Ragnar! This weekend!

It’s back! After a year off, Ragnar is back this weekend. I cannot wait! Follow my insta to see all of Van 1’s wacky adventures while we run from St Paul to Duluth! As I tell everyone, Ragnar is one of the most fun staying up all night sober I’ve ever had. I fell in love with Ragnar while running my very first one in 2015.

[image description: Author, smiling broadly standing on a rocky formation in the mountains of Utah]

Somewhere in Utah at my first Ragnar, Wasatch Back

I feel the most prepared for this Ragnar with my C25K and C210K training that I’ve been doing this summer, go me! haha 😀 I wish we didn’t have to deal with COVID precautions but I’m happy my team has decided to be on the safe side with pre weekend testing and mask wearing while in the van and during the major exchanges (where it might be difficult to physically distance from folks) So it will be a different Ragnar experience but still the wild adventure like always.

Spring weather means I am running again thank goodness

Moved houses last spring and have started exploring my new running areas. I love it! I can run down to the creek and feel like I’m out in the country but I’m really in the heart of the city. LOVE IT. I have mapped out a nice few short runs for my 3x a week easy runs and then really nice long run to the falls and if I’m ever training for a marathon again, I’ve got many long run routes to choose from. It will be nice to have variety in my runs.

ready to start training again

yes, I know it’s getting cold but I’ve dropped 30 pounds and am ready to fucking RUN again, I need to for my mental health so I have been gearing up, buying some high quality gear to make winter running more comfortable. I hope to share my finds and how well they work to keep my comfy while running in Minnesota’s brutal winter weather.

Here’s what I bought so far:

Columbia’s Titan Wind Block II Tights

Merrell’s Antorra Gore-Tex trail/running shoes

I have a decent amount of base layers and great winter jacket to run in so I just needed a few things for my legs/feet. I’ll report back!

I wish races were a thing still but COVID spikes are happening all over so I don’t see those coming back anytime soon.

La-ti-da it’s suddenly the middle of August!

Hi, yup slowly dropping some weight and feeling more energetic. I am using a meal replacement plan to help in the food side of things which it totally is doing.

I’ve been adding back some light exercise, walking mostly and some body weight exercises like crunches, squats, and push ups. No running yet but soon.

Little by little 💕

sunday funday

hello world! It’s Sunday, my bf got a lot of work done on our new laundry room on our main level! we need a skinnier venting unit so we can push the set back up to closer to the wall. And damnit, if washer/dryers sets aren’t bulky mf’ers. BUT it will be better than hauling the laundry all the way to dim basement. After we get the venting situated, we’ll add some shelving, a light (the stacked set blocks the lights that are above the sink mirror), wall art and some plants. The narrowness of the space in front of the set is always gonna bug me but well, there’s nothing I can do so I’ll adjust.

Health update, I’m walking almost everyday and I’ve lost 5 lbs! I haven’t been running yet but I that’s coming soon. It’s been hot as balls here lately, like dangerous heat index so walks are all I feel safe doing considering I’ve not been running in for-ev-er. I’ve been working on creating healthy dinners and am writing out the ones I particularly like in a recipe book for future reference.

I’m super stoked to get working on my landscaping plan! I have an appt with the folks over at Mother Earth Gardens to come and give me ideas and suggestions for what will grow well in my yard. I want to have some edible garden space and lots of wildflowers and bee/butterfly friendly flowers along the fence line. and then once that plan is little more fleshed out, I need to find someone to hire to build the patio space. I’m envisioning an area for sitting and lounging around a table, gravel around the fire pit and a stepping stone area between the trees where our hammocks hang. I see it in my head, let’s see if I can recreate it. hah.

Our Private Patio (the PP hah) is also designing itself in my brain. First step there is to get the fence installed. K and I can handle that I believe. Then I’ll want stone/cement or wood decking built for another table set and chairs and maybe some loungers.

Plans plan plans.

no running no nothing UGHHHHHHH

Well, not much going on in the way of running. I’m lazy lazy lazy due to working from home since March and being less motivated to get out and even just walk.

I have attended some protests/rallies/marches and have gotten lots of steps in that way but of course, that’s not truly exercising to improve health but definitely exercise to improve our human rights.

I bought a scale finally. I’ve made it to 45 yrs old before purchasing one but if I’m serious about changing my habits to get healthy and push back on this middle aged body I suddenly have, I need to be able to watch my progress.

I have a lofty goal of losing 30 pounds through mainly getting active again through running, daily walks, and being more active in general. and being more mindful of food and what I eat and when I eat. No more snacking after 8/8:30 pm and increase my veggies intake. I already rarely eat meat and eat a big salad nearly everyday for lunch but I love cheese and eat a lot of it so I need to do a better job of balancing what I eat.

starting stats: 165 lbs; sloppy eating habits; minimal daily exercise of squats and typical stair climbing in a 2 story house; terrible at drinking water

goals: mindful and more deliberate eating habits and choices; daily exercise on a schedule/plan; increase daily water intake from zero to any amount at this point will be an improvement 😉

I really don’t know how long it will take to lose the weight but I’m not looking to go about this as a quick fix. I want to get back to being active and move my body so I don’t feel so exhausted and tired and just blah about stuff.