Iām thankful for the time to do that.
Iām thankful for candles.Ā Iāve had candles lit as Iāve been reading, and that just adds to the cozy ambiance. This week I finally put away my Christmas scented candles, and have moved into cinnamon and other winter scents. Itās so cozy to have them burning, especially on cold days.
Iām thankful for safety while driving on bad roads.Ā We had a snow and ice storm at the start of the week, and unfortunately the snow and ice that melts during the day keeps refreezing, and things around my place (and work) have turned into sheets of ice. Iāve slid around a bit while driving (Iām so thankful for all wheel drive!), and Iām thankful that I, along with other drivers around me, have stayed safe.
Now itās your turn to share! What are you feeling thankful for today? Whatās one thing that helps you feel warm and cozy in the winter?
Ā
I challenge myself to run 225 miles. Iām keeping it the same as 2014- with POTs and my increased risk of injury, I donāt want to feel that IĀ have to run. I obviously ran far more miles than this in 2014, and if all goes well, Iāll end up with more than that in 2015 too.
I challenge myself to walk 275 miles. Again, Iām keeping it the same as 2014. I love walking and enjoying nature, and I look forward to regularly walking again this year.
I challenge myself to bike 950Ā miles.Ā Iām upping my goalĀ a bit this year- I just really love biking! š
I challenge myself to 65 hours of pilates.Ā I actually am dropping this goal by 10 hours this year. Itās not that I feel that Pilates is any less important (I think itās SO crucial to be a healthy runner and biker), but I wanted to create a little more space for other forms of exerciseĀ as well.
I challenge myself to 250 minutes of planks.This has been my goal the last two years, and Iām sticking to it. Thatās just over 4 hours of planking for the year, and I feel that itās totally reasonable.Ā Ā In 2014 I did 252 minutes of planks, so we will see how I do this year!
I challenge myself to run 10 races for the year.Ā This is the same goal I had in 2014, and I feel that this is a reasonable number!
I challenge myself to read at least 25 books. Originally I wrote ā15 books for 2015ā but, I decided to up it. There are some months (like January) where I have a little more time to read, and some months where I feel that I have hardly any time, so it all balances out. Some of these might be for work, but my purpose in this goal is to balance all the work related things I do with some fun and relaxation.
I challenge myself to go through all the clothes that I own.Ā Last year I got rid of over 170 clothing items, along with many bags of other things. Iām guessing this year I wonāt have nearly as many clothes to get rid of, but Iām still going to challenge myself to touch every clothing item I own and really consider if I need it or not.Ā Ā This podcastĀ (Freedom From Stuff) has been inspiring!
I challenge myself to continue to be present.Ā I believe that presence is so deeply powerful, both for ourselves and in our relationships. That means pausing to be mindful and tune into our thoughts, feelings, and actions consistently. It means pausing while out on walks or runs to enjoy my surroundings. It means putting down my phone and engaging in active listening with my friends. I challenge myself to attempt every day to have a few moments where I am really, truly present. Itās a healthy practice.
I challenge myself to continue to hunt for provisions and blessingsĀ (continuing to develop gratitude in my life).Ā Iāve done this the past few years, and I will continue to do this. This includes writing down what Iām thankful for every week.
I challenge myself to say āthank youā more often. This goes with continuing to develop gratitude, but I want to make sure that Iām verbalizing my thanks to those around me more often. It might be sending a thank you note to a friend, and it might be making sure to say āthank youā to a waiter and then telling their manager what a great job they did. I want my actions to line up with the gratitude Iāve developed within myself.
I challenge myself to memorize one verse (from the Bible) every month.Ā Iāve spent the last month considering what I want to do for the spirituality factor of wellness in my life in 2015. Last year I challenged myself to read the entire Bible in a year, and Iām so glad that I did, but I didnāt want to do the same thing back to back. When I was younger, I consistently memorized verses (which I really appreciate), but it hasnāt really been a thing in my life since I started grad school (too many other things to memorize I guess). I want to bring this back to my life, so Iām going to memorize 12 verses this year.
I challenge myself to finish āThe Chronicles of Narniaā series.Ā Iāve read the first 3 books in the series, but I want to finish the series this year!
I challenge myself to write the alphabet with both feet twice a week through at least the first half of the year.Ā I guess this seems like a weird goal, but I really want to work on my ankle strength. Ideally I will do it more than twice a week (and hopefully itāll just become a regular habit), but this is something Iād like to do in my life.
I challenge myself to be at peace.Ā Iāve decided that āpeaceā is going to be my word for 2015. Itās not that I donāt feel peace in my life, but I could do a better job of intentionally going to a place of peace in my life. Having āit is wellā tattooed on my wrist where I see it every day has been really helpful to ground myself, and I want to continue this practice this year. 2015 will have some big events and changes, and I want to hold onto peace. āPeaceā will be my word for the year (last year was ābraveā which wasĀ very applicable).
Now itās your turn to share! What goals or challenges have you set for yourself? Whatās one dream that you have for yourself this year?
Ā
Besides short runs (minus the Caribbean Christmas 5k and my run this past weekend, all of them have been shorter than a 5k distance), Iāve been primarily biking, which Iāve loved. Iāve gotten out my bike trainer once again, and have enjoyed watching movies and reading while biking. Iāve been doing a mix of ālong ridesā (which are substantially shorter than my long rides in the summer), short rides, and speed work.
I hardly walked during December, but last week I started to walk again. I went on a 2 mile walk one day, even though it was a feels like of -25. Thereās no reason to stay inside when itās that cold. I layered up and was cozy and warm the entire walk (plus the sunshine and fresh air is just healthy for us mentally throughout the winter). Iāve been enjoying lots of 1-2 mile walks since then.
While Iām not officially in a training cycle yet, Iāve decided to ramp it up just a little bit to create a stronger base before heading into training.
This past weekend I ran a 5k on the treadmill at the gym, followed by a mini lifting session. I wore my BibRave tank in support of the other BibRave Pros who were racing this weekend. (If you raced this past weekend, make sure to head over to theĀ BibRave website and review the race!)
(I took this pic to send to my brother, who was my lifting buddy the past few yearsā¦ but now you all get to see it as well).Ā Iām finally up to using 12 pounds with bicep curls (I started at 8 pounds), so thatās exciting!
On Sunday I biked 11 miles while taking off my gel polish. I put a bit of a cotton ball with acetone on it on my finger nail, and wrapped it with aluminum file and then jumped on my bike for 20-25 mins (I did each hand separately because I couldnāt wrap my opposite hand with the first hand wrapped).
Besides that Iāve picked up barre and pilates again, which has felt great. Between spending over 20 hours in the car driving back and forth to visit family at Christmas, and carrying loads of boxes up and down stairs as I moved stuff out of my parents house, I was STIFF and tight. Iām finally starting to feel a little closer to āback to normalā.
So thatās what Iāve been up to. Iām working out an average of 4 days a week during this off season, and at a much lower intensity than while in the middle of a training cycle. Iām enjoying time āoffā, but am also getting excited as I look ahead to this next cycle!
Now itās your turn to share! What do you enjoy doing to stay active during your āoff seasonā.Ā
Back last winter, I was listening to a sermon at church, and the pastor said something that deeply resonated with me at the time (so much so that I wrote the following quote in a note on my phone):
Suffering doesnāt take away our shalom.Ā
I love that, and itās something Iāve thought about oftenĀ over the course of 2014. So, this past weekend, I did a little google search (which means that Iām not in any way claiming to be an expert on this word) on the wordĀ shalom. I found the following:
The Hebrew word for peace, shalom, is derived from a root denoting wholeness or completeness, and its frame of reference throughout Jewish literature is bound up with the notion of shelemut, perfection. Its significance is thus not limited to the political domainā-to the absence of war and enmityā-or to the social-āto the absence of quarrel and strife. It ranges over several spheres and can refer in different contexts to bounteous physical conditions, to a moral value, and, ultimately, to a cosmic principle and divine attribute.Ā In the Bible, the word shalom is most commonly used to refer to a state of affairs, one of wellābeing, tranquility, prosperity, and security, circumstances unblemished by any sort of defect. Shalom is a blessing, a manifestation of divine grace. (source)
This year, I will be consciously focusing on peace and shalom in my life. Regardless of the suffering and the hard things in life, it doesnāt take away peace and shalom. The bigger story is that it is well (and luckily I have that tattooed on me so I see it every day).Ā
Now itās your turn to share! Do you have a word for 2015? How do you seek a place of peace and shalom in life?
