The World of Running...

lately i've been subjecting myself to a form of torture known as running. running long distances (to me!) without training to be exact. a 5k is equal to 3.1 miles (thereabouts--i figured you didn't need the 8 decimal points...). because my friend had a new year's resolution to run a 5k, i decided that i would join her because it'd force me to get in shape, right? notsomuch. due to a busy schedule, kids (hers), and lack of motivation (mine), the running the gap 5k snuck up on us. we held our own and finished in just under 41 minutes, jogging most of the time, mind you. it was 41 minutes of positive self-talk, bodily fatigue, and eventually determination to not let one more person pass us! after we got rehydrated and ate some carbs, we felt like CHAMPIONS!! we had done it!! gracefully, no, but we had accomplished it nontheless. this led us to crazy talk, such as, "just think, if we actually trained, we could do a 10k next year," "a 1/2 marathon wouldn't be that bad," etc. etc. mind you, this was before the week of sore groins, tight calves, and shoulder pains.so how, might you ask, did i allow myself to get sucked in to another 5k race?? i'm still wondering. well, not really. at the starting line of the parks and rec "fun" run, i was wondering, but after i finished, i felt like a million bucks again and felt like i could take on the world. my time this race was 36:46:03. i improved by a bit, even with a few hills thrown into the track. it was also fun because this time, sarah and i were joined by others girls we knew, which made the experience a lot of fun. i even won some $10 socks in the drawing (i know you're jealous). now if i could just get more motivated to train, i would be a happy woman (with less tight muscles). i love how i feel when i exercise, and i just need to make the time. who knows?? maybe a 1/2 marathon is in my (fairly distant) future...

camping in wyoming--granite recreation area...
a few weekends ago, i went camping with my parents. it was such a refreshing and fun time and with such beautiful scenery. every day i thought multiple times wow, God, all of this for us?? i am amazed by His handiwork and know that He enjoyed us enjoying it.

we camped only about a 1/2 mile from granite falls. i walked there three times in four days and every time thought that i would just like to stay there for hours. it was amazing...and again, all for us to enjoy! i love my parents and treasured the time we got to spend together (though we all missed pooh and made a unanimous decision that she'd have to join us next year!).
we went to jackson hole one afternoon. we ate at bubba's bbq and it was SO tasty...pulled pork, texas toast, and yummy fries (with ranch, of course). we walked around and looked in a few stores. i decided that a)i am a cheapskate, and b)i am not a "western" type girl. it was nice to walk around though. i also got to call my man for a few minutes while we were in civilization:)

my absolute favorite past-time of the trip was reading. there's something about being in the outdoors, breathing fresh air, hearing the water trickle, and immersing yourself in an excellent book. my book of the trip, the shack. it was absolutely incredible and i think EVERYONE needs to read it. what an amazing picture it was of God's love for us and how He desires to have a relationship with each of us. He could care less what church we go to and what "good works" we do. He just wants US. i personally think i need to read it every 6 months or so, just to remind myself what life is all about. God created us for His pleasure, and He's full of joy when we find peace in him and allow Him to work in our lives. okay, enough about the book, you just need to read it! all in all, it was an amazing, much-needed weekend away. let's do it again sometime!!!