I've always ran, but not like I do now. I think it's safe to say that most of my hometown BG friends will remember the 8 min mile with Teri Geer for Volleyball. I remember running around the CA (Central Administration) building a stupid amount of times trying to get under an 8 min mile in order to be able to play volleyball in Jr High and then in High School. I only played Volleyball a couple years. Let's just be honest, I really wasn't very good at it...or basketball. I was a gymnast and even though I wasn't phenomenal at that, I still loved it. Running was always a part of my conditioning and my workout plan. I didn't run far and I doubt I ran real fast, but I ran. It wasn't until after I had my second daughter and she was about a year old that I decided to run my first race, a 5k and that was it, I was hooked! Since then running has become so much more than just a way to stay in shape.
Running is my "me" time, it's my stress relief, it's a way to challenge myself. I started running road races and pushing my mileage. I will never forget my first seven mile run with someone I looked up to as both a runner and a photographer, Amy Berg. We got done with that early morning run and she said "you just ran seven miles"!
In the last five years that I've run competitively (and by competitively I mean against myself...ok maybe I'm a little competitive with others!), things have changed. For the first few years I ran road races and road races only. I hated trails, my time slowed down way down and I struggled more.
But then a year and a half ago, Tara asked me to run with her. I was always hesitant to run with others because 1, I didn't want to slow them down and 2, I didn't want them to slow me down. Plus it's my "me" time. I had always tried to keep up with Tara at races and always failed miserably, so I was scared. Today I am so thankful that for our friendship and our runs and I don't know what I'd do without them! Tara has pushed my running and made me challenge myself even more. Thanks to Tara I now LOVE trail runs. Conquering switchbacks and mountains is just as fulfilling as hitting a PR on asphalt! Long Sunday runs are so much better with a friend as well! Tara definitely has pushed my running to a new place and I think she's become my therapist as well ;)
I didn't really set out to write this blog about me and my running journey, but my running journey is what made this shoot so special and fun for me. Had I done this shoot 8 years ago, it wouldn't have had the same meaning. Running is so beautiful to me, it allows me to explore places and roads and country that I normally wouldn't. It allows me to start my day feeling fulfilled. It allows me miles of time with just me and my own thoughts with no one interrupting them! It allows me to become a better person. The feeling of exhausting myself and pushing my body past where my brain says to stop. Running in the cold, the rain, the snow, the heat reminds me that I can get through any obstacle that comes to me in my life. Running is my drug.
I was so honored to be asked to do a shoot for Bozeman Running Company this summer. My worlds collided and I love that feeling! Bozeman Running Company is a great store downtown Bozeman. My feet are always so happy when I leave there :)! They put on fantastic races and every time I go in the staff is so happy and helpful. I was nervous for this shoot for a couple reasons...1 it was something different and 2 I wanted to capture running and what it means to me and so many others! I wasn't sure if I'd be able to do that. I think that I managed to do just that. From the solitude of running in a beautiful place to the fun and camaraderie that runners have together, I feel as though I was able to capture it all. Here's just a few shots, enjoy!
