Tidying Up + Earning $$, Run Packs, Office Supplies + Easy Plant-Based Recipes | The Outdoor Edit Newsletter

THE OUTDOOR EDIT NEWSLETTER

Hellooooooo!

After a VERY rainy week in SoCal, the sun is finally out and it's amazing how much it influences my mood. I never thought of myself as being super impacted by crappy weather, but for some reason, this past week was a huge eye-opener for me. (I realize that's probably why I've fought so hard to have a career that lets me chase good weather occasionally, like right now!)

Anyway, this week has been more of the usual, getting back into routine, but I did shake things up and meet up with a totally new friend (who I met through, shocker, an article I was working on) for a hike, and then got dinner with my oldest friend, who's now a badass voice actor out here in LA. So for me, that is a SOCIAL week, and I'm admittedly still reeling from it a bit. So, I'm happy to hide under the stairs (Harry Potter style in this AirBNB!) and write this!

Mini-favor: We're always looking for more questions for our training and nutrition Q&A episodes of The Consummate Athlete Podcast and I'd love to hear from you. Respond here with any questions: there's no question too general OR too specific! 

...OK, onto what I'm digging this week. 

XO,
Molly

PS: Just a reminder, If you pre-order Shred Girls, email me the receipt and I'll send you a signed Shred Girls postcard + Shred Girls bike frame stickers!

MAKING FRIENDS AS A GROWN UP
In celebration of putting myself out there and meeting up with a new friend this week, I figured I would do a throwback to this post I wrote a couple years ago about making friends as an adult–and how it's freaking HARD! Even if you're an extrovert (which I'm not) it can be kind of tough to figure out how to create actual, lasting friendships. I know I can handle making small talk and hanging out at parties and networking events and everything, but creating a deep connection that you actually want to keep? Not quite as simple. A few of my thoughts on the topic here.

KONDO-ING YOUR CONDO?
Everyone is watching the new Netflix show with Marie Kondo all about the life-changing magic of tidying up... so much so that I've even seen articles about how NOW is the time to buy used books because so many people are decluttering bookshelves. Hilarious. But if you're in an organizational mood, don't just toss your old running and cycling gear — you can donate or sell it! I have two big articles with lists of places and ways to make your used gear do some good.

THE PERFECT RUN PACK
I finally am running / hiking long enough distances to necessitate a run pack again. For the last couple months, I've been dealing with some minor knee issues that wouldn't resolve and I think I'm finally through the worst of it. And one big thing that's been fun to bring back is this Osprey Dyna Pack 1.5 liter run vest. It fits crazy-well, and doesn't jiggle around. PRO TIP: Get the air out of your hydration pack before you run by flipping it upside down and sucking the air out (try not to swallow the air or you willg et hiccupy or gassy. It's the worst.) Honestly, doing this has been a game-changer because I HATE the slosh!

OFFICE SUPPLY OBSESSED
Anyone else absolutely in love with browsing the aisles at Staples? I'm a bit of an office-supply addict who would hoard notebooks if I had a place to put them... but since we're so rarely home, my 'office' fits into a tote bag. So, over on the site, I listed out what my essentials are for writing, taking photos and recording podcasts — all killer, no filler. If you're looking for the simplest stuff to stay organized and working while nomad-ing, check out the full list.  

EASY ATHLETE-FRIENDLY VEGAN RECIPES
Over on Outside Online, I grabbed a few of my vegan friends (ahem, basically every ultra-runner that I know) and some badass athletes and smart people (a registered dietician + a community organizer who happen to be serious runners) and got them to share their top vegan-friendly recipes. I LOVE what they came up with because unconsciously, it put together a full day, breakfast, lunch, dinner and ride food—all plant-based and designed to fuel your ride or run. Read the whole thing here. (And yes, in my cycling nutrition book Fuel Your Ride, I talk a lot about how you CAN be a serious athlete on a vegan diet, it just takes a bit more planning. Is it for everyone? No. But I really respect the people I know who are doing it right.)