I’ve always loved the rain, and there is something about running in the rain that makes me insanely happy. I know the first thought of heading out and getting completely soaked from head to toe while you try to slog through some miles is an instant “no!” But instead of staying inside and being irritated that it rained all day, I decided to give it a try and get excited to go play in the rain.

I wore my Merrell barefoot running shoes to prepare to get wet. Instead of getting my more traditional running shoes soaked through I decided to forgo socks and live by the “wear sandals in the rain so your feet dry faster” strategy. To keep me warm, even when potentially drenched, I wore my warmest running tights and a long sleeve shirt under my waterproof running jacket. (Plus, how can a run not be fun when you are wearing purple tights?)

The whole run was a blast. I went a few minutes before the start of the Super Bowl and I had the streets to myself. While it was peaceful, it was also the most freeing run I’ve had in a while. I rapped to Eminem, jumped over puddles like a kid avoiding “lava,” and laughed like a maniac.

The whole day the rain went from a light shower to a full on downpour with no notice, so I wasn’t exactly sure how my plan would turn out. I got lucky that for the most part it was only a light drizzle. And when it did decide to really open up and show me what it’s like run in some real rain I couldn’t help but laugh. It was exhilarating to run with the rain hitting my face. Everyone who saw me probably thought I was crazy because of the huge smile on my face (and because I was voluntarily running in the rain, not because of the singing or leaping, obviously). I honestly can’t wait to do it again.

It’s not very often that I feel like my training is in complete opposition to each other, but lately I feel like running and CrossFit are clashing horribly. I’ve been going to CrossFit three days a week and running three days a week for more than a year, but as one activity builds in intensity it throws off the other. With the CrossFit Open coming up fast, workouts have been brutal to prepare everyone who is planning to compete. And although I won’t sign up for the open, I plan to do all of the workouts, so I’m trying to hang in there with the increased weights, increased repetitions, etc., but I’m finding myself increasingly exhausted and unable to keep my schedule up.

I had the same problem when I was training for my last half marathon and trying to keep progressing in CrossFit at the same time. I hate to admit it, but sometimes my workout schedule turns against me. I am trying to come back from a winter mileage decrease while keeping up with everyone at the gym, and I have come to realize that what I’m doing isn’t working. Not only am I not able to increase my mileage (or even get my sore, concrete filled legs moving), but I’m not doing my best at CrossFit either.

These past two weeks have been eye opening. I missed runs to instead take a much much needed rest day, but even so I was too tired to run my long run at the speed I wanted to. At the gym there was a workout I would usually crush, and instead I got trampled on. It’s time to take a step back and decide what my priorities are.

While I think about some hard decisions (Do I cut back on running to prepare for the open? Am I willing to get three months behind in running right before jumping into half marathon training? Would I be that upset if I stepped back my weights at the gym and cared less about the open workouts?), I am going to do two important things this week: 1) listen to my body and ease off when I need to and 2) only allow myself a single double day of running and yoga (no more running and CrossFit on the same day). I am also going to make an extra effort to get at nine hours of sleep each night and eat well.

More here

Giving up sugar got REAL yesterday. I need to have cards that say “I’m sorry for what I said to you when I was coming off sugar.” Yikes!

To keep reading, go here

To know how I’m doing in the moment, I have been sugar-crash venting on Twitter and Instagram.

As part of an office-wide challenge to eat better, I have cut sugar from my diet for the remainder of the work week. I have also vowed to eat as locally and as seasonally as possible and to make a conscious effort to reduce my food and packaging waste.

Read more from the post here

To read about other Sunset editor’s experiences, check out their blog posts at Westphoria or keep up with us on Twitter and Instagram with #SunsetEatFresh.

Feeling particularly ambitious? It’s not too late to join in!

I used to hate running. I ran when someone on my team missed a layup. I ran when the pool was broken and we were doing “dryland” for the day. I ran when the PE coach was giving out grades. I ran when I forgot my homework in my locker.

I never ran for fun.

It still baffles me two years later that I voluntarily put on running shoes and do more than a lap around a track or a basketball court. What has been even more shocking for me is that I actually enjoy it (shh, don’t tell coach).

Double my miles

I set out last January to run more than ever before. I wanted to double the 153 miles I ran in 2012, and with 333 miles, I destroyed my goal. I kept running consistently (except for a few minor injuries that sidelined me here and there) and I was grateful for (almost) every step.

Finish 13.1 in 2013

Running more miles than I could count on one hand was previously something I believed only insane people would even try. I had never gone so far on foot before I stepped up to the starting line. Finishing the Nike Women’s Half Marathon is one of the things I am the most proud of from this year (you know, behind graduating from college and working for Sunset magazine). Every time I wear my finisher’s necklace I am reminded that I can do the impossible.

In 2014 I will

1. Run at least 400 miles
2. Finish two half marathons
3. Run my first race away from home (and hopefully cross leaving the country off my bucket list)
4. Not let injuries worry me
5. Try a local running group like the November Project or a club

I have been obsessed with stand up paddleboarding for years. And I don’t mean in the “this is one of my favorite activities and I do it all the time” sort of obsessions, I mean “I’m procrastinating and I want to look at hundreds of people stand up paddleboarding while desperately wishing I was one of them” sort of obsession.

When I worked at Yoga Journal we ran a story on SUP yoga with Gillian Gibree, and it made me want to get out there even more than before.

Finally, after years of creepy stalking, I had my chance.

When I was visiting my friends in Southern California for Thanksgiving, we went kayaking and stand up paddleboarding on Saturday. The rainy weather from the day before had finally broken, and it was even starting to warm up outside. We all had a blast cruising around in the kayaks, and as you can see, we took it very seriously (I swear I didn’t have my feet up on the kayak the whole time, and my friend Meagan really did help me paddle in our double kayak… just not when this picture was taken).

The harbor was beautiful, and after a lap around a large portion of it, we decided to switch things up and I got to try my hand at a paddleboard. (You can see me standing in the back in the blue shirt behind the yellow kayak in the photo below)

When I first kneeled on the board I was convinced I was going to fall in. I’m known for being a spaz, and learning something new is not usually in my favor. And although the weather was warm for November (mid 70’s) there was no way I was going to survive a plunge into the freezing, dirty harbor. I think my absolute resolution that I could never fall in made me more steady and cautious.

After a few minutes on my knees I decided to try my hand at a few downward facing dogs to see what the board felt like when my center of gravity was higher while still having the stability of kneeling. Afterward I felt stable enough to try to stand up. I got a few quick lessons from my friend’s dad on how to turn and stop, and we took off again for a shorter lap around the harbor.

After a few minutes I started to be less paranoid about falling in, and I started to really get into it. I was worried I was getting too confident and I would fall in doing something stupid, but I ended up maintaining my footing, even after a random panic in the middle of the water where I suddenly forgot how to stand (not my proudest moment I will admit).
I thought if I tried paddleboarding my obsession would subside a bit… I was severely mistaken. Now I’m starting to hunt out places near me that are smooth and calm where I can keep paddleboarding. If only the ocean I live next to wasn’t 50 degrees.

The name is uttered through boxes quietly. The 5 letters bring fear into CrossFitter’s eyes. Men’s Fitness named it the third most brutal CrossFit workout.

Named after fallen Navy Lieutenant Michael Murphy, 29, who was killed in Afghanistan, Murph is one of a handful of Hero workouts that are done in memory of someone who gave their life in service. CrossFit lore says that this workout was one of Lt. Murphy’s favorites, and to honor his original workout and it’s name, “Body Armor,” it is meant to be done with a weight vest.

WOD

1 mile run
100 pull-ups
200 push-ups
300 squats
1 mile run

*For the record, the prescribed weight vest was nearly more than 1/5 of my body weight and I decided to instead stick with my super heavy tank top.*

Most CrossFitters despise running. Nearly every person in the class before me complained about the running, and my friends who have done it before said it was the most difficult part, especially the last mile. I don’t know if it was optimism, but the run was the only part I was looking forward to.

Throughout the workout I was careful to pace myself. I ran my first mile steady and started to slowly chip away at the pull-ups, push-ups, and squats. I broke the workout up into “20 rounds” and did 5 push-ups, 10 push-ups, and 15 squats each round to help make the workout feel like it was moving faster and keep my muscles functioning. By doing this I was able to make it through the first 125 push-ups full body with my elbows in tight, but after that I couldn’t do the unassisted kipping pull-ups and the push-ups anymore and I dropped to my knees on the last 2-3 push-ups of each round.

I felt alright while doing it. My muscles weren’t burning horribly, but I could tell I was fatigued. I ran the second mile faster than the first, but it was by no means a speed record. I was just thankful to stumble across the finish.

After 45 minutes and 45 seconds I had defeated the beast for the first time. Not horrible as far as times go, but I would like to try it again to see what I can do.

At least I thought I wanted another crack at it until I got up, excuse me, tried to get up, the next morning. As the day progressed my body got incredibly tight and sore, to the point where in the middle of an email where the muscles in my hands and forearms were screaming with every letter, I realized that the only muscle group that wasn’t sore were the muscles in my face.