Happy Biker, Awkward Yogi

Posted on October 7, 2013 by Kym Zest

I don’t hate biking anymore. It’s strange to be missing a feeling I had come to terms with always having. I accepted a vague sense of dread or outright terror as part of biking just like helmets and U-locks. At the very best I would feel pride for how far I’d come with a certain reservation and tightness in my chest. Even when I became a year round bike commuter it took a lot of personal pep talking. “Because it’s good for the environment, because it’s good for my wallet, because it’s good for my body, because it makes me a bad-ass” It was a constant mantra because inside I always felt like Calvin.
Calvin and Hobbes

This summer strange things happened. After a tearful spring, then a surpassing success I still didn’t really expect anything to change. But they did. Driving became more dreadful. I’ve found myself regretting driving when I’ve had the choice. I would get impatient with traffic and would arrive considerably crabby. Consequently I’ve found myself strangely happy to be biking. Continue reading →

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Kitten Solution

Posted on October 2, 2013 by Kym Zest

Deeply in need of silliness. I have a tendency towards seriousness. Sometimes it drives me nuts. Which you’d think would be funny but it doesn’t feel that way.

My inspiration from lilablog: love letter to my leotard

My inspiration from Lila Blog

Two weeks ago I started the 230 hour yoga study (aka teacher training) at the Yoga Center of Minneapolis. There could be all sorts of deep reflections about why I’ve chosen to do this. Maybe later, OK?

Starting something new is exhausting and exciting. I loved buying school supplies. I’m super engrossed in the learning process. I can’t stop reading my books and scouring the intertoobs for all things yoga related. I Google, and Wikapdia, and scower r/yoga on Reddit, I search magazines, I find blogs, I keep digging. While this includes all sorts of sandskrit words, it also involves unitards. Unitards people. I even bought one in a insomniatic fit. Let me tell you, so freak’n comfortable. Continue reading →

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7 lessons from racing

Posted on September 25, 2013 by Kym Zest

Some things feel slightly embarrassing to learn.  Sometimes they are things I teach, things I know and somehow I still get to relearn them the hard way.  Some things I was surprised it took me this long to really learn.  This was a year of racing for me which gave me a lot of opportunity to learn.

Will snapped this of me coming home after the Polar Dash. Don't I look happy?

Will snapped this of me coming home after the Polar Dash. Don’t I look happy?

September 7 – Square Lake Triathlon was my “A” race of 2012 after foot surgery in April.
November 22 – Turkey Trot 5k after a month paddling and portaging.
January 1 2013 – Polar Dash, my first 1/2 marathon, temps in the single digits, Brrrrrr.
March 16 – Get Lucky 1/2 marathon.
April 7 – YWCA Indoor Tri .
May 19 – Land Between the Lakes Triathlon in Albert Lee. There was ice on the lakes until the end of April, it was cold.
June 9 – Trinona Triathlon international distance in Winona. It led to my watershed biking moment.
July 21 – Heart of the Lakes long course in Annandale. I didn’t finish. I was sick and I had a bike malfunction.

August 25 – SUPERIOR MAN Triathlon 1/2 Ironman.
August 31 – Women Rock 10k.
September 7 – Square Lake Triathlon.

Here are some things I’ve learned along the way. Continue reading →

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My Big Tri, with tiny bubbles, a caterpillar, and ice.

Posted on September 16, 2013 by Kym Zest

We watched the sun rise on the boat as we anticipated the start.  Shortly after 6:30am the inevitable got closer one person at a time, three seconds apart.  “Really?” I uttered as I was told to jump.  I was more shocked to be told to go than by the cold water.  It was remarkably clear. I watched my hands pierce into view. Tiny bubbles sparkled in the penetrating sun against clear green depths. I’m so used to small lakes where I watch my hand become a fuzzy image in a soft murky green that feels slightly claustrophobic. Swimming along the bay wall I got to wave at my fans. Will said he could see my little eyes bugging out from behind my clear goggles.

Superior Man Tri

Lake Superior Duluth Harbor and the Aerial Lift Bridge

Continue reading →

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Finding achievement in a simple salad

Posted on August 20, 2013 by Kym Zest

This salad is a testament to my years of culinary curiosity.   When I was in my early 20’s fresh out of the dorms I recall having about 3 “meals” I could cook.  They all included canned diced tomatoes and includes dolled up ramen.  To this day I fall back on veggie and protein enriched ramen as my go-to comfort food.

There was no great excuse for my sad repertoire.  I grew up watching my dad cook.  We watched the food network.  We weren’t foodies.  Eating and food exploration were just family values.  Oddly though, I never felt totally free to experiment in Dad’s kitchen.  In Mom’s that’s all there ever was.  Often I got to tinker up my own meal.  I learned about flavors, but never anything that could even remotely be served to anyone else.

In my early twenties I set out to learn to cook.  It felt like a necessary step towards being like a real adult.  If only I had felt the same way about my personal finances…    My goals were straight forward.   Continue reading →

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And we’re off!

Posted on August 15, 2013 by Kym Zest

This is the fourth installment of Will and I’s adventure paddling honeymoon.  The first was A Beginning followed by Preparations and Before and After, thank you for following our journey.

All packed the day before. This was our beloved new wedding vehicle.

All packed the day before. This was our beloved new wedding vehicle.

It was still dark as we pulled away from home for our honeymoon. My stomach was in knots as I sat in the back seat patting down pockets and running through every mental list searching for the item we must have forgotten. This felt much bigger than the wedding. It strangely felt like a much scarier or at least more immediate commitment. All the planning and packing and experience couldn’t predict exactly how this adventure would go.

Honey! That’s what I didn’t pack! It hadn’t been on my list, but my new husband was sick and I was suddenly gripped with the need to be able to put honey in his tea. Continue reading →

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Injury and inspiration

Posted on August 9, 2013 by Kym Zest

I was sore, then I was stupid.  Wednesday morning I woke up incredibly stiff.  All day at work I kept moving.  I took a yoga class, I stretched, I foam rolled, still sneezing hurt.  My body was saying “good job working hard, now rest, recover.”  Then I did the stupid thing I’ve done before:  demoing a dynamic exercise while fatigued, without warming up.  The first time I remember doing this was teaching triple jump, this time it was kettlebell.

So my muscles seized and my body said “STOP. NOW.” I had one more client and then I ever so carefully biked home.  Thursday I asked clients to reschedule and I came home early to take a nap.  Last night I slept eleven healing hours.  I’m feeling much better.  Healing is my number one priority because getting my last key workout of the season is the next one.  The plan is to do a seven hour brick workout on Sunday (two weeks away from my big triathlon!).  Hopefully I’ll be able to do it.

Meanwhile I’d like to share some inspiration.   Continue reading →

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Zest’s Oyakodon! Lemon Ginger Basil Chicken and Egg

Posted on July 30, 2013 by Kym Zest
Oyakodon

Saveur’s recipe comix: Oyakodon!

I love the hunt for food inspiration.  Years ago a wonderful REI co-worker introduced me to the food magazine Saveur.

One of the wonderful finds was recipe comix! In which I found this marvelous gem that keeps adapting to my every whim.

Oyakodon is a traditional Japanese meal that translates to “parent and child” reflecting using both chicken and egg in the same dish.

I’ve kept the theme of boiling chicken and onions in broth, soy, and white wine.  Then adding whipped eggs to lend a creaminess to the sauce.

After that though I’ve continued to be even more blasphemous than the original authors of Tiny Kitten Teeth.

I use italian style pasta as often as I use rice.  I always add some veggies so I feel I’ve created a balanced meal in one pan.

I hope you may be inspired by my most recent version: lemon ginger basil oyakodon. Below you can see my gathering of ingredients.  I usually have a box of white wine, but I also usually have some Mirin (small bottle from the asian aisle at Cub Foods) in the back of the fridge as well.  Sometimes I have homemade chicken stock, but another awesome fridge staple is the Better Than Bouillon stock bases.  In the July/August Cook’s Illustrated store bought chicken broth/stock brands were tasted and reviewed and this one came out on top both for flavor and value.

Continue reading →

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I blame the squirrel!

Posted on July 23, 2013 by Kym Zest
disclaimer: quickly written, unedited post.  Please be kind. 
 

I’m sick!  Not super sick.  Just kinda sick.  Just sick enough that it’s interfering with my training and making me anxious.  Eight days ago, last Monday my day started super awesome, got a good run and strength training in.  By the end of the day I came home in tears because I had a sore throat.  I attacked it with everything I could.  Extra vitamins, fish oil, zinc lozenges, tea, juice, and as much time sleeping and in bed as I could get away with.  I skipped the Torchlight 5k I was registered for.  Surely I’d be healthy for Heart of the Lakes Triathlon (HOLT) in Annandale on Sunday.

HOLT was my first triathlon ever in 1997.  I was 15.  I’ve done it every every year since then.  I’ve come back from Alaska for it.  I’ve done it as a relay when I’ve been injured.  One year I had been so sick I didn’t even bring my bike, but I did show up and do the swim.

My dad and I in 1997 at my first Triathlon. Wow, 15 was an awkward year.

My dad and I in 1997 at my first Triathlon. Wow, 15 was an awkward year.

Continue reading →

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Before and After

Posted on July 16, 2013 by Kym Zest

“September twenty-second two-thousand twelve was a partially sunny day with the highs in the 50′s. In February that sounds downright balmy, and that was what I emailed our guests. We said our vows in front of his parents white pine, with a friend officiating from his kindle resting in Tolken’s The Hobbit. It was all very fitting considering our journey ahead.” – A Beginning  

I’d like to get back to telling the honeymoon story but I thought I’d share some before and after pictures first.

This was the setting for our wedding.

Wedding setting15 days and 183 miles of paddling later…

honeymoon Continue reading →

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