The doors are swinging open and I'm sprinting through them!

I love beginnings.

Like spring lilies, beginnings are bright, refreshing, and turn to the sun.

A view from the road i70 through Utah.

I recently moved from Florida into my family's home in California, started a new life as a caregiver, and started taking on new career challenges towards applying for a PhD.  

I also began a new training plan towards my next race... it has been far too long since my last 100 miler, and is past time to jump back into the deep end.

Hello running. I'm back.

Not that I haven't been racing and running at all lately. I celebrated my move out west with a sweet 50k on the trails of Oakland, and despite training in flat Florida, managed an age division win. The race was challenging and fun, but the rest of my summer was spent taking an accelerated general chemistry course, biking a bit and generally being a bit lazy.

A view from the Canyon Meadows ultra race. There were hills. Lots of hills.

So, this week I ran a nice 20 mile and 10 mile back-to-back weekend and it's feeling pretty wonderful to be back in my body, rocking the roads and the trails.

The view of the bay from a recent jaunt up Albany Hill

I have been fueling my body as usual for running, moving, studying and transition with delightful plant based meals as usual, and have been feeling blessed to be in abundant California.

My typical bowl of fruits, veg and beans.

A friend recently invited me to help her cater a group retreat with vegetarian dishes, and I was inspired by my time in apple country to make a raw apple pie. My family devoured it, despite their reservations about "raw pie".

Disclaimer: despite this being "raw", I warmed it in the oven before serving. Gotta have warm apple pie!

Yes, beginnings are pretty wonderful.

Endings can be harder.

I recently lost my best friend and companion, Reba. Because I have posted in the past about my sweet furry friend of nearly 13 years, I wanted to honor her memory by sharing her part in my motivation to keep running on plants. 

Reba was the heart of my drive to run-- and live. She was the force behind waking up early, keeping fit, healthy and relatively put-together (i.e.- my therapy, my reason to have a job, to wake up at all). 

She was also an amazing trail dog, and hiked alongside me for over 1,400 miles of the PCT.

Reba and I, when were both young pups.

Without her there is a hole in my soul, where family and friends can only just begin to fill in. I am still running towards my dreams, but part of my grounding, part of the heart of running is missing. I find it now in Reba's spirit of abundant energy and unconditional love.

Thank you Reba for your spirit and companionship. This run is for you. Rest in Peace.

It's the little things

The best advise I've gotten this week: 

"Go have fun and don't let the man get you down."

Okay, point taken.

I recently signed up for 50k in my hometown of Oakland, CA and am looking forward to running through the redwoods for 5-7 hours with a smile on my face.

And here I am now, resting after a night behind the bar, (bartending is great training for upper body strength, but exhausting too!) and wondering how to make the most out of this moment in time. It's hot, and I live in the 'burbs in flat as a pancake rural Florida right now.

Please don't tell me squats are in future! Okay, fine. (SIGH)

As I sit contemplating my day's activities (sit around all day? play with my phone? binge watch Netflix?)

 I wonder; have I forgotten how to have fun?!

Okay, I do have fun in the kitchen.

I have fun with my dog.

I have fun on my bike. 

I have fun on my feet.

(For the most part!!)

Sadly, I haven't actually been trail running since visiting Berkeley last month!

So, I have been learning some hard lessons here in Florida; surrounded by strip malls and parkways. Finding trails requires long drives while I am committed to low emissions. 

Honestly, time on my feet has felt... soulless as I pound the concrete and SUV's whiz by.

Perhaps, finding fun right now is simply about turning on my imagination. Listening to music to drown out the noise of engines. Making lists of the avian life I encounter on my endless laps around the neighborhood park.

And of course, closing my eyes, and picturing the world I want to see: one with less cars, less pollutants, less spending, waste, and greed, more kindness, greenery, and I'll be honest about my personal needs: a bit of elevation!

Back on the trail

It is spring, and I am inspired to share as much beauty as I can.

Honestly, my outlook on life lately has been more grim than usual, and my contribution to the earth and it's community of beings has somewhat reflected this attitude. 

BUT

Enough about the past! Spring is a perfect time to change things up and execute plans that have been cooking up all winter long.

Reba and I are ready to take on our next challenge!

While these plans are heating up, I've been up to some good cooking and running to ignite my creativity.  

Kale and Cabbage salad with ground carrots, garlic and white beans.

Build muscle, eat your greens!

While the changes I need to make in my life are going to take a bit of time to simmer (and I become increasingly impatient with my current circumstances), I decided to commit to blogging again and sharing tidbits from the beautiful parts of my days.

Nothing like avocado to feed this hungry beast!

Committing to running my tail off is part of my beautiful dish I'm bringing to the world's potluck of activity. So I've signed up for a June race in my hometown and begin a new training plan next week.

Maybe I'll join an eating competition instead.

Cheers to spring and running on plants!