by Jill Schuman |
May 18, 2017
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There’s nothing more disheartening when one missed workout turns into ten. Whether getting started again is your greatest challenge or staying motivated week in, week out, we could all use a little inspiration. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of fitness blogs that will help you stay goal oriented and on task.
Fit Bottomed Girls
First off, this blog has a great name. Second, it offers a light-hearted, real-world approach to fitness for women (and men!). Run by Jennipher Walters, Erin Whitehead, and Kristen Seymour, Fit Bottomed Girls offers workout tips, nutrition advice, and fun stuff like workout music suggestions and humor. If you’re more of a listener than a reader, check out their regular podcast as well.
Fitness On Toast
Looking for a trendy international fitness guru? Look no further than Faya Nilsson, a Swedish personal trainer who lives in London. Her blog Fitness On Toast features a little bit of everything from active travel tips to celebrity interviews to healthy meal ideas. It might make you a little jealous, but her advice is legit!
Lazy Girl Running
Ebook author Laura Fountain has run (pun intended!) this fantastic blog designed to help inspire and motivate more women to run. Though she has now run multiple marathons and ultra marathons, she hasn’t always been a runner. In fact she used to hate it! Her blog details the journey and offers advice for other women just getting into running. Give it a read!
Lifting Makes Me Happy
Mindi started her blog way back when in 2008 as a way to hold herself accountable to working out. Though she isn’t a personal trainer or professional blogger, her website offers a personal account of how exercise has helped her combat depression. The best part? She doesn’t always LOVE working out – just like us. We recommend her blog as an honest, inspirational read… something to motivate you when you just don’t feel like going to the gym.
Nerd Fitness
From a self-professed nerd with a desk job, Nerd Fitness is a fantastic blog for anyone who spends too much time in front of the computer screen. Steve Kamb offers a variety of helpful workout tips as well as help achieve weight loss goals.
Tagged:
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by Jill Schuman |
May 11, 2017
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I recently spent several weeks in New Zealand – the perfect location for a work/play trip. I am still reviewing my notes from the trip, but am now finally ready to sit down and write my first blog about the trip.
Though we spent the majority of our time on the South Island, we were able to make a short trip to Stewart and Ulva Islands.
It was more than I had hoped for. Ulva Island is covered in native bush, wetlands, and sand dunes. Deserted, its sole inhabitants are rare and endangered species. New Zealand’s national bird, the Kiwi, are flightless and nocturnal. They are also notoriously elusive. I hoped to catch a glimpse of one, but had no luck on either Ulva or Stewart Island. We did, however, see parakeets, bellbirds, kaka, and wood pigeons. At one point, we saw an albatross arrive on the islands for feeding, as well as cormorants and Stewart Island shags.
One day while kayaking, an old sea lion approached our kayak. He followed us for quite a long time...sweet, curious and so damn cute. (The kayak outfitter is Phil's Kayak, if you happen to wing your way to Stewart Island.)
Captain Cook first sailed around Stewart Island in 1770. After that early settlers showed up whaling and sealing.
The population of Stewart Island is 400 year-round residents. The Maori presence dates back as far back as the 13th Century and there is still evidence around the coastline of settlements. The annual harvesting of specific underwater life remains the exclusive right of the Maori and their decedents still living on the Island.
We found our way around the Island quite easily and experienced some fantastic hikes through ruins on the coastline and inland. Most were about 2-4 hours, but we always ended our loops hikes in town for a local New Zealand brew and fish.
Stewart Island and Ulva Island are noted for their sunrises and sunsets; some of the best in the world and we were NOT disappointed.
Tagged:
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by Jill Schuman |
May 04, 2017
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You never get blisters! You’ve worn those boots a hundred times! You didn’t even walk that far! But nevertheless, there’s a blister threatening to ruin your hike. Blisters and their precursors, known as hotspots, can occur to anyone, anytime, anywhere. Even if you’re not prone to them, they can still occur under the right circumstances. See what causes blisters and learn how you can prevent them on your next hike, run, or walk!
- Blisters, if you didn’t know, are created when the outer layer of skin separates from the inner layers. The body responds by filling that “pocket” with lymph fluid. The most common cause of this is friction: generally from footwear that doesn’t fit properly. Shoes that are too big or even too small can cause friction. When you’re buying your next pair of hiking, walking, or running shoes be sure to visit a shop that specializes in fit.
- Moisture is another usual suspect when it comes to blisters. Wet skin is significantly more prone to the damage caused by friction, so you should do everything in your power to reduce the moisture around your feet. First, wear socks made of a moisture-wicking fabric such as wool or synthetic materials (no cotton!). Second, you can use lambswool (like eNZees Foot Soother) to further reduce the amount of sweat on your feet. Third, be aware of the temperature and humidity levels. People that live in dry environments (like Colorado!) could develop blisters if they go for a hike in the rainforest.
- It’s race day and your adrenaline is pumping. You’re set to hit a new PR and suddenly you begin to feel a blister under your big toe. What’s up? Running or walking at a faster pace than normal can create blisters even when you don’t normally get them.
- Cold feet can ruin both your wedding day and your hike. Cold weather can cause something known as chilblains - damage to the skin’s capillaries – which in some cases can lead to blisters. If you’re out headed in cold weather, make sure you’re wearing warm boots and socks to protect your feet.
Tagged:
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by Jill Schuman |
April 28, 2017
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by Jill Schuman |
April 26, 2017
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Hiking, rambling, tramping – which is it? The lingo doesn’t just change based on what country you’re in, but the type of terrain as well (at least in our experience!). Travel the world through words with us as we explore the different meanings of our favorite outdoor activity.
Hiking – United States and Canada
Whether it’s on the Appalachian Trail or a gravel path through your local nature reserve, ‘hiking’ is the ubiquitous term for long walks through the countryside. Though there are all-levels of difficulty when it comes to a hike, it’s generally more strenuous than walking on pavement. We tend to differentiate ‘hiking’ and ‘walking’ as two different types of activities where other countries – like the United Kingdom – do not.
Walking or Rambling – United Kingdom and Ireland
In our opinion, ‘rambling’ is a fantastic alternative to ‘hiking!’ It elicits such lovely visions of long strolls over rolling hills and dales. It is, however, less commonly used than ‘walking,’ which refers to a stroll around the neighborhood or a multi-day walk through the Cairngorms. If you’re visiting and looking for a good ‘walk,’ you’re just as likely to find a pleasant country lane as a rocky trail.
Bushwalking – Australia
Blackheath Australia, photo courtesy of Jenny Mealing
‘Bushwalking.’ It’s a good term for hiking in a country where even the cutest animals (kangaroos!) can kill you. ‘The Bush’ is essentially an Australian term for anything that isn’t a major metropolitan area. (Oddly, Australia’s neighbor New Zealand uses the word ‘bush’ to refer to native forest!)
Tramping – New Zealand
Tramping up Waiau Pass in New Zealand, photo courtesy of New Zealand On Foot
On the surface, ‘tramping’ and ‘hiking’ are one in the same. Once you’ve spent some time on a true tramping track, however, you might find it more akin to ‘bushwhacking’ than ‘hiking.’ Tramping can at times border on mountaineering, so if you’re headed down to New Zealand, be sure to research your trails well!
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