My Nike+iPod experience

Some time before my 21st birthday, my best friend Marija bought me this awesome set, that she'd had been using for about a year. We both used Nike shoes from the very beginning of our running experiences, so this was a great opportunity to keep up with progress of our training.

For those of you, who don't know the thingy - Nike+iPod is a kit, made of a wireless chip, which you put into a cavity in the shoe sole, and a wireless receiver, which needs to be attached to an iPhone or iPod. As soon as the connection is established, it is possible to choose a favorite playlist and start running. 

A glimpse into my account on www.nikeplus.com - after completing my run, I log online to update my results and check my whole statistics, such as graphs in single runs, best times, paces, longest distances and more. It's even possible to follow different goals, which offer the motivation to improve your running results.

Honestly, this device has become my best friend during every run I make!

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The late summer garden

I wanted to share with you a few photos I took some weeks ago, when some of our home-grown harvest still had to be picked up. We grew all types of vegetables in our garden this year - about six or seven varieties of lettuce, carrots, cabbage, potato, different types of beans, tomatoes, peppers, onion, several types of herbs, zucchini,...

We're planning on spreading growth surfaces in next year. I don't wonder, since my sister and mom are really green-thumbed.

(On first compilation - right photo - you can see a home-grown lemon tree. Next step? Avocado!)

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Participating matters

I started running for real at the end of 2010. At that time, my sister and mom were already too pro for me, so I began training at my college's stadium about two times a week. It was a difficult start - my legs hurt, so did my lungs, and my muscles weren't prepared for long distances (I was always a sprinter before). However, I did hold on, but still refused to participate at any of the races or competitions, even though there have always been plenty around. When classmates and family members asked me why, I had no particular answer - and after a while, I figured that I was anxious about comparing to other runners.

When my best friend, Marija, decided to participate at DM's women run in June 2011, she encouraged me through saying that the purpose of running competitions is, mostly and fore mostly, in proving yourself that you can do it. I agreed to that, so I attended it too. It's been more than a year now, and I've attended several runs - the photo above is from the Trio run (from left to right: me, the Mayor of Ljubljana, Marija and my sister Ula).

And my future plans? Next year, I'm planning on attending the DM's women run again, then Zagorje local run and then the most important: Celje - Logar walley, where I'll try to do my best at the distance of 27 kilometers. Remember, I started with only a few laps at the stadium, and look at me now. Think of how far can a regular mortal go in two or three years - just set yourself a goal and do it!

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Food rule #1: Eat your vegetables!

Yes, you might not be a big fan of it, but I bet you know that this is a must. Both vegetables and fruits should be a part of everyday life, especially for a young adult. They have all the necessary minerals and vitamins, fibers, relatively low calorie value (don't forget the exceptions, such as potatoes or bananas!) and are - mostly - best if consumed raw. Raw food keeps our immune system protected from free radicals and other stressors, which are nowadays one of main reasons for cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Processed food with loaded sugars, salt and fats makes our stomachs full, but lacks in micro nutrients - and these actually restore our body, from the first to the last cell in it.

If you eat at least one meal per day raw or if you try to include several types of fruits and vegetables on your menu every day, then you could surely skip this post. But if you don't, make a decision on trying at least one new type of raw food every day. Studies show that the majority of people need to try a certain type of food or a dish in general at least twelve times, before they get used to the taste and get their opinion on it.

It's hard to force yourself into eating something that you particularly don't like, and if a certain type of food just doesn't work for you even though you kept trying, simply move on to other types. After eating fresh foods for a while, you should begin to notice a difference - a better digestion, less skin problems and even immune system will become more resistant. I've always liked eating raw, and haven't been ill in bed since 2004.

You can't go wrong with a salad. I prefer to eat fruit salads in the morning or during the day and vegetable salads in the evenings, when the calorie intake shouldn't be too big.
Today, I made myself a typical seasonal salad with most of veggies from the garden. Since I had spent the afternoon on bike, I included also some protein and complex carbohydrates into my meal.

Ingredients: Green lettuce, red beans, corn, cherry tomatoes, carrots, garlic, dried basil, boiled egg, shredded Edam cheese, a table spoon of sour cream, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, toast bread, pepper and salt.

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My very first post

This blog is about me. It represents my passion for sports, healthy food and happy lifestyle in general. But it is also about you. How do you make a change in your life? What does it take to become active and highly motivated for everyday challenges? If you want to make a leap in your own way of thinking, these posts may be the final kick in your butt, right before you finally reach that decision.

I was raised in sports spirit. My dad took me hiking every Sunday and bought me my first pair of skis when I was three. I never spent much time playing with Barbie dolls, because I preferred dirt, plastic guns and bikes.  Nearby forests and my grandpa's farm still bring many beautiful childhood memories to me. In primary school, I became good at athletics, but gave up training before going to high. That's when, thanks to my mom, I discovered my second passion - cooking. By using fresh ingredients from nearby farms and our own garden, I started making up my own recipes and upgraded those from cookbooks. Couple of years ago, I became a vegetarian and started running long distances. I still enjoy hiking every once in a while. After buying my first real hard tail bike this year, it's become obvious that I fell in love with mountain biking.
The result of all above - I run ten kilometers two or three times a week and do uphill and downhill biking in same frequency. If there are any days left, I hike or exercise indoor. Since I spend majority of year at school and I also work a lot in summer, it's sometimes hard for me to deal with any other hobbies. I love music and still struggle to learn to play a guitar, but I prioritize keeping in touch with my friends before that.

Am I happy? Yes! Surely I have my rainy days and sometimes a lack of free time. I do have to work in summer to earn extra money for my sports equipment and things that I like. Sometimes, I spend days being lazy and eat too much junk food - especially during the exam period. But to me, being happy means staying in a healthy body, waking up in the morning with positive expectations for the day ahead and maintain setting your personal goals, which you gradually achieve. Life is about the freedom of doing things for yourself in the first place - and after that, sharing your happiness with the world is the best upgrade.

I created this blog in order to prove that personal goal setting and dedication to yourself do come a long way. Sharing my personal story with readers is something that I've wanted to do for a while - my intention is to spread happy and healthy habits among young people across the globe, because I believe that the world relies on offspring.

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