North Carolina in a Week

This has been quite the week of traveling. Tuesday through Thursday I spent near Asheville, NC, visiting a special boy, Richard. Friday through Sunday was a girls' road trip through North Carolina and South Carolina. I've certainly covered ground!

Maybe it's just me, but food just tastes better in crisp mountain air. I introduced Richard to PB-naner oats and taco salads with the amazing Daiya vegan cheese.

Runs are definitely better with hills, nature and that crisp mountain air.

Richard is a flexitarian who appreciates good vegan food, so we made it a point to try his favorite vegetarian restaurant in downtown Asheville, Rosetta's Kitchen.

Rosetta's has a funky, local feel with mis-matched chairs and fun wall art. The crowd was varied and definitely included plenty of dreadlocks!

We got the vegan Pad Thai Kitchen Style with tofu and a peanut-apricot sauce. It had a nice twist from typical pad thai, but amazing nonetheless!

We walked downtown after our amazing dinner. It was very hippie and fun for sure. I loved what I saw and can't wait to go back and really scope out the area!

Recommendations to try out Laughing Seed Cafe have poured in since I first mentioned my visit to Asheville. You all know your stuff so we stopped in for dessert.

We shared a raw vegan ice cream with cacao and candied pecans and a vegan organic peanut butter cookie.

The "ice cream" was incredible- refreshing, dynamic and just sweet enough. The cookie was moist and rich and full of peanut butter goodness.

How do you select restaurants to try out when visiting a new city?

Hello, Blogging!

Hey there, regular blogging ;)

I miss regular daily blogging. So I'm back. And I'm working on a site redesign so it will be easier for you all to read and comment and for me to post and reply. It's getting exciting!

I never set my alarm and accidentally got 8.5 hours of sleep. Normally I average 5-7, so this slumber was luxurious! I started the day with a Svelte sustained energy protein drink. I received these in the mail as a sample and now have an addiction.

They are smooth, creamy, sweet-but-not-too-sweet, mostly organic, dairy-free, low-glycemic and gluten-free. Amazing. I may have had the Chai flavor later in the day too :-P I don't normally order my food online in bulk, but I'm definitely going to order a case of these!

The lovely Gina and I took a trip to Whole Foods recently. She inspired me to make massaged avocado kale salad, so make it I did! I haven't been cooking (or un-cooking) in a while, so it was nice to get my hands dirty with some fresh produce! (This time I added a can of blackeyed peas :) Delicious!

Among other eats I munched on raw almonds and pumpkin seeds at work.

I was stopped dead in my tracks today when I received a package on my doorstep from Vee. Vee is a fellow tweeter and athlete who I met in Philly. She reads this blog and always offers so much motivation!

Vee sent me an Ironman Mile Stones hand crafted pewter necklace to celebrate my race. It has a swim/bike/run image on the front and the 2.4/112/26.2 distances on the back. I couldn't be more thankful- or proud to wear it!

Thank you so much for all your sweet words on the Great Floridian Ultra Triathlon Race Recap!! Here's some follow-up to that post:

My recovery plan:

Sunday- I took Sunday off from any kind of exercise! I was out and about with work and friends, but movement was minimal :) I was tight in my hips and sore in my joints, but nothing too bad!

Monday- Monday Fun Day I felt almost back to normal so I headed to a hot power yoga class. I told myself to not focus on a "I just did an Ironman so I can't do _____" story. I went in with an open mind and willing body. I felt strong and kept up through the whole practice. Better yet, after class I felt 100% back to normal! Not a thing was sore. Weird.

Tuesday- Tuesday I ran out of time so just squeezed in an easy 30 minute bike ride. It felt good to get my legs moving! All soreness still gone.

Wednesday- Today I ran three miles. Other than a little WTF from my calves, the run went well. Feels good to be back!

Ironman Q + A:

Running Wifle: Did you do any sprint triathlons before the half and then the full?

My half Ironman was my first triathlon- and first open water swim! I was highly active in endurance races and had already completed the bike and run distances several times. I wouldn't say jumping in that high in the game was a bad thing, but doing some shorter races first can help you flow better in the triathlon (transitions, etc.).

Taydor Tott: But what oh what did you say to that cop?! lol

I turned him down. I asked him if he had ever thought of doing "one of these things." He said he was thinking about it. LOL, he was lying. Poor guy.

Learn Fitness: Knowing what you know now, how would you train differently for your next Ironman ofr Half Ironman?

I would devote more training to my weakest sport (swimming), actually do brick workouts (I didn't do a single true brick workout!) and train on the terrain of the race (HILLS).

Peanut Butter Fingers: Would you ever do it again? :)

As I started my swim I told myself, "do this now and you'll never have to do it again." I hated the end of the bike course so much that the thought of tackling another Ironman was the funniest thing I could have thought up in that moment. Then I signed up for my next less than 24-hours later. Yes, it was hard. It pushed me and tested me in every way. But I did it. And, really, it was only one hard day of my life. For all the good a challenge like that brings, I can do anything for 17 hours.

Many of you mentioned training for your first triathlon, half Ironman or full Ironman. There are obviously a LOT of tips I could cover, but here are a few that stand out days after the Ironman:

- Put more food than you think you'll want in the special needs bags. The last thing you want is to be hungry. Also, pack fun food you can look forward to. A pb-naner sandwich I packed had me excited to get to mile 39 on the bike!

- Train in conditions similar to the course as much as possible! If it's all hills, ride and run all hills! Get in open water swims.

- Plan as if everything will go wrong. My tri shorts ripped, my chain fell off, I forgot my lip balm for the bike leg (big deal to me!!)... plan, plan and over-plan for all that could ever possibly go wrong!

How do you commemorate your big achievements? Do you ever use jewelry?

Hanging at Austin’s

Let me introduce you to Austin’s Coffee & Film- my newest favorite place on the planet. Comfy couches, live music, delicious coffee, , open 27/7, a very vegan-friendly menu, vegan cakes and cookies and a fun staff… what more is there to ask for?

The inside is a funky mix with diner-style booths, movie theater seats and mix-matched couches and chairs. It is a good place to dine with friends mid-afternoon or to sip an iced coffee at one of their open mic nights in the evening.

My friend Alex and I visited for their vegan carrot cake and vegan donut after an indulgent lunch at Ethos Vegan Kitchen. Yes, it was a delicious day!

Their pastries come in fresh from a local vegan bakery. The donut was perfect! A definite threat to any Dunkin’ Donuts.The carrot cake? Best I’ve had, hands down. The cream cheese icing was rich and full of flavor. The cake was full of spices and raisins. It was perfection down to the last bite!

Before heading out Alex and I had a fun time checking out the decorative bricks all over Austin’s walls. Some of these made me blush!

I’m not kidding when I say I’m addicted. I was back at Austin’s a few hours later for their hip-hop open mic night with different friends! We drank iced coffee and beers (not me!) and played… Pretty Pretty Princess while enjoying the local hip-hop scene? Haha, yep.

_________

I’m sure most of you know I work at the lululemon athletica Orlando Outlet. I’ve been with the company for eight months now and have loved every minute. This company is just as focused on helping its guests and employees live healthier and happier lives as it is selling the world’s best black stretchy pants.

Most stores are always on the lookout for great people, but I wanted to share quickly that lululemon athletica is hiring managers in South Florida! You can find out more about working for this amazing company here.

Vibram Vibram

 

Yesterday began the way all the best days do… hot power yoga surrounded by friends. The 90-minute session felt wonderful after I took several days in a row off from classes over the weekend.

Post-yoga I met Ryan for lunch at our favorite go-to, Infusion Tea.

Apparently I’m a creature of habit because I ordered the my favorite- 1/2 tempeh chili, 1/2 Milton Special salad and a Passion Fruit iced tea of the day. I love the fresh flavors and textures of the salad balanced out by the hearty, warm chili. It must be good for me to order it several times each month over the last year!

Over lunch Ryan told me about how she was considering the Vibram Five Fingers. I’ve been considering Vibram’s for a while but hadn’t made the jump yet. As usual Ryan had done her research and educated me about the power of the shoes. Nest thing I know I’m in Ryan’s car headed to Travel Country to try on a pair for myself!

There were three main outdoor options for women: Classic, Sprint and KSO. The girl helping us was great and explained the benefits of each one in detail. In the end I decided to try on the Sprint; it offers a secure fit while still being pretty open on the top of the foot.

Ryan and I had our feet sized and tried on a few pairs. It was definitely different sliding each toes into it’s own compartment, but I quickly fell in love once I took my first step. It is like walking barefoot- but better.

  Surprisingly the Vibrams didn’t look as goofy as I imagined! (Or maybe I’m just used to seeing everyone else in them!?) Ryan and I both ended up going with the Sprint model, though we got different colors to match our own personalities :) There’s a lot of technology behind these shoes, but I think this from the website explains a lot:

“When you go barefoot, your movements become the movements of a child—playful and sensitive, yet purposeful and confident. You experience the unbound joy of stepping, hopping, and running across any surface on earth, simply to get from here to there.

Vibram FiveFingers® allow you to relive that sensation. Unlike conventional shoes that insulate you from your surroundings, FiveFingers footwear deepens your connection to the earth and your surroundings. FiveFingers enhance your sense of touch and feel, while improving foot strength, balance, agility, and range of motion. Because wearing Vibram FiveFingers is so close to going barefoot, you’ll enjoy the health and performance benefits of barefooting without some of the risks.

Outdoor enthusiasts have found FiveFingers to be the ideal crossover shoe for multiple sports and activities—from ChiRunning and bouldering to kayaking and windsurfing. Fitness enthusiasts use FiveFingers for core strength training, yoga and Pilates. Our customers continually discover new and creative uses for our alternative performance footwear.”

From the moment we left the store Ryan and I wanted to walk over everything. The sensation of a round rock or the cracks in the brick or the softness of grass felt so good! I definitely felt like a little kid being so aware of my surroundings.

You are instructed to ease into the Vibrams, and certainly to not start running in them right away. But my name is Ashley and I have trouble listening to directions. I ran three miles in my new Vibrams right after I got home.

I kept stubbing my big toes into the pavement which hurt terribly and actually left holes in the top of the shoes. I never hit my toes in sneakers, so I’m sure it was just that my stride wasn’t adjusted to such different support.

Other than the toe issue I loved how the Vibrams moved with me on my run. At first I felt like I had walked outside in just my socks, but it felt more normal quickly. I felt lighter and more in touch with my surroundings. My pace was 45 seconds faster without any additional effort.

I’m addicted. My feet felt alive and strong. My whole body felt more in touch from my feet up. I have a lot of adjusting to do with the Vibrams, so I’ll be sure to keep you updated.

Do you own a pair of Vibram Five Fingers? What are your thoughts on barefoot running?

____________________________________

Olympic Granola Giveaway Winners:

Active Eggplant

Congratultaions! Please email your mailing address to healthyashley@gmail.com.

Be sure to check out Where to Buy to find where Olympic Granola bars are near you!

Olympic Granola Giveaway

Sunday morning I came across a guy with a truck, tent and tons of produce just down the street from my house. I was heading to the farmer’s market but couldn’t help but stop by to check out the goods.

The farmer was out selling his own produce and was so passionate about his crops. He was overjoyed when I asked to take photos of his beautiful table.

The best part by far was when he’d grab a fruit, cut out a chunk and pass the chunk to me on his knife to sample. The watermelon, cantaloupe and peach I tasted won me over.

I got a good selection from the produce stand and stopped at a grocery store for bananas and hummus. I can’t wait to visit my new favorite stand again. Everything I’ve eaten from that day is incredible!

And check out the size of the cucumber!!

___________

I’m so excited to tell you guys about Olympic Granola. I first tried Olympic Granola at the Grandma’s Marathon expo in Duluth, MN. The bars were so incredible that I bought some to enjoy on my trip- and talked to them about doing something with the blog. I wanted you all to know about this amazing company!

These dense granola bars are full of good-for-you ingredients and will fill you up. They’re dairy-free but contain honey- which is fine for honey-eating vegans like myself. Check out the ingredient lists. I enjoy the texture of the bars because there’s so much going on- they use rolled oats, nuts and nutty rice to give a really interesting texture. Plus, there’s tons of flavor. Just take the Coffee House Bar with chunks of chocolate :)

Olympic Granola is a family company that started out in 2003 selling bars at farmer’s markets and co-ops. Now they’re expanding across the nation. So neat.

Bill from Olympic Granola has offered to give away one sample box of his amazing bars!

To win a sample box of Olympic Granola Bars:

1. Comment on this post telling me which flavor you’re most excited to try.

2. Tweet about this giveaway: “I entered the Olympic Granola Bar giveaway on @healthyashley http://tinyurl.com/2d8pya7”

3. Blog about it!

Giveaway closes Sunday, July 18th.