Minneapolis Taste Buds

Yesterday’s long run was 4 miles as I keep easing upwards for a 10K next month. It felt great to hit my favorite trail along the river. I hadn’t added hills yet, so I sprinkled in a few little guys. It was sunny and around 33 with a hefty spring wind. I fueled up with protein, carbs, greens and healthy fat. A year ago, I had 13 miles, it was 15 degrees, icy, and windy. I likely ate half a bagel with some peanut butter. With the exception of long run days, I rarely ate before a run and wondered why I felt drained. I didn’t understand how to eat for performance. Now I get it. Exercise is only part of the equation. As a friend recently said, “You can’t outrun the fork!” I’ve learned a lot this past year, and over the next 6 weeks I’m doing a deep dive into nutrition. I’m learning how to eat to fuel body and mind. It’s a simple approach with real food. I have 3 spots left in my nutrition cleanup group . Sign up by April 14. If this speaks to you, fill out this form: Name ...

"Get out of here. You're fat!" Words have power. Sometimes we carry a word or a cruel statement with us and hear it on repeat in our heads for weeks, months, decades. I did the math - it's been 29 years. For nearly three decades I've heard those words followed by laughter - every single day. At some point, the voice who said the toxic words can turn into your own. I'm reading The Perfection Detox with my coach team, and with each chapter, I'm letting myself go there. You know the place. It's where those crappy memories you'd prefer not to let bubble up to the surface live. Each morning I've read a chapter or two, and whoa, have I worked some things out! One exercise had me write to the person who said those words. The author encourages you to rip the letter up. I've held on to the letter and read it several times. At some point, I'm going to make myself a 'lil bonfire and burn those words up. I'd never thought about wha...

I'm gearing up to tackle something that pretty much everyone I talk to struggles with. Nutrition. Most people are confused about what to eat. Most are kind of winging it in the kitchen. Some are exercising for the first time or getting back at it, so it all feels overwhelming. Some are athletes who've got the exercise thing down. Where they struggle is how to fuel their bodies to perform. A lot of us need a game plan, and could use some help. That’s where I come in. I'm signed up and ready to become an Ultimate Portion Fix Master Nutrition Coach. This is where I got my start last summer, with timed-nutrition. It takes the guesswork and emotions out of eating. It was a game changer for me. I generally ate healthy foods. I'd had a food sensitivity test and knew what didn't work well with my body. What I didn't know was when to eat, and how much. I also didn't know how to meal prep to make it simple, so it didn't become a barrier. Timed-nut...

So, life happens and we can't control that. I'm trying to live more in the present, and less in the past and future. "Do what you are doing" is one of my new mantras. Monday took an unexpected turn. My dad went into the hospital and we're going on day seven tomorrow. He’s no stranger to hospitals at 82 with a variety pack of health challenges. A year ago I’d have lost it. Stressing about what it could be and how the heck we’d figure things out and rearrange life. I was calm when my sister called. I didn’t run out of work in a panic like I would have in the past. When I drove to the hospital I listened to Girl Stop Apologizing. I listened to it on the way home. Each day, I still get up to do my personal development and get a workout in before the rest of the family gets up. I still do my meal prep so I can bring healthy meals and snacks for myself to the hospital. I know I need to keep showing up for myself, so I can show up for others. My coaching team...