What's Your Dream?

Imagine entering a room where all of your dreams are being stored, walk into the room and just pluck a dream from the shelf, open it up and dive into it. That's what The Trail Running Film Festival was for me. What's more, I don't think I have ever been surrounded by so many people that share the same  dreams and love for the mountains and running as I do. Instead of being afraid of running 100 miles of hell, they join in. Many in the audience completing more races and runs than I could dream of. I sat in a room of my idols as we watched people share their stories in film. We laughed that the same jokes and cried for the same losses. The unity of shared passions was overwhelmingly powerful.  I have held many dreams to myself, tentatively sharing tid bits here and there to my friends but this festival showed me it is silly to be afraid to go for the things that you love. Why not? What would I have to lose? After being surrounded by so many people who love crazy adventur...

This week has been a huge test and I feel like I failed. Miserably. On Monday evening I suffered from a severe leg cramp which I decided to rest from for a couple of days because my leg really hurt. On Wednesday I decided to go and complete the first half of my virtual half marathon and then Thursday I completed it but that night I was tossing and turning all night because my leg hurts so bad. So yesterday I took the day off and today I took the day off because it still hurts when I go up and down stairs so I'm hoping by tomorrow my leg will be fully healed.  Then tonight we had a really really bad night at work so I stress ate about six handfuls of chips and one slice of pizza which is really really bad, thankfully it's something I don't normally do but I can also say tonight at work was a very abnormal night and it's not usually this stressful.  I'm also on the second week of my flipping ba ck and fourth between day shift and night shift which has put me in...

Chocolate medals! Cupcakes anyone!?                                               Today I had the pleasure of volunteering at the Mud and Chocolate half marathon in Redmond, WA! Not only was I able to volunteer but I got to do the best part of the whole race, I was able to hand out medals to the finishers! I got to hand out the chocolate medal with a chocolate bar to each participant. My friend Shannon handed out that the actual metal medal to the finishers. I felt that I have become a taker instead of a giver when it comes to doing things that I love and in this case that means races. I have run close to 50 races and I have never volunteered until today. It was really something special to watch each participant cross the finish line and complete their own goal for their own reasons. One particular lady was overwhelmed with emotions and fell to her knee...

I noticed something strange the last few times I bought myself gifts... they all have a strange theme to them. . . then today when I was getting ready for work I chuckled to myself thinking, "Yep, I'm a runner!" So I decided to make today's blurb about my apartment and it's tells that I am a runner. Let's see if you agree. When you walk into my apartment I have a shoe rack to take off your shoes right away. On this rack I have four pairs of running shoes that I rotate through, not that unusual I suppose. But then you look up on the wall across from the shoe rack and you are greeted with this: Now, I can see where this might give the "I'm a runner!" vibe. I mean a whole board of race bibs and medals can't be that weird. On the the next section of my apartment, the dining room. You look to your right and BOOM! There is a bike and two more boards full of running memorabilia! Ok ok enough with the running bibs and encouragement clippings! On to t...

How do you plan on living your life? How do you plan on getting to your goal? My goal is to live as long as my grandpa but more importantly, live life like my grandpa. This weekend he turned 91 years young! Happy Birthday Grandpa! For me I hope to be like my grandpa by living in the moment, loving and forgiving, remembering to give more than I receive, to be humble and selfless, and staying as healthy as I can.  (Out to breakfast, his favorite is my favorite! Biscuits and gravy!) My grandpa never slows down, he is constantly moving and he is by far the hardest person to get ahold of! He is never home! He is always going out and about, spending time with friends and family, going to community activities and church functions, taking care of his home (including a dozen chickens, a dog and a horse), and helping others. (Grandpa feeding the horse, yes that's the hay in mid air as he tossed it! Go Grandpa!) My grandpa has one of the biggest hearts of any person I have ever met. He is alw...