After a brief hiatus from mountain time, I'm back where I belong. Life since Colorado has been a whirlwind of new adventures, and as always I'm just in awe that my life is so freaking fantastic. From actually making friends and returning for a weekend on the AT, to placing 3rd in a trail half marathon, I just keep being blown away by how awesome life can be.
Currently I'm in Utah for two weeks. After my outstanding finish at the trail half marathon, I've decided I want to become the best trail runner I can possibly be. So I drove out to Utah and am spending my time running up and down mountains. The views are unreal, the weather is perfect and I can feel myself growing stronger even after just 2 days of running out here.
Every summit I reach reminds me of just how much is possible if you work hard enough. Not to get too sappy, but life is what you make it. Ever since the AT I've made a conscious choice to be happy. I'm unwilling to let anyone or anything get in the way of my happiness. It's turned into a bit of an obsession, but I'm determined to live the best life possible. So far I'm happy to report that I have been very successful.
Every day in the mountains reminds me of just how beautiful this world is. Recently I've even started to appreciate other people as well. I know this will come as a shocker to anyone who actually knows me, but life is better with people. Despite obviously still being stubbornly independent, I've come to realize that there are people worth spending time with. I love being able to run away to the woods, and finding someone who understands that is pretty remarkable.
As always, being in the mountains provides time for self reflection which often leads to rethinking my entire life. Hiking the AT was life-changing and provided the perspective I needed to reframe my outlook on life. However even short stints in the woods create a contemplative atmosphere conducive to retrospective thought. Looking back on everything I've done since completing the AT, I wouldn't change a thing. This past year has been the most productive, challenging, and rewarding of my entire life. Going forward, I plan on continuing to push myself toward perfection.
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