Alaska Adventures

On April 14, 2016, I was able to cross something off my bucket list.  I was able to travel to Alaska. The trip was for work thrown in with a couple days of play. I wanted to hit the ground running on both.  This journey would be epic and would change a little part of me.  Also, Alaska is Montana on steroids.

But, first, this song. I am loving this right now.  Also, the video reminds of my old neighborhood in Los Angles, conveniently called The Jungle. 

 Jungle

My work sent me to Alaska for an event and to create relationships/partnerships with community contacts.  We also have driving schools up there.  With my flight delayed a day, I definitely hit the ground running once I arrived.  I wanted to make my work proud and prove that I deserved to go there.  I had great meetings and the event was great.  Nice to work with our Alaska staff and see the culture that is Alaska.  Grateful to be sent to there.  

On my days off I took advantage of what people told me to see.  I went whale watching on my first day.  I traveled to Seward to do this.  The road takes you right by the ocean and through mountains with glimpses of glaciers.  It was the most beautiful drive I have ever been on.  Ever.  I would take pictures of everything around me.  The snow capped mountains, the crisp blue and green water, the blue skies and I swear I felt so close to the sun.  The light there is indescribable.  Pure magic.  When I was driving the sun would occasionally dip behind the mountains and when it did this, it would feel like 8 o'clock at night.  That is how much it lights up the sky.  Powerful. No filters on any pictures!

I sat with a mom and daughter at my table on the whale watching trip.  They were a lot of fun and I couldn't have asked for better people.  Anytime I am near water or on water I feel at peace and right at home.  This explains my love for swimming.  It was beautiful out.  Clear and sunny.  We saw sea otters, sea lions and gray and humpback whales.  It was awesome.  I wish I could think of a better word for this experience, but I just can't.  Seeing these huge creatures in their natural habitat was pure awesomeness.  Another thing checked off my bucket list. At one point, when they blew water out, it hit the sun just right and looked like a rainbow. AWESOME.  On the drive up there I also made a detour to Exit Glacier.  I got as close as I could, since the road was closed down for snow still.  I got out of the car and explored.  You could hear all the animals around you echoing off the glaciers.  I just closed my eyes and listened and breathed.  I did this for short periods only because I didn't want to get eaten.  That would not have been fun nor was it on the itinerary.  But, it was extraordinary to be out there and so close to the glaciers.  I have never felt so tiny and so awed at the same time.  Memorable feeling.

Earlier in the week I was able to hit the Anchorage museum after our event and it was a free day! I also had dinner by the ocean and hit up the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail.  I wanted to bike this, but the bike rentals weren't available yet.  I also ran a bit on this trail.  Very pretty.  Then I sat on this bench to lookout over the ocean and inhaled and exhaled the experience.  You need to do this.  Sometimes we are so busy taking pictures and not really living in the moment.  Then I looked down and saw this on the bench.  Sometimes the universe plainly writes its message out for you.

This opened up Tuesday for me.  I decided to hike up to Flat Top.  This lookout allows you to over look the whole town and inlets.  I saw Denali a few times on this trip and you could see it from here as well.  Then Fire Island.  And of course you are right next to these great mountains again.  I just sat on of the rocks and took it all in.  Yes, again I closed my eyes. This allows me to really be in the moment and center myself.  Then on the other side of the lookout, a storm was coming in and that was amazing to watch.  It rolled in-between the mountains and looked fierce. I imagined what it would be like climbing the mountain and have that roll up on you.  Once again, felt so tiny in the space around me. After exploring I went to the Snow City Cafe and sat at the counter and befriended an older gentleman.  That is what I like about vacationing by myself.  You are completely open to anything.  And you are on your own schedule.  He was a nice and ordered the same thing every day and got a punch on his card.  He said "You know, after 11 breakfasts, the 12 is free."  Someone who orders the same thing and loves a goal of free food-it was like hanging out with me!  Overall, I found Alaskans to be very nice.  I did notice it is a port town for airlines.  The gentleman asked me if I was a flight attendant.   I told him I was an explorer (after I told him I was there for work-ha!).  But, I sat at the counter with my coffee and breakfast and journaled a mantra that came to me earlier on Flat Top.  I had so many thoughts and creative juices flowing on this trip, I wanted to make sure I captured them.  Being completely open does that for you. 

Then I hit this amazing cycling class I had been eyeing.  I do have traditions when I travel.  I must see if there is a lululemon.  I must find a yoga studio.  I must run.  Cycling and swimming are just bonuses.  The reason I had my eye on this class was because it was like Soul Cycle.  Two big screens with everyone's bike number so you see what place you are in the class in terms how hard you are working and then would switch to your power meters.  That was awesome.  Then someone help you to your bike and make sure you are set up correctly.  Basically felt like spa cycling! But, then a guy comes in to teach, in a trucker hat and starts becoming a DJ and cycling at the same time.  Cool remixes, techno and house music.  I was in heaven and he adjusted the lights to florescent at times. Fun hip hop cycling and I busted my butt.  We need that here.  It was everything I imagined it would be.  I did their yoga class on Monday.    Legit set ups and so much room, clean dressing rooms and showers.  If you go to Anchorage, check out Anchorage Yoga and Cycle

Wednesday I decided to head back up to Seward to see the Sea Life Center and explore the town.  I love animals and mammals, so I could have stayed there all day.  It was fun.  I wanted to see puffins on this trip and I did.  I also watched this sea lion swim laps and keep swimming.  He would look for me on each loop, pretty sure he loved my hot pink Betty hat.  When he would pass me he would close his eyes and keep swimming his circles.  He was having a fine day and so content.  I think he loved showing off, but also he just seemed peaceful.  It was amazing to see something that big swim so close to you and be that close to eye contact.  Once again, felt so small and it was awesome.

I then walked through the town and headed out after lunch.  I wanted to get to the Wildlife Conservatory.  This place helped animals that had been injured.  I was excited, because besides whales and puffins, I really wanted to see an Alaska moose.  Upon getting there, they give you a map and you can drive or walk the loops to see the animals.  It was about 1.5 miles, so I decided to walk. I went directly to the moose.  They were so big.  I talked to one and it came over to me and hung out near me, then went over to the side and peed in the water.  Then it looked back at me.  I told him it was cool and don't be embarrassed.  I pee in water too! (Triathlete-hello). Hung out with the rest of them for a minute and then went on to explore some more.  Saw black bear, bison, muskox, gray wolf, caribou, bald eagle, owls and a possum.  All of it was very cool.  I then circled back to the moose.  I hung out there a bit more and then said goodbye.

One the way back, I stopped at some pullouts and took in the miraculous views of the landscape again. I couldn't get enough of it.  I wanted to keep breathing it in, like somehow I could take it with me. But, in my heart I knew I would.  I knew this was just what I needed.  A pause to my life.  A moment to breathe and unplug.  This trip gave me inspiration to take a baby step to a possible dream project.  I gained the clarity of gratefulness to live on this amazing planet and I felt so lucky to be there, in these moments.  I still think about the air, the sun and the mountains in Alaska.  The crispness of the scenery filling my lungs as I closed my eyes.  Sometimes we need to be reminded how small we are to imagine how big we can be.  Dream big. Dream out loud. Breathe deep. Be present and surrender to the vastness of your surroundings.  

  

The Gift Of Running

I often hear how sport has changed or saved someone's life.  I would understand this only on the surface level of emotion, until it did just that for me.  The sport was running.  The year was 2013.  I think of this time fondly and hold it sacred.

But, before I get into how training for the NYCM was a journey that changed my world, new song.

Sit Still, Look Pretty


I am going to share a poem that came across my computer this week.  It inspired this post and this picture of my shoes situation.

Hello, love. I got you a present. Oh, I hope you like it! I thought it would be perfect for you. It looks small, but don’t assume. Go on, open it!

It is a Mountain - for you to stand tall, proud, and confident on.
It is a Voice - for you to use when you need to speak your mind.
It is Truth - for you to live by, day in and day out.
It is Humility - for you to admit your weaknesses and wrongdoings.
It is Friendship - to connect to others over your shared passion.
It is Generosity - for when you want to share yourself with the world.
It is a Sob - for when your world brings you to your knees.
It is a Scream - for when your rage consumes you and demands to be released.
It is Gratitude - for when your heart swells so big with love you’re afraid it will burst.

.....What’s that?
Oh, I know all these presents LOOK like a pair of sneakers, but trust me on this one. 

Running is a gift, because it can be anything you need it to be.

I still have the hot pink Asics Nimbus that I ran the NYCM in the pile of shoes I own by my door (under the second set of shoes-HA).  I keep them for many reasons.  I keep them because they carried me on a journey that I never expected to be on.  They carried me to a finish line that was 20 some weeks in the making.  They gave me hope. They listened when I complained and helped me keep going when I didn't think I had anything left in the tank.  They healed my heart and soul and eventually taught me to fall in love again....with my self.

I know I have mentioned this in previous posts, but just to recap.  I had watched the NYCM on the TV for years and had entered the lottery and not got in 2 times.  Beginning of 2013, I made my first vision board beginning of 2013.  I had cut these shoes out, the Asic Nimbus in hot pink, because I liked them.  At the time I was a Brooks runner.  Didn't think much of it.  Also, in 2013 my contract with my job ended.  Also, it was the end of a relationship with a guy that I thought could be my last relationship.  That was a slow death, but nonetheless, very painful.  Not so much the end, but the end of what I envisioned for my world.  I was sad, scared and crumbled.  This was March.  In May, I went in to my local running store and said I needed a change.  Everything around me was changing, why not my running shoe.  I walked out with-yep you guessed it, the hot pink Asic Nimbus.  I had only realized a while later that this was the shoe on my vision board.  Two and half weeks later I was accepted into the NYCM.  Amazing that two months earlier I had no direction...of anything.  And now I could focus on training and my Masters.  I did take a break from work during this time and just trained.  Knowing that kind of opportunity would not present itself again in the future for a long time.

I began running and training.  My heart and world still a little shaky.  But, I documented the process and people began following it and rooting for me.  For the first time I was called inspiring.  I was just out there putting in miles and chasing healing.  I remember telling my friend Tami that I was learning to love myself again and feel strong.  She gave me a word for this time-Surrender.  For an A type personality, that was a lesson in itself.  But, I focused on it.  A pair of running shoes created more possibilities than I could have ever imagined.  Each week I started to believe in myself and that I could reach that finish line.  My body changed without me really thinking of it.  My soul shined and heart healed.  I was a different girl at the end of that training.  Stronger.  Happier.  Goal Setter.

This trail is right outside my house.  No filter.  Montana is for Badasses.

My favorite pair of shoes has done all the things listed in the poem above and so much more.  That is why I keep the sneakers and wear them.  To be proud.  To remember how far I have come.  To remind me that possibilities are endless, if we just take the first step.