High Performance Herbivore: Vegan Ironman and Ultrarunner Athlete:

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86910142725299487782012-02-16T11:05:24.881+01:00High Performance Herbivore: Vegan Ironman and Ultrarunner Athlete:A year of Ironman training on a plant-based dietRachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.comBlogger871100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-58939404135490937432009-10-13T09:34:00.004+02:002009-10-13T09:52:28.285+02:00One final word

I thought I was done with blogging, but apparently I'm not. Just one last post before I close the book:A week has past since Ironman, and as the post-race fatigue subsides, both my reflection on the event and my outlook for the future has shifted. I may well have been in a highly fatigued and emotionally numb state when I wrote my race report; as the days have passed and my energy returns (how

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-8720120492478855632009-10-08T09:07:00.044+02:002009-10-10T12:15:12.716+02:00The Race Report (get comfortable for this one)

Life is full of surprises, and sometimes it's our own reactions to what life brings that surprise us the most.The biggest surprise of Ironman for me was that I wasn't moved by it. The day was exciting, it was fun, it was exhausting, it was overwhelmingly long and it had some seriously uninteresting stretches. It also had touching moments that I will never forget. But did I cry at the start line

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-64833240495797397322009-10-06T09:48:00.021+02:002009-10-06T17:54:59.765+02:00Just Briefly...

I just arrived back from Barcelona and made the slow trip up the stairs to my first floor apartment. My body feels like it did 11 hours and 46 minutes and 42 seconds of non-stop exercise two days ago. For those who checked my results online, thank you for the congratulations. I am happy with my result, but the day sure had it's ups and downs and mishaps, not least of all when I managed to add

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-1542154988896325072009-10-02T05:07:00.001+02:002009-10-02T07:18:35.142+02:00Almost forgot

If anyone would like to follow my progress on Sunday, there should be live ticker coverage here:http://www.challenge-barcelona.com/acompanantes/inscripcion.phpBe warned: the English section of this website is a little disorganized, so I can't promise that the ticker will appear on this page; you might have to search a bit. As a very, very approximate guideline of when you will be able to track me

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-22501672154351470882009-09-30T07:47:00.011+02:002009-10-01T13:41:05.914+02:00My Finest Hour

I normally post a round-up of my progress in the preceding month on the last day of the month, but I'm not going to do that today. My race is in three days, and I'm more interested in looking forward than looking back. Perhaps that's how it should always be in life.But some of my thoughts are wandering back over the last nine months. It's been a long journey, and without a doubt one of the most

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-38216777595098888062009-09-28T07:55:00.017+02:002009-09-28T09:26:03.306+02:00One Week to Go

It's now one short week till my Ironman, and my thoughts are occupied with the last minute important details, such as what to wear in various possible weather scenarios, and what will I do with hair to ensure it does not become a source of irritation over the course of a 12-hour event (I have a time of 12 hours in my head inasmuch as I hope to finish somewhere around that mark, but as I have to

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-68683918661547665102009-09-16T07:33:00.023+02:002009-09-20T16:15:47.731+02:00Seeing Purple

If the red of poppy fields marked early summer in the south of France, and the yellow masses of sunflowers marked the hot and hazy days of August, then it is purple that marks the close. Purple grape juice soaks the roads through the vineyards, making them too trechorous to ride on. The vines that are still waiting to be harvested are heavy with purple grapes. A variety of purple plants that I

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-86037342373910749132009-09-08T08:29:00.014+02:002009-09-08T18:35:35.927+02:00Words from Chrissie Wellington

For those who follow the world of professional triathlon, and for those who don't, the current world champion Chrissie Wellington (UK) has some things to say that are worth listening to. This is a girl who entered the sport at a very late age, having discovered that she had a talent for it when she began running and biking to avoid weight creep in her late twenties. She left a successful career

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-239582724326981492009-09-01T19:32:00.011+02:002009-09-02T08:41:15.453+02:00Taking Stock: August

I finished up the month by catching a tummy bug. I made a little bed on the bathroom floor for two nights in a row, dropped a further kilo, and cursed my luck for it happening in the middle of the final surge of training before the taper begins. I got back in the swing of things yesterday with a 3hr bike/1hr run run race-pace brick workout and felt fine; although my stomach was a little shaky

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-66311911027698676712009-08-29T15:36:00.007+02:002009-09-09T06:59:20.118+02:00Time to talk about somebody else for a change

Every now and then, I receive a random email from someone I don’t know who has come across my blog online. David Deak is one such person, and with his permission, I want to share a little bit of his story here. Besides it being an incredibly inspiring one, from time to time I quite frankly get a little tired of talking about myself.David is a Toronto-born Canadian living in Denmark. He entered

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-64728304268456666372009-08-24T17:43:00.033+02:002009-08-25T16:27:07.078+02:00What a small dose of CNN can do

Following on from yesterday's brief muse on new world vs. old world living, it's true that I am beginning to notice the degree of my separation from life as I used to know it. I've lived in small-town France for three months now, and I know all my neighbours by first name. I stop to talk to old men playing bowls in the small villages I ride through. I lean out the window and watch children play

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-68055942561911188592009-08-24T09:25:00.015+02:002009-08-24T17:50:59.144+02:00Business as Usual

It's back to business as usual here in Narbonne; the bumper-to-bumper camper vans that have lined the beach roads for the last three weeks are slowly tricking away and I'm noticing fewer and fewer Parisian license plates with irate drivers behind the wheels around town. The weather is hot but pleasantly breezy and the vendanges (grape harvest) began a few days ago, heralding the beginning of the

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-60754151377322114832009-08-20T15:40:00.010+02:002009-08-20T16:35:38.401+02:00P.S.

I haven't been asked how I felt after a meal this many times since the time I tried a deep-fried Mars bar in a chip shop in Glasgow. I felt fine, everybody, after my concessionary consumption of meat and cheese last week. I had no stomach pain, no bloating, no gas or any other ill-effects that I'm receiving inquiries about. No limbs fell off either. And no, eating sausages didn't feel like that

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-60879648020175647512009-08-14T15:21:00.020+02:002009-08-18T07:42:54.140+02:00Sit Down Before Reading

Things can change quickly in the mountains. Weather systems move fast, changing blue skies into rumbling thunderstorms in a matter of hours. Rapid changes in altitude can chill the air quickly; the temperature at the top of a col can be ten degrees lower than the temperature at the bottom. Ideas can change quickly, too. I have always found that spending time in nature, and in the mountains in

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-13322863694551316242009-08-11T14:21:00.008+02:002009-08-11T14:32:26.994+02:00Notes from France again, before the rain set in

And finally, coming back into France for the last few cols on the list:After Col de Peyresourde and Col de Aspin, storms blew in and I've been reduced to trail-running on soaked-out mountain passes. My legs are complaining but my buttocks seem relieved.You can't please everyone.

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-41683041701226804872009-08-09T15:09:00.009+02:002009-08-09T15:22:44.587+02:00Notes from Spain

Descending Col de Portillon (1293 m) Spain. If I look like I'm having a good time in the picture, it's because I am. Also, it was taken on a descent: my face doesn't look the same on the way up. My internet access is still limited, so I can't report in any more detail than that. And my fingers don't work so well anyway after holding on to my brakes for dear life on the long descents. And I

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-54077430001218222282009-08-06T17:26:00.008+02:002009-08-06T17:42:44.907+02:00Notes from Andorra

It might only cover 470 km2 of ground, but it has some serious peaks and valleys. Andorra is, in fact, all peaks and valleys. Don't come here expecting to do any gentle, scenic flat bicycle tours.Here's what we did on day one:Ouch.Now I know why this nation has the highest life expectancy in the world; their ancestors couldn't go anywhere without climbing or descending anything less that a 10%

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-64059261854706338502009-07-31T14:24:00.008+02:002009-09-02T08:14:26.858+02:00Taking Stock: July

The end of July always feels a little bit sad to me. While May and June hold the promise that the best of summer is yet to come, July is the subconsciously ideological peak. And though August is usually a lovely month in the various counties I've inhabited in the northern hemisphere, there is no denying that it is the month that heralds the beginning of the end. So I'm trying to remain chipper as

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-76975425865002444822009-07-27T20:12:00.017+02:002009-07-28T17:28:08.664+02:00Getting out of town as the world (or at least, the rest of France) arrives

I am suddenly beginning to understand why those who live in the south of France do not stay in the south of France for the month of August. I'd been warned and now, before the 1st of August has even rolled around, it's started: le monde arriverais (literal translation: "the world is coming"; figurative translation: "a lot of people are on their way"). It started about a week ago when I noticed an

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-12035381759230465022009-07-22T14:28:00.017+02:002009-07-22T16:09:56.877+02:00Summer Fêtes

Watching the vines fill out and noticing that the grapes are burgeoning week by week has reminded me that summer is advancing. August is right around the corner, and as with all good passages of time, I don't know where the last few months have gone. Around Narbonne, the red blooms of poppy fields that danced with the faintest breeze in early summer have been replaced by fields of sunflowers that

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-29750973317161920222009-07-17T13:23:00.021+02:002009-07-17T20:30:53.786+02:00What Two Days of Rest Can Do

There's a saying in the triathlon club, a sort of inside joke, that is called out by individuals who are feeling particularly sprightly at the start of a long group ride: 'J'ai le feu dans les jambes aujourd'hui!' ('I have fire in my legs today!'). It took me a while to work out the context, and now I understand that it essentially means that one is feeling good today and the rest of the group

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-21151347723080173412009-07-13T21:16:00.019+02:002009-07-16T17:52:44.184+02:00Fragments of My Week

I started several good posts in the last week, and successful finished none of them. Now they've all become fragmented bits of old news, so I'm scrapping all of them and serving up some bits and pieces of what's come to pass in the last week in my world:I just wrapped up a serious week of training that included several high intensity bricks, back to back rides of 4 hours and 3 hours, a 4km swim

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-91259840582408669922009-07-09T17:26:00.006+02:002009-07-09T18:37:18.155+02:00Blinked and Missed It

I did, in fact, blink and miss the tour go by yesterday. Something popped up at work that required my immediate attention, just as the stage was kicking off in Cap D'Agde, and I made a decision that, with hindsight, indicates that I have not fully assimilated into French life: I stayed home and worked as the Tour passed by. I kept one eye on the live coverage and felt a pang of regret when I

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-37062430960390987222009-07-08T07:48:00.004+02:002009-07-08T10:33:27.495+02:00Blink and You'll Miss It: The Tour Passes By

Simultaneous with, or perhaps a contributing factor in, my blossoming interest in becoming a better rider, Tour de France fever has been slowing building across the southern provinces. Somewhat unremarkablably for France, it seems to be perfectly acceptable behaviour to finish work early, or not go to work at all, to watch the Tour. Every man, woman and child takes an interest in what is more

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-88966057559957502042009-07-06T09:46:00.016+02:002009-07-06T19:38:55.665+02:00A Time for Research and a Time for...

Every now and then, I become acutely aware that I am using the word 'research' as a euphemism for procrastination. So after a solid week of 'research' (although to be fair, I did consult with a host of people whose opinions I value when it comes to triathlon training - you know who you are!), I am ready to make the following changes to my training program:1. Overall increase in bike volume: I am

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-23912309329348607642009-06-30T20:20:00.012+02:002009-07-01T09:03:02.153+02:00Taking Stock: June

It's the last day of the month and it's official: I'm tired. I was surprised by it this morning when I woke up and looked at the clock and it was 6.30am, and I realised I'd slept right through the night. But I'm now less surprised by it having done my diligent summary of my training volume this month:35 hours riding16.5 hours running13.5 hour swimmingJune was the first month where I can say I

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-65016965535131266992009-06-26T21:31:00.006+02:002009-06-26T21:51:05.915+02:00Sleepless in Narbonne

There's one particular phenomenon that's been going on in my body since becoming vegan which I haven't said much about, mostly because I don't have a good scientific explanation for it, which I hate. So I'm throwing it out to the floor: can anyone find a decent explanation, backed by empirical data, for why I need less sleep as a vegan? It's been getting more extreme with each passing month; my

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-46088026243145530682009-06-19T15:55:00.004+02:002009-06-19T16:14:48.405+02:00The Celebs Get on My Bandwagon

I wouldn't exactly call it news anymore, but it's going to make the news more and more now:http://www.lowcarboneconomy.com/community_content/_low_carbon_news/I'm a little concerned that Richard Branson is going to send a cow up in a hot air balloon to prove a point.

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-89594187668838026442009-06-16T20:50:00.016+02:002009-06-18T17:25:23.652+02:00My Swim Mascot

Continuing my photographic theme, I took my camera with me to the pool yesterday - and then promptly forgot about it in my locker. I did, however, manage to take a picture of one of my favourite art pieces around Narbonne en route to the pool. This little lady sits in a park a few blocks away, and I pass her on my walk to and fro:There is no inscription on the statue and I haven't quite figured

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-85533306629210879102009-06-15T08:06:00.027+02:002009-06-15T19:46:09.123+02:00A Little Piece of Paradise, Protected

I'm getting back into trail running again. I wasn't planning on making it a focus this year, what with Ironman and such, but I've discovered trail networks around Narbonne that cannot be ignored. Plus, I continue to have a surplus of energy beyond the requirements of my training program which are currently being channeled into things like obsessively pruning my (now harshly over-pruned) potted

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-1703490848396212102009-06-11T10:15:00.005+02:002009-06-13T08:04:35.683+02:00Crocs, Kisses and Tan Lines: How the French Do Triathlon

There are some things in the culture of triathlon that are the same the world over, like men with waxed legs, crocs as acceptable footwear for all occasions (yes, even in France), and an unrelenting obsession with gear. The latter has always been something I've refrained from: transitioning from the au natural world of ultrarunning, I've always considered myself to be an athlete with more

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-1537267990372341612009-06-07T12:01:00.000+02:002009-06-08T18:00:57.715+02:00A Job Done for Me

Right on the heels of my kvetching that I don't know how to convey my new life in France through my blogging endeavors, the job was done for me. My company back home in Vancouver, Metasoft Systems, sent a filmmaker to make a short about me living here while continuing to work for them. It's part of a greater HR initiative to convey the culture of the company through employee testimonials: Scroll

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-946074070737643072009-06-04T06:48:00.011+02:002009-06-05T17:11:22.829+02:00Recovering Exotically

I took a serious schooling in the vineyard hills yesterday. After the second set of 30-second overgeared intervals, I did indeed stop looking at the view of the sun sparkling on the Mediterranean at the top of each crest. Either my legs are still recovering from Sunday's 180km (although it doesn't feel like they are when I run up the stairs) or I just haven't been doing enough power work on the

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-22826150554661087792009-06-03T16:21:00.010+02:002009-06-03T20:51:22.130+02:00Things are Getting Hot Down Here

I'm back in the south of France, having been whisked here in one short morning by the TGV. I love watching the French countryside go by from the TGV window; the landscape changes at hyperspeed and if you look away for ten minutes, you could miss a lot. So I spent the three hours from Geneva to Montpellier with my forehead pressed against the glass of the upstairs window in first class (there were

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-15830428594176038352009-06-01T06:56:00.021+02:002009-06-01T16:03:15.458+02:00Taking Stock: May

How do I even begin to take stock of a month where I turned my life upside down by moving across Europe and creating an entirely new existence which has little in common with anything I have known before and which excites and delights me on a daily basis. It's hard to know how best to make sense of what has transpired this month, let alone write about it as it's unfolded. And it's perhaps for

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-86049690875284683792009-05-22T17:31:00.016+02:002009-05-28T06:25:32.965+02:00A Poor Excuse for a Post

I'm back into a rhythm with training, but not a rhythm of blogging. I have to confess that I think I'm struggling with blogger's block. It's not from lack of things to blog about, but rather the opposite. I'm training like crazy, discovering a host of new and interesting things and loving my life in France, and I'm not sure how to begin to write about any of it. And as for being vegan, it feels

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-64352299127699798882009-05-20T23:00:00.022+02:002009-05-22T05:27:15.974+02:00Blind-sided by a social calender

I've ditched the friends map; after volunteering at the local triathlon on the weekend and meeting what feels like a hundred people, it got out of control. Plus, this week I've had people stopping by to do things like help me hang curtains and I didn't want to weird anybody out.Suffice it to say that making friends in my new French town is a big success so far, and the triathlon club is a sudden

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-84417232420178949632009-05-16T21:09:00.010+02:002009-08-20T06:48:20.154+02:00J’ai aucune idée

I had coffee with the President of Narbonne’s triathlon club today (friend #15). He explained the club’s general workings, about half of which I understood and the other half I hope is not important, and the structure of the workouts. He’s sending me the paperwork for my club registration next week, as well as the application forms for a license and insurance to race as a French resident. The

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-38881188596620099242009-05-15T14:07:00.009+02:002009-05-15T18:06:15.912+02:00Buying Flowers, Making Friends and a Race Registration

I made friend number 14 at the flower market today (friends 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 make up my new French class, which I discovered when I literally walked into it by accident while looking for a wifi zone in the community center - more on that later). Back to the market: in addition to the daily morning food market in a covered market hall known as Les Halles, a bio food market on Saturday mornings

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-28041962116601622622009-05-13T10:16:00.008+02:002009-05-13T17:54:16.189+02:00The First Semblance of Structure

It didn’t take long to come up with my first idea to put some structure into my new life. The following structure for my weekday mornings, like all my better ideas, came to me on a long run. I put it into practice for the last two days with great success:Rather than my old routine of getting up and making coffee at home, then drinking the coffee whilst pouring over emails that came in last night

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-64303703258556400222009-05-10T17:28:00.010+02:002009-05-11T09:50:31.777+02:00What Structures and Armchairs have in Common

I’m one week into my new life in Narbonne, and things are shaping up well. Other than having no hot water and no internet, my apartment is now set up and is even starting to have that certain feeling of familiarity that only a home can have. The upside to not having hot water is that it’s forced me to the pool every day for a shower, and if I’m going to the pool to get clean, I might as well get

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-68860292009079308202009-05-02T11:26:00.020+02:002009-05-05T20:04:06.516+02:00Belated Taking Stock of the Month: April

In the fracas of the last few weeks, I didn't have the opportunity to say many goodbyes in Switzerland. I have happily been given that opportunity through an invitation to stay in Karen's home for a few days before making the final journey back down to Narbonne with the last of my things. So I've been decompressing in Grandvaux, a village not far from my (now former) home of Chexbres, and today

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-1730292534885643882009-05-02T07:32:00.025+02:002009-05-02T16:04:36.822+02:00Hanging in Here

I’m still here, but only just. Since signing the apartment lease in France three weeks ago, life has been hectic in a way that brings a new meaning to the word. I'm not sure what I was expecting, having conceived and orchestrated a relocation between two countries that I am not native to, nor speak the language of, in a three-week time horizon. I feel like my world has been turned upside down, I’

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-34808703430643547032009-04-15T15:01:00.039+02:002009-04-16T21:53:32.150+02:00Words to Live By, from a Small Bear

Some of my favourite quotes come from a book about a very wise and simple bear, Winnie the Pooh.'Promise me you'll always remember: you're braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think'It was this particular quote, spoken by Christopher Robin to a trepidatious Pooh, that I held in my mind as I sat in a realtor's office in the French town of Narbonne last week,

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-5412719622966567682009-04-13T06:58:00.022+02:002009-04-13T17:14:10.398+02:00And No Myserty

I have been procrastinating about doing the research on why my iron levels are improving as a vegan out of fear that it would take me down a rabbit hole of industry-sponsored research and perpetuated misinformation from arcane sources (as my dairy products research did). My job was done for me yesterday when, at kilometer 95 of a 135 km ride, my friend Amy suggested a straightforward and, it

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-55367684728855369412009-04-10T19:22:00.018+02:002009-04-11T18:13:34.067+02:00No Picnic

I simply have to post some extracts from an email I received from the Tour de Mont Blanc this morning. I'm sure that some of their intended meanings have been lost in translation, but that aside, they have some rather strict rules that make North American ultras look like an unsupervised Sunday picnic. I can't believe they are going to weigh my bag at the exit of aid stations, and I'm not sure

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-50573747961931408912009-04-08T12:10:00.010+02:002009-04-10T19:22:15.730+02:00One to Watch

I just came across this individual, the first vegan to compete in the invite-only Ultraman Hawaii (a 3-day/320 mile double-Ironman distance triathlon):http://www.richroll.com/He clocked the second fastest swim split and finished 10th overall, all on six months of training. He's also a father of four, an attorney, a filmmaker and a writer. Who says men can't do more than one thing at a time? The

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-34599363108214800382009-04-06T21:33:00.013+02:002009-04-08T22:20:16.927+02:00And the results are in!

I had my 'email appointment' with the very sunny Dr. Albert today (how British GP practices have leapt into the 21st century!), and he was pleased to inform me that my blood tests were nothing but good news. I have no signs of anemia whatsoever, and most interestingly, my serum ferritin (measure of stored iron) is higher than it's been in the last 4 years at 31.2 ug/L. As a reminder, I've been

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-82872977136512136462009-03-30T15:14:00.015+02:002009-04-01T14:25:47.425+02:00Taking Stock of the Month: March

Here's what came to pass in my third month of being vegan.My energy levels remained high this month, and could not be curbed by a 14 day do-it-at-home riding camp at the start of the month. I spent a total of 24 hours in the saddle over the course of this month, which quadruples what I did in either January or February on the bike (eek). I ran for a total of 12 hours, which is the same as I did

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-24533998120582498422009-03-30T12:33:00.008+02:002009-03-31T15:33:48.384+02:00Divine retribution for complaining

I've been hit with divine retribution for my complaining over things not being open when I want them to be. I went to the pool for my lunchtime swim after a late morning run today, and found it closed. While standing in front of the large glass doors, blinking in disbelief, a few workman came out and confirmed that 'oui, c'est ferme' (yes, it's closed).Me (an octave higher than my normal voice):

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-89932902080933196402009-03-30T00:00:00.016+02:002009-03-30T10:28:21.717+02:00Turning Thirty in Paris

Paris was fabulous in all the ways that it should be this weekend. Spring was just beginning to show it's face: the parks were sporting pockets of new-green against the background of browns and perma-greens, the blossoms were creeping out of their heavy buds along the boulevards and the sky gave alternating gifts of sun and showers that sent everyone back and forth from the cafe interiors to the

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-53149323762352957652009-03-27T18:42:00.011+01:002009-03-30T09:07:36.700+02:00Lunchtime thoughts from the pool

I didn't take my bike to Cyprus, and there wasn't a suitable training pool to be found, so last week was essentially a running camp. I ran on asphalt, I ran on trail and I even did some barefoot beach laps. It's a good thing that one of the three disciples of triathlon is a portable sport, or I'd be having some serious conversations with myself about having to choose training over travel whims

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-74783545967786886932009-03-24T08:21:00.021+01:002009-03-30T09:03:37.664+02:00Where I've Been

It's been a solid ten days since I last posted, and I feel a little out of practice. My reasons for lack of posting have been far from having nothing to write about, but rather lack of internet access from where I've been: I managed to justify another escape from the snows and preoccupations with fondue in Swtizerland by persuading my brother to join me on a week-long sojourn on the beaches of

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-42690439271185059652009-03-12T07:34:00.021+01:002009-03-12T17:14:33.571+01:00Wrapping up the Riding Program

Today, I did the last ride of my two-week 'jump-start' program. I fiddled with the schedule somewhat due to a few days of snowfall and one day of whimsical excessive distance, which I chalked up as two days in one. I'm finishing the program a day early since a snowboarding trip has cropped up in my schedule for tomorrow.In total, I put in 21 hours in the saddle over the last 12 days. I feel

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-87197083419067540012009-03-06T12:21:00.014+01:002009-03-10T11:22:45.347+01:00Breaking the Rules of Early Season Training

I successfully rolled with the punches yesterday morning. In a virtual white out, and with plenty of chapstick, hotshots in my gloves and Dixie Chicks on my mp3 (don't judge me), I got a 1.5 hour run in through the vineyards, followed by some soggy ab work on the living room floor (when I stood up, I had created a sort of inverted snow-angel on the carpet). In an effort to compensate for my lack

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-35591443312413161042009-03-05T19:52:00.000+01:002009-03-06T19:56:59.833+01:00Preparing to Roll

There is more white stuff falling from the sky today. This wasn't supposed to happen; it was supposed to be spring. I normally feel that snow is very pretty, but right now, I am finding it untimely. The kick start riding program is going very well. It's an off day from both riding and running for me, so I swam 2.5km this morning and am putting my feet up for the rest of the day, with laptop in

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-17116208185604907352009-03-02T08:43:00.005+01:002009-03-03T16:30:01.078+01:00The Difference a Day Makes

March has rolled in with suddenly warmer temperatures, turning the landscape from white to brown overnight. This is disagreeing with me on an aesthetic level, but is otherwise agreeing with me, especially for training. Since there's no imminent danger of freezing to my saddle, I thought it would be 'fun' to kick the month off with a self-styled riding bootcamp. I've been calling riding my weakest

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-86435489865918324332009-02-28T14:15:00.002+01:002009-02-28T14:15:00.810+01:00Taking Stock: February

Time to sum up my second month of being vegan. It's been a short month with its share of long posts, so I'll make this one brief.Over the course of the month, I ran for 12 hours, snowshoed for 4 hours, rode for 5.5 hours and swam for 2 hours (riding and swimming really suffered due to the extended Rome trip). I caught a slight cold in a psychosomatic protest at returning to Switzerland, and I

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-49056540097896469472009-02-27T13:30:00.027+01:002009-02-27T17:23:41.195+01:00How to Kill a Craving, Part II

To preface today’s post, I want to reiterate what I mentioned at the close of my previous to last post. When I turn to the internet to educate myself on a topic, I do what I can to vet out claims that are backed by a particular industry lobby (of particular relevance to this topic is the soy lobby, who are not the granola-eating, Birkenstock-wearing ensemble of yogis one might suppose them to be)

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-15522199841984430942009-02-24T07:19:00.016+01:002009-02-24T15:02:11.474+01:00Vegan Shriving

I'm taking a break from the arduousness of trying to find The Truth in internet information to share about my pancake breakfast.It's Shrove Tuesday today. Not being entirely familiar with the historical significance of Shrove Tuesday (beyond it being as good a reason as any to eat pancakes), I turned to Wikipedia and was delighted to find that shrove is the past tense of the English verb shrive,

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-68550493760155758272009-02-22T08:39:00.003+01:002009-02-22T08:50:21.194+01:00How to Kill a Craving Using Google

I was sideswiped by a cheese craving this morning, when passing between platforms at Geneva train station. I’ve never been a big cheese buff, but a sudden and unexpected longing came over me when I caught sight of a beautifully assembled tomato and bocconcini sandwich in the window of the sandwich kiosk. Alternating wedges of fresh white cheese slices and brilliant red tomatoes were peeping out

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-83288396285204061592009-02-20T11:47:00.011+01:002009-02-22T08:51:37.371+01:00Back on the Bike, and Abruptly off Again

My sniffles have progressed into a throaty cough, but I otherwise feel physically good. In defiance of my malaise, the three feet of snow on the ground, and two days of moping around the house, I pulled out my mountain bike at day break. Plus, the empty fridge was giving rise to another concern: what was I going to have for lunch today?So I headed out with my backpack to get an hour ride in and

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-7178141417156679792009-02-18T08:24:00.001+01:002009-02-19T10:38:41.194+01:00All Good Things

I knew that I couldn't stay in Rome forever, but I was trying. With both money and clean underwear running out, my days were numbered. And so, after one final slice of vegan pizza yesterday, I (very grudgingly) dragged my wheely case to Termini station and boarded the train for Lausanne. The beauty of the Tuscan countryside gliding by the train window helped to defray some of the sadness at

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-14278698546346964102009-02-15T13:51:00.003+01:002009-02-17T17:09:45.710+01:00More Confessions

If I didn't have anything serious to confess to in my last post, I do in this one. I think I might have eaten egg this morning. In fact, I am almost positive I did. And the worst part is...I suspected there was some egg contamination after my first bite of the breakfast item in question, and I ate it anyway. It happened like this: I got up for an early morning visit to Santa Maria Maggiore, one

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-7457244168869780722009-02-12T07:11:00.012+01:002009-02-17T13:51:07.840+01:00Confessions of a Bad Blogger in Rome

The title of this post makes it sound like it's going to be more juicy than it actually is. I'm sorry to disappoint, but my confession is a little more modest than what others might confess to in Rome; the guilt that is following me around these ancient streets relates to being a complacent blogger of late. I'm pleading lack of public wifi as my official reason: thanks to an antiterror law that

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-90592221491007213912009-02-09T21:52:00.037+01:002009-02-12T18:42:56.970+01:00In Good Company in Rome

I didn't run the Spanish Steps this morning, but I did run around the walls of the Vatican thinking that I could mark off one of the seven hills as 'done', only to later find out that it is the eighth hill. I have recruited company for the remainder of my stay in the eternal city: my mother has flown down from a frosty Scotland to explore the markets and make faces at restaurant menus with me. As

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-38553181225627242562009-02-09T19:36:00.025+01:002009-02-11T16:54:33.972+01:00My Unexpected Vegan Roots

While I don't plan to turn this blog into another food-and-travel blog, dinner last night simply has to be scribed.Having eaten enough pizza to feed a small Roman legion over the last two days, I decided to switch it up and hunt down a pasta place. I was wandering, maplessly, somewhere near Piazza Navona, looking for the trattoria with the least signage and fanfare outside, and no menus with

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-33143970818748133212009-02-07T07:56:00.021+01:002009-02-09T06:31:26.121+01:00Staring at Things in Rome

It could be that it's off season, or it could be that people the world over are feeling mindful of their pocketbooks, but it appears that I've picked the best possible time to come to Rome. I've just wrapped up a day of walking (covering at least marathon distance), and I haven't seen one flag-bearing group tour guide, nor caught sight of a single garish tour bus. There was hardly a lineup at the

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-33779649824050726822009-02-05T18:33:00.003+01:002009-02-06T15:35:43.775+01:00When in Rome

I just can't get enough of Italy, so this weekend I find myself in the eternal city of Rome. I've only been here a few hours, and already I'm in love. Besides the beautiful people, beautiful buildings and beautiful language, within an hour of arriving I fortuitously stumbled upon a by-the-slice pizza joint with no less than three vegan pizza options. Three. I had to pinch myself as I stared at

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-20604716534712346132009-02-04T15:21:00.026+01:002009-02-05T18:32:03.308+01:00Swiss Secrets

Switzerland is a country of many secrets. It's a good country to take up residence in if you wish to live somewhere where people mind their own business. It's a good country to come to if you wish to mind your own. This is part of the reason, I imagine, that Phil Collins, Shania Twain, Ingvar Kamprad and Michael Schuhmacher are our quasi-neighbours. If I were a celebrity or a high net worth

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-61368268765581425902009-02-01T08:51:00.034+01:002009-02-02T15:05:36.746+01:00The Road to Aosta

I'm on a bus to Italy; a day trip to the medieval mountain town of Aosta. I'm with a group of ex-pat companions. The town of Aosta is nestled in a valley of the same name, between the slopes of Mont Blanc, Monte Rosa and the Matterhorn, and is home to the Fiera di Sant'Orso: a two-day annual festival displaying the local craftsmanship that this valley is known for: objects carved in wood.Our

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-72802524086711326392009-01-31T08:44:00.016+01:002009-02-01T08:33:09.533+01:00Taking Stock: January

Today is the last day of my first month of being vegan and I'm using it as an occasion to reflect on what's come to pass over the last thirty days in my training, my body and my kitchen.Let's start with training. I have accomplished what I hoped to accomplish in this arena: I've reestablished the habit of training regularly, albeit in small bites, and have moved past the initial discomforts of

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-55290565425997462672009-01-29T09:40:00.001+01:002009-02-01T07:26:50.899+01:00In at the Deep End, And Some Footnotes on Procrastination

Sometimes inspiration can be found in the strangest places. I woke up this morning, made a sharp black coffee, packed my swimming gear and headed to the pool. I paid my francs, marched myself to the deep end, goggled up and jumped in feet first.Once in the water, the inevitable happened: I was happy as a clam and I didn't want to get out. I put in 2 kilometers, and thanks to a synco swim team

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-91558828820189586882009-01-28T23:03:00.000+01:002009-01-28T23:44:44.313+01:00This Just In

Talk about being ahead of the Zeitgeist!Germany’s Federal Environmental Agency has issued a strong advisory for German people to lower their meat consumption, effectively asking the population to eat meat only on special occasions...moreI'd like to think that my bizarre behavior in German restaurants earlier this month had a small part to play in this.

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-56795116328928451202009-01-27T08:29:00.000+01:002009-01-27T16:38:53.418+01:00The First Brick of the Season

Since my first day out on two wheels on that misty morning last week, I haven't been able to stay off my bike. The roads are still too icy to risk a slip-and-slide outing on my road bike, so my mountain bike and I have been exploring the trails that weave in and out of the empty cow fields, breaking through frozen puddles and occasionally getting stuck in the larger ones, each venture no longer

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-56011035695666771882009-01-25T21:00:00.000+01:002009-01-26T16:33:23.854+01:00A Vegan's Grip Strength

It’s been a while since I sequestered myself away for a weekend to read scientific journals. The last time was over ten years ago, while writing my thesis (saying that makes me feel so old). My research began on Friday night, and lasted about ten minutes before I was sidetracked by some interesting anthropological evidence which suggests that Roman Gladiators trained and competed on a vegetarian,

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-29073401206366996772009-01-21T11:38:00.000+01:002009-01-21T21:32:17.718+01:00The Dawn of A New Day, and Some Musings on Cows

Today represents a new beginning for many. While I strained the almond pulp out of my chilled raw almond solution before dawn (which produced a beautifully creamy, frothy milk for my coffee and cereal), the Obamas were arriving at their seventh inaugural ball in Washington. Talk about endurance capacity. Here in my time zone, as soon as the sky turned from black to grey revealing a misty but

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-72493971126890925792009-01-20T08:49:00.001+01:002009-01-22T08:48:45.818+01:00The Who's Who of Vegan Athletes

I decided to get crafty this morning by making my own almond milk. Almond milk is hard to find in Switzerland (quelle surprise), but I'm happy to make my own since it's simple to do. My online recipe search took me on a red herring that I have not returned from when I came across a video clip of an ardent Carl Lewis in the kitchen, making roasted vegetable lasagna in what looks like some sort of

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-29966963628232751592009-01-16T14:15:00.000+01:002009-01-18T16:51:29.894+01:00Spiritually Vegan in France

I have returned home to Switzerland, after first confirming with Michael that the fog on Lake Geneva had lifted and it was safe to return. The first thing I did was make a big protein smoothie; I have to admit that I was getting concerned about the sufficiency of my protein intake over the last few days of my French travels. While I think I have the migrant population (in particular, the Lebanese

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-87255996516657624072009-01-16T08:31:00.000+01:002009-01-16T09:00:56.337+01:00Crustaceans are Animals, too

I felt like a million bucks on this morning’s 50 minute run. It’s the first run of the year where I felt like I could run as far as the trail that stretched out before me would allow, which in this case would have meant running all the way to the Mediterranean Sea.I’m in the south of France. My run route this morning was the tree lined towpath of the Canal de Midi, a UNESCO-protected waterway

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-51508428578545570092009-01-12T19:51:00.000+01:002009-01-12T20:06:29.080+01:00My New Look

The very observant amongst us might have noticed that my blog has a new look. I have my good friend and fellow blogger, Vince Hemingson, to thank for this. Vince was the first (but not the only) to comment that my previous homemade header was more ‘cute’ than ‘sporty’. Vince, who is currently a mature student at Langara College’s Design Program in Vancouver, very generously offered to design a

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-12060849271882131372009-01-11T20:34:00.000+01:002009-01-12T20:19:37.660+01:00More Peanut Butter in the Snow

It’s been four days since my last post and I’ve received a few emails from concerned individuals, gently inquiring after my well-being. No, I have not been quietly shriveling up like a month-old head of cabbage, shut up in the Swiss mountains, growing pale and limp as my hemoglobin levels plunge and my muscles atrophy.Rather, I’ve been training - and feeling stronger every day. I’ve also been

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-42134219697183629812009-01-07T19:56:00.000+01:002009-01-08T12:54:34.397+01:00What I'm Eating, Analyzed

My current training strategy is simple: I am running every day for somewhere between 30-50 minutes at a steady pace. No intervals, no hills, no long runs. I’m just getting my body used to moving and letting my soft tissues make the necessary adjustments that will save me from injury later in the training cycle. I will be adding some similarly moderate biking as soon as the temperatures allow the

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-6469049997497382222009-01-06T09:45:00.001+01:002009-01-12T20:20:42.252+01:00What I'm Eating

It’s time to talk about what I’ve been eating.My debut days as a vegan have been conducted on the road in Germany. I am rather surprised, and pleased, with the relative ease with which we grocery shopped, ate out and navigated hotel breakfast buffets over this four day period.You could say I entered my vegan year with a straight-backed, white-knuckled, clenched-jaw sort of posture. My body had a

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-34944572757946850872009-01-04T23:57:00.000+01:002009-01-05T17:18:14.517+01:00A Bumpy Reentry

I am seriously out of shape.I don't know why I'm surprised by this; I did my best assimilation of a couch potato through the month of December. There was not much training to speak of during November either; work commitments took me back to Vancouver for a month where I put in long days at the office and attempted to eat my weight in sushi while catching up with friends in the evenings.So when we

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-39549672066938917662009-01-03T22:06:00.000+01:002009-01-05T17:18:34.484+01:00The Why

Last night I dreamt that I inadvertently ate powdered skim milk. I was breakfasting at a buffet in some nondescript hotel in an unidentifiable locale. Having passed over the eggs, sausages, bacon, smoked salmon, cream cheese, nutella and yogurts, I carefully selected a bowl of pre-made muesli. Back at the table, I combined it with some soy milk that I had stealthily smuggled in a miniature fish

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8691014272529948778.post-46606099337334705422009-01-01T01:07:00.000+01:002009-02-04T07:35:31.062+01:00Firsts

The first time doing anything new is never especially easy. 'Firsts' have a certain awkward quality to them. There also tends to be a significant amount of second-guessing involved. First dates, first two-wheel rides, first day of a new job, first pair of heels, first blog posts… Since whatever I write on this, my first day of a 365-day commitment, will never be as poised and poignant as I want

Rachel Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436220498006651358noreply@blogger.com