Running 39 to 40 - and beyond

Complete. Rest. & Running Birthday Flowers!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 22:00:00 +0000

Complete. Rest.
& Running birthday flowers!

Complete. Finished. Rest.

To put it simply, it feels rather strange.
So much going through my mind, but no way to put into words. The past year of days and miles brought with it a myriad of emotions, thoughts, pains, respect and gratitude. It feels odd to be finished. I sit here feeling somewhat 'paused', almost confused having not run the past two mornings. Sure there is a sense of accomplishment at completing my goal, which if I'm honest, I wasn't 100% sure I could do but felt very determined to prove myself wrong. However, the end result is not what made the past year worth the effort. It was the many footfalls and adventures in between the days that ultimately matter. Looking back on the past 365 days posted here, I remember taking the photo(s), the reason for a certain shot, what running that day felt like, what I was thinking about (for the most part) and in combination it brings me back to that particular running moment that is now bookmarked in a digital world.
It was a very personal journey that I was happy to share with anyone who was curious.
A BIG THANK YOU to my family for putting up with my (not always convenient) running schedule. Thank you to friends, family and strangers for checking in and following, whether it was once, once in a while or everyday. Thank you for the flowers, the beer, the awesome sweatshirt and my new running shoes!
I appreciate all the words of encouragement and kindness. In so many ways it made the experience more worthwhile and fun (if a little self-conscious at times :)

"I think goals should never be easy, they should force you to work, even if they are uncomfortable at the time." ~ Michale Phelps

"It was being a runner that mattered, not how fast or how far I could run. The joy was in the act of running and in the journey, not in the destination." ~ John Bingham

Day 365: Tues August 12th - The last run.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 20:24:00 +0000

Day 365 -

The last run.....for now.

best running partner

Day 364: Mon Aug 11th - A heel of a morning.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 20:54:00 +0000

Day Three Hundred Sixty-four - A heel of a morning.

Next stop after tomorrow.... rest and then making a doctor appointment.
This mornings run was literally a massive pain in the ~~butt~~ heel!

Seriously, besides the beautiful blue toes.... that is one ugly heel.

Day 363: Sun Aug 11th - Funky Fuzzy Caterpillars

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 20:25:00 +0000

funky caterpillar crawling on Justin's hand

Day Three Hundred Sixty-three - Funky Fuzzy Caterpillars

Had a nice family day at the large dog park / historic Parleys area. I hobbled running through the dog park and then hiked around with Siena while we checked out some of the historic ruins of buildings that were once thriving in the area. The inn / aqueduct and wine / brewery cellar were completed around the 1850's. This area had an inn, brewery, saloon, stores etc... and was supposedly a pretty hoppin place to make a stop when traveling through the area at the time.
The wine cellar that was built underneath the inn (the inn burnt down in the 1950's) was seemingly in great shape, if a little creepy looking. Also it appeared at first that my daughters first name was spray painted over the doorway entrance which caught our attention. Upon closer inspection it spelled something else. But we got a kick out of it anyway.

It was pretty breezy outside, but not enough to dissuade this cute little fuzzy caterpillar from attempting to travel across the busy hill climb to / from the entrance of the nature preserve dog park area. Justin rescued it from being trampled by the many paws and shoes marching towards it.

historic wine seller

Day 361 & 362: Sat Aug 9th - Tired mind, tired body.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 09 Aug 2014 16:51:00 +0000

Day 361 & 362 -Tired mind, tired body.

Made it through another week. The past two mornings were a bit of a struggle to put one foot in front of the other and actually mean it. After the first mile or two my mind woke up, however my feet dragged (or rather shuffled). On a positive note, the sunrise was stunning early Friday morning. The clouds were heavenly colors ranging from dark blue to golden light yellow. Made me wish I could become weightless and float around high in the sky, away from the upcoming busy day.

Day 360: Thurs Aug 7th - Black Widows

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 18:39:00 +0000

Day Three Hundred Sixty - Black Widows

Black Widow invasion along an Eastern cement wall. Such beautiful and creepy looking spiders.

Day 359: Wed Aug 6th - First Sunflowers of August

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 21:31:00 +0000

Day Three Hundred Fifty-nine

- First Sunflowers of August

Day 358: Tues Aug 6th - Just

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 05 Aug 2014 19:23:00 +0000

Day Three Hundred Fifty-Eight - Just

'Just' seven days left. SEVEN?! I can hardly believe it.
However I must share how I feel about the word 'Just'. Because, it's not 'just' another 7 days. They are 7 days full of potential, wonder and happy moments. 7 days to complete an idea that 'just' happened to pop into my head last year on my 39th birthday. But really it was not 'just' an idea, but rather something I felt compelled to do, to complete and to make my own. Now with 7 days left, I want each of these 'just' 7 days to count.

Just falls into the same category of words that for me feel limiting. Similar to 'maybe', 'sort of', 'tried', 'trying' 'impossible', 'can't' etc... you get the idea.
As for 'Just'. It's not every use of the word 'just', but when paired with a phrase such as "just a dog", "just an idea", "just a goal', 'just a another day'. Such a limiting perspective on something that can be great, powerful, personal and positive, no matter what the 'just' precedes.

So for these next 7 days, I plan to celebrate each footfall, each photo and afterwards feel gratitude as I look back on the journey that 'just' a few steps out the door has led me.

Day 357: Mon Aug 4th - Missing the snow

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 05 Aug 2014 16:42:00 +0000

Day Three Hundred Fifty-seven -Missing the snow

Call me crazy, but today, running in the somewhat cooler (and humid) morning, I thought about running in the snow. I thought of holly berries and icicles. Lights and the smell of an impending snow storm.
Quiet roads and sleepy fireplaces.
I came across this beautiful tree, with it's bright red bell type berries and for a minute....
I missed the snow.

Day 355 and 356: Sat/Sun Aug 3rd - The River...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 05 Aug 2014 16:30:00 +0000

Day 355 and 356: The River.....

runs....

dances across the ground ....

and plays.

Day 354: Aug 1st - Angels among us.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 01 Aug 2014 22:57:00 +0000

Day Three Hundred Fifty-four - Angels among us.

There were several cool photo shots this morning.

Angel shaped cloud, or dove. I couldn't decide which.

Alien eyeball forms in the flash of the lens. Pretty cool.

Day 353: Thurs July 31st - it's a Thursday Selfie

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 21:01:00 +0000

Day Three Hundred Fifty-three - it's a Thursday Selfie :)

Went on a nice morning run with Izzy. We decided to stop at the park and swing for a bit.
Though the sun started coming up, it wasn't too hot out. A great start to a beautiful morning.

Day 352: Wed July 30th - Burn

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 23:01:00 +0000

Day Three Hundred Fifty-two - Burn

Day 349, 350 & 351: Tues July 29th - The Path Ahead

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 21:55:00 +0000

Day 349, 350 & 351 -

The Path Ahead

Living for today while looking ahead towards the future is a back and forth balancing act that again my brain struggles with, but in a good way. Staying present moment focused can be so dang hard! Especially when fun ideas, future possibilities and adventures fill me with excitement and hope.

But alas, I cannot stay in the what-if places... instead I must be at peace with life happening in the here and now, that is the best place to be.

Day 348: Sat July 26th - Dirt

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 21:35:00 +0000

Day 348 - Dirt

Day 347: Friday July 25th - My must have for summer.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 19:17:00 +0000

New to my must haves list. Much needed for long and especially hot days.

Day 347 -

My <new> must have

for summer

Anyone who knows me, has heard me complain that I do NOT do heat well. After much research I came across these saltstick tabs. They are now on my must have for summer running and other outdoor activities. I have noticed I feel much better during and after running, though I still have to remind myself to properly hydrate.
Is summer over yet?? :)
Where's my dang water bottle....

Day 346: Thurs July 24th - Happy State Holiday

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 16:54:00 +0000

Day 346 - Happy State Holiday

Izzy here helping Jax to chill out on a hot day. He was mostly down with the idea, though understandably didn't love the late night fireworks close by, repeatedly growling and sometimes a startled BARK! when the blast was especially loud. He doesn't seem particularly scared of them, just cautious, confused and sometimes alarmed, giving us the "what the hell is THAT' look from his bead.

Overall the holiday was a fun, productive, and even at times, relaxing day off.

Made some delicious B.L.T sandwiches and for dinner tried a new recipe - a healthy avocado cream sauce, fresh tomato, basil and garlic tossed with pasta. It was delicious! A BIG thanks Runners World magazine for the recipe. We loved it.

Day 345: Wed July 23rd - Holy Shoes

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 16:17:00 +0000

Day Three Hundred Forty-five: Holy Shoes

Growing several holes in the mesh on my favorite shoes, including some peeling on the bottom and sides.
<grabs the duct tape> 20 more days to go!

Day 340, 341, 342, 343, and 344 - Tues July 22nd - There and Back Again

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 20:50:00 +0000

Day 340-344 -

There and Back Again

I'm back. It was a nice being away. I loved being in nature, camping for the most part, fishing, swimming in the lake, light days of running, cooking good food, but most of all, hanging out with Justin and the girls without work or worries of time getting in the way.
Sunday was especially fun, we got up super early and went fishing (though we didn't catch anything), swimming in the lake, playing fetch with Jax and a stick in the water and watching our girls having fun splashing around and being adventurous. None of us wanted the day to end.

Day 338 and 339: Thurs July 17th - Going off the grid.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 17 Jul 2014 20:22:00 +0000

Going off the grid for a few days. Looking forward to some R & R & R.

Running & Rest & Relaxation + some hiking, fishing and star gazing.

Day 337: Tues July 15th - Between a Rock...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 22:11:00 +0000

Day Three Thirty-seven -

Between a Rock...

And a hard place.

Day 335 and 336: Mon July 14th - B.S.T.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 21:58:00 +0000

Day 335 and 336 - B.S.T.

Lovely early morning tough hike and long run.
We tried to beat the full sunrise Sunday morning before the heat of the day started it's shift, and made it back down just in time.

Beautiful and very quiet. Only a few runners on the trail and no bikes to dodge around.

A great start to an otherwise relaxing Sunday.


Jurassic Park Dandelion

Day 333 & 334: Sat Jully 12th - The Final Countdown!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 16:25:00 +0000

Day 333 & 334 - The Final Countdown - one month to go!

It's the Final Countdown (cue Europe song) I don't know if I'm sad or ecstatic that I have one month left before my birthday and goal is complete.
It's been easier in some ways than I thought it would be getting into a daily habit and ritual of running everyday and more challenging in others - keeping up with a blog falls under the more challenging bit. In hindsight I should have made it a weekly blog, I didn't realize how time consuming a blog could be. But it's been exciting nonetheless and created a photo journal of a great year. I'm having fun still, despite the heat, and that is the point of running for me.
It is my time to think, reflect, and vent my feet on the ground to work out my frustrations and tire my mind. At other times I feel joy, solitude, peace and grace as I marvel at the simple beauty in places I hadn't taken the time to notice beforehand. And though sometimes it hurts, it's a good pain, with the exception of my heel ;)

I also loved running with my family when they've come along or indulged me. It has helped to break up the monotony of the months and days along the way and I enjoy sharing that time with them.

I'm excited what the future will bring in life and running. I've decided what my next goal will be, however I have a month to go yet and some healing up I will need to do before the next grand adventure. Wish me luck!

Day 332: Thurs July 10th - Happy Hot dog

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 20:52:00 +0000

Day Three Hundred Thirty-two - Happy Hot Dog.

Day 331: Wed July 9th - A mental break.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 21:10:00 +0000

Day Three Hundred Thirty-one - A Mental Break.

I need a mental break before I have a mental break... but I also need a feet break before my feet break.
Running is my mental break, most of the time. However, if i'm honest... there are times it adds another 'to-do' to each day and I begrudgingly go out the door . It's good I run in the mornings, because I can guarantee that if I waited for afternoon / evening times, besides melting on the road, I would not be posting about Day 331.

On a positive note, the lovely part of summer are the multitude of beautiful flowers.
I can never tire of taking photos of them.