If you know me at all, you know I love a cozy vibe. As it gets colder, I enjoy adding warmth to any situation. The end of summer can be a hard transition heading into some cold months so here are some things I do to reframe situations by adding some cozy elements to them. This way, I feel recovered and rejuvenated for those days when it is a bit harder to get out the door for a workout.
I grew up in a family where luckily there was always some sort of baked good around. My favorite were the maple oatmeal scones that my dad made. I brought this recipe with me to college and it got me through some study sessions after a long Sunday workout. Having a treat always helps any type of mood in my opinion.
CLICK HERE FOR RECIPE Maple Scones
My current bedtime routine typically consists of making some type of pasta dish with a kale salad, watching Yellowstone with my roommates, and drinking peppermint tea with a shortbread cookie. I always feel like I sleep best after these kinds of evenings as my body winds down through this routine.
The other night I went on an evening road ride in the wind and pouring rain with my teammate Willson. All I could think about to get me out the door was the soup I would get with my roommate Sophia after. However, once I was out there, it actually turned out to be one of my favorite evenings in Bozeman. As we finished the ride through the rain and made our way back into town, we saw the most beautiful glow on the mountains. I realized you’ll always get something out of a rainy workout, even if it is simply making that soup taste a little bit better after being in the cold.
I have never been great at reading books to be honest, but my sister Amy got me hooked on Lauren Fleshman’s running memoir, Good For a Girl: A Woman Running in a Man’s World. This book not only follows Lauren’s running career, but also calls for a reform within the athletic world that fails young female athletes. It helps that my roommates also like to read, so they keep me accountable.
I could eat pasta for probably every meal if I had to. I grew up in a household that loved to make homemade pasta and as a skier it is a classic pre race meal. Pasta for me is a comfort food and will always remind me of home. One of my favorites from this summer and a new one for me is brown butter pasta. Try it out!
I probably brought out my puffy coats a bit too soon in Bozeman as I was sweating the other day walking down Main Street in my puffy vest BUT the second I felt the slightest bit of chill I had to bring them out. There is nothing quite like putting on a puffy coat after a cold workout. It is also important for recovery to not allow your body to get into a chilled state. Similarly, I highly suggest sleeping with some kind of heavy blanket in a cold room. I have found my sleep improves with some sort of weight on me.
Anyway, these are a couple of things I do throughout the fall that may not relate to skiing, but in my mind they create routines and an atmosphere where I feel relaxed and comfy. As an athlete, I find this relates to how I perform at practice and in races. These little things I do throughout the season also bring me a lot of joy which therefore help my mentality shift around the colder weather. Enjoy this fall season!
