the race day!

Yesterday, Sam, Jason and I ran a local race. It was a 5k, which is a distance some of you are probably laughing out loud at right now, but hey, it was a good place for our family to start. We woke up early, put on our running shoes, and I pulled my hair back into my trusty nub ponytail ;) After some pacing around at the starting line, we were off!

Sam beat me, of course, but I was proud that I came in only two minutes behind him, and a few minutes under my goal time too. Jason was mostly happy that he got a gatorade at the end :)

^^ I somehow got second in my age group?  ^^

And now, if you'll indulge me with this paragraph: During the race, I kept thinking about when I ran this same race two years ago. Back then, running was a desperate way for me to deal with my grief. I'd run and run until I couldn't run anymore and then limp home crying from the heartache my mom's death left. Now, I run for exercise and fulfillment, not an escape route. I realize it's only 3.1 miles, but every mile that my stubbornly iron-deficient body will let me go feels like a mini miracle. Last time I ran this race, I had a family who couldn't come and a boyfriend who didn't. Now, I have my own little family who not only came to watch, but ran with me. I've heard the scripture "the Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away." Mostly, He gives. I'm blessed.

around these parts - snowcones and running

Let me tell you what's been going on around these parts.

First of all - new blog design! The talented Heather of Milkglass and Honey did it, and let me just say, she is a miracle worker. I won this redesign at a blogger meet-up {yet another reason to go to those things} and before I knew I won anything I was admiring how put-together and confident Heather was. Thanks a million H!

Second - let me tell you about Monday nights at the lovenest. We have family home evening. Inevitably, I end up begging Sam to go on a family run and  accidentally/on purpose end up at the snowcone place. He usually says yes :)

Photo evidence:

last week

this week

and a few weeks ago

And yes, I am aware my snowcones are getting progressively larger. I'm in control...

And speaking of running - some people have asked me how I run and train. HA! Here's what happens: I crank up my music loud enough to drown out my panting, and then I run with no rhyme, reason or route until my Endomondo app tells me I've gone farther than yesterday, and then I try to find my way home. And turn my music up a little more to drown out the added panting. That's it! I should write a book. This could change lives :)

In other news - want to make me super happy?

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Sponsor me for August here. $1 off today!

the running itch

I've had a serious case of the running itch these days. I want to run. I hurry dinner to catch the last sunlight of the day. I make new running playlists. I map out routes on google earth. I write down race registration dates.

Yup, I'm getting the running itch again.

{images via}

Maybe it's the warm weather.

Maybe it's because I keep thinking about that grieving winter, when I'd run and run and run away from everything. I'd go until I couldn't breathe and my lungs seared and my muscles were on fire and I'd just cry there in that green Oregon mist because no amount of physical pain could take away the pain I felt inside. Almost every day, I would run. That's when running became therapeutic for me, and I think I'm addicted.

I'm up for another race this year. 

Does anyone else have the running itch? 

P.S. My weekend was the best kind of weekends - filled with my favorite people. Old friends, new friends, birthday parties, and a family dinner made it so so great. That and some blessed happy valley sunshine. Bless that sunshine to the bottom of its soul.

{Running} Away

You know what's the best?

My early morning jog because I couldn't sleep

Which turned into a run

Which turned into a sprint

Which turned into a collapse

Which turned into a walk

Which turned into a slow jog back to my apartment

Which turned into a cold shower and deep breaths.

New

New things in my life lately:

New blog layout. Much more simple, uncluttered. I'm still working on finding the perfect layout, though.

New feedback in my writing class. My professor can search my soul through my writing like some Bishops can do through a handshake, or Dumbledore could do with his bright blue eyes. It’s good for my writing, but also might explain why I’m too nervous to see my professor during her office hours…

New world record for the largest water balloon fight. BYU sponsored the huge event (of course BYU. What other school would get so excited about water balloons? Plus we all got free t-shirts and lunch – a guaranteed collegiate attendance booster). It was so much fun!

Caitlin's beautiful soaking wet face and myself.

New inspiration. It’s not coincidence when somebody you care for very much bears his testimony to you about the Atonement and its healing power and then the next day you read conference talks about the same subject. I love my Savior.

New success. I ran a 5K this morning! Finally. It’s been a goal since January. Plus I finished five minutes and four seconds ahead of my goal time. Yes, those four seconds are too important to round off….

And last but not least, a new way to waste time.

I watch this TV series with Taylor when he’s done with work and I feel like procrastinating. Which, strangely, is all the time...

It's interesting that none of the good new things in my life required money or purchasing anything from a store.

Have a good week,

Hello, Hello

Dear Hello,

Hello! Can we please rekindle our long-lost friendship?

I’ve been spending entirely too much time with your counterpart, goodbye. I know, I know, you can’t have one without the other. Okay. I get that.

Which is why I tried not to sigh too loudly when I had to say goodbye to my roommates, to my college, to everything. Not to mention THE goodbye which people take extreme measures to avoid talking about in my presence {maybe they think that if they don’t say anything I’ll forget what happened?}.

But I’m really really really done with goodbye. I even said goodbye to my history of music assignment as I submitted it today {which is saying something, since I put off saying goodbye to that blasted essay for at least four weeks}.

And I am extremely ready to say goodbye to the pair of pierced lip, college guys whom I had the (dis)pleasure of talking to at the grocery store. Although they did have the extraordinary linguistic gift of making conversation entirely out of four-letter explicit words.

So much talent in so skinny jeans.

So I gave goodbye a swift kiss on the cheek to show my appreciation for his efforts, and then escorted him out. And I would please like to escort you in.

I’m ready to say hello to sunshine again!

And new running and workout schedules!

And more friends!

And dates!

And a million other things.

And so, my dear hello, I look forward to your imminent arrival.

Cordially yours,

~B

P.S. I even listened to a faster, remade version of Hello Goodbye by the Beatles on my run today, in a half-hearted attempt to speed your arrival. The only thing that happened was the slimy death of a small bug that flew into my mouth… this doesn’t mean anything, right? Right??