Getting After It With Gina Valdes
DRIVEN. HIGH ENERGY. PASSIONATE.
What made you decide to start traveling after school? Any favorite places you can't wait to go back to?
Right before graduating college my boyfriend at the time had plans to drive to Alaska in his van for a job and asked me to go with him. I didn't have big exciting plans for post grad life, so I agreed to take three weeks off from work as soon as I graduated and head north. Well it didn't take long for the travel bug to get me, and after getting to Alaska two weeks later, I called my jobs in Arizona to quit (luckily, they were long time employees and were very supportive of my decision!). From that moment I knew my life would never be the same. I spent the rest of that summer in Alaska and then headed to Asia that winter, and I haven't really stopped since :)
As far as places to go back to- that's so difficult because I swear my heart is sprinkled across this country and into other parts of the world! I get so attached to everywhere I explore. But I think the places I love the absolute most have turned into home because I just can't stay away, and I have a long list of new places I'm dying to get to eventually!
Van life is #goals. What are your biggest tips for living on the road?
Between #vanlife then the RV, I lived full time on the road for about five years! I think I could write a novel full of tips and lessons that one can learn only from embarrassing mistakes :) But here are my top three that come to mind:
You always need less than you think! Living on the road taught me what it really meant to live simply and downsize. It's always a work in progress, but when you have little space for storage you are forced to pick and choose the necessities!
Make moving your body a non-negotiable and get creative. Living on the road means no gym membership, and I was often in a different place every few weeks or even every other day at times. It can be really easy to lose any sense of routine and if you don't make exercise a priority it can be the first to go! There are SO many free resources (especially now! #quarantinelife) for at home workouts and a lot can be done in tiny spaces. I also learned that my love for running could double as a way to explore new cities. I would often call local running stores in a new spot to get the local's advice on the best running routes in town! In nice weather, looking for parks or other wide-open spaces are always a good idea and you can utilize park benches, stairs, etc. for workout equipment!
Prioritize community. Living on the road can get pretty lonely if you aren't careful, so be sure to make friends a necessity! Luckily these days there are a ton of people living the #vanlife, and social media is a great way to connect! Don't be afraid to put yourself out there and reach out to fellow road lifers.
You had a pretty serious ankle injury this summer. How did you stay moving and motivated through it all?
Injury is definitely a huge challenge, especially as an athlete, and it honestly never gets easier. I certainly was not motivated the whole time and went through a little pity party in the beginning there! But I think it's important to feel all the feels, acknowledge the suck, then move forward. I surrendered to the fact that I needed to just give my body time and would not be running or heading up a mountain anytime soon but could focus on what I could do instead. I used it as an opportunity to put my focus towards activities I don't normally put energy into- I started biking a lot and enjoyed sitting down water activities, like kayaking!
You’re all about holistic living, what would you tell someone trying to live a more holistic lifestyle?
I love this question. Health is SO much more than just what foods you are consuming and how often you are exercising. Holistic includes mind, body, and spirit. Who are you choosing to spend time with? Are you prioritizing self-care and filling your cup, often? What is your social media and news consumption like? How is your mental health? Are you finding ways to move your body that you actually enjoy? Are you creating a life that's what YOU dream of, or are you focused only on what you feel you "should" be doing? It's so important to not get caught up in this idea of wellness as a fad, but to focus more on the overall picture of your health and happiness. And that definitely doesn't mean just eating greens and lifting weights :)
Shameless Plug
You can find me at @runningwildwellness on the gram, and my blog is RunningWildWellness.com