Monthly Archives

November 2015

Nov 16
0

Simplify

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One of my goals is to live a simple life.  Some things that I aspire to live out:

  1. quitting is okay (sometimes). it can make newer, simpler, better opportunities open up.
  2. get a good great organizer/planner. online vs. paper is super cool. I like this one.
  3. declutter your life (mental/physical/emotional). only keep what you really want and need.
  4. declutter your closet. start with getting rid of one item every week.
  5. when you think about doing something, do it…before it adds another thing to your “to-do” pile.
  6. take a break. even if only for 20 seconds. breathe.
  7. journal. write out all of your thoughts. make a list. write a poem, free verse, or song. talk it out. pray. be honest. get it out.
  8. be you. be genuinely you and only you.
  9. just say no. you cannot please everyone. remember that saying yes to something is simultaneously saying no to other things.
  10. know what you really want.  make sure you really want it. go after it. do not settle for less.
  11. stop worrying. there is no room for that (see below). be like a child.

Matthew 6:25-34New International Version (NIV)

Do Not Worry

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Nov 02
0

Meet the (Pro) Athlete: Kathryn Donovan

By | Fitness, Fuel, Meet the Athlete | No Comments

Kathryn (Katie) Donovan is a professional bike rider for Colavita women’s pro team (yes, that is her job!), 4 a.m. coffee drinker, avid gym sauna-goer, delicious burger connoisseur, and pit bull mama. As someone who has made a habit of trying to hang out with her, I also detect a smidgen of elusiveness.  Katie once raced triathlon professionally, but then decided to switch to cycling since it was her weakest triathlon leg and she enjoys a challenge. She is incredibly humble for someone as super-womanly as she, and is also quite a talented writer– you can check out her twitter feed or team Colavita blog for evidence. If you ever find yourself in a Southern California mountain range, you might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the back of her jersey…

Current place of residence: Oxnard, CA
Hometown/place of birth: Phoenix, AZ
Favorite sports or hobbies (besides cycling): Yoga, swimming and running
Best cycling skill: Climbing
Dream race: A full women’s Tour of California with all the same stages as the men
Race mantra: hmm….. I need some race mantras! Colavita’s team mantra is “Hold the Rope” (If you have a mantra suggestion for Katie, please leave your offering in the comments below.  If Katie decides to go with yours, you might get some kind of prize.)

Favorite book: The Little Prince

When/how/why did you start endurance sports? I have been an athlete all my life. I swam throughout college. Sports have always been a great release for me. I’m very competitive but not very coordinated so endurance sports are a natural fit.

Hardest race and/or workout you’ve ever completed: Leadville. It was my first time riding a Mountian Bike and I remember it being the first time I was happy just to finish a race.

Most memorable training and/or race moment(s): There are a lot of ups and downs in racing, but each year is memorable. It’s why I keep coming back. I try not to focus on one particular high moment.

If you had to switch sports, what would you switch to, and why? Marathon Running. Running is awesome because you can do it anywhere and need very little equipment.

Words of wisdom to someone dreaming of becoming a professional cyclist: Enjoy every step of the process and surround yourself with good people.

Hardest part about being a professional athlete/cyclist: I love traveling but sometimes it gets hard being away from home for long periods of time. It takes effort to balance cycling life with friends and family.

Pre-race ritual or superstition? I’m not superstitious. The closest thing I have to a pre-race ritual is eating a huge breakfast the morning of a race.

Training tips? Keep it fun. Sometimes being too regimented can be counter-productive.

Training pet peeve: When strangers try to tell me how to train. (Refrain from offering training suggestions in the comments below.  Mantra suggestions only, please.)

Why do you keep cycling? I love it !

What do you eat before training sessions? I train in the morning so I make oatmeal and add peanut butter, applesauce, and anything else I think would taste good into the mix.

What is your favorite thing to eat during training? I like Eggo pancake sandwhiches with almond butter and honey.

What is your favorite post-training meal? a Hamburger

What does “Fuel” mean to you? Well, food is fuel and if you’re eating to fuel yourself then you want to put the most efficient fuels in your body.

What does being “Fit” mean to you? Staying active & eating healthy

What thing(s) do you always bring on a ride? a pump, sunscreen, my phone and lots of food

What story does your family/team always tell about you? They usually talk about me behind my back, so you’ll have to ask them 😉

Pick one:
Uphill, down hill, or flat? uphill
Road or trail? road
Solo or group training? solo
Chocolate or cheese? chocolate
Watch on your left wrist or right? left
Morning or evening workout? both !
Hat or visor? hat
Fingerless or full gloves? fingerless
Sleeveless or short sleeve jersey? short sleeve
Oatmeal or cereal? oatmeal
Coffee, tea, or hot chocolate? Coffee (notice that “Coffee” is capitalized whereas all other single-word answers are lower-cased.  I think this is subconscious emphasis on the supremacy of coffee.)

…Thanks for the glimpse into your superheroin life, Katie!