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.