Tag: Half Marathon

• Six Months Later

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on June 20, 2026

  Well…I didn’t intend to take six months off from blogging, but here we are. I had every intention of sharing my final two hikes of 2025 and continuing on my merry blogging way, but every time I thought about writing a hike recap I just…didn’t want to. Weeks went by, then months, and then winter did its wintry thing and I had minimal motivation for most everything. I knew I would be bit by the bug again eventually, and I was willing to wait until that happened.

  SO. I’m not going to word vomit every little detail of my life the past six months, but I will share some of the heavy hitters. I hibernated a good bit during the winter, and there isn’t much to report from those few months, but as the frost thawed and the flowers bloomed life became more exciting (and a bit shitty, but that’s life right?)

  First and foremost…because I know we are all dying to know…yes, I did take Little to see Christmas lights in December.

  

  Homie wasn’t vibing like he used to, and I think these days less is more for our car rides. He seems to become a bit nauseated and less interested in longer rides. In fact I don’t really take him in the car much at all these days, but I couldn’t let tradition die. This was one of three highlights for my winter months. Another highlight was a bike ride with my pals. I had ridden this route before, and I knew of all the Little Free Libraries.

  I convinced them to stop at every single one.

  

  I found a book on this ride, which speaking of reading – I have been struggling to get into a groove lately. I read 70 books in 2024, 52 in 2025, and so far this year I have read 17. 2023 Brittany would be so proud of 17, but I have been struggling to focus on most things that require mental focus right now. Thankfully there is a reason for this, but I will get to that.

  The third and final winter activity I was jazzed about was doing some good ol’ community service with my pals. My workplace “adopted” a section of a local trail system and we have had monthly volunteer sessions where we go and maintain the trail. In Jan/Feb/March this was spending two hours picking up trash. It was surprisingly satisfying, and also loads of fun. So much so, that I bought my own grabby device and wrangled some pals to do this unaffiliated with work (but we do all work together, minus our family members.)

  

  Ok, let’s move on to Spring. Two major highlights happened during this time – I celebrated Little’s 18th birthday, and I ran my 9th half marathon. One of these events went much better than the other. Little is the light of my life, and it has been such a gift to see him thrive in his 18th year of life. He is doing amazingly well these days and his birthday was nothing short of wonderful. I bought him a birthday crown, some treats, and he got some time outside.

  

  

  

  

  The back patio has since been pressure washed, it no longer looks like it does in that last photo. But even the grit and grime of winter couldn’t stop Little from rolling around like a hog in the mud. He must be drinking the youth juice because I swear his zoomies have become zoomier in his old age. I’m not complaining, I love nothing more than running late for work because I had to oblige the king during his morning zoomfest.

  It should go without saying Little’s birthday was the event that went smoother than my half marathon. I started training for my half in February, a tradition I have maintained for the past three years. A spring half marathon keeps me active in the winter, but from the start of my training I struggled. I could not find my energy, and every long run became progressively harder. Something similar happened to me last year, but that time it didn’t hit until halfway through my training.

  

  I’m not one to quit, so I pushed through every run and just let my pace get slower and slower. Last year I let my slower pace bother me, but this year I let every expectation go and all I wanted was to finish a run without wanting to die. I finally got to the last few weeks of my training, and I was convinced this had to be my last half marathon for a while. My training was too much of a slog, and something wasn’t right. Normally, I blame any excessive fatigue on my autoimmune disease. This has worked well for me in the past, but this time it turned out to be something else.

  Honestly, it’s probably a combo of things (including autoimmune chaos), but it’s validating to know there was something else brewing too.

  I went to the doctor at the end of April for a massage referral and while I was there I decided to mention in passing I was struggling with extra fatigue than usual. I thought maybe it was hormones, I’m 37 now and we all know what’s just around the corner, but as it turned out I am severely iron deficient. This nugget of news was like a light bulb going off. Suddenly everything made sense. I now believe I have been in this deficient state since March 2025 because I never quite got my gumption of energy back.

  

  My half was scheduled a week after my doc apt. Every fiber in my body wanted to skip the race. Running felt awful, I didn’t want to drive the three hours to the town I was running, and my motivation was at an all time low. The cherry on the cake was when I discovered there were only 28 people signed up for the half. TWENTY EIGHT. This is literally my worst nightmare. I chose a half in Leavenworth, which is a HUGEEELY touristy area and I was convinced it would be a popular race. WRONGO.

  So now, even if I wanted to do the race and let myself walk I was terrified of being last. This is NOT to say there is anything wrong with being last, but it’s an irrational fear I have and my anxiety was through the roof. Ultimately I got over myself and ran the race. Well, I ran/walked/ran/walked. The race was a looped course which was amazing because I got to see Duncan multiple times throughout, and I had him walk with me during some of the moments I needed to walk. I ran more than I anticipated, but I also walked over 25 minutes of the race.

  

  

  I managed to finish the half in 2:31, and I BEAT FOUR PEOPLE. I hardly saw anyone for the majority of the last two laps, just me and the volunteers I bantered with. I thought this would be tough, but being alone actually made it easier. I was able to just focus on myself and do whatever I needed to finish. At the end of the day I couldn’t not run this, I had to get my cow bell medal!

  I’m very proud of my time, and under normal circumstances I wouldn’t think twice about it. It wasn’t the pace that was the issue, it was how difficult it was to put one foot in front of the other. It was how hard I had to work to get air into my lungs, and to move my legs that felt like lead. These situations continue to give me perspective on running as a whole, and I hope to find my way back to runs that are enjoyable. Running doesn’t always need to feel easy, but it sure as heck shouldn’t feel like running with anvils on your feet.

  

  Big shoutout to Duncan for rewarding me with not one, but two gluten free cupcakes from the downtown bakery I love. That’s really why I made the three hour drive. Since the race, I have been obsessed with finding ways to increase my iron reserves. It’s been a month since my race, almost two months since my initial doc apt, and I’d be lying if I said I felt much better. I have been on a few hikes already this season and the first two were really difficult. I am currently taking supplements and have increased my red meat intake, but from my non stop research I know this is going to be a long and slow journey.

  I can’t help but wonder if this has happened to me multiple times throughout my life. I was iron deficient in my early 20’s, and it tends to be a common theme for people who do higher intensity sports (running, cycling.) Back then I blamed it on being vegan, which likely was a huge factor (I still don’t eat red meat much), but it was possibly a combo of running and diet. Who knows, but what I do know is something wasn’t right and I am thankful to have an answer. I’m only running 1-3 miles right now, and very sporadically.

  I’m doing everything I can to ensure I have even the bare minimum energy to get my hike on this summer.

  

  So that’s my update. Now I know why it’s been hard to focus on things, why I have limited motivation, why the world was a little extra dull, and why my running has been hot garbage for a longgg time. My work days are a bit brutal too, I manage for an hour before being absolutely gassed, but the years of practice acting normal during excessive fatigue have been paying off (lol.) I eventually get a second wind halfway through the day, but I look forward to all of that ending.

  I have a three month follow up next month to see if the supplements are working, and I am trying to stay optimistic. I only occasionally wallow reading reddit stories of those who have been struggling for years despite diet and supplement changes.

  I’m hoping to get back in the swing of blogging things. No promises, but I have been hiking which is always fun to share. I managed to scorch the ever loving life out of my legs after hiking in the snow this past weekend. What a rookie mistake. Shorts on top of snow…whoops. Alright, that’s all for now. If you made it this far thanks for sticking around. Also, big thanks to my pal John who checked on me not once, but twice via e-mail. Appreciate you friend.

  Q’s:

  • Has anyone else experienced iron deficiency? Please tell me it will get better…
  • Whatttt is new with everyone?! I have a lot of blog reading to catch up on.

  

  | 57 Comments Tagged Half Marathon, Iron Deficiency, Little, Running

• Wenatchee Half Marathon

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on May 27, 2025

  Last year I ran my 7th half marathon after a decade long hiatus from longer distances. I shared that experience here, as well as why I stopped running all together, and how I came back into it. Since that race I have been enjoying running races again, and I have run a few throughout the past year.

  Running had been going well for me, so back in November I decided to sign up for half marathon number 8. I’ve had this idea in my head that I want to try and run at least one half marathon per year, but this year things didn’t go according to plan. In fact, things went pretty rough the final seven weeks of training all the way into race day.

  But before I get into that, let’s talk about the day before the race.

  

  

  One of my favorite things about running half marathons is choosing a new destination to visit. I had been to Wenatchee before, but I had never been to the area where the race was. Wenatchee is about 3.5 – 4 hours from where I live, in a much sunnier area of Washington. I was excited to get out of town for the first time since I went to Banff last September, even if just for one night.

  Duncan and I left our area early enough to have some time to walk around Wenatchee, check into the hotel, get my race bib, and relax. Going into the race I took two days off work to rest my legs, but I ended up walking over 12,000 steps the day before the run because we were exploring. Oops.

  While walking the historical downtown we passed by a pet store, and just as I was planning to walk by I noticed something inside.

  

  Carlos the shop cat drew me in, and he was so precious I had to pet him. The store was adorable, and in the back they had a closed off room with a cat available for adoption. I had to say hello to her too. She was so sweet and I wish I could have taken her home. Put me in a shop with two cats and I am a happy gal.

  

  This was clearly the highlight of the day before the run. We grabbed some food from Safeway, visited a natural food shop that was right across from the hotel, and walked part of the course before retiring for the evening. The following morning I woke up early enough to ensure I had a BM, coffee, and a banana before heading down to the race.

  I had two pals running this race as well, one was my coworker, and one was a girl I went to high school with. Neither of them trained much for this, but both decided to YOLO and go for it. Having pals there to relish in the running spirit makes things more fun.

  

  

  As I mentioned before, going into this race my training started to drag. I couldn’t get my long runs in without having to walk, I struggled to finish mid week runs due to fatigue, and my mindset was hogwash. I was not having a good time, my body was flaring up, and I was getting frustrated by how difficult it felt to run a very slow paced run.

  By the time race day came around I had zero goals, and zero expectations. My only goal was to finish, and there was a moment during this race I didn’t think that was going to happen. I am usually in a good place mentally with my body and my autoimmune issues, but once in a while I get really angry at the lack of control I have over how I am going to feel.

  This came to a head during the run, and it took me a week to accept that this was still a successful run even if it didnt go how I wanted it to.

  

  

  I wish I could tell you what exactly happened, but that’s just it – there is never one specific reason why things go awry. I knew when this run felt hard at half a mile in that it was going to be a very long 13 miles. I definitely started the race too fast, but no faster than I have started every other race I have done the last year. By the time I got to mile 6 I was seriously contemplating a DNF.

  The reality is that running is supposed to be fun. I am supposed to enjoy the challenge it brings, and for eight weeks I was dreading everything about it. I was struggling far more than I should have after three months of training, and I just didn’t want to do it anymore. I texted Duncan that I was having a rough time, and like the gem that he is he offered to come get me anywhere I needed.

  I decided instead of quitting, I was going to allow myself to walk instead. I spent the entire second half of the race running and walking, running and walking.

  

  I think had I not had two friends running this as well I just might have quit. I may never know, but having them there pushed me to keep going. The upside of walking is having the ability to take photos of the beautiful course. This really was an amazing area to run, and I would like to have a redo someday when my mindset is better.

  My ego really hated the run/walk method, but there is no way I would have finished without it.

  By the time I saw mile 13 I was beyond excited. I have never wanted something to be over so badly in my life, and I was so close to being done I could have cried. Duncan was there to welcome me across the finish line, and although this was a race I didn’t feel proud of initially, I think this should be the one I am the most proud of.

  

  When I got back into running I was simply thankful I could run without having constant flare ups. I was thankful to be moving my body in a way that allowed me to quiet my anxiety, and to give a middle finger of sorts to my autoimmune disease. I never want to give up the things I enjoy, but I have to remember this means I need to keep my boundaries in place.

  I let my boundaries slip while training for this race. My stress levels were through the roof, my heart wasn’t in it, I was fueling poorly, and I wasn’t listening to my body when it told me I needed to slow down. My biggest takeaway from this is that I need to remember why I run. I don’t run to PR in races, or to be fast (that will never happen), I run for longevity both physically and mentally.

  After the race I met up with my pal from high school for brunch at Pybus Market. This was like a mini Pike Place and the food was great. Duncan and I spent the rest of the day driving around, and found our way to Leavenworth for a couple hours before heading home.

  

  

  After this race I told myself running needed to take a back seat for a while, but of course that was short lived. I feel the need for a redo on this years half marathon, but not because I want a better time. I want a redo so I can actually enjoy the race even if I am walking. Who cares if I am the last one to cross the finish line, the point is to enjoy myself!

  I wasn’t disappointed because I was slow, I was disappointed because I allowed myself to get so worked up mentally. There are going to be more runs/races in the future where things don’t go well, but that’s life and it’s ok. I can’t predict how I am going to feel everyday, but a finish is a finish. Being able to run or jog is a gift, and I don’t want to forget that.

  I now have another shiny medal to add to my collection, and a happy memory of a furry friend named Carlos.

  

  

  Q: Who else has had a pity party like this for themselves? Anyone…anyone…just me?

  

  | 46 Comments Tagged Half Marathon, Running, Wenatchee

• Jewel of the Valley Half Marathon

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on May 24, 2024

  So, I ran another half marathon. These are words I never thought I would write again after my last half marathon in October of 2014. It has been just shy of ten years since my last half, so how and why did I find myself running another one after all this time, and why didn’t I run one sooner? Well, let me tell you.

  My journey with running went from all in to all out over a few years, but ultimately what caused me to stop all together was the onset of an autoimmune disease diagnosis. I’ll spare you the drama of those details, but now that I am older and wiser I can confidently say this was a classic case of “too much.”

  Too much running, too much caffeine, too many 3am wake ups, too much stress, too much sugar, so on and so on. My body was in a full blown storm and each run caused flare ups that I didn’t know how to manage at the time.

  

  

  I took running off the table sometime in 2016 when I couldn’t find a good balance, and when I was starting to dread the idea of running. It took me a handful of years to realize a simple shift in my efforts would allow me to not only run again, but to run further distances. I started running again somewhat regularly in 2021, but instead of trying to be “faster” I exclusively tried to keep my heart rate below a certain number.

  Higher heart rate for me = too big of a cortisol spike = a small flare up = anxiety = not fun.

  I continued on this low HR, low milage running journey for a few years because I continued to tell myself there was no way I could possibly run another 13.1 without causing problems. Then 2024 hit, I was about to turn 35, I was stale, unable (or rather unwilling) to travel far because I have a geriatric cat whom I adore, so I did what any sane person would do when they need a change.

  I signed up for a half marathon.

  

  I was done telling myself “you can’t.” Running sometimes sucks, and it’s uncomfortable, and even a bit painful at times, but those side effects always pass (unless you have an injury which is another story.) What sticks around is the knowledge that we pushed ourselves to do something we didn’t think we could. A half marathon in the world of running isn’t the biggest feat, but for me it was something I didn’t think was going to be possible.

  If I can take one thing away from this experience it would be that my brain is forever my worst enemy. I let my fears and anxieties often dictate what I do, but usually when I push myself outside of my comfort zone I come out on the other side mentally stronger for it. I didn’t run fast, but I ran, and I am proud of destroying the mental barrier of “I can’t.”

  OK. Gushy stuff aside, let’s talk about the race!

  

  

  I chose a half in the city of Yakima, about three hours from where I live. The stars aligned with this run because what gave me the final push to register was finding a hotel within a two minute walk of the starting line. Call me crazy, but half the stress of showing up to an organized run is trying to figure out where to park. With that obstacle out of the way all I had to do was put in the work for training.

  I did a 12 week training program, the same program I used to run my very first half marathon, and aside from a few skipped cross training days I followed it to a tee. My training had its ups and downs, with a few moved around long runs, one epic meltdown with so many tears I could have flooded an ant village, and a lot of random foods consumed.

  Fueling was the hardest part for me with this training, and for the race I brought one of my favorite foods to eat along the way.

  

  I stuffed a bag of mashed potatoes into my running vest because I won’t eat those garbage filled running gels. However, I am terrible at fueling while running and I didn’t suck any down until mile 11. This also happened to be the hottest weekend we’ve had all year, and with terrible fueling and overheating I had a hard time focusing on the beauty of the trail around me after the first few miles.

  Hooray for me and my heat sensitivity!

  Miles 1-3 were a breeze, I was vibing to Taylor Swift and loving the views of the river. It was still early and the heat hadn’t crept up yet. Miles 4-6 I started to feel the heat and my pace slowed a bit, I definitely started the race too fast and was going to pay for it later, but I was still going strong. Mile 7 I caved and drank some Gatorade which helped for about 5 minutes. Miles 8-10 I was playing leap frog with a woman and telling myself to make it to the next rest stop for another Gatorade.

  Miles 11-12.5 I was deep in the pain cave. My hips hurt, my back hurt, the heat was strong, and I was gassed.

  

  

  Duncan came with me, and I texted him at mile 11 to let him know I was within 20 minutes of finishing. The final push from 12.5-the end was all mental. I felt like my legs were moving through molasses, and thank goodness for this song. I played it over and over and over and over just to keep my feet moving to the beat. Seriously though, what a BOP.

  I told myself I never have to do this again, just keep going and the sooner you get to the end the sooner it’s over. I saw Duncan waiting for me about .3 miles from the end, and this gave me the final push I needed. I finished 13.2 miles (course was a bit off) in 2:23 with a pace of 10:52. I went into this run with ZERO goals, zero expectations, but in the depths of my mind I knew I wanted to maintain a pace under 11min miles.

  

  

  I immediately took my shoes off, sat in the grass, and watched other runners finish their run for about ten minutes before walking the two minutes back to my hotel for a shower. My original plan was to walk around the area a bit before driving home, but the heat was so oppressive we decided to head home early. Sitting in a car for 3.5 hours after running a half marathon was arguably more difficult than the run.

  Would not recommend.

  It’s been a week and a half since this run, and it only took me 24 hours before I started looking for my next one. It’s amazing how quickly we forget the pain or discomforts of running and want to go through the mental push all over again. I know I want to do another half marathon, I just don’t know when. My summer is reserved for hiking as much as I can, and I don’t want any training to interfere with that.

  

  The training for this was more difficult at this stage of my life than when I was in my 20’s. My diet is drastically different, my energy reserves are fewer, and I have to be mindful of every daily decision to ensure I can train successfully. By the final month of training I was more than ready to be done. It was just as much mentally draining as physically, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

  My goals with running now are to focus on better form to help minimize hip/back pain (I have a lingering disc issue I am constantly nurturing), maintain running 3-5 miles with ease, and to keep experimenting with foods to find a good balance. If only I could just eat a bagel like every other runner. I’m stoked I pushed through this barrier, and I’m even more stoked that my 35 yr old brain could care less about being a slower runner.

  

  Shoutout to Duncan for being the lone sheep on the hill waving to me at mile 1, and welcoming me in at mile 12.8. I’m thankful he was with me, and even more thankful he forced me to wear my hydration vest. I’d have been dead without the consistent water. Perished on the side of the valley.

  Thanks for reading my journey. Take this as your sign to do whatever it is that you’ve been telling yourself you cannot do. I’m willing to bet your brain is just as much of a liar as mine is at times. This was my seventh half marathon, and it was likely more meaningful to me than my first. For so long I let Sjögren’s tell me what I could and could not do. Alas, Sjögren’s can suck it because it turns out I can still run 13.1 after all.

  Q: What is something you’ve done recently that you’re proud of? Let’s celebrate together!

  

  | 52 Comments Tagged Half Marathon, PNW, Running

• Sayonara Sugar

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on December 19, 2016

  I often joke about my sweet tooth and talk about how it runs my life. I could easily out eat a full grown gorilla when it comes to anything with sugar, and in the past I’ve not worried about it too much because I had a decent balance on my intake.

  Fast forward to over a year ago, when my mental strength turned to mush.

  Some things occurred the last year and a half that helped catalyze my diet to become something you’d likely see on an episode of Jerry Springer, the foodie edition. It’s come to a point where it’s no longer a joke, and I’ve been completely hijacked by sugar. Don’t get me wrong, my Costco cart is still filled with greens, and the bulk of my diet are whole foods, but that doesn’t excuse the excess amounts of treats I’ve consumed.

  

  I will never completely abandon processed sugar, I’ve tried and it just causes me to binge. A healthy balance of greens and treats is what I long for, and because I’m not currently in a mental state to have “just one,” sugar has got to go. For now.

  I’m not proud of the spiral I’ve fallen into, and my carefree intake of processed foods has affected me both mentally and physically. I’ve gained 25 pounds, my fitness activities are challenging, and my motivation is dismal, but the good news (because I’m a sucker for silver linings and must end on a positive note) is that this is reversible.

  

  Whole Foods – the king of vegan chocolate mousse

  Life happens, and sometimes that means we fall off the wagon. Or in my case, get body slammed off the wagon, run over, and then the wagon backs up just for good measure. We’re human and sometimes it takes time to realize our actions aren’t serving us very well, and in my case it’s taken over a year. I can only take what happens in life and learn from it.

  I’ve been dwelling long enough on my choices and it’s time to make some changes. I no longer want to just “look a certain way,” but rather I want to feel a certain way. I want to sleep better, I want my skin to feel hydrated, I want my energy levels to be elevated, I no longer want my eyes to look lifeless, I want my joint and muscle inflammation to dissipate, and most importantly I want my mind to be at peace.

  Sugar messes with so many parts of our bodies, and our brains are hit the hardest. 

  

  SO I went out with a bang last week and stocked up on treats from Whole Foods, because they are my JAM when it comes to vegan baked goods. Starting today I will be training for my seventh half marathon, which will help get me back on track. Within the next three months I plan to avoid any and all processed sugar with one exception – my birthday.

  Life’s too short not to have cake on your birthday.

  

  Whole Foods – mile high vegan cupcakes

  I guarantee I will have x-rated fantasy’s of sugar dancing in my lap, and post race I plan to indulge in the most decadent of treats, but overall I hope to regain my mental strength, reestablish some self control, and rediscover what balance means for me.

  Posting this on the blog is my attempt to stay accountable because it’s easy to put this into words after eating a locally made donut when my sugar levels have been filled, but come next week when my reserves are empty I’ll need this accountability to stay strong. I know when I’m out running my double digit miles next month I’ll thank myself, because without all the processed garbage blocking my innards running will feel so much better.

  

  Three months sans sugar, and three months of focused running to bring me back to a balanced state of living. I’ll do random updates every so often. One of my favorite half marathon training plans has every Monday as a rest day, including the first one.

  Starting off training with a rest day, I can work with that. 

  Instead of running today you can find me at work, and unwinding with one of my favorite gifts of the year. A friend of mine took one of my Instagram photos and had it made into a puzzle. It was a total surprise, and totally awesome. Also, I’m still rocking three pumpkins outside my house because I have separation anxiety for the fall season.

  

  Wish me luck, and if I snap at you while having a conversation just know it’s nothing personal. It’s just the sugar beast searching for glucose. 🙂

  Q: What’s the longest you’ve gone without sugar? For those of you that live sugar free, what was it like when you first made the lifestyle change?

  

  | 64 Comments Tagged Half Marathon, Running, Sugar Free, Vegan, Whole Foods

• Trusting the Process

  Posted at 9:05 AM by Brittany, on February 26, 2016

  I find myself bouncing back and forth between blog posts that have some sort of underlying message about life, to blog posts that have no outline or purpose other than to put mind thoughts to paper – or internet pages. This post falls into the latter category.

  

  I turned 27 last week, which is an odd feeling because when I hear 27 all I think about is, “three years from 30” which is terrifying. Not to say there is anything wrong with being 30, in fact I somewhat look forward to turning 30 because I hope by then my life will be together. What’s terrifying is that I feel nothing like an adult, and my lifestyle is still somewhat juvenile.

  

  I wear a Buzz Lightyear bag when I ride my bike.

  I’m thankful that I’ve finally, and I repeat FINALLY buckled down to finish my college degree after eight years of back and forth nonsense. From psychology, to dental hygiene, to dental assisting, to nutrition, to where I am now with ASU. I swore I’d have some kind of medical degree like my dad, but alas I’m better with words.

  Let me be a prime example that it’s never too late to finish something you’ve started.

  Never. 

  

  BS in Human Communications here I come

  The last few years have been spent soul searching. I’ve discovered a sense of who I am, which is a crucial puzzle piece of life when you’re in your 20’s. I know I’m not done yet and lately I’ve started to feel the sense that something is missing, but I’m not quite sure what. I tend to get stuck in my comfort zone which is where I am once again.

  This happens to me when I run, I get comfortable staying between 3-6 miles and my fitness eventually plateaus. This is when I get impulsive and sign up for another half marathon, like I did last month. I sometimes need a push to step outside my mandala of butterflies and rainbows.

  

  Half marathon training is on par, 5 miles is my comfortable spot and now we start getting closer to double digits.

  I am thankful for everything that I have right now – a loving family that supports me in every way, a house over my head, a small but solid friendship circle, and a stable job that allows me to finish school, go on adventures, pick my schedule, and coworkers that love me regardless of my wind blown hair after biking to work.

  

  Despite my blessings, I now need more. These feelings creep up whenever I notice myself getting complacent with my comfort zone. I have all the means to take a giant leap in life, but I find myself needing the push. I’m trusting the process and putting the vibes into the world that I’m ready. For what I don’t know, but I’m ready.

  I don’t often look at the bigger picture because I truly believe life is meant to be enjoyed right now, and too many of us get so stuck on what we want later in life that we miss the beauty that’s right in front of us. Disclaimer: I don’t mean throwing everything into the gutter just to have fun, I mean building a life of balance right NOW instead of later when you have X,Y, and Z accomplished. 

  With that said, I’m heeding my dads advice of “look at what you want later, and do what you have to now to make that happen.”

  

  I want energy, so my weekends are spent at the theater so I can be in bed by 10.

  I want independence (in other ways that I have now), I want stability (not related to money), I want a place of my own (specifically something tiny and on wheels), I want world exposure (without the fear of getting lost), but mostly I want balance.

  I can feel my inner world slightly off-kilter, and despite being semi locked into life right now (to finish school I must stay with Starbucks for at least another 1.5 yrs because they are footing the bill, yeehaw) I’m looking towards the future for once instead of living in the moment. I must trust my current process to propel me somewhere amazing later in life.

  Perhaps that in and of itself is a slight sense of balance.

  

  When all else fails, I can always lean on trees for stability.

  After all that, it turns out this post actually had more purpose that I expected. 🙂 Things are changing in my world, and I’m honoring the flow of life by conforming to the changes.

  Q: Who can relate?

  

  | 90 Comments Tagged Bike, Half Marathon, Life, Running

• Early Morning Confessions

  Posted at 6:30 AM by Brittany, on February 12, 2015

  1. I haven’t talked about running much in these parts lately, but that doesn’t mean it’s not happening. It is…it is happening. 3-4 x a week. Half marathon in 30days.

  

  Soggy 7 miler

  2. On the run pictured above I got a bloody toe, and both my hands cracked and bled. Uhhh…hot mess much? I’ll spare you photos. I’m ready for spring running.

  3. My mom made a raw strawberry cheesecake and left me a slice to find on my car. I found it at 5am before work last Saturday. I think I’ll keep her.

  

  Coffe + pie = blissfulbritt. <—I had to.

  4. I’m craving change. I hope something crazy happens soon. Hey atmosphere, throwing it out there!! I’m READY!

  5. I’ve been living off of the Starbucks brown rice salad. I get one everyday – no joke. I bring it home and add more greens. It helps that I get them FOFREE.

  

  kale+spinach+peas+butternut squash+broccoli+sundried tomatoes+cabbage+brownrice+allthesalsaaaaa.

  6. My photos are awful lately. Taken inside – aka away from natural light. Meh.

  7. I’m obsessed with this vacuum. Obsessed.

  

  8. I had the most lovely conversation with two customers at work last week. 15 minutes of pure coffee geekery. I love sharing coffee knowledge with others.

  9. These Starbucks cups make my single heart swoon.

  

  10. If a dog poops in the dark and no one is around to see, did he really poop? Ultimate confession: I was walking the dog the other night and not a single fiber in my body wanted to pick up his poop, so I left it. In my defense I went to pick it up the next day, along with someone else’s poop! By someone I mean something…a dog.

  I hope. 

  Q: What’s your confession?

  

  | 79 Comments Tagged Confessions, Half Marathon, House Sitting, Raw, Run, Running, Starbucks, Vegan

• Brain Splurge with a Side of Fun Facts

  Posted at 6:43 AM by Brittany, on December 30, 2014

  Whole lotta random coming atcha in 3…2…1…

  – Christmas was great this year, calm and casual just the way I like it. I gifted my mom tickets to see one of my favorite artists, because he happens to be playing with the Seattle Symphony. I knew she would like the symphony, and I would like him. Win.

  

  Fun Fact: I’ve never been to a concert. Unless you count a local radio stations throw together of artists that I went to when I was 12 with my friend and her dad. All I remember is a light up pin and ear plugs. I’m not going to count that.– I escaped to the mountains on another solo hike last week. I decided waiting on other people wasn’t worth it, so off I went with my Mace and kitchen knife.

  

  Fun Fact: I LOVE the look of rustic, old, and tattered things. Buildings, cars, boats, you name it. I drove past that boat pictured above many times and finally stopped to take a picture. Look close and you’ll spy a chicken and a cow.– I have officially entered the world of plant based caramel sauce. I hesitate to say “vegan” because I do use honey, but it’s close enough folks. Here is is pictured with a recipe I plan to share later this week. I’m absolutely obsessed.

  

  Fun Fact: This recipe inspired me to start making more raw like treats.– I’m in Arizona until the 4th of January. Mountains no longer look the same as the above photo from my solo hike. Not a green tree in sight, just red red rocks.

  

  Entering desert land, last of the white mountains.

  

  Fun Fact: Sunshine is a drug, and I’m prepared to overdose.-I’ve started training for my next half marathon in March. Running in Arizona has been an ego boost of sorts. FLAT lands mean quicker paces. Busting out an average 9:20 pace after taking months off doesn’t happen in my area, much too hilly.

  

  Fun Fact: Arizona is having one of its coldest winters. Almost feels like home.

   Q: What’s your fun fact of the day?

  

  | 72 Comments Tagged Arizona, Fun fact, Half Marathon, Random, Run, Vacation

• Poulsbo Half Marathon – Take Two

  Posted at 3:59 AM by Brittany, on October 16, 2014

  Last Sunday I completed my sixth half marathon, and it was absolutely fantastic.

  

  This was my second time running the Poulsbo half, and it is the only half I’ve repeated thus far. This is also the course that holds my current PR from last year. Everything about this race is my favorite from the course to the time of year. October makes for perfect running weather.

  

  This year Lily was in town to run it too, and she took second female overall. No big deal.

  As for me, the race was just what I expected. My training was on point, and although I didn’t get a PR I was CLOSE. I felt strong the entire race, and didn’t feel the desire to walk despite the massive hills throughout the course. My time was about 2 minutes and 23 seconds slower than last year (and my current PR,) which I was more than OK with.

  I finished with a time of 2:11:52, a 10:03 pace.

  

  I wasn’t sure what to expect with this race because despite finishing all my long runs, my mid week runs were slacking the last couple weeks because I was so wrapped up with school. I also didn’t have “fresh legs” because of all the exploring/hiking Lily and I did the two days prior.

  I think I’ve come to a point where running half marathons are not longer a “big deal.” I didn’t feel nervous, and I was only moderately tired/sore after. I did run this entire race in my Vibram’s, which I had never done before. This contributed to some sore calves, but otherwise they were great. I couldn’t be happier with the outcome of this race.

  

  I’d also like to thank my giant spaghetti feast and this Texas sized cookie for my prerace fuel.

  My mentality throughout my entire training process and the race itself was they key to my successful run. I smiled, I laughed, I cheered on other runners, and I knew that I had the ability to finish strong. I’m still on such a runners high, & I’m searching for half marathon number #7!

  

  I didn’t stop my watch at 13.1 so this is my time for an extra .04 of a mile. Every second counts.

  Q(s):

  • Runners, what’s your favorite time of year to run?
  • Non runners, what’s your favorite time of year to do outdoor activities?

  

  | 54 Comments Tagged Fall, Half Marathon, October, Race, Run, Vegan

• Adventures with Lily

  Posted at 3:40 AM by Brittany, on October 14, 2014

  I had the pleasure of spending last Thurs-Mon with a dear friend I met through blogging. Lily and I became friends through blogging wayyy back when this little blog first started, and our friendship has blossomed more and more as each day passes. I went to her wedding before we actually met in person, because blogging has a magical way of bringing people together.

  When deciding what to squeeze into the few days she was here, this is what I came up with.

  Hiking

  

  

  

  A four mile hike in the heart of the Olympic Mountains. The views were stunning as per usual.

  

  Playing Tourist

  

  Deciding what baked goods to purchase is serious business.

  I took Lily to Pike Place Market for baked goods (for both), beer (for her), coffee (for me), salmon (for her), and a day of Seattle exploration. I also got a cookie the size of Texas to split.

  

  Half Marathoning

  

  We both ran the Poulsbo half marathon. A separate post dedicated to this race will come later this week, but I’ll just say the race was fantastic, and Lily got 2nd female overall. She is a beast.

  Coffee Dates

  

  Lily humored my love for coffee and went on multiple coffee/tea/beer dates with me. I got coffee every time because I am a square and I like square things. Like black coffee.

  Random Activities

  

  Building a sad yet epic looking haunted house.

  

  Carb loading on pasta and bread pre race.

  

  I got Lily to try a handful of vegan items. The success rate was about 50/50.

  CliffsNotes Version: We ate, we drank, we laughed, we hiked, we ran, and we explored.

  A fantastic weekend with fantastic company.

  Q: Have you made any friends through blogging? I’ve made a handful of solid friends that I cannot imagine my life without!

  

  | 47 Comments Tagged Bloggers, Half Marathon, Run, Seattle, Vegan

• Early Morning Confessions

  Posted at 6:42 AM by Brittany, on September 25, 2014

  1. Pumpkins. Orange. Brown. Leaves. Scarecrows. Sweet Potatoes. Baked Apples. Yellow.

  FALL, FALL, FALL.

  

  2. I haven’t gone hiking in almost three weeks. WHAAAAT!?

  3. I have been drinking coffee in mugs made for the mountains though.

  

  4. Instead I’ve been running, and walking, and…working. T-minus 17 days until half time.

  5. I went to visit a friend last weekend and she told me she signed up for her first 5K. After I expressed pure joy by running up the side of a building, she asked if we could go practice run.

  UHH yes!? I didn’t even care that I wasn’t wearing proper shoes.

  I don’t advise running 3miles in TEVA’s.

  

  6. I’ve been doing 90% of my half marathon training in my Vibram Five Fingers. I’ve had the same pair for over five years, and they are fantastic.

  7. This made me insanely excited for Thanksgiving. It also made me wonder why I don’t have something like a sloth or wildebeest as my mailbox. I should rectify this.

  

  8. I went an entire week without treats. I plan to try a new experiment where I only have treats once a week, but if you see me on the news it’s because mentally I didn’t make it.

  9. I’m running out of things to share, so I will mention how delightful my first official fall weather run was. I went out for 5 mi, but ended up running 8 mi. Crisp air and yellow leaves are magical.

  

  10. I haven’t worn deodorant (and by this I mean I haven’t slapped baking soda under my arms because this is what I do for “deodorant”) in two weeks. I hope I haven’t been walking around with a green aura spewing from my body. I only had to reshower once. Win.

  Q: What’s your confession?

  

  | 49 Comments Tagged Confessions, Fall, Half Marathon, Random, Run

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• Contact: blissfulbritt@yahoo.com

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