Category: Winter Garden

Finding Strength in Stillness: Adding Barre to My Running Routine

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been adding Barre workouts into my training to supplement my running, and it’s been a surprisingly refreshing shift. These classes are definitely not the type of workouts I’m used to — no pounding pavement, no long miles, no finish‑line countdown. But that’s exactly why they’re starting to feel so valuable.

At first, I wasn’t sure how Barre would fit into my routine. It’s slower, more controlled, and way more focused on tiny movements than anything I normally do. But somewhere along the way, I realized I was actually enjoying the classes. They challenge me in a completely different way, and I can feel them working muscles I usually ignore.

What’s really stood out is how much they’re helping with my balance and core strength, two things that matter more for running than I ever gave them credit for. I might not leave class drenched in sweat, but I leave feeling stronger, more aligned, and more aware of how my body moves. And honestly, I think it’s already improving my running — especially on days when my form starts to fall apart.

It’s been a good reminder that not every workout has to be intense to be effective. Sometimes the quiet, controlled work does more for you than the miles themselves. And right now, Barre feels like exactly the kind of support my running needs.

If you’re curious about how cross‑training can support running, exploring strength for runners or core stability work might be a good next step.

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Hydration, Sodium, and a 13.5‑Mile Reality Check

With the Kenya race coming up in just 40 days, I’ve been trying to unravel what really happened with my hydration and fueling during the London Marathon. I knew something was off that day, but I didn’t have the numbers to understand why things fell apart the way they did. So this week, I finally decided to get serious about it and started using an hDrop wearable on my runs to gather real data instead of guessing.

Today’s 13.5‑mile run gave me more insight than I expected — and honestly, more than I was prepared for.

According to the hDrop, I lost 1,783 mg of sodium during the run. Meanwhile, I only took in 1,200 mg, which means I was already in the red before I even hit double digits. No wonder things felt off toward the end. Sodium loss has always been a blind spot for me, but seeing the actual numbers made it impossible to ignore. This is officially a fueling issue I need to address before Kenya.

The water situation wasn’t much better. I lost 77.1 oz and only took in 54 oz. By the end of the run, my body was absolutely feeling that shortage — heavy legs, sluggish brain, that unmistakable “you’re running on fumes” sensation. I ended up cutting the run short by two miles because I ran out of both food and salt around mile 10. Not ideal, but also not surprising given the numbers.

The good news? Now I know. And knowing means I can fix it.

For recovery, I booked some time at the Sweat Houz, which turned out to be exactly what I needed. I spent an hour cycling between the infrared sauna, the cold plunge, and wrapped it all up with a vitamin‑C infused shower. It felt like hitting a reset button — physically and mentally. A small reminder that recovery is just as important as the miles themselves.

So the work continues. I’m dialing in my hydration plan, rethinking my sodium strategy, and making sure I’m not repeating the same mistakes in Kenya. Today’s run wasn’t perfect, but it was productive — and right now, that’s the win I needed.

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A Small Step Forward (Blisters Included)

After the London Marathon, I’ve been struggling to find my rhythm again. Part of it was the emotional hangover of a race that didn’t go quite the way I hoped. Part of it was physical — I genuinely wasn’t sure how my feet would hold up after the blisters, the bruising, and everything else they endured on race day.

So on Sunday, I decided to test things out with an easy run. Nothing ambitious, nothing structured. Just a gentle check‑in with my body to see where things stood.

And amazingly… it went better than expected.

My legs felt lighter than I thought they would. My breathing settled quickly. For the first time since the marathon, running felt like running again — not a chore, not a question mark, but something familiar and comforting.

Of course, because my feet love to keep things interesting, I did end up with another blister. At this point, I’m convinced my socks and shoes are conspiring against me. Clearly something needs to change before I start stacking more miles. Whether it’s new socks, different lacing, or a full shoe rethink, I’ll have to figure it out soon.

But honestly? Even with the blister, the run felt like a win. A reminder that progress doesn’t always show up in big, dramatic ways. Sometimes it’s just a quiet, steady step forward — one that tells you you’re going to be okay.

And right now, that’s exactly what I needed.

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59 Days to London: Finding Strength in an 18‑Mile Run

With just 59 days until the London Marathon, today felt like a turning point — the kind of training day that reminds you why you signed up for this journey in the first place. I headed out for my longest run of the cycle so far, 18 miles, and finished feeling strong, steady, and surprisingly grateful.

Long runs have a way of stripping everything down to the essentials. It’s just you, your breath, the rhythm of your feet, and the quiet space to think. And with everything happening in the world — the uncertainty, the heaviness, the constant stream of headlines — being able to step outside and run for hours felt like a privilege I didn’t want to take for granted.

There was something grounding about it. Mile after mile, I kept coming back to the same thought: I get to do this. I get to move, to train, to chase a goal that once felt out of reach. I get to spend a morning outdoors, watching the sun rise higher, feeling the air shift, and letting my mind settle into a rare kind of calm.

Training for a marathon is never just about the miles. It’s about perspective. It’s about finding small pockets of clarity in a world that often feels anything but clear. It’s about choosing to show up — even when it’s hard, even when life feels loud, even when the finish line still feels far away.

Today’s 18 miles reminded me that progress isn’t always dramatic. Sometimes it’s simply the quiet confidence that comes from doing the work and realizing you’re stronger than you were a few weeks ago. And with 59 days to go, that strength matters.

There’s still plenty of training ahead, but today was a win — a reminder of resilience, gratitude, and the simple joy of being able to run.

#LondonMarathon2026

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Surviving Orlando’s Surprise Cold Snap: Two Days We Won’t Forget

If you’ve lived in Central Florida long enough, you know we get our share of chilly mornings — but every once in a while, Orlando throws us a curveball. The last two days were one of those rare moments when “Sunshine State” felt like a misnomer and we all collectively wondered whether we’d accidentally woken up in Canada.

What started as a brisk forecast quickly turned into a genuine freeze event. Temperatures dipped far lower than our tropical landscaping — or our nerves — were prepared for. And like many Floridians, we learned a few lessons the hard way.

The Plant Casualties

Let’s talk about the garden. Florida plants are resilient in their own way, but they’re not built for nights that flirt with freezing. When the cold settled in, it settled deep, and by morning it was clear that several of our plants didn’t make it through the night.

Tropical varieties took the biggest hit — leaves wilted, stems darkened, and some plants simply collapsed under the shock. It’s always tough to see landscaping not even a year old struggle. Some plants may regrow from the roots once warmer weather returns, so all hope isn’t lost.

Still, it’s a reminder that even in Orlando, a little freeze prep goes a long way.

The Frozen Tankless Water Heater Saga

The bigger surprise came from something we rarely think about: the tankless hot water heater mounted outside the garage. Tankless systems are efficient and compact, but they’re also vulnerable when temperatures drop below freezing. And that’s exactly what happened.

At some point during the night, the cold was enough to freeze the unit. Waking up to no hot water is a rude shock — especially when the air outside still feels like a refrigerator. It’s one of those moments where you realize how much we take warm water for granted until it’s suddenly gone.

Thankfully, once temperatures rose, the system thawed out. But it’s a lesson learned: even in Florida, exposed plumbing needs a little protection when the forecast dips into the danger zone.

Looking Ahead

Warmer days are already on the horizon, and soon this cold spell will be just another story we tell about “that one winter when Orlando tried to be a northern city.” The plants will hopefully recover, the heater will be insulated, and life will return to its usual sunny rhythm.

But for now, we’ve earned a hot cup of tea, a cozy blanket, and maybe a little pride for making it through Florida’s version of winter survival mode.

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Starting Over at the Gym: Rebuilding Strength One Rep at a Time

For years, I let strength training slip through the cracks. Life got busy, priorities shifted to running, and before I knew it, the gym was no longer part of my routine. Recently, though, I decided it was time to change that. I joined the gym again—not just to move my body, but to rebuild the strength I’ve been neglecting for far too long.

Walking back in felt both familiar and foreign. The weights, the machines, the energy—it all reminded me of where I once was, but also of how far I’ve drifted. I had to accept that I’m starting back at the beginning. The numbers on the bar are lighter, the sets feel harder, and progress is slower than I remember. But that’s okay.

I know this journey won’t be instant. It will take consistency, discipline, and a willingness to embrace the process. But I’m confident that with time, I’ll get back to where I was—and maybe even surpass it. Every rep is a step forward, every workout a reminder that I’m investing in myself.

This isn’t just about lifting weights. It’s about reclaiming a part of me that I let go of, proving to myself that it’s never too late to start again. The gym is my reset button, and I’m pressing it with determination.

Here’s to rebuilding strength, one session at a time.

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Meditation/Yoga Goal

With everything going on in the world and life I found I was starting the day in a negative mindset, so after some research I decided to start everyday with a morning meditation followed by some gentle yoga. Typically I would wake up, pick up my phone and start scrolling through instagram followed by turning on the news. So I set a goal of keeping up this practice for 30 days.

After only one week I can already see a difference, so I decided to continue this practice until the end of the year. We will see where I am mentally on January 1st!

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