What are you training for?

After biking 200 miles to Vancouver, BC and backpacking for three days in North Cascades National Park last year, I realized how much I love these kinds of adventures. They take me outdoors, including to parts of the city I haven’t seen in a while and deep into the forests and parks of my state. It’s cardio and strength training with a view, and I get to catch up with friends along the way.

These challenges push me to train with intention. If I didn’t sign up for them, I probably wouldn’t be getting out there nearly as much. I am motivated because I don’t want to get stuck out in the middle of nowhere. I also train with friends who’ve been doing this longer than I have, so I have to keep up! Just like when I prepped for bodybuilding competitions, I rise to the occasion because I love working toward a goal. 

Yoga and dance are just as important to me. They strengthen different parts of my body, as well as my spirit. Yoga grounds me, while dancing reminds me to laugh and let go. Together, they help me feel whole.

More than anything, staying active helps me connect with my daughter. I don’t just chase her around. I bike, hike, and paddle with her. It a very important part of our relationship. We go places I never got to go with my own parents. That kind of freedom and connection is everything.
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Audre Lorde said, “Self-care is a form of resistance.” For me, strength is not just physical—it’s a way of claiming joy, energy, and control over my life.