Paddlin'

To contact us Click HERE

Good Morning,

I had the good fortune of taking my maiden voyage in a kayak this weekend on Lone Star Lake. Regardless of ability, I think this is an activity anyone can enjoy. So, I'd like to encourage ALL to try...

5 Reasons to Try Paddling

1. You can adopt an ease to the language not typical of the urban Midwest.

In the West people get stoked...
ya’ll, honeys in the South
you sit and tawk in New Yawk
go "out and aboot" up North

now Midwesterners have somethin’ to do too. Go paddlin! : )

2. With cell phones, we are tuned into each other greater than ever before, physically though it has come at a cost as we so often miss the opportunity to interact with those around us. By choosing to go out in a kayak for a couple hours you are choosing to support friendly face-to-face communication with strangers.

3. People with houses on the lake may come out to great you and on some mornings have even opened up a window and turned up the stereo for all to enjoy (feels very different than when your apartment neighbor decides to do this).

4. If you travel in a pack and someone brings enough snacks, you are basically a party that floats! And...if you like to talk, you have a captive audience! Remember though that the corollary is also true. You are a captive audience! This might not be the best time to share your stories of Sacagawea and goals for Eskimo rolls...



5. The Polynesian navigational system...


In double-hauled canoes, "Papa Mau" and his crew made their way from Hawaii to Tahiti, reading only subtle changes in wind direction, waves, the flight of birds, the course of dolphins, the color of the water...



In no time whatsoever a new kayaker can determine that this unfortunate situation means log jam. : )

Happy Monday,

Amanda

Pondering: Running

To contact us Click HERE


A co-worker has nearly convinced me to run a half marathon with him and his wife in October. It's really lovely to hear how much he believes in me and encourages me to set my goals higher than I typically do. Because I'm worth it (as he says). I still have my hesitations.

When I was younger I used to really enjoying running. I was even at the top of my class for the mile. This was grade school... 20 years ago. And then I got boobs.

Part of me is hugely intrigued about the thought of running a half marathon. In fact, at one point in time running a marathon was on my bucket list. But I think I removed it a year ago or so thinking that was a rather silly goal.

In the past couple of years I've really come to enjoy yoga, cycling, and personal training. Never in a million years did I think I would enjoy yoga or personal training, so maybe running will be the same?

So what's this girl to do? Train for 13.1?

Ready for RAGBRAI

To contact us Click HERE

My two-wheeled companion, Lexa; Photo by Stephanie Hertel via Instagram

I am so excited. So very, very excited. This has been a crazy, busy summer and after the last couple weeks in June, I am in desperate need of vacation (this may have also been suggested a couple of weeks ago by my boss when I was a bit sassy...). So I am truly looking forward to a week away from the distraction of life and ready to be riding in RAGBRAI. Sometimes it honestly brings tears to my eyes just thinking about memories from last year.

If you haven’t been following along, RAGBRAI stands for Registers Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa. It’s always the last week in July, during the most humid and hot time of year of Iowa. So sure, it’s going to be a scorcher and riding 40-80 miles per day in 110+ degree heat indices doesn’t sound overly pleasant, but it’s truly an awesome experience and I would recommend it to anyone, athlete or not... especially Iowans.

RAGBRAI is a leisure, fun ride across the state. It’s not meant to be a race and it’s best that way. Sometimes I entertain the idea of riding hard in the morning in order to get to the next overnight town around noon to escape most of the high, mid-day sun. But I think that would be missing the point of RAGBRAI. It’s not about speed, it’s about enjoying each pass-through town and all of the activities that it has to offer on the journey. It’s about meeting fellow riders and making new friends along the way.

Early morning riding is by far the best. Everything is peaceful, calm, and beautiful. The landscape is truly breathtaking and moves me to my core... sappy, right? But it's so true and I can't help but feel blessed for the experience in the sunrise hours. The majority of the riders (i.e. those that didn't get a little too tipsy the previous evening) start around 6:00 am, which means you hear hundreds of neighboring riders clicking into their petals, downshifting and in general riding as one. Picture one graceful, giant school of fish. As the day passes, riders start to disperse and there is no longer that continuous group movement of the morning, and honestly, it's probably safer that way. But there is something purely magical about RAGBRAI mornings.

So this coming week, think of me as you’re enjoying your modern amenities. I will miss air conditioning, the internet, and a soft bed the most, but it will be well worth it as I take in the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of Iowa and RAGBRAI via my two-wheeled companion.

Dear Small Town Iowa Restaurants

To contact us Click HERE
Dear Small Town Iowa restaurants-

I love ya. I really do. I am more than proud to call Iowa myhome state and I cherish that I was raised in a small town. But lately youhaven’t been as good to me. When eating out, why must everything include bacon,sausage, or brisket? Or be “smothered” in cheese sauce or gravy? Just the word“smothered” makes me gag a little.
And when I cobble something vegetarian/vegan together, loadit up on veggies don’t give me this iceberg lettuce crap with a couple oftomatoes and less than a proper serving of beans. Substitute all of thatmeaty/cheesy goodness with double (or triple) veggie goodness. Cross my heart, I’llreward you with a large tip in return. Deal?
C’mon, Iowa. I get that meat production is a large industryin the state, but let’s also focus on plant nutrients too, eh? What about seasonal produce from the local farmer selling his crop on the corner? There really is no excuse in the summer and I would hope other patrons would feel the same.

Left hungry and feeling cheated,
Stephanie

Weekday Veg

To contact us Click HERE
Have you heard of Weekday Veg? A family friend recommended the short TED talk to me a couple weeks ago and I finally got around to watching it last night. If I had known it was less than 6 minutes I would’ve squeezed it in sooner! (Read: Watch it now, it doesn’t take long!)


Anyway, Graham Hill briefly covers why he chose to be Weekday Vegetarian including the ethical and economic impacts. While my part-time vegetarianism is motivated by nutrition, the economic factors intrigue me. Many of the comments on the talk berate him for not being full-time veg. I’d say over 70% is definitely a step in the right direction and more power to him for promoting this systematic and obtainable approach!

As far as my dive into the veg-pool... It definitely went by the way-side when I was on RAGBRAI. I decided my body needed the protein for muscle recovery and not enough plant-based protein options were readily available. Prior to RAGBRAI, I noticed I was more fatigued than usual. I think there are several factors that went into this, the extreme heat, cutting out too many good carbs, and a more-than-typical packed schedule. The past two weeks back on the wagon have been fabulous, I feel great and according to my most recent blood donation, my health stats are all in excellent shape. I'm excited to give a vegan restaurant a try tonight with a couple of girlfriends!

Have you ever participated in Meatless Mondays or given up meat all together?