Running Adventures

God Rays on Today's Run

If I've said it once, I've said it a million times, what I love most about running is the adventure of experiencing the immediate world around me.  Today was one such day. 

Not even a tenth of a mile into my run, and I spot a glorious God Ray Beam from the clouds in the sky.  I find it so beautifully glorious I am distracted by it for the next two miles, and eventually I run upon the view captioned above. 

Then I decided that I knew exactly where I can view this God Ray Beam close-up, and so off I go to run toward an adjacent field.

God Ray Beam Close-up

 Not five minutes later my hunch proves correct, and straight above is the small open portion of sky close-up. 
Although it looked stunning close-up, I decided that it looked it's most majestic from afar. 

Now, to cut through to the field above which the God Ray Beam shined, I had to run through some forested trails. I took a moment to take in the view of the river along these trails. 

Willamette River

I've been running in this area for over a year now, and I'm very familiar with it's ins and outs, but today I noticed a new trail, and so I decided to explore a bit.  I followed the trail, took in the greenery, and noticed a couple of other smaller trails which shot-off from the main trail.

New to Me Trail

And that's when I heard a pitter patter upon the tree leaves above me, and realized it had started to drizzle, and so I decided I would explore those trails another day, but before I departed, I stopped to smell the daisy's.

Daisy's

 
Off I went to continue on my way to visit my favorite oak tree as I haven't been able to take in it's loveliness for a few weeks. That's when, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a quick lightning bolt flash, and then soon afterward a fairly loud rumble.

My Most Favorite Oak Tree

 

And just like that I had a second wind, and found a renewed energy with which to run the 2.5 miles back home. 

And the thunder and lighting continued the entire way home.  And then, the large drops came down. And I mean they really came down. But it felt great to be rain soaked.  Lately my running has been blah in that physically I've been pooped out, but today's running adventure infused a new bout of energy, and I look forward to my next run and the adventure that will inevitably ensue. 

Support Women for Women International via Foot Traffic Women's Academy!

Attention: Women for Women International supporters! 

Help Women Half a World Away!

Here's your chance to do something good for a fantastic non-profit AND for yourself! Run or walk with hundreds of other women as you train together with Foot Traffic Women's Academy this fall! This all-women's running and walking training program prepares members to complete a 10K (6.2 miles) or a half marathon (13.1 miles). Professional coaching, pace mentors for ALL abilities (many at the beginner level for walkers and runners), weekly group workouts and emails to keep you motivated and on task, guest speakers, technical fabric member shirts, and more await you. Program starts Sept. 14th.

Visit www.foottraffic.us/academy or email laura@foottraffic.us for more information.

PLUS, Foot Traffic will donate $40 of every half program registration and $20 of every 10k program registration to Women for Women International (WfWI)! Simply use code "WfWI" when registering!

LAST, during session I of FTWA (Spring 2013) we raised $60 for WfWI's program in Democratic Republic of Congo via FTWA registrations using our charity code. The $60 was transferred to our online Congo fundraising page last week, which means that the $60 was doubled to $120, because between now and September 30, 2013 all donations are being doubled by one of WfWI's generous group of supporters!

Please spread the word that registration is open for FTWA's Session II (Fall Session): www.foottraffic.us/academy. This go around any funds raised via our charity code ("WfWI") will benefit WfWI's work around the world (8 countries in all).  You can also make a donation directly to our online WfWI fundraising page.