Spring Kisses

SPRING IS HERE!! What a lovely feeling! Hope all my budding saplings are loving this weather as much as I am! I love watching everything and everyone coming to life in Spring. I used to be able to run and barely see anyone - now I'm constantly dodging bikes, children, dogs, and frisbees. At least it makes for an entertaining run! Speaking of runs - I've been piling on the miles lately. Last Saturday, I did a 6 miler, Sunday a power mile in 6:40, Monday an 8.4 miler, and yesterday a 7.3 miler :)  I would go running more today and tomorrow but I have even better plans. Wanna know what they are? Well, continue reading my little saplings!!

Runner's World Rave Run! Everytime I see these I want to run more and more!!

My mother, stepdad, and Kiddo are coming to visit me this weekend! Actually, they will be here in a few hours. I woke up at 7a thanks to the Sun (can't be mad if Nature wakes me up) although I would have liked a few more hours! Anyways, I was able to accomplish a lot this morning already and it's only 11:11a. Let's see, I cleaned the kitchen, my room, vacuumed, dusted, took out the trash and recycling, took 3 quizzes for physics, printed off my homework readings for the upcoming week, went grocery shopping, and will soon be going to the BioChem to finish some work before the family gets here. I think I'm being too productive for a college student. Oh, and by the way, I officially have an apartment in Raleigh, NC!! I think I have 49 days until we make the 955 mile journey :) YAY!!

Eyes wide in awe because I accomplished to much today already. Plus I like eyes.

So, the cool and awesome plans that will keep me from running. Today, when my family gets here, we are going hiking at Picnic Point and Raymer's Cove. It's a natural area owned by UW-Madison that has a lot of trails perfect to adventure on a beautiful day like this! We also will be going to the UW-Arboretum and see what we can stir up there. THE GARDENS ARE STARTING TO BEAUTIFY!!! So of course, I'm going to take them there too! And show them the dorm that has a greenhouse on top of it. And maybe other nature places I find :)

How I like to think I look while running!

How I feel when running. Oh shit, go faster or you'll get eaten!

How I feel after I run. Leopard, I feel your pain. I sit in trees too.

Then on Sunday, I'll show the family whatever else I feel so inclined to. Then, the super awesome reason why I'm not running this weekend:

I'M FINALLY GOING TO DEVIL'S LAKE AND GOING ROCK-CLIMBING!!!! SAY WHAT?!

Yes, I'm finally going to Devil's Lake after all this time of living only 30 minutes away. My friend, Aaron, has been climbing rocks before he was born so he decided I need to climb real rocks (instead of at a climbing gym). I'm so so so excited - I think I found myself a new hobby and something I will have to continue in Raleigh. So yes, that is the main reason why I will not be running - I do not want to have jello legs scaling rocks (or jelly arms from weight-lifting). I can't believe I haven't discovered rock climbing before; it's totally addicting!! I even bought a beginner's book for rock climbing, and a hiking guide book of NC trails (because I'll have so much extra time being a graduate student to go hiking in the mountains, climbing rocks, and explore the beaches of NC). 

I watched a few people climb like this! I want to be this good!!!

Rock climbing. Climbing rocks. Who thought of that? I want to marry them.

21 more days until I graduate. 21 more days until I graduate. 21 more days!!!