As Seen on My Run #1: Deschutes River Trail

What a difference a few days make.  I'm really glad I sat with my feelings of sadness from last week.  Someone made a really good comment that I thought about for a few days.  It's important for us to allow ourselves to feel what we are feeling without trying to rise to this constant level of happiness or invalidating our sadness simply because we live a good life and have so many things to be thankful for. It's okay to feel sad.  And happy, excited, hopeful, and angry.  Our feelings are okay.  They are what makes us real.  I think our society has glorified this perpetual state of happiness or idea that we should present ourselves as happy or just not talk about it.  On the other hand, I think that when people find themselves feeling sad, others are too quick to pass it off as something that needs a medicated fix:  take a pill, get therapy, or something must be seriously wrong.  I don't think this is always the case.  Sometimes we just feel SAD. Period.  And then, by allowing ourselves to feel ,express and process, we can move on.  That's where I have been lately with this big move.  Honestly, I'm sure I'll still have some sad days or days where I ache for my home in Asheville and along the east coast but the past few days have just been so wonderful and focused on gratitude.  I think I just made a big decision to stop dwelling on the things I don't have anymore and open my eyes to all the wonderful things there are to be thankful for...all the things that make my new home AMAZING!

High Desert: Bend, OR
Living in a high desert climate is a bit of an adjustment compared to the forests in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville.  So far, in summer/fall, the mornings and evenings are cool...actually COLD, days warm/hot and the sky is a blazing blue like I have never seen before (well maybe in Colorado).  It's dry here but there are still trees everywhere.  I'd like a bit more deciduous trees if I could make a wish list, but I'm not complaining.  There is beauty to be found EVERYWHERE.  Bend offers a  different kind of beauty.

The birds? ...well, so far, in this neighborhood along the river, I haven't found them in abundance like I did in Asheville but I'm quick to turn my head when I hear their beautiful song. The other day I was in my garage painting picture frames and I heard a bird and you'd think I was a dog with the way I perked up.  They will come.  I just need to learn about how to attract high dessert birds to MY beautiful backyard.  Come birds, come!  Sing to me.  I love you.  You inspire me to write and create!  And gosh, you make morning coffee taste so much better!

One of the things I've started to make a bigger part of my life the past few days now that things are settling and my house is coming together:  RUN MORE! My body, legs, spirit, and whole self is entirely grateful and happier for it!  The endorphins are kicking in, my body is snapping back into shape, and sweating and working hard feels so. darn. good! I know the itch to train again isn't far ahead but for now I'm enjoying my 5 to 7 mile runs where I'm not tied to any plan or time on the watch.  In fact, it is a great way to explore my new home.

Today I took my camera/phone with me and stopped to snap pictures along my run.  It made me think of the post I wrote in Asheville called:  Snapshop Run in Asheville, NC where I captured pictures along my run and was able to give others a window into the things I saw.  I loved the freedom to just explore Asheville (or any city) through a run!  Today I thought of this and decided that I will do the same with Bend.  I still haven't even begun to tap into the trails around here.  But, not just the trails...Bend, the city!  So, I'm starting a new blog post series called:  As Seen on My Run.  In these posts I will take my camera and it will be kind of like a virtual run tour where I will share pictures and words about my run and where it will be. I'm taking YOU with me!

Today's As Seen on My Run was on the trail I run almost daily, the Deschutes River Trail right out my door.  This is one of the most popular trails in Bend.  I run it daily because it is convenient but I'm going to challenge myself to run on some of the other trails that Bend and surrounding areas boast.  I also plan on running downtown and in surrounding neighborhoods so I can take snapshots of interesting things there too.  I might as well take advantage of this non-training season before my runs get more focused again.

Here are my pics from today's run. No filter. Just whatever comes out of my iPhone camera.   What a GORGEOUS BLUE Skies Day!

Going under Reed Market Bridge.  Lots of paddle boarders, kayakers, and people in tubes floating the river.   

Peek from under the bridge

A half mile from my door.  First time I've seen people this far up the river.  

There's my first of several posts on: As Seen on My Run.  I promise they won't all be trail runs!  Plenty of city life and neighborhoods to explore.  Sisters, OR too!

Amanda

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