lunar elements

In the last few months of 2013, fitness had sort of fallen away as a priority for me.  And that would be ok (I don't mind being a wee bit softer and rounder for a time) except that not exercising actually makes me anxious.  And that's not ok.  So in this wonderful new year, I'm trying to find ways to fit fitness (ha ha) into my new routines and habits. This means cutting back a bit from where I used to be, but I'm realizing, it doesn't have to be so all or nothing.  I can just do a little bit, every day; it's all about balance.

Here's what I'm doing...

just do it

I ran my very first race this weekend.  A new 5K here in Madrid through the beautiful Casa del Campo.  I know 5 km isn't much to people who've been running for years, but for me it was a major accomplishment.  Words cannot describe how excited and proud I felt to participate, and finish, and with a much better time than I'd anticipated too!  So in honor of small goals and huge achievements, I dedicate this post to the runners out there, beginning and advanced.  Go on, get your run on.

Some running essentials...

packable

Remember I was looking at Herschel backpacks a while back? (Oh, and these too.)  Well I still haven't gone and splurged on a beautiful canvas bag, but we desperately needed something for traveling around Mexico, and I came across this little guy.  It's super lightweight ripstop nylon, and despite the fact that it feels like it's made from air, it holds quite a bit, both in weight and volume.  I love those smartypants designers at The Herschel Supply Co.  Why?  Cause it also does this:

See more...

swimmingly

This is where I was swimming last month.  I know I have yet to tell you all about my Super Duper Mexico Vacation, but I still haven't finished organizing all my photos and thoughts.  Needless to say, it was awesome.  I'm back in the big city now, but I'll be damned if I give up my water time.  So...

Husband and I have joined the pool!  We started this week, committing to four full months of membership (gotta get those discounts where you can, and the obligation to keep it up is just a bonus), and absolutely love it.  My pool's not as amazing as the Caribbean, but it's pretty damn wonderful.  All this has made me think it would be a good time to go over some pool essentials.

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8

Trust me, you need these things...

i pity the fool

Today I picked up a little something that I'm in love with.  No, not this gentleman.  Just the shirt off his back.  Laugh all you want, I'm dead serious.  I came from hot Wisconsin summer days, so humid and pollen-filled that running was out of the question, and arrived in the sunset district of San Francisco, which might as well be Mordor.  It is foggy and wintery and cold, all the time.  Perfect for a jog really, but not in a tank top.  So we headed over to a nearby Sports Authority and found a women's department filled with teeny tiny skimpy tops and shorts.  Last thing I need is another excuse to not exercise, so I was determined to find something appropriate.  I headed to the men's section and found this.  I look way cuter than this guy, I swear.  And after running in it, I can honestly say that it is perfect.  I bough it a little large so I don't get all the "compression" effects that you're supposed to (I think maybe he's upset that he's being squeezed too tight?), but it was wonderfully breathable and dried in 5 seconds flat, kept me warm but didn't make me hot.  So, even though this guy is frowning at me like he wants to beat me to a pulp, I'm going to buy more.

Do ever shop men's?  In sporting goods stores?

wave inspire

Mizuno Wave Inspire Osaka.  That's the full name of my new running shoes.  Impressive, eh?  I think their razzle dazzle flash lives up to the name.  Of course, here I am, in my new superhero shoes, shuffling along like an old man.  But I'm totally ok with that.  At least now I know I'm not hurting my knees or hips or anything.  And eventually I'll be able to pick up the pace a bit.  Right?

Since my post the other day I went to 4 different running stores (5 if you count Nike, which we really shouldn't), and had my gait analyzed in a variety of manners: running barefoot on a treadmill, standing on a magical glass plate, squatting, standing, walking...  Most folks agreed, I am a mild pronator.   I tried on thousands of shoes (slight exaggeration), and while it was hard because I honestly don't know what a good shoe is supposed to feel like,  I eventually went with these babies.  The woman at the store said they'd be great for me just starting out, but that they would also last a super long time (a year and half she said.  That's considered a long time?!) and that they would hold up well even if I ran for 4-5 hrs.  4-5 hrs?!  I can't do anything for 4-5 hrs, except sleep.  I'm really good at that.  But running?  Well, maybe one day...