Summer Wind

A little bit of a summer recap here, summed up short. Essentially it was made up of going to school and working at my first job! It definitely was a great productive and growing summer. Unfortunately I haven't had much time to shoot so I've just fallen short of my 2013 Resolution of a roll a month. I still took the chance to take out the camera when I had the chance though!

Even if it was just for three months, working at Lucky definitely put things into a better perspective. My father had been working for the company for over twenty years, and having the opportunity to work in the same place he does and dealing with probably not even half of the problems he encounters on a daily basis just had to put me in my place. I mean we're talking about the man who works his hardest to get us in the comfortable life that we have now. Each and every day and I can't help but have a growing respect for him. To have just a taste of the type of work he started doing is entirely humbling. I just wish to be at least half the man he is when I reach that age.

Summer wasn't all work! Well mostly, but there was some play! I've been slowly recovering and returning to my usual mileage with running. Dealing with the dreaded runner's stitch was definitely not fun at all (well they're better than the three years of shin splints that's for sure), but I've been trying to incorporate a stronger core workout since I clearly know that I've been neglecting that most of all. I've pledged myself to start racing again and ramp up my training. My original intent was to run a half-marathon this year, but of course life and more gets in the way so it just didn't go according to plan. Not to fret! I pledged to myself to begin training for my first half-marathon in January, right around my birthday and the one year anniversary of the accident. A moment for redemption? I believe so!

I was lucky enough to have a regular visit from my aunt and uncle from Guam. They had just come back from their trips to Canada, the east coast, and Oregon to visit my cousins and decided to stop by California for a bit before returning home. It's always a treat whenever they come to visit, just because of the mad love they always show. I decided to take up their offer and go on a little walk/hike with them one morning. After my usual morning run I took them up to Garin, which is honestly one of the underrated parts of Hayward. It was some interesting conversation I had with them. They mentioned that I should do abroad studying in Guam, which of course I've highly considered. Unfortunately the college there is on a semester system compared to my quarter, so I wouldn't know how to organize it so that it works out. Regardless, they did offer me to stay a summer with them in Guam. Some runs in some tropical weather? Sounds like a plan to me.

Earthbending runs in my blood.

I seriously love all of the trails here and there are so many uncharted parts I have yet to explore. I really should put in more runs here. My hill runs have involved the trek to get up here myself and they're becoming less of a struggle. Eventually I won't need the drive to get up in the hills anymore!