"Don't Give Up"

Oh man oh man. I just got back from one of the hardest runs! I had no idea what I was going to get myself into when Jane and I left from my apartment this afternoon. We usually do our runs at 6 in the morning but sometimes I try to run in the heat to practice for the Ragnar. So, today we decided to make it a heat run. Well, we also decided to make it a hilly run!

Jane and I ran somewhere along this mountain. It was on those trails in the bottom rightish corner but we ended up pretty close to the Y at one point and then had to turn around and come back. Before we turned around we run up a hill about this steep:

Yeah, we are crazy! But it felt amazing to get to the point at the top of the steep hill. I am so glad that I have Jane to run with. She pushes me so much harder then I would ever push myself. I usually purposefully pick the flattest ways to run but not Jane! She makes it so I keep pushing and pushing and I won't give up! I run faster than I ever run and up crazy hills! I love it!

Side note, I GOT AN INTERNSHIP!!!!! Its a Center for Change which is where I really wanted to do my internship! I am so happy about this!

I realized something today on my run. I can do it! I can do this thing called life! I have been so stressed lately trying to get everything done on time. I started to feel overwhelme with that. And then I realized I don't know what I want with half the things in my life and that is getting overwhelming as well. Today I started to feel the weight of it all but after that run, I don't feel so overwhelmed because I realized that I can do it. If I just ran that steep hill then everything else in my life is possible. I love that I am applying my major in my life all the time.

"Surprise"

At work a month ago, I helped this mother with a situation. Then a week ago, she called me asking if I received her box. A little confused by this, I asked her what she meant by her box. She then told me that she had sent me a thank you present for helping her and her daughter with her independent study course. I didnt' quite believe it but this is what was delivered today when I was at work! A box of delicious Hawaiian Candy!!!

It made my day! It is so nice when parents and students realize how much we do for them! It feels great to be appreciated especially when you get phone calls from people who tell you that you don't matter!

Happy Friday!

"The Climb"

Wow, it has been a while! School is pretty stressful right now! I am still trying to finish up my independent study course and the deadline is getting SCARY close! So, any free time I have is filled with doing my Independent Study course! But I can do it!

But I decided that I needed to do an update on something! So, a week ago it was Labor day. Michelle and I decided that we wanted to go on a hike, and we have attempted several times to get to the top of Squaw Peak but never made it up. So, we decided to give it a shot. We had invited several people, but the only one that followed through was Thomas. So, Thomas, Michelle and I went on a hike.

It started off normal, hiking up the path and excited to make it to the top. Then Michelle pointed out a spot that she wanted to climb up and hopefully there would be a path on the top. So, we strayed from the path and scaled up the mountain! It was pretty much on a rock slide the whole way, so a little harder than we anticipated but a lot of fun!

Michelle resting halfway up the rock slide mountain side

Once we got to the top of that part, we quickly realized that we were no where near a trail but that didn't stop us from continuing up the path! After going through bushes and steep and slinding parts, we made it to mini squaw peak. At that point, a storm was coming in and we decided it would be best to start heading down the mountain.

The three of us at the top of the rock slide part, still heading up

Since we had no real trail to follow, we decided the safest option would be follow the little dear trail. We decided that if a deer could do it, so could we! So, after some falls, rock slides and other adventures, we made it safely down the mountain!

Really, I wouldn't have done it any other way! It was a great way to spend the morning of my Labor Day! Some day I will make it to the legit summit!

At our Top of the mountain

View from the rock slide

The creepy bubble cloud