Keeping it Simple

Man, it’s been awhile eh? The holidays called for some time off in all areas of life, so I took the time to keep my laptop powered down and give my fingers a rest.

Let’s talk about this crazy cold weather everywhere, eh? I know Chicago has basically turned into a tundra, but Baltimore even got down into the single digits today -  my Civic wasn’t too eager to start up this morning.

But do you know who was eager to start up this morning? Beth.

My Christmas present from Andrew was a bike trainer, which was shipped in a large box from Amazon. It was a bitch blast to set up last night, but I’m in love. I plan to get a thorough sweat session on her tomorrow after work, and can’t wait until it gets a bit warmer to do run bike run type workouts.

To give a short and sweet summary of my holiday season – it was long, and wonderful. Much time was spent with family and friends; great food drink and conversation happened. And of course a few runs.

One of my other favorite gifts was this guy:

And my favorite blog shout out of the year was text to me from my sister’s boyfriend, who decorated a Christmas cookie for me...

RKR = Run Kait Run. Awww thanks Jase you're a gem.

And of course, once wheels were down in Colorado there were plenty of lights to fall in love under, trails to fall in love on, and mountains to take our breath away. 

Baltimore quickly swallowed us back up this past Sunday afternoon as we somehow navigated the absurd delays and cancellations at airports across the nation; we got away with just a one hour delay, landing at BWI right around 3 pm with eight bags in tow between the two of us.

New Years Resolution? Learn to travel lighter.

Kidding. Let’s get real for a minute. Last year I made a very elaborate New Year’s Resolution list. It included different categories, etc. Some things I achieved – I feel like I did a great job of being pretty proactive, all injury aside. Definitely have been flossing more too.

Others, like ‘stop chewing on my cuticles’… I once again failed. Maybe this year?

Anyways, listen up. This year I’m keeping it simple. Literally.

There were points during the past year that all of my resolutions, goals and what not literally stressed me out. I found myself having panic attacks over not becoming a taco connoisseur while I simultaneously tried to do a sugar cleanse for three weeks. I reprimanded myself when I couldn’t find the time to practice my violin, and cried when I realized I wouldn’t hit my goal time for my marathon… because my fifth metatarsal was once again cracked, and running was off the table.

My body is still healing. On my to-do list tonight is to create a viable fitness plan for myself these next few months so that I can get myself into true healthy running shape. Yes I’m running, yet not that much, and not pain-free.

My point is, as far as specific running/racing goals, body goals, health goals, life goals, here’s what I’ve basically wrapped into one for 2014:

Keep it Simple

Keep it Balanced

Do it Joyfully

I want to drink more lemon water. I think I’ll do that; at least I’ll try. One of my best friends reprimanded me for not doing sit-ups ‘the right way’ – this is coming from Mr. Crossfit himself.

that guy  ^^  (& my sis)

Ok, Ok, I’ll work on my sit-up form. I’ve been missing my abs these days anyways – the Christmas cookies buried them.

I want a stronger upper body. I can work on that. And eventually, when I sign up for some races, I will set some short term goals there. But I’m keeping it simple, I’m not stressing myself out, and I’m living 2014 as joyfully as I can. After all, I did tattoo the word on myself. 

Glad to be back my friends. Share some of your resolutions/goals with me, I’d love to hear them. Let’s make 2014 one to remember, what do you say?

Cheers –

K

3:15

3:15 AM.

The time we finally landed in Denver this past Friday morning to start off our weekend. The same time we left Fort Collins for the airport this Tuesday morning to fly back to Baltimore, and end our weekend. Our Thursday night 5 hour flight delay out was super brutal  but lucky for us we had this little dog to entertain for awhile...

Weekends like this always wreck me. Not because of the pounds of pizza and froyo and beers and wings – I mean sure, those physically ruin me for a week or so. But I’m talking emotionally.

I’ve realized, more over the past year and a half just how important a present community is to me. Like probably top 5 things in my life kind of important. And I don't think community necessary equates out to just the word friends, although friends are awesome don’t get me wrong. I'm talking community. Your crew, who puts their arms around you and are like no matter what stupid ass crap you decide to pull, they are going to call you stupid but still love the heck out of you.

Side note: this trail we ran in Fort Collins will continue to forever and always break my heart

I have a lot going on in life right now, in a couple of different areas. And if we are being straight up honest, I've found myself saying over the past couple months... maybe I don’t want to write on here anymore? Posts lately have felt a little bit flat, a little bit pointless. I’m not looking to waste anyone’s time, and I’m certainly not looking to waste my own.

Looking forward, I'm seeing some changes and trials coming up this next month or so, and to say I’m currently facing them with stark confidence would be a bold face lie. Don't make me a liar people. The problem is, until today my mindset was ‘Welp I’m just going to worry about it/figure it out/deal about it post-Memorial Day.'

Word on the street is, Memorial Day is over (hope yours was awesome as well). Last time I checked my calendar, June is three days away.

Holy hell.

I have to apologize, this post is bouncing all over the place. It's kind of how I want it - it’s a rant and it’s my emotions. It’s a blatant, unmasked combination of fear and joy. And as I stand here and pound away at my keyboard, I remember why I started writing in the first place. To share this crazy-ass journey with you guys.

the trail of my life.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m pumped for summer. Super pumped. I think it’s going to be chock-full of some straight up awesomeness. But I also foresee a couple handfuls of tears. So there’s your vague disclaimer.

Love you guys, thanks for listening.

Cheers!

Back on the Trails

There are a few things I want to talk about today, but I don’t think it’s time. It’s not quite marinated yet, ya dig?

I woke up this morning with scratchy, tired eyes. I felt like crap and would have paid money to stay in bed for another couple of hours. Unlucky for me, I’m poor and had no money to offer the sandman.

I hit snooze once but 8 minutes later Luke Bryan started singing to me again and I rolled out of bed. This is always where things get fuzzy because honestly, sometimes I find myself on the elliptical at 6 AM and wonder how I even got there.

But I was there, looking quite homeless I’m sure. I threw in my headphones and watched the recent episode of Nashville from last night. I daydreamed about running away and becoming a cowboy and living in torn up jeans and cowboy boots and dancing away my summer to the soundtrack of something like Eric Church.

pinterest

I snapped out of it around 7 AM and dragged myself to work, seriously lacking motivation. I set the background of my computer to the most recent picture of Jane that my mom sent me:

That made me happy. As I announced on Facebook, I discovered that Carlie Rae Jepsen sings more songs than just ‘Call Me Maybe’, so I plugged through my morning by listening to her cookie cutter happy album four times through. Sorry I'm not sorry.

The weather is absolutely beautiful here. Leaves have brightened to an electric green, and I can feel the sun soaking into my skin when I walked outside. Lunch called for a lap around the parking lots with a few of my coworkers, and the fresh air reminded me that summer is closer than I can really even hope. The conversation reminded me that I have people here who really care.

The afternoon brought about the discovery how amazing the new Macklemore and Ryan Lewis album truly is. Do I live in a hole? Maybe. But if you haven’t listened to the kid, you probably should. Macklemore gets life. And aside from the drug reference, the song Cowboy Boots is disturbingly accurate to my twenty-something what the F is going on kind of feeling that I’m currently fighting and wrestling with.

I may have recklessly bought the entire album, and wondered straight from work to a nearby state park. I may have pulled on my running shoes, for the third day in a row, and cranked out a couple miles on hilly Maryland trails while Macklemore whispered sweet nothings in my ear.

I don't normally bring my phones on runs, but today was to pretty not to document.

It’s been a weird week. I don’t really have a reason as to why. I’m not sad, or mad, or upset. Maybe a little flat? Maybe a quarter life crisis?

Or maybe it’s just life.

That’s ok.

Cheers to music, connecting melodies with memories, and the soundtracks to our lives.