Running on plants and love

This weekend and past week were a bit of whirlwind of schoolwork, class time and starting a new massage apprenticeship.  Where would I find the time to run and prioritize my health?

Fortunately, I've created some wonderful new routines and am adapting to my new environment.  For instance, I managed to make awesome connections this past month in the running community; finding a running partner, even getting a coach and joining in run clubs.  THANK G-D! 

Running an informal 12 mile race last weekend on the Makiki trails.  

Just getting out there lifts the burdens of school right off my mind.

Because of this community, I am accountable to others, find support in their company and kindness, and can continue to nurture my body and my mind.

Having running partners is the BEST!

You can support each other even when you are tuckered out!

Honestly, school work is exhausting!!  If it was entirely up to me right now, I think I would just crash each day after classes and studying; sit my sore butt down with a bowl of pretzels and a beer and ZONE OUT.  

Not that I haven't done that recently (in fact, I just did last night!!), but I'm prioritizing getting healthy food and a running routine that I desperately need FIRST.  I'm still making time to make delicious plant based food; in fact, I just started kombucha and continue to sprout mung beans.

My point tonight though, is that without the support and love of others this wouldn't be POSSIBLE.  It seems that achieving goals, applying yourself in a balanced way is fueled by much more than healthy food and movement; we must have each other.

Some good training friends and I, after a long ride on the Kona coast last spring.

A Whole New Kind of Marathon

It has been a terribly long time since I posted, and I realized I left a bit of a cliff-hanger as far as my journey on the Appalachian Trail goes.  

Internet connection was difficult on the route, and although I took a plethora of photos, the logistics of posting blog entry's on my iphone proved too tedious for my tired mind. 

However, my trip ended in July, so I have no excuse for taking so long to post.

But here's my excuse anyway:  I started graduate school.  Which is hard.  

Green Smoothies are power foods for studying AND running, turns out!!

In fact, I would say that grad school is arguably the hardest thing I have ever undertaken, and is likely  the most painful as well.  And that is coming from someone who regularly runs/ hikes crazy miles in crazy heat and got so sick after my 50 miler in the Copper Canyons, that I lost 5 lbs. puking my guts out for three days after.  Sorry for the gruesome details... I just thought I'd give perspective.

Here I am on the AT trying to document the crazy humid heat I was experiencing on a climb up 4,000 feet.

Of course, this makes it sound like grad school is some form of torture, and that naturally I don't enjoy it.  That is absolutely not true.  I am studying Conservation Botany, and I LOVE PLANTS.  I love being around them, cooking them, growing them, identifying them.  They are healing, delicious, beautiful and fascinating!

Starting graduate school is painful.  

It has been 8 long years since I did my undergraduate work, so I'm pretty out of practice.  Caring friends remind me that our brains are like any muscle; they need to be exercised in order to stay in shape... needless to say, my brain has been a total couch potato in terms of academia.

I also tend to put a lot of pressure on myself to succeed, especially when I'm going for a goal that I care deeply about.  All I see is the challenge ahead, which is good for focus, but it also means that sometimes I push myself past what is healthy; I get sick or injured, or burn out.  I am so focused on my goals, I put myself in a stress mode as if I'm running a race and forget to rest or take care of myself!!

The brain responds to stress, whether physical or emotional or mental in the same way; your sympathetic nervous system kicks in (a.k.a. fight or flight response), your heartbeat quickens, your digestion slows, and stress hormones deplete your immune function.  A lot of these things are good if you are running a quick race, or under a deadline, or in an accident.  Your reflexes and senses are sharpened, and other bodily functions don't get in the way.

What we need to remember is that stress is okay, it's natural, but in our achievement driven world we are often in fight or flight ALL THE TIME!  We must allow our body to rest and restore, to allow the parasympathetic nervous system to kick in and build our immunity back up, get our digestion flowing again, and our cells to rebuild.  Just writing about rest and relaxation makes me feel calmer.  

Ha ha... Maybe NOT the best way to reduce stress...

As a distance runner, I know this; allowing your body to relax during a long run provides essential on-the-go restorative powers.

Here I am feeling blissed out during a break on the AT.

I want to be instantly good at school, and tackle the challenges, but my brain needs build up strength, just as my legs are building up strength again after being so sick this summer with pneumonia.  So, I'm starting to meditate and prioritize my rest time.  My program is so exciting; I am so challenged and engaged, and already feeling the rewards of time spent in the library or at coffee shops studying.  

And so, as it's time to rest now, I'll leave you with this moment of zen brought to you by the Appalachian Trail.  

Continuing the journey

So I'm off tomorrow morning for the Appalachian Trail where I will be running 400 miles of the trail, from North Carolina to Virginia. This trip is a bit of a scouting mission to see what kind of miles I can run/ hike per day on a technical trail being 100% self supported in terms of gear, food and water.

Coming off the heels of a difficult month, the mountains are calling me for healing and bliss.  Not running due to a bout with pneumonia and rib pain had me couch bound for a solid month.  I found that not running can be much more difficult than running at it's toughest training phase. 

Fortunately, I feel strong and well rested and eager to hit the trail. Based on my still bruised ribs, I'll take it easy the first few days, mostly hiking to build up leg anf lung strength.

Tomorrow will answer all my anticipation and questions, and tonight, I'll rest surrounded by some of the greenest land I've ever seen.

Gathering Gear, Gathering Strength

My excitement is building each day, as I steadily heal from my bout with pneumonia and prepare for my upcoming trip on the Appalachian Trail, where I plan to run about 400 miles from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Blue Ridge Mountains.  I feel somewhat trepidatious departing after such an illness, but I have faith that the time of rest has given me time to make sure I am well prepared for my journey.

My plan is simple:  I will be self-supported, carry all my necessary gear and food, and stop to resupply or stay in hotels about every other day.  I plan to average about 35-40 miles per day, with wiggle room planned in case of weather or a necessary rest day.

Because the terrain can be tough in the Appalachians, and because I want to keep my pack weight down to a minimum, I am being extremely meticulous about what I bring.  I thought it would be fun to share my gear list, to give a better idea of how to "flashpack" through the wilderness, safely, and without breaking the bank! (I've included what I paid for each piece of gear)

First, food:  I plan to bring 2 lbs of nuts and dried fruit per day; resupplying along the way.  I will never be carrying more than 2 days worth of food, as resupply stops are frequent.  I won't be cooking, so no cookware, dried meals, or stove will be needed.  I know I'll crave fresh food and high calorie stuff when I arrive in towns, and hope to stay as plant based as possible... but seeing as it's the south, and I'll be ravenous, I will likely give myself some wiggle room.  

So, here is my GEAR LIST:

Sleep system:

Backpack:  Gregory Jade 28 Pack 2 lb 8 oz- $149.00

Bivy Sack:  MSR E-Bivy- 9 oz - $55.00 (closeout sale)

Sleeping Bag:  World Famous Sports GLITE 40 degree bag 1 lb 6 oz- $20.00

Sleeping Pad:  Thermarest Prolite Sm- 11 oz- $60.00

Clothing:

Jacket:  Mountain Hardware Youth Jacket (not sure of model)- 12 oz

Black Thermal Tights- 2 oz

Lightweight Thermal- 2 oz

Lightweight Poncho- 4 oz
hat, thin gloves, extra socks- 4 oz
the rest I'll be wearing

Other Gear:
Energizer headlamp and extra batteries
iphone and charger
water bladder and extra water bottles
iodine tablets
maps
zip-lock bags
toothbrush and toothpast
total- 10 oz (this is an estimate)

Total, that will mean carrying 7 lb 4 oz total without water or food.  With food and water, I'm hoping my pack will never be beyond 15 lbs. at the maximum.

An old picture of backpacking on the Lost Coast in California.

With many of the logistics taken care of, I can now simply daydream about the trip and rest up with Netflix and a good book, letting my body prepare for the challenge ahead.

Down for the Count, but Coming Back Stronger

So, I've been totally out of the game with pneumonia for the past few weeks, and am finally starting awaken to the world around me.  

I have been hesitating on posting, as I felt somewhat at odds with how to reconcile being so sick with my dedication to health and wellness; like... I must have done something wrong!!  Gasp!

And partly, I did dig myself into this particular grave.  I got a terrible chest flu/ cold after starting work at the dinner, (my theory is chemical exposure, but don't pass that on to management!) and tried to push my way through being sick, trying to heal through soup and pure will power, instead getting necessary rest and recovery time.

I pretended I wasn't sick; continued to work and train, and even decided to go ahead and try to compete in the Ironman 70.3 Hawaii in the beginning of June.  Maybe not such a great idea.

I DNF (did not finish) for the first time in a race, as I didn't make the swim cut-off time- I simply had no energy, and I couldn't breathe right, as I got easily out of breath or started coughing mid-swim.

I wept as I got out of the water, knowing that I hadn't made the time with my poor swim performance, and my dreams of completing the my first half Ironman faded into the day.  On the bright side, I enjoyed cheering
on my fellow athletes; taking in the fantastic accomplishments of my friends.

Two days later, after going to work again the next day, I was in bed with a high fever, went to the doctor and found out I had pneumonia.  Lesson learned:  Sometimes pushing through has serious consequences.

Reba shared in the "sad on the couch" experience.

In the past three weeks, I have been sicker than I have ever been before, coughing so much it's led to nausea and even bruised ribs. To cope, my time has been spent watching movies, napping, and living on a diet of soup, stir fry's, vegan ice cream (gotta have comfort!), and lots of tea and juice.  Not exactly the pretty picture of health and outdoor fitness that I typically enjoy.

Weeks later though, and I'm healing, and day by day feeling more like myself.  I'm still resting up for the most part, but also getting out and taking long walks, easy bike rides around town, and even going for a short jog this morning.

I'm also taking the time to make last minute preparations for my running trip on the Appalachian Trail.  Knowing that I have a 400 mile journey in the wilderness of the mountains has been a gift; I've kept my mental balance without running physically, just knowing I have this experience coming up.

Overall, getting pneumonia and the trip coming up is a great reminder that everything is temporary.  We may be injured, sick, or hindered by circumstances, but there is always tomorrow.  Taking the time to fully recover, I'm finding peace in knowing I'm doing the right thing for my body.  Every being from plants to animals to us humans goes through periods of dormancy or illness, and with the right conditions, we all bloom again, gaining strength from rest.

Drinking Green Smoothies at the Diner

Confession time:  I'm recently took a job working at a corporate chain restaurant; let's call it Andy's.  Yes, I am environmental educator by background; yes, I am a nature nut/ vegan long distance runner and athlete, and I work at Andy's.

I just moved to my new digs in Oahu with the purpose of entering graduate school in Botany.  Here's the thing; I need to pay the bills; feed myself and feed my dog.  Additionally, I enjoy a lifestyle where going on running trips and traveling to races is non-negotiable.  These races and trips are my joys, and I will move mountains to make them happen.

What led me to this work?  A friend had mentioned they loved the Andy's in Waikiki, and as I scoffed at the time, when I peeked my head in, I noticed it was jammed packed and people all looked HAPPY (including the servers!).  Perhaps there is something else that is drawing me to the restaurant; like rubber necking as you pass a car accident.  It's horrific, but you can't help wanting to see.

I realize that I am different.  I subsist on a plant based, now totally locally grown diet.  I make my own nut milk.  I feed my dog sweet potatoes, oatmeal and fresh fish.  After a long workout, I crave a spirulina smoothie or a giant salad with lentils, sprouts and avocado.  I wash my plastic bags.  And to a certain degree, I think this puts a barrier between me and others.

If I am not careful, I find myself with a serious superiority complex.  I take immaculate care of my health; I avoid foods and products that harm others (fair trade, without dangerous pesticides, local etc.), animals (I choose vegan, but have not always been so), and the environment (I choose to support farms where they take care of their soil and add to global carbon reduction).

I believe living this way and spreading these ideas is a good thing; in fact a solution to many problems that we as a nation are now facing; diabetes, heart disease, obesity, global warming, and even economic inequality.

I also realize that change is difficult, and the fact is, many people don't want to change.  Many people simply want Andy's.  Even though they may know that it is bad for their health, that it might be causing them to live a shorter or painful life, they still want Andy's.  It provides them with happiness in the moment; a large plate of good tasting comfort for an affordable place.  I don't think there is anything wrong with taking comfort in a meal; I do however think there is something seriously wrong with the amount and what is going into the food.

Who am I to judge my fellow human; we are all following our desires and doing our best to keep our families well fed and taken care of.  I am hoping that embarking on my 30 day challenge to eat local, along with fulfilling the dream of the teaching farm, along with working right in the middle of our world of poor dietary choices will open my eyes and mind.

Any yup, I bike or run to work and I bring my green smoothies and stir-fries as I watch training videos on up-selling the dessert and appetizer menu.

Local Food, Local Rides and Runs

Today is Day 3 of my local food challenge; where I consuming only Hawaiian grown foods, and it started with a beautiful and easy 5 mile run along the Ala Moana canal.  Of course, after a long ride yesterday and a quick run this morning, I am HUNGRY!

The local food challenge is proving both easy and tough for me.  Because of the amazing produce in Hawaii, I already eat a pretty local diet; consisting of fruit and oatmeal in the mornings, big salads in the mid-day, snacks of bars, nuts, and smoothies, and a dinner of stir fry or sweet potatoes with beans and grains.  Now, I'm cutting out the grains, produce and processed foods from overseas.

Like most of us, I have been accustomed to my habits and routines; the flax or hemp-seeds in my shakes, the rice vinegar in my salad, the oats, the wheat, the dried beans from the store.  Now, I am intentionally focusing on just the produce grown here, and without living on a farm; I'm having to seek out all my favorite fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains.

So far, I've made some pretty excellent food; big salads with local greens, string beans, avocado, beets and sprouts; stir fry dishes with sweet potato, tomatoes, herbs and macademia nuts and some amazing smoothies with mango, banana, spirulina, kale, and raw cocoa nibs.   

Yesterday, on a long 50 mile bike ride up to the North Shore, I happened upon a cafe on an old sugar plantation that was making fresh squeezed sugar cane juice.  WOW!  The perfect drink to carry me through my return trip home.  Along with a plethora of bananas and macadamia nuts, I've been pretty satisfied.  In fact, feeling nicely energized today (of course this could be because of the coffee and chocolate shake I recently consumed!)

The best new discovery the local food challenge has brought me is POI:  a starch made from ground up taro plant, water and salt.  I had never ventured into the world of poi until embarking on this challenge, and turns out I have been missing out!  I love the creamy root vegetable, either on it's own or mixed into stir-fry's.  Next project: Poi pancakes and Poi burgers!

The biggest barrier I'm coming across is not using the items in my pantry or imported condiments.  I am a big salad and bread person.  So, not eating bread has already been tough... I keep stopping myself from ducking in somewhere to order a bagel or toast!  

Dressings for salads so far are beet juice and mashed avocado; but I have broken down and comprimised a few times by throwing a dash of this or a splash of that in my salads.  No need for perfection here; but I'm definitely interested in finding alternatives that are grown or produced right here.  The reality is, as costs of imported food rises; I'm interested in how to support one's-self with as much locally grown food as possible.

  The big question is: will I feel better in the process?  

30 Days of Local Food

Yesterday, I wrote about my need to follow my instincts and live my dreams.  I resolved to work on the outdoor school I am developing, and to act in the here and now to create foods from the earth with as little harm as possible.

The first step in my personal actions is to embark on a local food challenge.  

I have thought about making the plunge into a diet based solely on locally grown food since I moved to Hawaii, and I figure there is no time like the present.

So from today until 30 days from now I will subsist on Hawaiian grown plants- fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes and grains.  Here are the guidelines:

• I will only purchase Hawaiian grown plant foods as stated above.  That means no processed or shipped from mainland foods.

• My consumption will by 90% locally grown food; allowing for the occasional slip-up or using up some ingredients in my fridge that would otherwise go to waste.  (in other words the equivalent of 2 meals per week)

• I will track my expenditures and anything left-over money I save, I will donate to the local school garden programs.

Sounds simple enough.  Mind you, this is day one.  Naturally, I need to keep up my training and strength for upcoming races; my hope is that cleaning up and subsisting on even more local foods will benefit my recovery and performance!

Why am I doing this?  There is a long history of Hawaiian people subsisting on the bountiful and fertile lands here.  Now, Hawaii ranks 2nd in the nation for Diabetes and Obesity rates, with a 8.3 percent of the population living with Diabetes.*  With imported and fast foods a staple of the Hawaiian diet, it is difficult to believe we live in a paradise of fresh nutrient rich foods.  I'd like to demonstrate how we can return to health and wellness through the plants all around us.

*Statistics from the 2012 Hawaii Health Statistics: http://www.americashealthrankings.org/HI