Go Big

Embrace the power of diversity and strength! Ilona Maher reminds us that all body types can achieve greatness and excel. Celebrate every shape and size—everyone has the potential to be an Olympian in their own way!

And PS - If you aren't following the parolympics, you are missing out.

Who is looking to make some changes?

We are creating an accountability group for 75 days of small sustainable habit creating. The only requirement is that the goals you set are focused on self care.

It's free and we are pretty fun so, what do you have to lose?

Join the facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/pjFc4GapRLrKdNe4/ (linked in BIO)

We start next week and the 75 days will end just before the holiday season.

2 (8 ounce) packages frozen or refrigerated spinach-and-ricotta ravioli
½ cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained (2 tablespoons oil reserved)
1 (10 ounce) package frozen quartered artichoke hearts, thawed
1 (15 ounce) can no-salt-added cannellini beans, rinsed
¼ cup Kalamata olives, sliced
3 tablespoons toasted pine nuts
¼ cup chopped fresh basil

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook ravioli according to package directions. Drain and toss with 1 tablespoon reserved oil; set aside.

Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add artichokes and beans; sauté until heated through, 2 to 3 minutes.

Fold in the cooked ravioli, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, pine nuts and basil.

Team Go Big USA didn't give up! We all had wonderful successful races and tons of fun. Despite the look on Coach Kyla's face (listen, they can't all be glamour shots) she had a great experience getting to represent the USA at ITU Worlds and continues to enjoy a well earned vacation.

As summer wanes, make sure to get in the last drops of sunshine and nothing tastes like sunshine as much as mango!

2 cans of black beans, drained and rinsed
2 mangoes, peeled and cut into ½ inch wide pieces
1 red bell pepper, rinsed, seeds removed and chopped
3 green onions (white and green parts), sliced
¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes
½ cup of red wine vinegar
Zest and juice of 1 orange
Zest and juice of 1 lime

Mix it all together, chill for an hour and enjoy!

It was a journey to get to onto Team USA, it was a journey to get to Australia, this race is another one, the finish line might be a goal, but it's never the end...

Hot Sauce Vinaigrette:

1/4 cup hot sauce
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1 1/2 teaspoons yellow mustard
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Salad:
One 16-ounce package frozen butter beans or baby lima beans, cooked until just tender and cooled
1 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels, cooked until just tender and cooled
2 mini cucumbers, diced
1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
2 tablespoons sliced fresh basil leaves
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Mix the vinaigrette.
Mix the salad ingredients.
Then mix them together.
(start easy on the vinaigrette then add more to suit your taste)

I can't wait to see what jewels we find in Australia!

Team Go Big USA is headed down under, and some like Rachelle have already arrived. Each of us will be having an amazing experience and unearthing some new treasures.

Let's hear it for the Team Go Big segment or Team USA! Counting down the days until Australia!

Mango Salad!!!

Dressing:
2 Tbsp. lime juice (from 1 or 2 limes)
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. honey
3/4 tsp. kosher salt, plus more to taste
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

Salad:
2 mangoes, cut into 3-by-1/2-inch spears
1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1/2 small jicama, peeled and sliced into matchsticks (about 1/2 cup)
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
1/2 c. cilantro, chopped
Chili-lime seasoning, such as Tajín, for serving

Mix up the dressing in.large bowl then add the chopped salad ingredients and sprinkle with Tajîn or similiar.

Coach Kyla will also be competing in Austrialia at ITU Worlds! Can't wait to see the magic in her. running shoes in a couple weeks!

Resting is part of training. Not because you "earned" it but because it is a training tool, a deeply undervalued training tool, at that. Rest isn't unproductive, It is just producing things that you don't see... yet.

And PS, you don't need to earn rest. It's part of owning a human body, no matter how active you are.

Gather some veggies! Use what you want but I like:
Bell Pepper
Zucchini
Summer Squash
Asparagus
Broccolini
Cherry Tomatoes
Add olive oil and salt then grill til tender-crisp
Once grilled, chop everything smaller and add a lemon vinaigrette and feta cheese

So yum!

Rachelle is one of the Team Go Big Athletes heading to Austrailia next month to compete at the World Championships with Team USA!

Food Fact Friday on a Thursday? Posting early just in case you need a festive recipe for this holiday weekend 😀

Romaine
Strawberries
Blueberries
Crumbled goat cheese (or Feta!)
Walnuts

Chop them up and put them in a big bowl. Dress with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Or a premade balsamic vinaigrette. Or a raspberry vinaigrette.

Happy 4th of July!

And this champion got it right! Elizabeth is one of the Team Go Big Athletes heading to Australia next month to compete at World Championships! Can't wait to cheer her on 📣 👏👏👏 📣

A goal is a dream with a deadline. A plan without a goal is just a to-do list. Not only do you need a clear vision for your goal, but you need some concrete steps to get there. What is your big goal? Or what is something you've been dreaming about? What is one thing you can do today to get started, or to get back on track?

Celery! It supports digestion, reduces inflammation, and hydrates you with its high water content.

Also, have you tried cooking it?

Julia Child has a recipe to braise it.

Slice 8 stalks into 1" pieces
Saute in butter with salt and pepper.
Add 1/2 cup broth, cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Then uncover and let the broth reduce.
And voila!

I was having a conversation with Meridith about stepping on the scale at the doctor's. And how I was feeling about that. And she had this bit of wisdom, "you're the same person you were 10 seconds ago, 10 seconds before you stepped on the scale. All that changed was YOUR perception of who you are based on a stupid number." The fundamental aspects of the amazing human you are remain constant, regardless of numbers, scales, people's comments, FTP scores, or mile times.

Crunchy, sweet, juicy
10/10
no notes

But if you bought a large watermelon that needs to get used up or just want to try something new, how about a watermelon cucumber smoothie:
1 cup watermelon frozen
½ cup cucumber sliced
½ lime juiced
¾ cup water

Blend it all together and voila!

Feeling stuck in training or racing? Maybe you need a larger cheering squad. Are you on a team? Ask for more support. Don't have a team? Have I got a gift for you - join Team Go Big! You'll get the best cheering squad in the world! More info: https://www.gobig.life/commplus

Blend 8 oz of frozen peaches with a 1/4 cup milk of your choice (I love coconut milk here), plus a touch of honey (to taste) and a tiny pinch of salt in a food processor or blender. Enjoy immediately or pop it in the freezer for a firmer texture.

It tastes like summer and it will help keep you hydrated!

The failure doesn't matter. What you do with it, how you respond to it, THAT is what matters. Where can you be different, what can you learn? Failure is going to happen; what are you going to do with it?

Comment "join" for more info!

Happy pride! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

Try it in a salad with arugula and prosciutto

INGREDIENTS

▢1 tablespoon champagne vinegar
▢kosher salt and black pepper
▢2 tablespoons olive oil
▢5 ounces baby arugula
▢1 small cantaloupe sliced or scooped into melon balls
▢1 small honeydew sliced or scooped into melon balls
▢8 ounces bite-size fresh mozzarella drained
▢2 to 3 ounces prosciutto torn
▢Fresh basil leaves
▢Fresh mint leaves
▢balsamic glaze (optional)
▢freshly ground black pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

Whisk the vinegar, salt and pepper while slowly pouring in the olive oil. Toss the dressing with the arugula and transfer to a serving platter.
Tuck the sliced or scooped melon in the arugula and top with mozzarella balls and tear the prosciutto into bite-size pieces and scatter it overtop as well. Scatter with the fresh basil and mint leaves, drizzle with balsamic glaze and season with freshly ground black pepper.

Racing always brings up the big feels. More than once I've cried at a start line, just from the overwhelm of all those big feelings. Joy, fear, anxiety: they are all present. I can't make them go away, no matter how hard I try. However, I've learned to manage them so that they don't control how my race goes. Do you experience big feelings? How do you manage them?

Imagine a triathlon team offering support, accountability and compassion...

Interested? Comment "join" for more information

Festive no fuss pancakes? Who would say no to that? These pancakes are seriously easy to make, allow you to feed an entire family (plus) all at the same time and let you highlight any seasonal fruits you want. If you use strawberries, blueberries and white chocolate chips then you are ready for a special memorial day brunch!

"I didn't think I could do it!" How many times have we heard someone say that? How many times has that happened to you? You didn't know whether or not you were going to make it to that finish line, but then you did. What an amazing feeling!