Move on over to healthyashley.com!

It's official. After many months of planning, healthy ashley is saying goodbye to healthyashley.blogspot.com and hello to healthyashley.com! The new site is better-looking, easier to navigate and much more fun.... perfect as I begin blogging my new life in North Carolina!

Please update your links and RSS feeds. I don't want you to miss out on the fun!

Check out the first post on the new site: Hey, Hey North Carolina!

Open New Year's Eve and New Years Day

Hey all,

We will be open normal hours for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, 10am-11pm. Got a couple new things in stock and some replenishment. New in:

-Lost Abbey Gift of the Magi
-Lost Abbey 10 Commandments
-Anchor Old Foghorn Barleywine
-Brother David's Triple
-Brother David's Double
-Green Flash Hop Head Red
-Green Flash Triple
-Port Old Viscosity
-Hitachino White Ale

Happy New Year!

Nate

Attention Gueuze Lovers

Has Arrived to Healthy Spirits. Tiny allocation. Get it while you can.

Cheers,

Rami

Christmas day Schedule

Keeping up with our commitment to satisfy your lust for good beer, Healthy Spirits will be open today until 5 pm.

Merry Christmas,

Rami

415-255-0610

Ommegange Chocolate Indulgence

The decadent and seductive Chocolate Indulgence from Ommegang has arrived.
Also, we were blessed with a second allocation of the 2009 North Coast Old Stock Ale Cellar Reserve Bourbon Barrel.
We received Russian River Damnation, Consecration, Supplication, Redemption.

Cheers,

Rami

The Abyss 2010

The long awaited Abyss has arrived. Small shipment and no bottle limits. We are promised a second shipment next week, but I would not count on it. Beer of the month club members can RSVP.

Cheers,

Rami
415-255-0610

North Coast Old Stock Cellar Reserve just arrived!

Hey guys,

Just received a shipment of the 2009 Old Stock Cellar Reserve aged in bourbon barrels. It's on the shelves now, with no bottle limits. We have been looking forward to this release for a while so get it while you can. Cheers!

Nate

Healthy Spirits: Beer of the Month Club January 2011

Now ready for pick-up!

cheers,

dave hauslein
beer manager
415-255-0610

Healthy Spirits: New Arrivals

1. He'Brew Vertical Jewbelation (blend of all 7 Jewbelation anniversary beers, 100% aged in 6 year Sazerac Rye barrels)

2. Ale Industries Fysus (Extremely Limited blended, barrel aged barleywine)

3. Uncommon Brewers Baltic Porter (16oz can)


FYI: The Abyss should be coming monday afternoon.

cheers,

dave hauslein
beer manager
415-255-0610

Healthy Spirits: FIFTYFIFTY ECLIPSE!!!

No bottle limits, but only Beer of the Month Club members may reserve bottles. Open for shipping.

1. 2009 Vintage Elijah Craig (Very Limited)
2. 2009 Vintage Heaven Hill (Very Limited)
3. 2010 Evan Williams (Good Availability)
4. 2010 Four Roses (Limited)
5. 2010 Heaven Hill (Limited)


cheers,

dave hauslein
beer manager
415-255-0610

3 Liter Stone Double Bastard Ale 2010

New Arrival

We just received a tiny allotment of this year's release.

Get it soon it will go fast.

Rami

Healthy Spirits

Tallahassee 50 Race Recap: Or 36.4 Miles

Around 3:15 p.m. today I hurriedly opened the door to my car, sat down and began sobbing.

I had just run for 8 hours and 10 minutes for a goal but didn't achieve it. There was no applause for me at the finish line. Instead I gave the race official notice that I was dropping out and quietly slipped into the sidelines. One person congratulated me while I overheard another saying I didn't finish. I had so many emotions inside as I rushed to my car to let the tears burst.

Months ago I registered for the Tallahassee Ultra Distance Classic 50-miler while still hyped up from my first ultra marathon, Crooms 50k. I juggled training for the 50 while gearing up for the Ironman, mostly achieved by adding an 8ish mile run the day after a long run. Everything was great until this past month when I traveled, worked and got engaged. My runs got shorter and training was put on the back burner.

Still, this morning I lined up with about 20 other runners next to a little chalk line waiting for the race director to yell, "go." We were off and I started playing with the numbers in my head. One mile is two percent. Every five miles was 10%. The more I thought about it the less daunting 50 miles seemed.

My tight legs loosened up after a couple of miles (like they always do) and I really settled into a nice groove of running:walking 8:1. I felt strong. Around mile 16 I felt a few sharp pains in my left knee that made me stop for a minute. The soles of my feet felt tortured and behind my knees (mostly the left) was in pain. Otherwise, the rest of my body and my breathing was solid.

The course was a loop of six miles in the shape of a T with two aid stations. It was a small race but the out-and-back setting made running alone a rarity. Most people knew each other from the local track club. I liked that six mile loops seemed less intimidating, but it was hard always passing my car and the option to jump in and leave!

From the beginning the race director talked about 50-milers who chose to drop down to the 50k. In my mind he made it sound like an option. This was the first downfall: from the beginning I allowed myself to think I could just finish with the 50k group. Having an out from the start isn't good.

My legs were hurting pretty bad around mile 20. At this point I started to prepare to end at 50k. Richard's texts and your tweets reminded me that I'm strong and not to give in. Crap! You guys were supposed to say, "sure! quit! take the easy route!" ;-)

I realized ending at 50k would only be because it was such a convenient end and not because I needed to quit. I'm fine with backing out when necessary, but convenience should never be my reason. So, since I couldn't say my body needed to stop at 31 miles, I went out for another loop.

Good news: I PRed (set a personal record) for the 50k! At 6:36 I beat my previous time by 36 minutes! And I had the energy to keep running!

Good Lord the back of my leg killed me on this loop. I couldn't extend my left leg so running was awkward and walking was basically limping. I tried to jog it out before settling to a fast walk.... which slowed to a more casual walk... which ended with a "please let me float to the fcar" walk. I tried out a slow jog and everything in my body hurt. I stretched. I did downward dog (which helps a lot, by the way).

I know what endurance events and running on empty feel like. Seven weeks earlier I finished an Ironman and wasn't in any kind of pain like this. This wasn't good.

I thought of my options. I could hobble 15 more miles in pain, even after the finish line and aid stations were torn down... or I could take my 50k PR, personal distance record and still un-injured body and leave the race early. Regardless, I did an ultra marathon. It wasn't a total fail.

Once I saw mile 32 took 18 minutes and I wasn't getting any better I decided to head straight to the finish line to check out. I was still set on completing a 50 mile race at some point, but my body was telling me loud and clear that this was not my day.

As an athlete I easily get caught up in the "must finish" mindset of a race so much so that the race becomes more important than me. I don't respond to pain like most people. I push and push and achieve and get the job done. I tweeted: Sometimes walking away from a run that is no longer good is the reminder we need that we are more than runners.

I tweeted, facebooked and texted that I was dropping out but I was 100% okay with this decision. And I was. Kind of.

Until minutes later when I sat in my car sobbing.

I'm proud for stopping when I knew the race was over for me, avoiding injury, PRing the 50k and running farther than I ever have before. I'm sad I didn't finish the race I set out to do and invested 8 hours 10 minutes toward. I'm mad because I know the reason I couldn't finish is entirely because of my lack of training.

I'm not sure if this was a good experience... or an okay experience... or a bad experience. I wanted to do 50 and I didn't. My body said a big "NO" and I know it's because of my preparation. Still, I ran an amazing 36.4 miles and that alone is something to celebrate.

Runs don't have to be all good or all bad. I believe each one is a learning experience about our minds, our hearts and our bodies. I learned a lot today... a lot that I want to put toward rocking the next 50!

Thank you to everyone on Twitter who cheered me on during the whole experience. I read each tweet and they certainly kept me from feeling alone! Thank you!

Fifty Miles

So.... I'm running 50 miles in the morning!

With the excitement of the engagement, this race has somewhat been put on the back burner.

running for 10+ hours < hot man putting a ring on it

Google "training plans" for 5ks to marathons and the results are endless. Everyone knows someone who has done a marathon and is willing to give advice.

The world of ultra marathons is very different. Training plans are few and far between. The races bring together a small crowd of dedicated, earthy runners. My view of their training plans is that they just know what to do. I've never seen an ultra-marathoner get as antsy or hyped up about a long race as a marathoner or other racer. Ultra marathoners are few, knowledgeable and hardcore.

Few training plans (or even guidelines for that matter) mean that I'm not really sure how my training went. I did a trail marathon three weekends ago (didn't recap), a road marathon two weeks ago (ooops... didn't recap that one either!), but my runs in between have been shorter than I'd like. The past two weeks I've laid low. My schedule picked up with work and, really, who wants to run for hours when you have a hot man in your house?

I'm sure I could have run farther in distance or more often, but overall I am confident in my training. I'm strong and my endurance kicks a$$.

But, it's 50 miles. FIFTY MILES!!!!

This brings into play the entire reason I run. Running is just one foot in front of the other with a little thought thrown in. It's easy. I know my body can do it. And I know my body is strong enough for it because I've done an Ironman, a half marathon and two full marathons in the last six weeks.

So that leaves me with my mind. My mind likes to introduce boredom, pain intolerance, self-doubt and distraction into the game. One foot will go in front of the other, but my mind plays a harder game.

So I will persevere. I will push when it is hard. I won't be afraid of the burn in my lungs that reminds me my body is working. I will trust this machine and all the work I've put into it. I will look at the ring on my left hand and remember the man who believes in me with everything he has. I will think of you all.

Tomorrow morning I will wake up, run 50 miles and be that much stronger for it.

Distance is just a number. We place limits on ourselves. Push through them.

What is your biggest obstacle when running or working toward a goal? How do you overcome it?

Healthy Spirits: The New Stuff

1. Kasteel Cuvee Du Chateau

2. Kasteel Glassware

3. Spire Mountain Draft Apple Cider

4. Spire Mountain Dark and Dry Apple Cider

cheers,

dave hauslein

beer manager

415-255-0610

Healthy Spirits: Midnight Sun Arctic Devil/Berserker (Please read carefully

Hey Everyone,

So once again we find ourselves in a Dissident-type situation, with an incredibly small release of two beers that a lot of people want.

1. Midnight Sun Arctic Devil Barley Wine

2. Midnight Sun Berserker Imperial Stout

These beers will be limited to 1 bottle of each per customer. Only Beer of the Month Club members may reserve bottles. We will not be accepting payments over the phone for this release.

Bottles will be kept behind the counter, so hopefully this will give people a little more time to have a shot at some bottles.

cheers,

dave hauslein

beer manager

415-255-0610

Healthy Spirits: Russian River Consecration

now in stock.


cheers,

dave hauslein
beer manager
415-255-0610

The Proposal

I am marrying the man that 15-year-old me fell in love with seven years ago. In one month officially "together," seven years of hidden love and adoration for each other manifested in ways I never thought possible. I now understand the terms "happily ever after," "soul mate," and "the one," and I am engaged to marry mine.

The ring wasn't a total surprise (we have trouble not telling each other everything), but the proposal was wonderful and special nonetheless! If you've read my Love Story (back story to this news!), you'd know there is a lot more history behind us than our month (!!) of dating.

Since we were young we had this habit of driving down Highway 60 almost every night we were together. It is a long, narrow road with water on both sides connecting Tampa with Clearwater. We would roll down the windows, turn the music up and enjoy the peaceful moment of just being together, hands held outside the car with the windows down. Years after those nights I'd often change my route to make sure I traveled over this road, rolled down the windows and thought about Richard.

Sunday evening we left a family get together and Richard grabbed my keys, refusing to answer my questions of where we were going. Before I know it we are driving down Highway 60, windows down and David Gray playing through the speakers. Only this time I have one hand out the window and the other holding Richard's.

He suddenly stopped the car alongside the busy road, told me to get out of the car and got down on both knees, holding my hands. "I love you so much. I love you with everything inside me. I never want to spend a moment without you," poured from his mouth. "Will you marry me?"

I didn't even notice the perfect ring between his two fingers as I fell to both knees to hug him tightly. Of course I said yes, and for the first time put on the ring that turns all of our possibilities into reality.

Then we realized we were on the side of the road in the dark and might die so we hightailed it to a beach area on the other side of the road. We spread out blankets and held each other just talking about our excitement.

We passed a casino on the way home and Richard, apparently feeling very lucky, suggested we stop to bet $5. I've never gambled before and we just got engaged.... why not?! We walked out $5 poorer :)

My lululemon friends were our at Tavern Opa for a holiday get-together. What a perfect opportunity to squeal with excitement with twenty of my closest friends!

Apparently because Richard put a ring on it I had to dance on the table (?!). I should note that dancing on a table is very different when you haven't had anything to drink!

The night was perfect and just the start to an incredible life.

You've all read my Love Story. Well, Richard wrote his own version. I promised I'd post it when he proposed.

First, one thing for dear Katy:

Richard's Love Story

My girlfriend story? Oh where to begin, there was this one girl- forgot her name, then another girl, and someone else, and blah, blah, blah. Oh- you asked for my LOVE story? Well, now thats a whole different story...

Since I've met her, and up to this very day; she has never failed in stealing a split-second of breath from me every time our eyes have met. What is it to feel every negative aspect of your life drop off your shoulders and shatter at your feet? What is it like when the woman you have been needing for so long wraps her arms around you, looks into your eyes and sweetly declares: "I'm yours," and you forget your own name? What does it feel like to caress the entire world with your fingertips?

My love story with Ashley Sickles began when I was 17 years old... and it will never end.

I was out with my friends one night, when we decided to try out a new local coffee shop, The Beanery. The moment I walked in the door, despite all the commotion, the lights, paint colors, crazy decorations, the live band, all the talking and shouting- she was the first and only thing my brain could focuse on at that moment. She stood behind the counter with the most beautiful hair and smile to greet my friends and I. Scrambling, I to try and think of ways I can prolong a conversation, so I come up with the excuse of not knowing what is good or what I like, the drinks I like at Starbucks, but I was very careful to assure her that after I tried whatever she decided to make me, that I wouldn't know what Starbucks even was. To this day I cannot remember what that drink tasted like, nor weather it was even hot or cold. But she made it for me. Today I still wonder if she knows how many times I had shown up there by myself, just to realize she wasn't.... must have been well over two-dozen times. One day, I showed up The Beanery was no more and it broke my heart. Through mutual friends, we were eventually united again. I remember that group night when we went bowling. She loved to hassle me. I'd go as far as saying she lived for it, in our moments. She handled my sarcasm, shot it back with avengence, and never let up. No one has ever been capable of doing this without my anger, frustration, and embarrassment being shot back at them. She always made me smile. This was the night my heart took hold of her and the roots of what I feel today were planted in: complete respect and unconditional friendship.

At this point of my life, I had just been cheated on and dumped by my first "true love." I was on a warpath. I was going to date as much as I could and hurt anyone I could- including myself. This curse lasted almost 3 years. Ashley was my rock during this time, weither she knew it or not. She was always my #1. No matter what girl I was with that week, if she wanted to roll the windows down and drive down Hwy 60- I was there. If I was with someone and that person got jealous that I was hanging out with Ashley, then the relationship with that girl was very soon ended. Living this way long enough was exhausting. My emotions took me over one night and I knew I could not keep living my life this way. I couldn't sleep, I was at a very un-healthy level of depression, and I felt like I was drowning. I was done.

I was about to turn 20 years old.I re-evaluated my life. I started going to church again. I was putting myself back on the tracks. I knew what I wanted to be. One night, I put deep thought of the man I wanted to be and the woman I wanted for a wife, everything kept coming down to Ashley. I was scared. Scared of losing the most incredible friend I have ever had. I knew I wanted so much more than that with her- but I wasnt ready to tell her just yet. I needed more time.

One night I ran into Ashley at Starbucks.She had a 'friend' with her. I was not impressed with this guy, to say the very least, but she had a smile on her face which meant I would keep my lips shut. I will never ruin that smile, not as long as my heart is beating. So I backed off. Way off. I went back to the girl who had 'treated me the best out of the rest' and started limiting communication with Ashley. There in this hole, I waited. Time seems to have it's own plans and with it comes it's own demons.

Two years pass.She's still with him. I'm still with her. My mind settles on, "Well, it is what it is." Moving to North Carolina, was to get away from it. Run, Richard, run! Trying to settle down and get engaged, "yeah, that'll work" I convinced myself, and a week later, my demons knock once again. To look into a girl's eyes and wish you were looking at someone else- that is the most heart wrenching feeling I could wish upon anyone. She always hid it well, but deep down, my fiance' knew who I really wanted, but she was just as much of a coward as me when it came to leaving. Fighting got worse, the words got harder, pretty soon we grew numb to any and every word we could yell at each other, and silence became the best argument. Ashley and I talked ocassionally through Facebook and IM- always appropriate, but always ended with "could have's" and what we should have done. Either way, I had been emotionally dead in my current relationship. How many nights will I keep staying up just to think about her?

A year passes.Ashley is single. My heart drops and my entire body feels numb. Chills. But wait- I'm engaged, just bought a house, I have bills... I feel helpless. Over the course of months I cringe when I see shes dating. To hear about it, to see photos, to know that the boys that shes talking about, the boys that she goes out with and here I sit in shame, passing out dating advice, always making sure I gave advice that would ultimately make her second guess the relationship she was in :)

Six months of this.I hit rock bottom in my happiness. I end my engagement. I feel like a monster, but a weight is lifted. I decide I'm not going to die without telling Ashley everything I feel for her. The first chance I get- I let it out and refuse to let myself leave out anything for her to have to guess on.

Three weeks later.I'm splashing water on my face from the airport water fountain. I keep pacing nervously throughout the airport lobby while I feel every security guard's eyes watching me. I don't care- I'm about to smell the hair of the love of my life in less than 5 minutes- try and arrest me! I hear the woman on the intercom announce her flight has landed. I make my way as close as I can and off to the side so I can see her first. I start shaking. I stuggle to keep my eyes from tearing up and I lock my knees so I don't fall. I'm ready.

The angel walks around the corner.

She dosen't see me yet and I'm not going to wave- I want this moment for me. Seconds later, our eyes lock... her ears go up and her nose crinkles as she smiles. Remember to breathe. "Hi." That's all either of us could say. I wrapped my arms around her so tight and kept wiping tears from my eyes. My hands tremble as I hold the back of her head- I feel her... I inhale her. I don't remember walking back to the truck, or much of the ride back home. I recall adjusting the mirror so I could see her eyes.

We are IN love.The rest of the day is just two smiles walking around. Words are unacceptable to the beautiful silence, and the relationship we've always had is so superior to simple small talk. Ashley is in MY house! For so long, this woman has been the alpha-standard for who I want to be my wife, and here she is not willing to break eye contact with me for a second. We have been talking about the first kiss for weeks, and for a few hours, we'll come close, but always pull away. Further proving to me we're just as together as we've always been and will never stop teasing eachother. This would have been close enough to heaven for me in this lifetime, but in one of those moments, we can't help but make contact. So, we kiss. Ashley and I have a bond and passion between us that is beyond any that I had ever thought could exist between any two people. From this moment on, Norah Jones decides to speak for us, as our love completely and entirely overflows into one another.

Ashley is my best friend, my future wife, my un-born child's mother, and the gravestone next to mine.

Seven years after.

A few of my favorite (Orlando) things..

Richard came to check out everything I will be leaving in Orlando when I move to be with him next month. Three days of visiting my favorite places? Yes, please!

After lunch at Chipotle and a little shopping at the lululemon Orlando Outlet we visited Whole Foods. His first time at a real Whole Foods!

I doubt anyone would believe I'd bring him anywhere other than Ethos Vegan Kitchen for dinner the first night. We shared a What's the Dilly, Philly? sandwich and pizza with (vegan) sausage, tomatoes and black olives. Yum! He kept saying how the food didn't taste any different than the regular versions.

Austin's Coffee with it's infamous vegan carrot cake...

... and some friends!

Day 2 was family day.

After lunch with part of his family we ventured to take annual family photos with my family.

And then this happened.

Yep. Someone is crazy enough to propose to a marathon addicted vegan! Details coming :)

ps- Make sure to seize your chance to win $100 from V8!