A Random Bulleted Thursday Post. And Winner of Dog Leash Giveaway!

My head is full of many random thoughts but nothing that would warrant one fluid blog post.  So, a bulleted post it is!

• I ran six slippery snow miles with my friend Marci today. Up until now, I haven't minded the snow running but today was just downright slippery and hard to move in. But as always, it was nice passing the time with a running partner.  I've come to greatly enjoy this girl! It wasn't too long ago when Marci (elite runner) invited me on our first run.  At first, I felt intimidated by her invitation and figured she must have not really meant it.  Um, her marathon time of 2:35 is run at a pace that I can't even imagine running ONE mile at these days!  But I finally took her up on her invitation and now I always look forward to our trail runs together! They are easy paced (really really easy for her!) and full of good conversation topics ranging from competition, goals, writing, travel and more.  Marci has become a friend that I never would have expected to have and I'm so glad to know her.   She's wise beyond her twenty something years, humble as ever, and so kind hearted!  I came home today just so thankful for how running brings people together. Thank you for inspiring me Marci! Check out her blog: Runner Marci.  

• Apparently, it's only a little over 20 weeks until the Boston Marathon!  I guess it's time to figure out my plan of action.  Will I train for a marathon and then try to tack my first 50k on weeks after Boston as an after thought.  OR train for the 50k and use Boston as a training run and save my punches for the trail run? Decisions Decisions.  It's time to make a plan and STICK WITH IT! I will have that figured out by Monday.  

• I've never seen so many Patagonia coats in my LIFE!  Seriously, Bend, OR is a bubble of sorts.  One big Patagonia wearing bubble.  At least this time of year.  And not just adults wearing Patagonia.  Babies, toddlers, grade school kids and probably even dogs.  Hmmm, I'm resisting this trend for as long as I can!  For one, my kids are perfectly happy with their Costco knock-offs. As for me?  I'd rather spend my money on running clothes, race fees or plane tickets! 

• I read through some of my stacks of running journals today. It got me excited to keep a running journal again!  I've journaled off and on over the last few months but now that training starts up again, I'm excited to grow through my reflections and thoughts on my daily runs!  I'm such a believer in the power behind journaling like this!! Nothing new for me but a rekindled passion of sorts.  

• We took the kids to see Big Hero 6 last weekend.  It had been forever since we took the kids to a movie in the theaters.  And what a good flick!  We all left wanting to use our brains!!  My electrical engineer husband spent the next day building robots with our kids and the neighbor kids.  It was fun to see.  The picture below is of my middle daughter working her robot creation.  Pretty cool! 

• Building a snow fort with this little guy in the picture below?  A highlight of my week. 

• I was pulling books from my shelf yesterday and found Scott Jurek's Eat and Run.  I looked at his signing for my husband and it caught me for a minute.  You know, made me think.  "Do THINGS Always."  Hmm, what exactly did he mean by that?  As I started reading the book, I gained a deeper understanding into his mind an ultra runner and his message became clearer to me.  Do THINGS Always.  What does this mean to you?  Positive resonation?  Negative resonation?  Or nada.  You've got no resonation at all?  

• Just a random black and white snap shot of my "right this second" last night when I was invited to post a black and white picture.  This is where I write, read, make messes with paper, pen and words.  I love this space!  I'm actually writing here now....candles lit, Nora Jones playing, a beer on the side.  I think creative and inspiration space is so important for some of us.  

• And a snow picture and caption from earlier this week.  For those of you sick of my snowy trail pictures?  Well, if it makes you feel any better, I'm sick of the snow now too.  I'm especially sick of driving (or floating, sliding, slipping all over the place) in it.  Ready for my DIRT to run on again!  Oh, it's going to be a loooong winter in the Central Oregon Mountains if I feel this way already!  Here's the caption: "My run today was one where I cleared my mind and ran with the intention of being present with my moment...with the life and beauty surrounding me.  Present in my steps.  Not one step ahead and not resisting where I am...simply and powerfully present with now.  With life as it is.  A good feeling.  I can't adequately describe the beauty out there...with each mile, I wanted to take ever bit of beauty in...the steam rising over the Deschutes, rocks capped with snow, heavy trees, white branches, packed snow trails stretching out for miles.  All of it, lit up with sunshine and deep blue skies."  

• Last but not least...the winner of the dog leash giveaway from a few days ago:

Happy Thursday Night or Friday morning!  What are some of your Random Bullets from your life? 

Amanda

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