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  • Tag: Portland

    • Race for the Roses 10k

      Posted at 8:00 AM by Brittany, on April 25, 2016

      I survived my first race of the year, and it went better than expected.

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      In an attempt to rectify my love affair with running I signed up for this half marathon back in January. After skipping one too many long runs and staying on the shitty diet train for too long I decided 13.1 just wasn’t in the cards for me.

      I decided to run the 10k instead which has always been my favorite race distance. It’s a happy medium for me that requires no training and somehow always sparks a fire in my soul for the sport. Something about being around other runners reminds me why I run.

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      Normally when I sign up for a race it’s 100% based on location, course, and finishers medals. This time I was able to find one that satisfied all of that, PLUS benefited a good cause. It was a win win win win.

      The morning of the race I was a moody Mary and didn’t want to go. I didn’t sleep well, didn’t feel well, and dreaded the idea of running. Skipping the race wasn’t an option, and once I arrived my mood immediately changed.

      From moody Mary to glowing Glenda with two snaps and a twirl.

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      It’s hard to be grumpy when 100% of the proceeds from a race go towards families and people with developmental disabilities. My sister has autism, so this cause was close to my heart. The crowd of people that participated were full of energy and inspiration.

      The course wasn’t as flat as I’d expected, but it was amazing. We ran through the city of Portland over bridges, along the water, and between skyscrapers. I found myself smiling more than expected.

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      Obviously not my photo, but was taken the day of the race.

      I’m not exaggerating when I say my running has been awful lately. When I’m not running consistently, anything over 3 miles becomes difficult. I went into this race with no expectations, and told myself to just enjoy the miles as they came.

      Around mile 4 the sun started to hit me. I felt my brain pounding between my temples and decided to take a couple walk breaks for about 30 seconds each. Despite these stops I still finished with a time I’m proud of, and only 2 minutes slower than my PR.

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      The finishers medal is a handmade slab of wood with the logo stamped on it, I adore the rustic look. I also got a fun swag bag that I stuffed full of post run snacks.

      Will run for carbs.

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      Fast forward two hours: A trip to Blue Star Donuts and somehow two vegan donuts made it into my hands. A blueberry cake donut, and orange olive oil.

      I regret nothing.

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      I balanced all these carbs with a hefty salad for dinner. I’d give away my bag of mini Clif bars (I hoard free race goodies) for that salad every night.

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      So there you have it. Just like that, I feel inspired to run again. I often say running is 90% mental and it’s true. After turning around my attitude I was able to enjoy this experience and finish strong. Thoughts of donuts helped too.

      Q: What’s your favorite donut flavor? I’m a sucker for a good apple fritter, but that orange olive oil was so unique is swept me off my feet.

      b

      | 88 Comments Tagged 10K, Donuts, Portland, Race, Running, Vegan
    • Cinnamon Zen

      Posted at 7:15 AM by Brittany, on April 19, 2016

      Anytime I venture to Portland I leave early in the morning and skip breakfast. I like to save myself for a “welcome to Portland” feast, and this time I went hard.

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      I’ve been craving cinnamon rolls for weeks, and the $6 giant vegan cinnamon roll from Blossoming Lotus did NOT disappoint. I’d like to say I ate this entire thing on my own, but I split it with my mom and my sister.

      That cashew cream cheese…

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      I saved room for half of a breakfast burrito stuffed full of kale, potatoes, coconut “bacon”, tomatoes, and a tofu scramble. Plus a few bites of my moms vegan “eggs benedict.” Both were fantastic, but put me into quite the coma.

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      I decided this trip was going to be stress free, and that included food related stress. I’ve had all these sensitivities that I’ve been ignoring for quite some time, tossing the word moderation to the wind, and this was my final hurrah for a while.

      Post feast it was time for a relaxing adventure.

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      The weather in the PNW this week has been gorgeous.

      Hot, but gorgeous. 

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      The garden was lovely, and had me daydreaming of picnics, yoga, and things I need to adjust in my life.

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      I have an all or nothing personality, and if I’m not careful it can get the best of me. When I first started seeing doctors for a hormonal imbalance, it led me down a negative path.

      I felt very restricted in my diet which eventually triggered the “eat all the gluten/sugar/things you don’t need” button in my mind. It’s been a slow process trying to break this cycle, but I take it day by day.

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      The garden was packed full of people, and there were flower bushes and trees everywhere. I’m not typically a flower kinda gal, I’d much rather walk through evergreen trees and snow capped mountains, but it was nice to slow down and appreciate another type of beauty.

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      With a belly full of cinnamon and a mind full of zen I was ready to start manifesting a new path to walk on, a path back towards a balanced lifestyle.

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      If you’re in the Portland area and want a place to look at flowers and make friends with the local geese population this rhododendron garden is your spot. I promise you’ll find some inner zen, and if you’re lucky a goose will hiss at you.

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      I got too close and this goose tongue out hissed at me like a cat. I screamed and laughed at the same time.

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      Perfect afternoon adventure.

      Q: Have you ever been hissed at by a goose? 

      b

      | 82 Comments Tagged Garden, Portland, Vacation, Zen
    • Discovering New Identities

      Posted at 7:05 AM by Brittany, on April 15, 2016

      Blogging has always been a fantastic outlet for me to share my self proclaimed creativity through adventures, food, coffee, and whatever else life throws my way. It’s been a huge part of my life for five years now (wow), but I’d be lying if I said it’s been easy lately.

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      I’ve been sharing my love for vegan food, coffee, and running for most of those five years, and all of these things have given me a solid chunk of personal identity. I’ve been struggling with health issues lately that have caused me to give up coffee, take a vegan vacation, and step back from running – aka 90% of what I blog about/talk about/dream about/live about.

      To say I feel like my identity has been stripped would be an understatement.

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      I’m still running…sometimes, I still eat predominately plant based…most of the time, and I still tried to drink coffee…until finally accepting that I just can’t. I still don’t know the underlying cause behind my symptoms right now (an ongoing process that’s been going on for years) but I’m determined to figure it out.

      I’m beginning to suspect that stress may be a large part of why I’ve been having issues lately. I’ve never thought much about it, but I do tend to let my mind take me down the rabbit hole if I’m not careful. I hereby declare that I will put my energy into things that calm me, and stop focusing on things that don’t.

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      I’m not writing this seeking sympathy, but to simply share that I’ve felt like a blogging zombie lately. Although I’ve still had great adventures to share, I feel like I’m in a limbo right now where I’m trying to fit a square block into a hole for a circle block. I’m also a sucker for transparency, and I don’t blog for a job – I blog for connections.

      Plus I feel like getting this off my chest (as it’s been on my mind for a while) will help me feel more authentic with my blogging again. 

      I know this isn’t forever, and I’ll find my way back onto the wagon soon enough, but for now I’m going to use this as an opportunity to add new things to my list of identity characteristics. I’ll still be sharing any runs I go on, plant based foods I eat, but coffee and I are on a solid break until I start feeling better.

      Thankfully my mountain adventures are still going strong.

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      I’m always talking about how life is fluid and changes whether we are ready or not, and while it feels like my adventure has had constant twists the last couple years, I still have complete control over how I will use these twists to build an epic life full of experience and multiple identities.

      Not to be confused with multiple personalities. 

      Overall life is good, and I’m extremely blessed. I’m off to Portland tomorrow to run this race and I’m excited to get away for the weekend. I’m not stressing about the run despite the fact that I haven’t had my heart rate out of the resting zone much the last couple weeks. I’ve always said running is more mental anyway so I’ll let you know if my theory is true.

      Wish me luck, and pray I don’t pass out on the side of the road. 

      Q: What are your plans for this weekend?

      b

      | 100 Comments Tagged Explore, Hike, Life, Plant Based, Portland, Running, Vegan
    • The Grotto

      Posted at 9:45 AM by Brittany, on January 26, 2016

      I’ve never been an overly religious person, but back in 2013 I was in need of something bigger than myself to help me through some hard times. I started going to church, and the feel good vibes I received helped me find peace in my tangled mind.

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      Religious or not, I find the messages given in settings like a church to be messages I want to live by: treat others well, share what you have, help when you can, and trust in the universe. Whatever your thoughts on higher powers are, I believe everyone should find something to believe in that’s bigger than us.

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      It was in this time that I discovered the power of positive thoughts. The moment I relinquished control over what was bothering me and trusted in the process was the moment I felt calm, and hopeful. This was years ago, but I have held onto this mindset and use it whenever I feel necessary. A calm mind is a happy mind.
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      One of the places I find the most solitude and peace is in nature. I discovered a sense of who I was the last couple years after diving head first into many hiking adventures, some solo, most with friends. There is something powerful about observing nature for what it’s worth and appreciating the effort that went into its creation.

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      On my recent trip to Portland, I found myself appreciating the beauty of nature from a religious standpoint while wandering around The Grotto. I was in absolute awe of the history here and the air around these trees felt lighter and full of life.

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      Although I don’t identify myself as a Catholic, the work that went into preserving the peace within this area is enough for anyone to appreciate. No matter your beliefs, in the end as long as you live a life of integrity, honesty, helpfulness, and trust the process – life becomes much easier.

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      I’ve been talking a lot about manifesting lately, and it’s something I’ve grown fond of. This universal practice of turning your thoughts into reality has been around for ages, and I’ve been putting all the things I want into the universe and slowly but surely the seeds I’m planting are starting to grow. As with most things, this takes time.

      I set a goal of honoring my thoughts more this year, and paying attention to the waves that flow through my brain space. I truly believe life is too short to have worry, fear, anxiety, distress, and discomfort. These emotions come when we set our focus on the future, or the past, both of which are irrelevant because all we have is now.

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      My takeaway message is this: whatever you believe, you must believe in something. We are a much smaller piece of the worldly puzzle and having “something” to lean on when things get difficult helps make this life we create a much smoother ride.

      Find your “Being” and run with it. This is a constant work in progress as life is one big mind game, and only those who can complete their puzzle come out on top. 

      Q: Where do you go to find peace and solitude? The trees, always the trees. And sometimes a bakery… 😉

      b

      | 91 Comments Tagged Explore, Nature, Portland
    • Body and Heart Music

      Posted at 7:35 AM by Brittany, on January 21, 2016

      “Food is music to the body, and music is food to the heart.” – Gregory David Roberts

      Portland speaks to my soul in ways that Seattle cannot. Earthy, life loving/free spirited people on every corner draw me in with their vegan treats and plant based eats. I’ve made a habit of visiting new places each time I visit, and after spending last Thursday/Friday in the Rose City I can cross five more places off my list.

      .a.n.d cafe.

      After driving for three hours, tummy monster on empty, I was ready to devour coffee and carbs. The place was adorable.

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      I knew what I wanted before I arrived, and to set the theme for this post (and for my life) I couldn’t choose just one. So I had two.

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      Berries and “cream” waffle and the vegano burrito. So much yes.

      Stop number one complete.

      .arlene schnitzer concert hall.

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      The reason I went to Portland was to have my soul serenaded once again by my favorite artist. This time with the Oregon Symphony.

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      What I would give to harvest a garden with Gregory Alan Isakov. Swoon.

      Went to concert. Slept. Woke up hungover on life and ran to the nearest Stumptown Coffee in brand new Nike Free’s that cost far too much, but with no tax it was OK.

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      Savored coffee in the Ace Hotel lobby, and momentarily life was perfect.

      .petunias pies and pastries.

      Drank coffee, ate oatmeal, & prepared for sugar coma. Salted caramel cookie square and raspberry lemon coffee cake.

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      Post sugar influx, I ensured much walking was done. I’m a belieber of my new Nike’s. Never thought I would say that, but man do I love those shoes.

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      First attempt to balance the sugar. It worked. For 1/11th the price of those Nike’s you can build your own salad with as many greens as you want, and 6 toppings.

      Sold.

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      Or just eat the outdoor plants.

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      .back to eden bakery.

      Walked around downtown, endured the rain, felt the addiction creeping back through each vein and migrated to my final destination.

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      $25 dollars later…

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      I have no words. Thankfully there were three of us and we saved some for later.

      Food and music fueled my two day trip to Portland. Until next time, it’s time for water and greens. I’m officially a walking glucose molecule.

      Q: Where was your last adventure?

      b

      | 72 Comments Tagged Explore, Gluten Free, Gregory Alan Isakov, Portland, Vegan
    • Portland – The Land of Good Coffee and Cat Pillows

      Posted at 6:58 AM by Brittany, on August 17, 2015

      Though my recent trip to Portland was short, I managed to pack in enough adventure to highlight a few things Portland is best known for.

      A tiny home with giant Sunflower stalks. I want.

      A tiny home with giant Sunflower stalks. I want.

      I’m fortunate to live just a hop, skip, and a jump away from Portland which makes the 3 hour drive doable without much notice. I’d been spending a lot of time in Seattle lately, and needed a change of scenery.

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      Can anyone guess where I stopped first upon arrival? After spending 3 hours in my car (with at least 4 bathroom stops) I needed a pick me up.

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      On my last trip to Portland I was given this card for a free coffee because they forgot my moms bagel. I decided to cash it in, but because it was after 1pm I went with decaf. I told you in my last post what happens if I drink coffee after noon.

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      I almost got a regular coffee, but these tasting notes were perfect.

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      In true Brittany fashion, I needed something to pair with my coffee.

      What I’m about to say next requires no explanation because I feel no need to justify my decision, however a brief glance into my thoughts might help clarify why I paired my coffee with a non vegan donut.

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      I’ve been having a lot of issues with food lately, as regular readers will know. It had come to the point where I felt like I had no control over what I was able to eat, and I was feeling immensely restricted and fearful of anything that I put into my mouth. I have my safe foods, which I enjoy, but after a while they get a bit old.

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      Traditional vegan donuts are full of junk (well, I suppose most donuts are) that my body doesn’t like and my usual go-to’s for donuts are now off the table. Sure, I can make my own, and I plan to in the future, but after walking past Blue Star Donuts and reading their statement on simple, whole food based ingredients I knew I had to go in.

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      They had one vegan option, but I had been lusting over one specific donut ever since I saw it online a few months ago. Blueberry bourbon basil. If that doesn’t catch your attention I don’t know what will. When I first adapted a plant based diet I always said when I traveled I’d become a “vegan with benefits,” and with French based recipes consisting of whole foods, I benefited that day.

      I was caught trying to take a photo of my donut and coffee when someone asked if I wanted my picture taken with them.

      I was caught trying to take a photo of my donut and coffee when someone asked if I wanted my picture taken with them.

      So there you have it, I ate a donut that had NO soy, no nuts, no unrecognizable ingredients, but had eggs. I regret nothing. Will this happen again? Not anytime soon, and not unless I’m in Italy because you better believe I’m eating all the pizza.

      I don’t quite know why I had the urge to eat this donut, but my mind told me to eat it and I did. Plus, when the ingredients are locally sourced and I know the animals aren’t being harmed for their products, my morals aren’t compromised.

      I no longer feel restricted and the donut did its job. Moving on.

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      Donut and coffee in one hand. Skillz.

      Oh and the verdict? Light, fluffy, but the flavor wasn’t what I was expecting. It was delicious, but I was hoping to feel like I took a bite of blueberry pizza (basil) with a swig of throat burning bourbon. It just tasted like an airy donut.

      I didn’t feel sick after so that was a win. It also paired beautifully with the caramel and buttery notes in my coffee. Total taste-bud harmonization.

      Post donut and coffee consumption, wandering was required. Powell’s bookstore is always a good time, mentally stimulating on so many levels. I’ve been in the market for a new pillow and almost purchased one I saw while perusing the store.

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      I decided against the giant cat pillow after considering how my main man would react. He tends to get jealous, and these days I try to put others needs before my own.

      Even though he was busted ripping things off my wall so that he could lay on them, but I digress.

      “I do what I want”

      Next I ventured down to the water to soak up the last bit of the sun. I passed some solid cathedrals on my way there, and I’m a sucker for gorgeous architecture.

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      The only thing that would have made my trip to Portland better would have been a solid hike, and a trip to Multnomah Falls. The falls are on my bucket list, and next time I intend to stare at them until my eyes hurt.

      My next trip to Portland will be mid January for round two of Gregory Alan Isakov, but this time with the Portland symphony. Does this make me a groupie?

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      Not sure a visit to the falls will be a good idea when it’s freezing out in January, but nothing is off the table in my world.

      • Coffee scene – check
      • Foodie scene – check
      • Food trucks – check
      • Listening to street musicians – check
      • Tattoo’s everywhere – check
      • Exploration – check

      Portland in a nutshell.

      Q: How was your weekend? I have one more day of freedom, and today I’m off to Mount Rainier!

      b

      | 60 Comments Tagged Cats, Coffee, Donuts, Explore, Portland, Stumptown
    • Discover Portland: Foodie Tourist

      Posted at 7:18 AM by Brittany, on February 26, 2014

      My trip to Stumptown coffee would fall into the playing tourist category, but was so monumental it deserved a post of its own. After my race I needed coffee, but I also needed something else…something sugary and naughty. I needed a VOODOO doughnut.

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      Initially I went to the location downtown, but after seeing how long the line was I decided to drive to another location. Still a line, but not nearly as long.

      I would have waited, but my copilot said no.

      I would have waited, but my copilot said no.

      The wait time was about 15 minutes, not bad. I somehow pulled willpower out of my back pocket as if it had always lived there, and I saved my two donuts for later.

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      I got a classic powdered doughnut with a raspberry filling, but you don’t want to see that. What you’ll want to see is the chocolate, Oreo, peanut butter doughnut that rocked my face so hard I kicked myself for only getting one. Seriously..unreal. I’d drive back just for this…

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      iPhone photos

      I saved this treat for specific reasons, I had my stomach set on a Portland vegan meal. I’ve wanted to try Bye and Bye since reading about it in a blog post a yr ago. I’ve never been a fan of bars or pubs, but this place stole my soul. I would come here every weekend. With an all vegan menu, cute customers, and an even cuter bartender I was swooning..hard.

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      Arrows point to what I ordered.

      Arrows point to what I ordered.

      The food was amazing, but my photos are terrible. It was dark and I used my iPhone, so I’ll spare you my atrocities and share these photos I found online. My meal was out of this world, and I could easily eat the same thing everyday. Photos linked to original source.

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      I could meet my vegan/granola soul mate at this bar.

      With a full tummy, it was time to finally head home! I got about 20 minutes into my drive and it was doughnut time. My two day trip to Portland has been alive all week as I spaced out these blog posts, and I can’t wait to go back. When I do I’m grabbing a Voodoo to go with my free Stumptown coffee. Pure bliss.

      Q: What’s your favorite way to experience new areas? By foot, food, and exploration! 

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      | 53 Comments Tagged Adventure, Donuts, Portland, Run, Vegan, Voodoo donuts
    • Heart Breaker Half…errr…10K

      Posted at 3:55 AM by Brittany, on February 24, 2014

      While searching for the race I wanted to run for my birthday, the heart breaker half was the first to jump out at me. Close to home, but far enough away to feel like I was traveling.

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      The only problem was that I hadn’t run more than 2-3 miles since December. While I knew I could do it, I didn’t know if I wanted to suffer through the pain of pushing myself in a race that I hadn’t trained for. Lucky for me, this race also had a 10K option. Perfect.

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      The race started right outside of Liberty High School in Hillsboro, Oregon. I was so thankful the gym was open for everyone to wait in, because it was so unbelievable cold I began to question why I ever signed up for races in the winter. My entire body hurt.

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      After waiting for what felt like an eternity in the frozen tundra of Antarctica, we finally started the race. My legs were so heavy, and my fingers were numb. I was convinced I was just going to run this 10K with the hopes of not wanting to die. I had no intention to “race.”

      This was hands down THE most gorgeous course I have ever run. Rolling hills of farm lands, pigs and cows, and amazing trees welcoming the sun on the horizon. I didn’t stop to take any photos (sadly), but it was sort of like this.

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      Actual photo from the race I found on IG! This lady was great.

      Actual photo from the race I found on IG! This lady was great.

      The course was enough to make standing in the cold worth it, and I was quickly reminded of why I decided to run. The joy I get from discovering new areas on foot is indescribable. I found myself comfortably running about a 9:30-9:50 pace and decided I was going to try and beat my previous 10K time. I decided I was going to “race” instead of just run.

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      I’m growing another human out of my neck, to keep warm in winter.

      I beat my previous time by 1 minute and 28 seconds. Every second counts, if you’re a runner you will know what I mean. I was FOUR seconds away from getting UNDER an hour, but was still more than happy with my end time of 1:00:04. I stopped for about 10 seconds at mile 4 to get a drink…those damn 10 seconds..

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      The race was amazing, but my favorite part was moments after I crossed the finish line. A woman came up to me and thanked me, I had unknowingly paced her the entire time. This was her first 10K, and the excitement just poured out of her. She thanked me over and over for helping her complete this race, and told me my pace was amazing.

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      We matched..how cute.

      I am by no means a fast runner, but to know that my 9:41 pace inspired someone else to push it to the end was something I’ll remember for a while. She made my race complete. Needless to say, I was on a runners high the remainder of that day.

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      One of the best medals I’ve received!

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      Q: What’s your ideal scenery for a run? Or bike ride? Definitely this.

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      | 49 Comments Tagged 10K, Nature, Portland, Run Happy, Running
    • Discover Portland: The Coffee Scene

      Posted at 8:05 AM by Brittany, on February 20, 2014

      If you are a loyal blog reader, you’ll know I love coffee. I talk about it almost too much, and my day is not complete without at least one sip of the delicious dark drank.

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      Having that piece of knowledge, I hope you won’t judge me too hard for what I am about to say next. After entering Portland I had one goal: find coffee. Not just any coffee, good coffee, and not just good coffee, Stumptown coffee.

      Sorry Starbucks, I cheated on you. Stumptown is to Portland as Starbucks is to Seattle.

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      I drove around for a period of time I will neither confirm nor deny (you can thank the recent podcast on Radiolab for my use of the glomar response) trying to find this place.

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      After navigating downtown Portland for over 10 minutes trying to find a spot to park while my cortisol levels rose, I called it quits and decided to try again the next day.

      Sunday morning rush.

      Sunday morning rush.

      I ran my race (which I will recap in my next post) and made getting my hands on a cup of this coffee TOP priority. I was on a runners high, and needed caffeine to keep it flowing.

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      MINE

      Not mine, but deserved a photo.

      Not mine, but deserved a photo.

      I don’t know if it was because I had to wait a full 24 hours before having this cup of black crack, or because I was still elated from my run, OR because I had a delicious cookie to go with..but this cup of coffee was like biting into a cloud from heaven. The place was packed, but my patience levels were through the roof and I didn’t mind waiting.

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      The barista forgot one of the items I ordered, and gave me a card for a freebie next time I’m there. That’s some good customer service. Looks like I’ll have to plan another trip!

      Q: Would you drive around to find a place you had your heart set on, or give up and settle for something else? I refused to give up.

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      | 55 Comments Tagged Coffee, Portland, Stumptown
    • Discover Portland: The Pittock Mansion

      Posted at 7:01 AM by Brittany, on February 18, 2014

      Thank you for all the birthday wishes from my last post. You are all too good to me! 

      Upon my arrival in Portland, the weather was so atrocious I had to find something indoors to peak my interest. I didn’t have anything planned, the main reason for the adventure was to run my race, but that wasn’t until the next day. After sitting in a car for three hours I just needed to MOVE. I didn’t care where or how, so I Googled the nearest mall.

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      While driving to the mall I saw this cemetery and suddenly got the urge to take some photos. The rainy, foggy weather made the perfect backdrop if you ask me.

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      What a wonderfully eerie start to the trip. Portland Feb 2014 007a

      About a mile from this cemetery I found a sign that said, “Pittock Mansion next left.” Having no idea what the Pittock Mansion was, I decided why not follow the sign.

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      This place looked straight out of a Steven King novel, so of course we went in.

      Portland Feb 2014 022

      Most of my photos from inside didn’t turn out well enough to share, so if you’re curious you can click this Google link for some better photos. It was gorgeous, but creepy. Every room had something in it that made my neck hairs rise. I was expecting orbs in all my photos.

      Portland Feb 2014 038a

      Portland Feb 2014 035

      It didn’t take long to tour the place, maybe 35 minutes. I couldn’t help but think about how epic this place would be for hide and seek. Except I’d never want to be alone in there.

      Portland Feb 2014 056a

      Orbs...or water drops on my lens. You decide.

      Orbs…or water drops on my lens. You decide.

      Perfect piece of Portland history. No need to tour a boring mall.

      Q: Do you like sticking to a plan, or jumping off the path to discover something new? Both..in different ways and at different times. So vague of me.

      b

      | 37 Comments Tagged Adventure, Mansion, Nature, Portland
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