Buying a New Car - it's electric!

Kane has been researching electric vehicles for a very long time now. As a result, I have become quite familiar with various video bloggers (and their cats, - Hi Jensen!) who have been building their own EVs or testing out ones already coming to market.

I was very interested when Kane told me about the Hyundai Kona with its impressive 400km+ range. I got to test drive one at an EV expo and I was sold. At the weekend we went to visit the show room and we put in our order. I couldn't be more excited!

In some countries, like Norway, the waiting list is 2 years!  I was assured it wouldn't be that long, but it could be anywhere between 6 weeks and 6 months.  The dealer gave us a loan of the car overnight, so between 4.30pm on Saturday and 10am on Sunday we got feel like EV owners and get a taste for what's to come.

We headed for the motorway to test out just what this thing can do.  I put some pressure on the pedal and was immediately pressed back into my seat as it took off. Holy cow it's powerful! 

I tested the 3 different drive modes - drive, sport and eco.  Drive was just the normal mode. Eco makes the car feel heavier, changes the dash display to give more stats on how much energy you are saving and maximizes the regenerative braking.  I think that I will use this for city and suburban driving.  Sport mode made the car feel much lighter and reponsive, the slightest touch and the car was ready to go, turn or whatever was asked of it and I was a bit scared of it's power.  I can't imagine ever really needing to use this mode as the normal drive mode was is responsive enough for me.  Jetting away from the traffic lights was plenty fast in normal drive mode!

I also tested out the 3 levels of regenerative braking and using the stearing wheel paddles to increase the regenerative braking to bring the car to a stop.  I try to be a safe and economical driver when slowing down in traffic or coming to a stop and using the paddles fit with my way of driving and I can put energy back into the battery braking in this way.

There were heaps of other modern features that my 8 year old car doesn't have so I'm excited to have Apple Car Play and automatic lights and rain sensing windscreen wipers!

The only downside is that I have to wait but I'm super hopeful that I'll have it before my sister and her husband comes to visit so that there will be enough space to pick them AND their luggage up from the airport!

Hello February!

January was an amazing month and 2018 has got off to a great start!  In April, Kane and I will be celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary (20 years!!!) and the traditional gift is china, so we booked ourselves a trip to China!  I'm so excited!  And flights to Scotland have also been booked for my nephew's wedding in September.  I'm so excited about this too!  Of course these good things all come with a price tag, so February will be about enjoying the summer season without spending any more money! #hermit #NoSpendFeb

2018 Goals

1) A Comfortable and Beautiful Home

Last Month:
I decluttered the bedroom, living room and kitchen.  So many clothes, bags, kitchen containers and other items got donated.  We sold the old kitchen table and chairs, so finally that is out of the house, and we have a few other items to list and sell.

// Sold! //

This Month:
I want to declutter the laundry and main bathroom and get two superfluous lounge chairs listed and sold.

2) Respect and Honour My Body

Last Month:
I lost 4kgs through counting calories.  I went flexible vegan, where I only buy vegan food, but I'm using up what I still have in the cupboards that might have eggs/honey/dairy in it.  Kane is staying vegetarian so he's mostly taking care of the non-vegan food ;)  I also subscribed to Headspace and I'm trying to meditate for 10 minutes a day.

// Vegan Waffles mmmm //

This Month:
I'm working on stretching and strengthening my legs and glutes so that I stop get injured running!  I was thinking about getting a massage, however instead of spending money I will foam roll and then have a relaxing epsom salt bath with a mud masque ... and a glass of wine *bliss*

Celebrate the Season

// Fresh corn //

• I love it when corn on the cob becomes super cheap and its so fresh!  
• It's good to get outdoors and go for a walk up a hill or take a picnic.  
• Our barbecue hasn't had much attention lately, but with a public holiday coming up we'll get more work done in the garden and then hopefully dine al fresco in the evening.
• I'm planning a special cocktail for Valentines Day

// February walk up One Tree Hill //

Happy February!

Online Running Program - My Experience

I've been doing an online running program for 10 weeks now and I thought I'd write a review.  I don't think I've written a review before so feel free to give me some tips/corrections in the comments!  I haven't been asked or compensated to write a review and I paid for my 12 week program.  I just wanted to share my experience.

Last year sitting in the sun with my team having just completed another Ekiden Rotorua we met Alex from Moxiee Running.  He's in the business of helping people, predominantly women, reach their running goals.  About 2 weeks later by coincidence I met him again this time he was going around Auckland offices handing out flyers for a new run/walk group he was starting.  I signed up.

//Alex from Moxiee Running

The first run group was set up to go for 4 weeks and lead up to the Skechers Womens 6k.  It was great having this regular run date on the calendar with the group because I felt more motivated to go.  During this time I also learned more about Moxiee Running.  Alex isn't a qualified personal trainer or athletics coach but someone who ran the coast of New Zealand and is passionate about helping others, his purpose through Moxiee Running is to provide online motivational support to aspiring beginner runners.  I'm a perpetual beginner runner and that's how it would continue without some form of consistency and commitment to training so I took advantage of the introductory offer of $97 for a 12 week plan and got started.

Firstly I got emailed a questionnaire to find out where I'm at fitness wise and what my goals are but some of the questions are more probing into the real why you want to run.  I realised that I missed having "Runner" as part of my identity.

Next I got sent an invite to download the Moxiee Running app on to my phone.  Since the program is entirely online, the app is the heart of it.  Once I logged in I could see my program and the message tab.

My program is straight forward, I start every day with a 5 minute walk to build the fitness habit, a 4km run, 6km run and 11km run and also 3 days of fun exercise of my choosing, such as ice skating, yoga, cycling etc.  My friend also signed up and her plan has less distance but stretching days and cycling added in as her focus and goals are different from mine.  Once an exercise it complete you tap it and it puts a tick that you did it and records the day you did it on.



//Image from Moxiee Running

I'm pretty good at making running programs and could have designed my own, but the real draw card is the messaging through the app.  Alex sends me personalised videos and his enthusiasm is infectious so I feel more motivated to get the run done.  If I don't go for a run on the scheduled day, I'll get a message asking why I didn't do it with suggestions on how I can get the run done the next day.  And one of my favourites is that every Friday I have to send Alex a picture from my run.  This ensures that I do my run and I also try to find some nice places to photograph.  I had a question about stretching that I was able to ask through the app and get an answer as well getting sent some instructional videos on how to use a foam roller.  Replies are quite quick, sometimes instantaneous but certainly always the same day.



//Image from Moxiee Running

Alex consults with lots of experts in the fitness world but I don't always agree with his views on stuff like diet and I'm unconvinced about dynamic stretching and foam rolling (but I do it anyway).  However, I've definitely benefited from the online program.  For me, I needed that extra push to stay committed and consistent and I'm working my way to the point where I'll have successfully built that habit and won't need the program anymore.  Perhaps there will come a time where I want to join an athletics club and I think this kind of program bridges that gap for beginners.

There are free resources from Moxiee Running such as their weekly running groups around Auckland for beginners and I go along to one of these, you don't have to be a client to participate.  There are also lots of videos and information on the Moxiee Running blog talking about tips and tricks, motivation, nutrition, goal setting etc.  There is also a free 2 week trial and you can sign up where ever you are in the world since it's all online.

Have you tried real world or online fitness coaching before?  If yes, what were your experiences? If no, would you ever consider it?