Recipe for a good year

I'm just going to say it--2014 was a good year.  I needed a good year.  I mean, obviously, we all need good years, but it seemed like this year came around just when I needed it. Thanks 2014.:)

I sit here pondering my upcoming New Years hike and being grateful for all that I've been able to do.  Though it's certainly not a unique tradition, I always like to take a few minutes to sum up the year, and set goals for the next one.  I have to say, I look back at 2014 and see A LOT of luck, and a fair amount of good ingredients.  What ingredients went into my year?  Let me give you my personal recipe for 2014:

1. Pilates

I've been struggling for awhile to find a workout that really works for me.  No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake the weight I gained from both getting married and spending my first year in Japan under my kotatsu. I even broke down and tried "diet shakes".  Then, I found this amazing blog run by a wonderful woman named Robin Long: http://www.thebalancedlifeonline.com/  She has a variety of both free and long workouts, my favorite of which is her 4x4 program.  For a completely reasonable price, I received four 40-minute pilates workouts, each with a different emphasis.  I credit pilates with being able to fit back into my pants, and toning my core and legs.  I'm curious to hit the trails next year with my new pilates-enhanced booty to take on the uphills.:)

2. Vegan cooking

Continuing my ode to bloggers, this blog has literally changed my cooking:  http://thesimpleveganista.blogspot.jp/ First, as a vegetarian living in Japan, cooking can be one of the most depressing things you have to do.  The variety of ingredients and cultures we are used to in America isn't available here, and ordering things online regularly adds up quickly.  So, we end up in a bit of a cooking rut, rotating the same meals every week and losing any enthusiasm you might once have had for cooking.  Second, vegan websites and cooking I've come across in the past use so many ingredients I can't easily come by, and often feature different varieties of soy products, fake meat, and nutritional yeast. No thank you.

This website has none of that.  This website makes me want to be a vegan all the time.  This website makes me want to give the blogger a hug.  Seriously.  I cook from this website at least once a week, and so many delicious dishes--the lentil loaf, curries, chickpea salad and oatmeal cookies top my favorites list.  I very rarely follow her recipes exactly as written, but they give me great ideas for my own cooking.  Thank you Simple Veganista!:)
                                                                                        3. Beautiful runs

Running trails at Madarao.

I'm feeling exactly how spoiled I was this fall with all my amazing long runs as I try and pound out the miles in the dark, cold and snow.  Having beautiful things to look at really does make the miles go by, and running trails has made me stronger and fitter.  I'm so grateful to finally enjoy running again, which leads me too...


4. One good race

Noto Hanto 60K

It's been a long time since I raced a distance I haven't raced before, and an even longer time since I took on a new challenge.  Finishing the Noto Hanto 60K (62 actually!:) gave me confidence to get through my disappointing non-finish at my October 40K race and the motivation to keep training harder in hopes of a 100K next June.  I know I could have run the race harder had I known the course better, and I'm so happy my body has decided to cooperate with my training goals and regimen.

5. Yoga

Though I'm not the best at balance, I do make an effort, and I credit my recovery from years of injuries to vinyasa yoga and https://www.yogaglo.com/. I've been fortunate to attend the True Nature Yoga Festival in Karuizawa for the past two years, giving me the opportunity to work with world class teachers and experience different kinds of yoga classes. This year, it was the lovely Tara Stiles and a taste of Acro Yoga!  Just like climbing mountains, it also gives me a rare opportunity to interact with Japanese people outside of work about things we have a shared passion for.

My new AcroYoga friends.:)

6. Finishing grad school (again)

I'd forgotten how much time writing papers and other boring crap takes out of your life.  Not having to do that is like being given buckets full of happy, smiley time.  Finishing allowed me to pursue everything above as well as greatly reduced my stress level and (hopefully) made me a slightly more pleasant person to be around.  If not, well, sorry.

7. Mountains

Bet you thought I wasn't going to mention these. ;)  As most of you must know by now, the mountains are my home away from home, and I am still crushed about the crappy summer weather that prevented me from exploring them even more.  I have to say that I do prefer them in summer, as these winter hikes are fraying my nerves, but even in winter they are the most beautifully serene moments in my life.  Memorable pics from 2014...

Beer, blue skies, and a gorgeous sunrise on Kitadake.

God-awful weather and hobbit trees on Tsurugi.

Trail running and company on Jonen.

Crappy weather but fun photo tricks on Yari.

My favorite, an epic day hike up and down Kashimayari with stunning views.

8.  Supportive friends and family

I've never been one to make terribly conventional life decisions, and I'm grateful for friends and family that have always supported me 100%.  Living in Japan, scaling mountains, long training runs... I'm especially grateful for my husband, A and my good friends J and N here in Japan for their support in an environment where I often feel like I have none. 

I truly wish everyone the best in 2015, and I'm hoping it's a good year for all of us!