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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 hereTo 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).
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.
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.
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.
After an early Thanksgiving with my family I took a road trip with my friend to Los Angeles to reunite with our college roommate. I’ve never driven from San Francisco to L.A. before, so I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into. As a child my family would often visit my grandparents in Reno and we drove to Oregon a few times, so I wasn’t too worried about being in the car for hours on end. I brought plenty of things to entertain me, and my friend made us a great playlist that made the six and a half hours go by quickly.
At one point all the time in the car was starting to get to me, so to stop my fidgeting, I decided to release some tightness in my calves on the dash board… totally normal…
Even though we left for L.A. a little before 11 a.m., by the time we were on the outskirts of the county, the sun was already almost down. Despite spending the majority of the day sitting in the car, we were exhausted and ready to stretch out for a bit. So we did what we always used to when we needed to lie down for a bit, jump on our roommate’s bed and be as obnoxious as possible. Despite being incredibly annoying, she still took us out to a delicious dinner and helped us to relax after a long day in the car by taking us to her apartment complex’s hot tub.
Before I had decided to go to L.A. I had my heart set on running a turkey trot. To make up for it, I did my own Thanksgiving morning. The only problem was that I was in a completely new area (the first time I had seen it was in the dark, so I was really unsure of where I was) and I tend to get lost… a lot. But instead of letting that stop me, I laced up and decided to wing it. Although it was a blast to get out and get to explore the neighborhood, it wasn’t as relaxing as my usual runs where I don’t have to pay attention to where I’m going or to street names to make sure that I make it back.
But after successfully navigating my way back, I was treated to a delicious breakfast at a local coffee shop/cafe that I desperately wanted to steal and bring with me back home. I had a vegetarian, crustless quiche that made me feel spoiled and yet like I was eating well. I also bought a hand pie that was later eaten before Thanksgiving dinner (in my defense we had healthy (and tasty) baked fruit for dessert so it was my only pie of the day).
Over the rest of the weekend I saw Black Friday first hand (it was simultaneously horrifying and depressing), went kayaking and paddleboarding (and did not fall in), and spent a lot of time with my not-actually-related family.
Before we said our said goodbyes on Sunday and headed back to real-life, we made another stop at the cafe for breakfast, and I couldn’t resist a chai tea and another hand pie for the road.
What we didn’t realize was that everyone else who had decided to take a road trip down to Southern California would be driving back north with us. I kept telling myself that there was an accident in front of us, and once we pass that we would be free and clear. Lets just say that never happened. It took nine hours to get back to San Francisco, and despite some interesting bird flocks that did their best to entertain me, it was a long trip back home.
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.
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.
I believe in treading lightly on the Earth and my feet. I hope to inspire and support you on your journey to live a natural, sustainable life.
All images and copy are original to Treading Lightly unless otherwise credited. Please be respectful when using material from this site and link back. I am not a doctor or a trainer – all of the content on Treading Lightly is my opinion and experience.
