Long weekends are the best, especially when they involve lounging around the house in pajamas, eating whatever your heart desires, and mountain biking. Sound familiar? I typically jump at any chance to go on a quick trip up to “the city” but decided to go against the grain and stay home. Boy am I glad we did! Not only did I get some much-needed rest, we also went out biking not once but twice! (Insert applause here) I was so stoked enjoying the good (read: dry) weather and doing something physical. So much so that I don’t even mind that I had to spend all evening Monday icing my Achilles’ tendon or tending to a new bruise on my thigh. I love a sport that hurts me so.
The good news is that I am more comfortable on my bike now than a month ago. I take bigger risks, ride further, and feel stronger overall. Sure, I’m limping around like a big baby after the rides, but that’s mostly due to making noob mistakes. Sigh. At least I’m making progress. Also, the boyfriend and I stop and practice log overs (not sure this is the name?). It mostly consists of him going casually over a huge stack of logs and me backing out at the last-minute because I’m terrified. True story. Sad, I know, but sometimes I can’t help it!
We tried to take pics while riding but it’s hard to capture decent photos of us biking using our iPhones, so I don’t have anything worthy of being posted. Plus, someone has the annoying habit of cutting of a certain boyfriend’s head. Ahem. I’m so focused on watching him do a trick, or see how he jumps that I forget I should be focusing on the picture. Sorry! I will try again this weekend. Fingers crossed, it doesn’t rain!
I am nothing if not inconsistent. Sure I have some really great qualities but this is by far one of my biggest flaws. Over the past few months (start of summer to be exact) I have thought a lot about pain management and fitness. Are the two related? The best way to determine if lupus and the pain associated can be managed by an active lifestyle, is to simply be more active. If anything, it can’t hurt me, right? So I have. For the first time since moving to Baltimore, about three years ago, I have consistently gone to pilates class twice a week for about two months now. This is huge!
To mix things up I started mountain biking as well. I go on Thursdays with a large group of men a few women. On the weekend my fiancé and I go together on a much harder trail. Overall, slowly there has been progress. Below are a few screenshots from a few recent rides. Don’t let the low distance fool you, it’s anything but easy.
Since starting the pilates and mountain bike routine I have thought a lot about my fitness goals. Can I manage my pain associated with lupus by becoming super fit? Is there a correlation between how active my body is and the aches and pains of this mysterious disease? Below is a list of what I hope to accomplish physically, as well as answer some of these questions. Over the next year, some of my goals include:
10 Full Range of Motion Push-ups (no judgement but I can’t even do one)
Two-Minute Plank
10 Pull-Ups
10-Second Handstand
Complete the Yellow Trail at Rockburn/Pataspco with minimal rest
Hold a Deep Squat for 60 Seconds
Last but not least, get my killer six-pack back!
I read if you have trouble with consistency that aiming for 10-minutes of exercise every morning for thirty days can immensely help. Although I’ve done extremely well with pilates each week, I want to push myself. So for the next thirty days I will be doing either crunches, jogging, rowing, etc. every morning before work.
Do you make fitness goals? Or has working out become so ingrained in you that you don’t even think twice? I’m especially interested in your fitness story if you have a chronic illness. Share what keeps you motivated, I’d love to hear your thoughts!
My least favorite season is sadly coming to an end. I know what you’re thinking, how can you dislike the season and yet be saddened by its departure? Easy. While I hate summer because of all the extra steps I have to take to protect myself from the wrath of the sun, it means I get to go out and do things I can’t or won’t do the rest of the year. So with that in mind, let’s get into a recap of what I’ve been up to.
Biking (Roadster)
I kicked off the summer with a ride along The Great Allegheny Pass, er, a portion of it. It was a wild and crazy adventure complete with biking through a passing thunderstorm, camping two nights, and the swallowing of many bugs. We did 153 miles in 3 days. It was tough but such an amazing experience.
There are a few reasons I loved this ride so much. For starters, I’ve never done anything like it. Prior to this trip I’d never gone on a ride longer than 20 miles round trip, so this was pretty epic by those standards. Also, I didn’t exactly train for this but that’s because I’m a masochist.
Secondly, the group of people we took the trip with were awesome. They were positive, full of energy, biked circles around me, and lastly were about 20 years older than me. A few of them have kids my age. Needless to say, it was a humbling experience. If I didn’t have them, I wouldn’t have made it. Period.
Would I do it all again? Totally! I love a challenge, but I would probably train the second time around.
Cascade Brewery (and a waterfall or two)
Lil’ ol’ me!
The Pacific Northwest was awesome! Portland in particular. Sure, Portlandia is one of my favorite shows, but did I think I’d find the bliss I experienced only forty-five minutes outside of the city? No. But I did. And I’m grateful. I need PDX in my life, like forever.
Mt. Rainier (in all its glory)
Despite the fact that I threw in the towel about fifteen minutes from Camp Muir, I still made it pretty far. I can’t be disappointed in myself for stopping where I did. In a perfect world, maybe, but given how I felt at the time I did this I am proud of myself. The views were beyond breathtaking. I want to quit my job and move to Washington immediately.
Mountain Biking
While practicing a stoppie, I almost flew over the handlebars. Fortunately for me, my left leg twisted weird and then and voila, instant bruise.
Since I purchased my mountain bike for the epic Allegheny Pass (lots of asphalt), I have been going out once a week away from concrete to get down and dirty on trails it was actually made for. It has been really hard but so rewarding. Mountain biking is dangerous, fun, and makes me feel like I can do anything. I forget about lupus and being sick in general. Simply put, I love it.
Philadelphia
Let’s face it, as much as I love being on my bike riding downhill and through streams, or even climbing trails that take me closer and closer to God, it doesn’t mean I can’t also be a city gal. Out of all the cities I’ve traveled to (not a ton) I have loved them all–with the exception of where I live. God knows how I feel about Baltimore, but I digress. Philadelphia is no exception. It delights me in a way I can’t quite describe. The museums, history, and shopping. Even the parks. The city of Brother Love has my heart.
This summer has been filled with the good, bad, and ugly but through the many adventures I found myself in, I had a blast. Besides, my favorite season yet is fast approaching! Autumn, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. . .
This is overdue, I apologize for the delay. May and June have been busy months for me and after each trip was another activity so it seems everything has collided. Below is my summary from an amazing hike while in the Pacific Northwest. Enjoy!
We started around noon, which was the latest I’ve ever started any hike. This was due to the fact that we left Seattle at 8:00 AM for Mt. Rainier and though only 60 miles or so away, it’s not a fast road and going up the mountain was painfully slow. Anyway, I was comfortable in my nike running tights, worn and used hiking boots, racerback tank, and a sweatshirt. My waterproof shell was packed in the fiance’s backpack. My upf 50 hat is always on my head when hiking to protect me from the sun. We also applied ample sunblock to any exposed skin—I didn’t plan on shedding any of my clothes regardless of the heat. (I have an amazing Columbia long sleeve upf 50 shirt that I always hike, bike, run in but stupidly left at home. Whoops.)
The hike started off with a pretty inclined paved road. The scenery was gorgeous, and the day was clear and warm (around 70 F/20 C). I noticed pretty quickly that my breath was rapid early on. I evened out my pace and continued forward. We climbed, and climbed and climbed. In between the climbing were several water breaks. I started drinking water with the very first step, as I didn’t want to add any stress to my body by being dehydrated.
We passed alpine marmots, eyeing us suspiciously. The views were some of the best I’ve seen, like ever. I never wanted to leave and it helped that it was so beautiful because the hike started to show signs of slowing me down.
Even though we were nearing June we expected and trampled through tons of snow on this hike. Once we near the camp the climbing steepened on the snow fields and I quickly wished I owned waterproof pants or gaiters. We saw loads of people hiking with a snowboard or skis and some even passed us as the gracefully boarded down the mountain. It looked like such fun! About thirty minutes from Camp Muir I started feeling pretty sick. My head was starting to hurt despite having a filling breakfast and energy bar only a few minutes earlier. I knew I was drinking enough water because I had to pee constantly.
I told myself I could do this, and attempted in vain to hype myself as best I could. Before long I realized I just didn’t have it in me—even though quitting is something I just don’t do. I was devastated. As each step became harder I knew I had a decision to make. I made a plan to make it at least to a set of rocks not too far up a hill we were battling. My fiancé decided to push on and I would wait on the rocks. I watched him climb much faster as I fell into the background. I envied him at that moment. Why couldn’t I climb like that? I tried one last time to motivate myself and push forward faster, my body said hell no. After numerous breaks and some prayer I made it to the sanctuary of the rocks.
Once seated comfortably it dawned on me that my feet were finally showing signs of defeat as well. They were wet and numb and my fingers achingly cold. Besides being exhausted I felt dizzy and as though I might vomit. Not a fun feeling but I was so thankful to be on solid ground—even rocky ground—I didn’t care too much about my physical state. I settled into the rocks and after drinking some water decided to have lunch. After my sandwich was devoured I started taking pictures and thinking of the rest of the hike. I stared at the top of the mountain which wasn’t that much higher than me. I felt accomplished rather than defeated. So what I didn’t make it to Camp Muir, I made it pretty close (I later found out from the fiancé ). Why couldn’t I be happy that I made it so far on my own? As I reflected on the art of being thankful for the little things, I was suddenly in a state of euphoria. It was divine.
Fifteen minutes later I saw a figure that looked like my guy and was pretty excited. The break did me good and ultimately I’m glad I listened to my body and stopped when I did. We began our descent down to the hotel and slid (quite literally). I couldn’t believe how fast it was going down. I slid down one huge steep hill and it was so much fun. Then I slid down others not so intentionally but it was still fun. On the way down we saw quite a few alpine marmots and a black fox! The fox was most surprising as they’re usually pretty elusive. He or she was sleeping among the trees curled up, and I think we woke it. The sleepy amber eyes stared at me uninterested.
Camp Muir!
If you happen to plan a trip to Mt. Rainier let me offer you some advice. Wear suitable clothing! There is a ton of snow and even if it’s not cold starting out unless you have waterproof shoes and gaiters your feet will be absolutely soaked. This wasn’t a deal breaker for us, but it could make the hike miserable for you. You don’t want that. Also, if I ever did this again, I’d bring a sled on my back—a small one. It’s much faster going down. Lastly, pack more energy bars, sandwiches, etc than you think you need. Because you’re climbing the entire way to the camp it’s absolutely exhausting—and calorie zapping! The way down is easier but still tiring. You will want something to replace the energy.
This is such a long post so if you made it to the end kudos to you and thank you for reading! All in all I think it was a success. If you’re interested in our stay (Paradise Inn) just let me know and I’ll post about that–otherwise it’s not that interesting. Stay active my friends!
Living in Maryland means my life is void of mountains—sad I know! As a native Californian I live for the outdoors, and it’s something I’m not ready to give up. Of course, we do what we can in Maryland such as hiking the trails that do exist near our home. Aside from that I’ve given up any hope of finding real mountains or ideal camping conditions though it hasn’t stopped us from trying. Needless to say, when we travel and happen to end up in a place with either a beach or a bad ass mountain range we gravitate towards that. Continue reading →
I’m writing today’s post from the comfort of a friend’s car. Our convoy of cars, trucks, and SUV with bike racks are headed north to Pittsburgh. This weekend we are going to ride a portion of the Great Allegheny Passage, starting from Pittsburgh, PA and ending in Cumberland, MD. The total distance will be around 150 miles and unfortunately it isn’t all flat! But hey, let’s live a little.
I started mountain biking around the same time I met my fiancé, in 2010. It’s a challenging yet rewarding activity I really love. Since moving to Maryland a few years back I haven’t been on a bike much, but that’s all changing since I purchased a new bike a few weeks ago. We took it out on some trails and had a blast. It is clear I will need some work before I feel completely comfortable and I’m also looking into taking a skills course to speed that process up. I need all the help I can get! If you’re interested in mountain biking only I have a blog dedicated to that. I’ll add that link below.
Road biking (this particular ride will be road and trail) isn’t something I’m all that familiar with, but that’s not to say I don’t like it. When the opportunity presented itself and we were invited I signed up immediately. This weekend will be the farthest I’ve ever rode-should I finish! I’m both enthralled and nervous. What if I get sick? What if I’m just too weak? What if I hate it!? I can’t help thinking like this, I’m hard wired.
Today we ride for about 6 1/2 hours to cover 65 miles. I really hope I make it and I also hope I’m not the last one. Wish me luck ya’ll, and maybe a prayer or two 😆.
I’ll be posting pics as I can! Have a great weekend!
Soaking it all in at Cascade Locks. Lovely Brewery. . .
The Pacific Northwest has always been a favorite of mine and I’ve often wondered if it’s because the sun only shines during the summer. I fantasize about living in a place where the sun isn’t my constant enemy and I’m not constantly worrying about what clothes I should wear, if my hat will cover enough, or if the sun beaming on my arm will cause a flare. Thoughts like this make me hate the sun, but then I realize there are worst things so shut-up and be grateful. Naturally, I’ve thought about living in sun challenged Seattle, Portland, or even Vancouver.
When the opportunity to visit Portland presented itself, I almost leaped out of my chair. The people are warm, the city is gorgeous, and there’s so much to do!There are beautiful hikes only 30 minutes outside of the city. And the restaurants, oh my God, they were so good. I haven’t had decent Mexican food since leaving California–and I’m a bit obsessed with Mexican so you can imagine my suffering here in Baltimore. The carne asada tacos I tried every chance we had in were legit. Let me rewind and say that the food period was amazing. Portland is a foodie’s dream!
I have a girlfriend who put together a list of places were seeing or eating at and every place she mentioned was absolute heaven. I’m going to pay it forward and share my gems (during my uber short visit) with you!
Prost! – Cool German pub on Mississippi Ave. that has a cool vibe and really great beer. I will admit that I am not a beer drinker–but Portland is known for its beer so it was only right to try, which I did. Franziskaner Weissbier was crisp, refreshing, and dare I say…delicious!
Por que no? – A taqueria with yummy margaritas. I devoured my tacos with much pleasure.
Powell’s City of Books – Largest independent bookstore in the world. If you love books check this place out. Their rare book collection is impressive, and their self-publishing station is really cool!
Mapplewood Coffee & Tea – A quaint coffee shop with a special area in the back for the little ones to play while you sip tasty lattes. Divine.
10 Barrel is perhaps my favorite because of their pizza. No words can describe the quiet party in my mouth. It. Was. Good. Go some of their food and you will not be disappointed. Promise.
Fiery drink from Interurban
Franziskaner Weiassbier
Mapplewood Cafe
Carne Asada Tacos (Por que no?)
Cascade Locks (30 min outside Portland)
Best.Pizza.Ever.
Inside Prost!
Super yummy soy vanilla latte
The name says it all
I can’t wait to go back and explore all Portland has to offer. I really enjoyed my sampling during the long weekend we were there. Until the next visit I will be dreaming of beer and coffee. #westcoastbestcoast.
One of the biggest challenges we face with lupus is that it’s mostly invisible. Aside from the scars on my face (which most people will not immediately associate with lupus) you don’t know I’m sick until I tell you. With this invisible disease comes challenges; how I look doesn’t always correspond with how I feel. It might seem strange, and I definitely can’t say it works every single time, but looking good and dressing up despite how much pain I’m in has helped me.
On days I feel the worst, days where my muscles ache for no reason, days I’m low on spoons, I try to dress up to balance everything. Sure I don’t always feel like it, but I’ve found that on days when I take a little extra time in the mirror and put on that fierce pick me up lipstick (we all have it) I feel a little brighter. And to be honest, sometimes that’s all I need.
I liken this practice to positive thinking. Be the light that you wish to emit, mentality. It can really get you through the tough days. I won’t pretend that I don’t have days that are giant pity parties but it can always be worse and I try very hard to keep that in perspective.
Lupus might kick my ass on some days but I’ll be damned if I don’t look fabulous regardless. I happen to have lupus, but lupus certainly doesn’t own me.
This is a recent picture from a trip to Portland last weekend. I love how carefree and happy I am here. 😀 Stay positive my friends!
Having Discoid lupus, an auto-immune disease, causes skin sensitivity to harsh chemicals and because of this I am constantly looking for natural skin care products. I like to think that I would care about the ingredients in my products even if I didn’t have lupus but hey, who knows. I do think it’s important for everyone to look at what they’re putting on their bodies, whether it’s hair products, makeup, or general skin care. Our bodies are absorbing all the stuff we put on it, so let’s try not to use products with ingredients no one can pronounce!
A while ago (it’s been years) I stopped using conventional deodorant. I didn’t like the idea of rubbing a stick containing aluminum on my underarms. I searched for alternate types of anti-antiperspirants and for some time settled on Tom’s. Tom’s has been alright and for the most part it works. Still, when I heard about Soapwalla and their natural deodorant cream, I couldn’t wait to try it. Unlike so many other deodorants on the market, this cream is formulated without the use of aluminum zirconium, sulfates, parabens, and petroleum. And yes, at first I was hesitant of a cream, am I supposed to rub this all over my underarms? But I can assure you it’s really not bad at all. The texture is like creamy frosting. Frost yourself my friends!
One thing I will note is that I used it once after I shaved and did experience minor irritation. The website clearly mentions this can occur but I took a chance. I like to live on the edge. ha!
I especially love that Soapwalla mentioned Lupus Awareness Month on their e-mail last week so yay for that! For the entire month of May they are donating a portion of their proceeds to Lupus Foundation of America and New York City Lupus Foundation. I have an excuse to try some more of their products, and for a great cause! Who doesn’t love handmade, vegan goodness?
If you’re interested in their story or simply want to try their natural goodies for yourself, please do! http://soapwallakitchen.com/ The founder actually has SLE so I am now happily supportive of her brand, mission, and with my limited exposure aside, products.
Lastly, please note that the above mentioned product was purchased with my own funds and I am not in any way affiliated with Soapwalla. The above opinions are my own. In the event I do receive compensation or use affiliate links I will always let my readers know.
Did you know that May is the LFA’s* dedicated Lupus Awareness Month (LAM)? As a result, I’ve decided to start a Discover series to spotlight my favorite brands who are also supporters or advocates of lupus. I am a brand loyalist through and through, though I love finding new brands who have beliefs which align with mine. This is not to say the companies must write monthly checks to LFA (or some other lupus non-profit), but if they so much as mention LAM I might be more than simply intrigued.
Stay out of the sun, protect yourself, and love the skin you’re in.
*For more information about lupus, please visit the Lupus Foundation of America’s homepage. www.lupus.org
What's on my face 
