1 2 Steppin

Author

Katie Begando
January 29th, 2025

Good morning, Bluubirds ☕️ 

I hope you’re enjoying your coffee (tea, water, Dr. Pepper, do your thing). I’ve been trying to get back into the Wordle game while I caffeinate and join the day (any Strands people out there?), which is part of a larger mission I’m on to reduce the amount of time I spend mindlessly scrolling on my phone. I’m sleeping with my phone outside of my room, which has resulted in my reading more before bed and generally sleeping better. For the daytime, I’ve been on the hunt for a tool that blocks phone distractions effectively (as someone who sets a time limit and then immediately overrides it). I recently downloaded the Steppin app; it helps you manage your screen time by converting steps you take throughout the day into “earned minutes” on apps you deem distracting. I’m still getting used to it, but it’s made a big difference in how I intentionally interact with my phone.

Some days we’re out there scaling mountains, other days we’re trying to squeeze in a walk between meetings. Steppin or not, I encourage you lovely readers to get outside for some steps and sunlight in this morning. ☀️ 

Field Notes 📝 

Spotlight ☀️ 

I have been a teacher and a student at Highland Yoga for years - it’s a business that is very close to my heart. While I love the practice of yoga and teaching brings me so much joy, one of the best gifts the studio has given me is its incredible community.

Read on to learn about a wonderful member of that community (and learn about a yoga mat recommendation that I didn’t know I needed)!

Duncan Stiller

Location:

Atlanta, GA

Activities:

Walking, hiking, cycling, rock climbing, skiing, pickleball, swimming, kayaking, rowing

Describe yourself in 10 words or less:

Extroverted introvert with hobby of collecting hobbies

How did you get into outdoor recreation and what motivates you to stay involved?

I grew up in Seattle, which has some of the best outdoor recreation in the country. It was hard not to get into it. I find myself at my most relaxed when I’m outdoors, whether it be hiking, cycling, or just sitting at the beach, so I often find myself wanting to do these kinds of activities. It also helps that the communities associated with outdoorsiness are some of the best people I’ve met.

What is your favorite outdoor activity, and why do you love it?

Cycling. I read somewhere that it’s the closest humans will get to flying and while that’s a little silly, it is true. There is something so, so fun about being on the bike and just cruising all over. Even more so in a group. I originally started because my dad was into it and it was something we could do together. It was something I did off and on, but never really in a dedicated way. Last year I decided I wanted to get a new bike (instead of my dad’s old bike which was too small for me), and once I started going for rides I couldn’t stop. Now it’s all I want to do and train for.

What is your gear focus right now?

Optimizing my cycling setup. The bike is barely half of the things you find yourself needing/wanting. Not to mention the ever-necessary “next bike.” Turns out you also need a variety of clothing for slight differences in temperature. Once I get into a new hobby, I fixate until I’ve “optimized” to a satisfactory extent.

What is one piece of gear you can’t live without and why?

I’m a data nerd, so I like having a fitness tracker of some kind (Apple Watch, Garmin, etc.)

Have you had a gear item surprise you in a negative or positive way?

I tend to be pretty hard on some things and it took me a really long time to find a yoga mat that would last more than a month or two before it lost its grip. Mats that last other people more than a year! Eventually, I found a Yoloha mat that had the right grip but the rubber layer was trash and would stretch out and eventually cause a tear. Finally, they listened to the feedback I and probably others gave and made a new rubber layer on their Unity Pro mat that seems to be perfect. This mat should last much, much longer.

What gear item or feature do you think is underrated or deserves more attention?

The sleep, heart, and recovery data that comes with some wearables. I’ve personally had multiple instances where I can tell I’m coming down with something days before I feel symptoms because my HRV tanks. Mileage may vary, but it’s been cool to see the impact of being sick, over training, etc.

What is your most memorable outdoor experience?

Canoe/backpacking in the Adirondacks. We spent a week canoeing and portaging through dozens of lakes and islands in the late summer. It was with the outdoors club at my university and the club leaders did the heavy lifting of planning, packing, etc., which made it a much more accessible trip for folks. I would recommend anyone who enjoys nature do something similar and get out for a multi-day backpacking trip.

Is there a unique or underrated outdoor gear business, brand, or product that you think deserves a shoutout?

I struggle with this all the time because great brands often degrade in quality as they get popular and seek to grow/make money. I like brands that minimize branding and give back to the environment/promote sustainability in their mission. Brands like OrNot cycling clothes.

Product Updates 🚀 

Love your gear? Sick of sifting through reviews and paid-for recommendations? Tired of wondering what (shoes, skis, pants, you name it) are right for you? Man, do we have something exciting in store for you.

We are heads-down building our MVP and we can’t wait to share it with you. Stay tuned and subscribe for updates.

Interested in being a beta tester? Shoot me a note at [email protected]!

Upcoming Events 📆 

SAVE THE DATE!

We are kicking off our first Early Bird Run Club on Friday, February 14th at 7:00 AM! Atliens, meet us at Perc Coffee in Virginia Highlands for a 3-5 mile run and some killer (free!) coffee at the finish. Follow us on Instagram for updates, and sign up below!

‼️ Sign up here ‼️ 

See you next week 🤘