It has been a beautiful day off for sure.

The morning began with a beautiful 12 mile run- beginning two hours after I woke up and planned to run, in typical Ashley fashion.

It’s been a rainy week here in Orlando. The weather this morning was perfect- everything was wet from a late night pour but the air was crisp and cool.

And there were baby geese all around Lake Eola downtown! Babies everywhere! I got more excited than a kid from Michigan visiting Disney for he first time.

Even the ducks were enjoying the lovely morning. I was fascinated with their little group swimming in a pond so I kneeled down to take a photo… but they immediately got out and walked over to me! I had 20-80 ducks at a time when I was a kid so this interaction made me extra happy

Yes, I am easily distracted. Half zoo/half run, okay?

I returned home with a smile on my face to a treat I stuck in the fridge before my run: a ZICO coconut water in CHOCOLATE!!!! Amazing. Tastes like a healthy, refreshing Yoohoo! I also munched on raw cashews and blueberries. A lot of those.

Richard had the morning off so we headed back downtown to Virgin Olive Market for lunch. I started off with a matcha green tea smoothie made with almond milk. It was a fun treat

For lunch I tried a new salad. It had roasted sweet potatoes, roasted red peppers, olives, slice almonds, quinoa and a homemade Dijon dressing on a bed of mixed greens. It was good.

What pet peeves do you have while running?

I learned today that I can’t stand feeling sweat drip down my face. One day I’ll have bruises on my face from wiping it off so often!

Three mile run, work, hot power yoga, a 1000 meter swim and a CrossFit workout from hell to round the day off. I never planned my Tuesday to look like this: I needed to run so I ran. I haven’t been to yoga in a while so I went. And I really need more swim time. CrossFit was just to see Richard coach the class

My next 140.6 is at the end of October. My weakest sport is swim so now is the time I really need to build up my base. I joined a 24 Hour Fitness last week just to make good use out of their pool. I did 1000 meters of remembering what swimming laps feels like!

On my drive to CrossFit I received some sad news. I didn’t have time to process it- much less let out a good cry- because I had to rush into the WOD. The workout was so intense, so hard and so long. Basically it was the worst for a foggy mind. I turned my sadness into frustration over the workout. I let out my fair share of grunts and I doubt my face looked pleasant.

Meet tonight’s nightmare:

Tonight’s WOD:

5 Rounds:

10 Wall Ball

10 Burpee

5 Rounds:

15 Push Press

10 Ball Slam

5 Rounds:

5 Mr. Spectaculars

10 Squat Jump

Then:

1000m 20lb. Ball Chase

Mr. Spectacular: Walk hands out to a push-up, walk hands back to feet, squat clean thruster with dumbbells.

Ball Chase: Two-person team: one throws a 20 pound D-ball while the other sprints to the ball and throws it. Aka hell.

Overall I am glad I did the workout. But I am pooped!

How do you react to bad news? Do you prefer to work out your feelings or do you prefer to skip the workout?

Double date watching the Bachelorette. I’ll own up to it! There may have been wine and dark chocolate involved. Hey, we need help getting through this.

Well, another season of Bachelorette premiered and it did not dissappoint. This episode was full of enough embarrassment, insecurities, cheesy pickup lines and misled longing for love to make us blush just watching at home.

Here are some play-by-play thoughts:

- Geesh the beginning is sad. Plane crashes… single mom.. crying.

- Can’t believe Emily is only 26!!

- Was anyone actually a fan of Brad on the Bachelor?

- Of course it’s not going to work this time around… it’s the Bachelorette.

- Little kids flipping tires… sports trainer Ryan gets bonus points.

- Thank goodness these men look better on TV than in their photos.

- Tony: why is a man playing with a little kid so darn attractive?

- Little dogs = small penis. No?

- Aww Charlie. There’s something adorable about him. Love his thoughts about his accident. AND HIS DOG!!! Love him.

- Awesome: “I may have had a head injury, but there’s nothing wrong with my heart.” LOL love Charlie.

- Heya seagull hair, Jef! Let’s just call him emo moving forward.

- Arie- a racecar driver? Really? Don’t we remember Emily’s dead fiancé was a race car driver?

- I like Chris Harrison a lot less after hearing he’s getting a divorce. Sad considering his business is creating lasting relationships.

- Emily looks amazing! Perfect dress for her.

- Again, a sad chat with Chris. Let’s move on to the men!

- Emily wants babies. Is this show “Things to Not Say on Your First Date”?

- Emily is on the verge of tears about 23 hours of the day.

- Sean makes albino look good.

- Single dad from Seattle Doug is cute. Love that they both have kids.

- Fitness model AND cheesy line? No thanks, Jackson.

- Joe is representing Orlando! Let’s go easy on him.

- “…well, I’m going to say gracias.” -Emily

- Poor Jeff grew up without mirrors.

- Stevie, the party MC, walks in with a boom box. Epic intro. A little creepy.

- LOVE CHARLIE!!!!! So cute and innocent.

- If you need a cheesy pick up line, you’re not bringing it in other places. Tony.

- Randy dressed up as an old lady to meet Emily? Ahhh I’m getting rusty… he was my favorite from the photos.

- Travis is giving baby-hungry Emily an egg? #thingsnottodoever

- So a guy walks into a bar with a giant egg…

- Awww, Michael, bringing the estrogen to the game.

- Jean-Paul reminds me of too many awkward, geeky exes.

- Oh, Ryan. I like you. I take back everything mean I’ve said. Yes, Ryan. Yes.

- Kalon is a “Luxury Brandon Consultant”? So he sells handbags at Chicos?

- Doug’s son wrote a sweet letter to Emily. If she’s anything like me, her ovaries are hurting right about now.

- Things to not say at a first impression: “My friends call me Wolf.”

- Love the fight breaking out between Mr. Helicopter and Party Pants MC on Day 1. Nothing like a little jealousy over a girl who doesn’t know your names!

- “Emily’s race car driving fiancé died.” <—– mentioned 259 times and counting.

- Doug wins the first impression rose for playing the kid card early in the game! Wonder how many drafts the kid had to write before his dad approved.

- Man they’re rushing through the final rose. I lost respect for Emily in some of her choices (double earing guy, the woman, green shirt douche). Trying to move past it.

- Randy dressing up as a grandma is taking down my credibility. So sad he wasn’t picked. Note to men: dressing like a grandma CLOSES the vagina. Try something else.

- “This is one of the hardest, most intense things I’ve been through. I feel like my heart fell on the floor and was trampled.” Really?

Did you watch the first episode? Who are your first impression favorites? Favorite moment?

Bachelorette begins tonight!!!!!!!!

I live for the Bachelor/Bachelorette series. Seriously, Monday is the best day ever when drama, tears and lost dreams go down on ABC.

Emily is back after her Nascar-driving fiancé died and her engagement with the Bachelor Brad. Sad stories… but she’s moving on!

First impression about this season: where are the men? When did they allow women to compete?

Are flocks of seagulls in?

Orlando is represented!!

Good thing I found the winner before the show even airs: Randy.

What are your initial thoughts? Will you be watching tonight?

Wow. Where do I even start? Visiting Reebok and sweating with them was an unbelievable whirlwind!

The FitFluential girls and I met in the lobby of our hotel for some fuel for the day. I picked the one vegan, substantial option I could find: a big bowl of oatmeal. I’ve been trying to avoid grains but this definitely did the job.

Our day at Reebok started around 9am. They had an awesome room set up as our home base for the day.

From plyometric box seats to displays of the newest Reebok gear and sneak peeks of things to come to super inspirational photos. I was so excited to be there!

We finally settled in and Johnice, the host for the day, kicked the day off by sharing what Reebok is up to, their mission as “the fitness brand” and some videos that really pumped us up for the day!

Check out a little peek in a video here.

Then it was time for CrossFit! We walked the short distance to Reebok CrossFit One, the Reebok employee-only box.

The box was SO BIG!

We started the session with CrossFit rockstars Austin Malleolo and Caleb Diebolt explaining what CrossFit is, answering questions and going over the WOD. CrossFit is functional, high-intensity, constantly varied movements.

We stood in a circle and warmed up with a few air squats and went over proper form for kettle bell swings.

Kettlebell swings are my sweet spot. I can open my hips and reach full extension like it’s nobody’s business. Pull ups, on the other hand, are a little scarier.

We went over variations of pull-ups before starting the workout.

Fit-bottomed Jenn and I were partners. She is awesome!

One ran the loop before tagging the other to run. Then we started kettle bell swings, separating the reps any way we liked. Then on to pull-ups!

We finished in 15:13. I felt terrible doing the pull-ups and still feel bad for holding Jenn back while she killed it on the pull-ups without a band. This was a wakeup call that I need to work on my weaknesses- not just modify, modify, modify and pretend they don’t exist.

Can I sweat with these girls every day?

Afterward a few of us took a few photos with Caleb. Why not, right?

After the WOD we cleaned up and headed back to home base. We still had so much left for the day!

More about the fun we had and all we learned coming soon.

Have you tried CrossFit? Which exercise are you strongest in and which are you weakest in?

What a fun trip to Boston! Spending today at the Reebok HQ with the FitFluential peeps was more fun than I could have ever imagined.

For now it’s all about sleep. Today was jammed packed with CrossFit, a cardio dance class and lots of traveling..I’m beat!

I can’t wait to share recaps of the experience and all that we learned with you!

Oh, Boston.

I feel like you and I have grown quite close in the eight hours since we’ve been together. I walked miles and miles (and, seriously, more and more miles), enjoyed many snacks along your streets, sweat my butt off in one of your many yoga classes and ate the best meal of my life- all with you.

I was so excited to find a vegan restaurant in Chinatown. I ordered a coconut taro milk boba tea (minus the tapioca balls) to go. Turns out boba tea is on every street corner in Chinatown!

Halfway trough the day I walked another two miles across town to check out Fenway Park. I couldn’t visit Boston and not at least try to get close to the place. I got a quick view from the outside and then ran off- I had a yoga class to make!

I checked out online reviews for yoga in Boston and knew I had to check out Prana Power Yoga in Cambridge.

The beautiful second floor space was packed with mats so close that I touched my neighbor’s feet a few times. It was a basic flow in a hot hot room. It felt so good to sweat!

After yoga I picked up a few Vega protein bars as just in case fuel. I searched “vegan” in google maps and was so lucky to find out that Life Alive was just a block away.

Basically, Life Alive is the best restaurant on the planet. I am considering a move to Boston just for this restaurant.

I ordered the Explorer Salad plus avocado. It was the best almost the best thing I’ve ever put in my mouth (that’s what she said). The salad included sesame stix, carrots, beets, lentil hummus and a honey wasabi vinaigrette. YUM.

I enjoyed my dinner in the cozy downstairs dining room.

I’m finally on my way to the hotel to check in. I’m still sweaty from yoga and my shoulders are tired- I’ve been carrying my luggage on my back with me the entire day!

Tomorrow is the Reebok Fitness Experience event. Follow along on Twitter at #rbkfitblog

Good night from Boston!

Well, I made it to Boston!

This morning started early with an awesome smoothie to carry me through a morning of traveling.

In the mix: almond milk, one apple, one carrot, two scoops brown rice protein powder, two dates and cinnamon. It was pie heaven in liquid form.

Now I’m in Boston and excited to spend the day exploring before the Reebok Fit Blog event tomorrow!

What are your favorite things to do, see and eat in Boston?