One of the most inspirational people I know is a professional triathlete named Hillary Biscay. This could sound surprising because I don’t do triathlons. Pretty much the only cardio I get is when I wake up in the morning and leap to check Rich and Chelsea’s blogs. The reason I know and adore Hillary is that we grew up together, carpooling to swimming, and she’s been one of my best friends since we were eight.

Normally I am skeptical of athletes and don’t find them inspirational when they talk about how worked hard or didn’t make the Varsity team on the first try, or whatnot. It’s like when models tell you how awkward they were in high school—as if that’s what made them beautiful later—because usually the truth is just that they are genetic wonders, which is actually kind of depressing.

For example, when I was 13 years old, my dad drove me to Irvine, CA, so I could listen to an Olympic swimmer give an inspirational talk. He told us (a crowd of junior high school swim nerds) about how he was SO BAD when he was younger, but worked hard, made the Olympics, and won a gold medal.

I thought, “Oh, there’s hope after all! I must keep working hard to go compete at county meets in Barstow, and one day it will happen for me!” And then, on the car ride home, I realized that this champion’s definition of “bad” was not winning nationals when he was 12.

And I was done with athletes as inspirations.

Until I saw it happen with my own eyes for Hillary. Even when we were little, she told people that she wanted to go to Olympic Trials, and treated her swimming “career” like she was in fact, an internationally ranked athlete, even when she was going to the same meets with me in Barstow. (Ten years later, she did in fact compete in Trials.) And of course she trained harder than anyone. But now that I’m older, I realize what’s even more amazing than doing the work is staying focused. And today, she’s done over 50 Ironmans and won quite a few of them. 

This is all on my mind because I had the good fortune to attend her wedding on New Year’s Eve. It’s funny to spend that holiday with endurance athletes, who are basically in the best shape a human can possibly be, on a night when you’re thinking about trying to be healthier next year. (Also: she and her friends all did a 21-mile run before the ceremony.) It was a great reminder of what’s possible.

For years I’ve read Hillary’s blog to keep up with my friend. She travels around the world in pursuit of her dream, inspires a lot of people along the way, and writes really well. Her posts capture all that.

But now I’m reading her blog to be more like her, in my own small, New York City, not-really-athletic way.

On her website, I really like this list of what she keeps in her pantry. It’s a good reminder of all the plant-based foods out there, and also a fun way to feel like a champion!

• red onion
• hummus
• brown rice pasta
• quinoa pasta
• pesto
• fuji apples
• rice milk
• honey mustard and barbecue brown rice chips
• cucumber
• zucchini
• tomato
• carrots
• jumbo box of organic spinach
• bagged mixed greens
• raw almonds
• tempeh
• tofu
• Nature’s Path Vanilla Sunrise Cereal
• Nature’s Path Envirokidz Peanut Butter Panda Puffs Cereal
• olive oil
• aged balsamic vinegar
• Vega Antioxidant EFA Oil Blend
• corn tortillas
• Daiya non-dairy shredded cheese
• garlic salt
• Bragg’s liquid aminos
• quinoa
• brown rice
• garbanzo beans
• gluten-free pretzels
• Amy’s Organics black & pinto refried beans
• avocado
• bell peppers
• gluten-free veggie patties
• Enjoy Life or other gluten and dairy-free cookies
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl-flavored Purely Decadent Coconut Milk “ice cream” (freezer, obvi)