Run Like a Girl

Last week, the Boston Marathon occurred. On the day of that marathon, I heard about Kathrine Switzer for the first time. I'm kind of ashamed that it took me 20+ years to learn of Kathrine and what she did for women in the sport of running. Do you know what Kathrine did? Well, keep reading to find out.  

This excerpt was taken from the Wikipedia page on Kathrine. And yeah, I know Wikipedia isn't the best source in the universe but this is my personal blog, not college . . . 

 While attending university, Switzer completed the race in 1967 under entry number 261 with the Syracuse Harriers athletic club,^[4] five years before women were officially allowed to compete in it. Her finishing time of approximately 4 hours and 20 minutes was nearly an hour behind the first female finisher, Bobbi Gibb (who ran unregistered).^[5] She registered under the gender-neutral "K. V. Switzer", which she says was not done to mislead the officials. She says she had long used "K. V. Switzer" to sign the articles she wrote for her university paper.^[6] Switzer was issued a number through an "oversight" in the entry screening process, and was treated as an interloper when the error was discovered.^[7] Race official Jock Semple attempted to physically remove her from the race. Switzer claims he shouted, "Get the hell out of my race and give me those numbers."^[8]Switzer's boyfriend Tom Miller, who was running with her, shoved Semple aside and sent him flying, allowing her to proceed. Photographs taken of the incident made world headlines.

This is one photo taken from the race that day . . . 

1967 . . . that was not very long ago. And who knows how much longer it would have taken for women to be accepted in the sport of running if it weren't for Kathrine's courageous act. Kathrine went on to keep running marathons, and she still does so much work for women in running. 

Kathrine's story especially hit home for me as I just signed up for my first FULL marathon a few weeks ago. I've registered for so many races in the past and never realized how blessed I was to have the ability to do so. I take things for granted; things that people once had to fight for the right to. It's crazy to me that in the past, it was wrong for a woman to want to lace up her running shoes and enter a race. 

Running is my medicine. When I've had a bad day or I'm feeling stressed, it's what I do to unwind. It's something I've grown up doing: from racing kids on the playground, to breaking high school track records, to joining USU's track & field team, to now running distances that I didn't think I was capable of running. I can't imagine my life without running in it. Who knows how my life could be different if it weren't for Kathrine. I'm so thankful for women before me who chose to live bravely. Their choices have impacted me in many ways I know I'm not fully aware of. 

On the hard days of training leading up to my marathon, when I don't feel like putting one foot in front of the other, I'm going to remind myself of that woman who pinned the number "261" on her sweatsuit and ran with the boys. 

On the day of my marathon, when I'm feeling terrified and full of doubt, I'll remind myself to run like a girl. Maybe I'll even put a "261" somewhere on my body to give myself an extra little boost of confidence.  

Truth Tuesday

I'm baaaaaaack! At least for tonight. Don't expect this all the time. Sheesh, it's not like we're in a serious relationship here. Without further ado, a few truths for this glorious Tuesday . . .

• Today was National Hammock Day, which I'm all about. Purchasing a hammock a few months ago was one of the better decisions Brian and I have made as a couple.

 

• People who are constantly talking about their diets and workout plans are annoying. They just are. So don't be that person, puh-lease. I'm all about being active and healthy, but just do it and avoid talking about it constantly. Most of your friends probably don't care how much kale you consume and P90X isn't all that exciting of a topic to chat about. Just avoid making random interjections about how swoll you are. It makes everyone uncomfortable. 

• I sleep on my side curled in a little ball. How do you sleep? Luna sleeps like . . . I don't even know how to explain it so I'll just show you . . .

• We finally hung our diplomas up on the wall today. It's only been a year since we graduated. What's the big rush? 

• Brian is taking me on a surprise trip and he won't say where we are going. It's both adorable and terribly evil. All I know is that I need to get a new passport, I need to pack a swimsuit, and we will be hiking. Any guesses? 

• I had to retake my passport photo today because they made a new rule that you can't smile in your photo (I was unaware). Apparently you want to look like an angry person who might bomb a plane in your passport photo. Who knew? 

• I know the secret to getting rid of the hiccups. 

• My mom is my hero and I wouldn't be surviving life right now if it weren't for her. She's been such a huge help with my new endeavor, Sharing Shine. I also love my dear friend, Melanie Gunnell for sacrificing so much of her time to take our photos. She took this little candid shot of me and my mom before a Sharing Shine road trip to Boise. 

• I'm totally in love with summer this year. I'll be so sad when our love affair ends. Good thing I also adore fall with every fiber of my being. 

Good night, dear friends. I'm outta here. I'll leave you with a car selfie I'm slightly embarrassed about. But hey, sometimes your hair looks nice so you just need to document it. 

These Summer Days

Isn't it kind of sad that so many times life seems to evolve around the weekends?

It's Monday. Such a loooong time until the weekend.

Wednesday! Hump Day!

It's finally Friday!! All is right in the world!!!

I love me my weekends, don't get me wrong. However, I also love me my weekdays. That might partially have to do with the fact that I try to treat my weekdays a lot like I treat my weekends. Work hard, play hard.

Every day I'm always asking BWell, "What do you want to do after work today?"

I'm sure there are plenty of times where he just wishes I'd stop being a psycho and sit still on the couch for a minute, but he's a good sport and always finds adventures to go on with me.

The adventures feel like they've doubled this week, and I think it's because of the official arrival of summer this past Saturday.

I'm thoroughly convinced that small towns do summers right. Everything is so beautiful in our little valley right now. I couldn't imagine being anywhere else.

In the past five days, we've really tried living it up when we are not at the office. I might not get a summer vacation anymore, but I make do with what I have. There have been hikes, countless motorcycle rides (one of those landed us in Bear Lake with friends), trail runs, and long reads in the hammock until the sun sets and I can no longer see the pages of my book.

I've been going to bed exhausted every night and waking up grateful to live another exciting day. I hope and pray I can always live like that.

Sometimes life can be really hard, but sometimes it's really good. Right now is one of those really good moments. I'm trying not to question it or worry about when the hard times will hit next, I'm just trying to be grateful for it. I'm basking in it like sun rays. It feels so sweet right now.

Team Munch!

Last weekend, we ran a dog-friendly 5k. All the proceeds from the race went to Four Paws Rescue, which is where we rescued our Munch from. I was pretty upset because days before the race, I caught a really terrible cold. If I were better at resting when I'm sick and paying attention to my body, I wouldn't have run the race. But I'm not good at resting. I'm the most terrible at resting. I can also be really stubborn. So Friday night, I was set on running and nothing could change my mind.

Brian and I got really festive and made our own race shirts that had Munch's face plastered on them. With how cute the shirts turned out, I'm thinking we need to start making and selling Munch merchandise ;).

Saturday morning, I could hardly breathe. I ran the slowest 5k of my life, but I finished and didn't finish last, so I'm okay with it.

It was such a good time to see other dog lovers come out to the race with their canine friends. There was a man with the most beautiful German Shepherd that I wanted to dognap, but I controlled myself. It was also a lot of fun because Munch basically had a fan club. All of the volunteers from the shelter recognized Munch right away. He was pretty happy to see all his old friends.

Now I think we need an excuse to make a Luna shirt.  

Truth Tuesday

• I frequently apologize to inanimate objects. For example, I drop my phone and then say, "Sorry, phone." The other night, I ran into the wall and I was all like, "Oops, sorry." Then Brian looked at me in amazement and asked, "Did you seriously just say sorry to the wall?" It's something I'm working on. 

• I often search for pets that need to be adopted and then send BWell their pictures. I just want to have millions of pets . . . even though I know it isn't logical. Brian tells me we can't give more pets a home though because then the animals will outnumber the humans. You never know, the animals could plot against us or something.

• I went to my sister's district track meet today and they ended it early due to bad weather. I didn't even get to see her pole vault and I'm pretty torn up about it. Good thing we at least snapped a photo together or the trip would have been all in vain. 

• Speaking of my obsession-with-animals problem from earlier, I really want to get an albino peacock. They are seriously so majestic.

• I love when words are put together to form beautiful sentences. You know, the sentences that send chills down your spine and make everything in the universe make sense for just a moment? Beautiful sentences are my weakness.    

• One day when I'm a parent, if my kids aren't super hilarious, I'm going to be really disappointed. 

• My husband has never seen the movie "Andre" and he thinks I am making the whole thing up. 

• My sister (the one in the picture above) told a bunch of her friends today that I had kissed over 20 boys. That's not true. It's an utter lie and apparently my sister thinks I'm a hussy (if you've kissed more than 20 people, I promise I don't think you are an actual hussy).  

Thunder Thighs: Fighting the Thigh Gap

I have a weird body. I am not being negative about myself here, just being honest. While I've always been thin, maybe even scrawny, I also have broad shoulders and very athletically built legs. I’m the girl who has the constant battle of finding pants that fit since I have narrow hips with no waist, yet I have thick thighs and calves. I’m the girl who finds a shirt that fits my flat chest perfectly, but then I have the battle of taking it off without ripping the seams as I try to tear it past my hulkish shoulders.

And I realize from that description, maybe it sounds like I do not like my body but that is false. Every girl fights body image issues, it’s a sad truth. However, I think I've suffered with my body image issues less than many girls. What it comes down to is that I have a healthy and strong body. That is what is most important to me. I feel beautiful in my body because my body is capable of doing amazing things. Through eating right and staying active, I appreciate my body as a whole more and pick it apart less.

We live in a world that constantly tells us we are not good enough. You aren't curvy enough. You aren't skinny enough. Your hair is too thin. Your hair is too thick. You are too fair. You are too dark. How does a girl ever expect to win? One of the latest unhealthy trends enforced upon women is something known as the thigh gap.

I came across this very well-done article by the ladies at Beauty Redefined which addressed the epidemic of the thigh gap. When I read this article, I had no clue what a thigh gap even was, but it sounded bad. I looked into it more and discovered it’s when a girl stands with her feet together, and a small gap (or for some, a very wide one) appears between her upper thighs. I read on a blog post while searching for thigh gap information (which I refuse to even link the post because the writer is an idiot) that, “a woman with beautiful legs has three diamonds.” This means when standing with the feet together, a gap supposedly should appear from the ankles to knees, the knees to the thighs, and (the thigh gap part) the upper thighs to the crotch.

I then decided to muster up the courage to do a Google image search for “thigh gap”. I wouldn't suggest it if you get offended easily. What I found were pictures of girls and women who were entirely too thin, flaunting their frail looking legs and wide thigh gaps.

 Nothing about it looked sexy to me. Actually, it was quite disturbing. Some of the pictures were comparable to young women I visited in a hospital back when I went to Ethiopia years ago. These were girls, in a hospital, waiting to die. They were disease-stricken with the AIDS virus and malnourished. It was honestly one of the most terrifying and emotional experiences of my life, weaving in and out of those hospital beds in this foreign country, trying to comfort girls my same age who could not even find the strength to lift their own heads. This is what the “desirable” thigh gap reminded me of: sick and dying girls.

    

I was totally perplexed by reading up on this. A thigh gap? This is a real thing? Since when was it attractive to have chicken legs? Since when was it a trend to look malnourished? Then I wondered, “Do I have a thigh gap? I don’t think I have a thigh gap. Maybe a tiny one?”

Now guys, I am a thin person. I am the poor child who never felt loved because I was kicked off anyone and everyone’s laps for having a “bony butt” that was “hurting their leg”. But apparently this bony butt has more meat on it than anyone thought.

I went to the full body mirror in my room and stood with my feet touching. When I made sure I was standing in the correct position, I looked up at my reflection. I had absolutely no thigh gap, none whatsoever. My right thunder thigh pressed firmly against my left thunder thigh.

If you were to ask me what my favorite physical feature about myself is, I would probably say my legs. I have always loved having strong and athletic legs. It’s something I take pride in. So while the thigh gap people preach against any kind of exercise that builds leg muscle, I often focus on building leg muscle. Many of my workouts are filled with squats, calf raises, lunges, wall sits, and hill/stadium runs. I want toned legs, not sticks for legs. I want bulging thighs that reveal no sign of a thigh gap. I want legs that can carry me up steep mountains, sprint across finish lines of races, and jump high on trampolines. I have a feeling a thigh gap aint gonna do any of that for me.

Now if you have a thigh gap naturally, I am not bagging on you at all. Don’t think I’m saying you are an unhealthy, gross person. The problem comes when girls and women go to extreme circumstances trying to achieve a thigh gap. Women are starving themselves, tearing themselves down, and doing harmful things to their bodies to try and develop a thigh gap. From what I've read, a thigh gap is actually not achievable for many body types, like my own.

A thigh gap actually has more to do with bone structure than muscle or fat. Women who have wide set hips are more likely to have a thigh gap. Women with narrow hips (like me) will find it very difficult, if not impossible, to have a thigh gap. So that’s that. Good luck changing your bones.

I am speaking out against the thigh gap epidemic. If we all speak out as individuals, we can possibly create change. So, please, will you do the same? Speak out when you see a Photo-shopped image, where it’s obvious they manipulated the image to make the woman have a thigh gap. Refuse to shop at stores where their models portray this unhealthy body image.

a photo-shopped image to give Beyonce a thigh gap 

 Most importantly, love yourself. As women, we must accept our bodies and realize their beauty. Don’t pick yourself apart. Don’t go to unhealthy measures to reach an unattainable body type. Don’t beat yourself up. Next time you look in the mirror, think of all the things you see in yourself that you love, ignore the rest. Eat healthy, exercise, love your body, and think of all the things you are capable of. Your body is the home of your sweet soul. Don’t stop at loving yourself, love your fellow women. Tell others they look beautiful. Spread the compliments. Our thoughts and words can be powerful.

Now I’m going to go flaunt my thunder thighs. Anyone want to Indian leg wrestle?  

Truth Tuesday

• I have ombre hair nowadays (it's been like this for several weeks now and I'm just a terrible blogger). It was one of those things where I couldn't really believe I was doing it because there were very few ombres I saw on people that I liked. Not only that, but everyone was doing it. I guess it's kind of like that part in Mean Girls: "I saw Cady Heron wearing Army pants and flip flops, so I bought Army pants and flip flops." That's me and my ombre hair I guess. I really do like it a lot though.

• One of my favorite smells is freshly trimmed grass. I get to smell it quite often now that spring is fully upon us and summer is knocking at the door. Spring is filled with good smells. Blossoms, rain, and fresh cut grass. Ah, my heart. 

• I used the bathroom at work the other day and the toilet wouldn't flush. I had no idea what to do. I helplessly lifted the top off and tried pulling and twisting a few things as I hoped for the best. Nothing I did seemed to help. So I went to the nice secretary lady to tell her. Only she wasn't there. So what did I do? I went back to work and didn't tell a soul (until now). I let it be the next person's problem. I know, I am a terrible person. But I felt so embarrassed about approaching one of the men I work with and being all like, "Hey, since you've been training me all week could you also train me on how to work the toilet? I peed in there and it won't flush." Yeah, not awkward at all. All I can say is I'm going back to holding it and never using the bathroom at work again. 

• My wrists are sore from the half marathon I ran on Saturday. How is that possible? Why, I don't really know. My dad started teasing me and asked if I run on my hands now. I will assure you that I have not reached that level of insanity yet. I still stick to just my two legs. However, it was pouring rain the entire duration of the race and my hands got really cold around mile four. I think I may have clenched them for the majority of the race. Oops. I must admit though, I feel pretty hardcore that I ran in freezing rain. And of course the whole week before the race it was sunny and in the 80's every day. It's fine. I'm over it.  

• I wanted these sandals from Target oh so bad but bought a pair of wedges instead. Now I'm glad I did because I've seen these sandals every-freaking-where. Apparently a lot of people out there have good taste. They are cute, but I can't buy them now.

• I have the Great Gatsby soundtrack on repeat. Also, the movie is grand. So grand that I want to go see it a second time. This is serious stuff because I rarely rewatch movies. I've heard a lot of mixed reviews on the movie and here's my take on it: Loved it. Be prepared for your brain to be overstimulated. There is a lot to look at. At times the cinematography is a bit over the top, I'll admit. But for the most part, it's absolutely beautiful to watch. Also, the majority of the dialogue is taken straight from the book, which this girl really appreciates. Any thoughts on the movie from those who saw it?  

Truth Tuesday

• Yesterday I made a snow lady. She is a lady because she is wearing my blonde wig from my Halloween costume. I built her right by our garage door so she could terrify surprise Brian when he got home from work. Building her made me realize that snowman is a sexist term. Brian and I decided they should be called snowbeings because that would be much cooler anyway. 

• Sometimes I dream of one day being a yoga instructor. Denise Austin is basically my hero. 

• I love Futurama. It's true. I really do. 

• If I could be a mystical creature, I would probably be a mermaid. Life would be like a constant beach day. Plus, I love seafood. Oh, but maybe mermaids don't eat seafood. What do they eat? If they eat fish or lobster or shrimp, does that make them half-cannibal? I am curious. 

• How is it that I can run for miles and miles outside and be perfectly content, but trying to run one mile on a treadmill seems like a complete chore?

• Touching dirty dishes in the sink makes me gag. So often times, I rope Brian into doing them. 

• I think snow is beautiful and I get giddy about clomping around in my snow boots.   

Now meet Martha, the snow lady. She has golden locks and a cheery face of strawberries:

Luna helped. . . 

Sunday Best: No, I'm Not Expecting

sweater: Maurices, leggings: Maurices, leg warmers: gift, boots: TJ Maxx, earrings: Smith's 

The holidays are over, I've been skipping out on my morning gym routine and sleeping in instead, and I think I ate my own body weight in fudge and cinnamon rolls. Now do you know what time it is? Tis the season to wear bulky sweaters. Not only are they warm, but they also hide the food baby.

I'll see you all at the gym tomorrow.  

Truth Tuesday

• How is it that I cannot focus for longer than five minutes to write this research paper? How? 

• How is it that my period and finals week always coincide? How? Too much info? Oh, sorry. 

• I love USU's football coach, Gary Andersen. And this article from ESPN is sort of why I love him. He has two Great Danes named Aggie and Big Blue. How cute is that? 

• I cannot and will not stop listening to this gem. I'm obsessed. 

• I told myself I was through with signing up for half marathons for a while. They stress me out. I can't even imagine running a full. But. . .guess what I did? I signed up for another half marathon. It's in May. I guess I should start running more than three miles when I go to the gym, huh? That might be a good idea. I blame my mom and aunt. They talked me into doing it with them. But guess what? The husband is in on the stress and training with me since he's running it too! Hooray for having people to stress with. 

• I just spelled hooray wrong about three times before getting it right. I think someone is tired. 

• I feel compelled to buy every color of tights for this winter season. Nothing says happy legs like colorful tights.

• Brian and I are obsessed with burning candles lately. Our living room smells like cinnamon and our bedroom smells like sugar cookies. It's delightful. 

• How amaze-balls is this sweater? Home Alone fans unite. 

Truth Tuesday

Just because it's Tuesday and I'm being blatantly honest. . .

• I need to start exercising again. I'm dragging my feet. Whenever I break my workout routine, I get cranky. 

• I fear my van won't make it through the winter. She already screams like a banshee (if banshees scream). Like she squeals so bad that people are turning to look at who is coming before I'm even in viewing distance. How embarrassing. 

• I like to make things harder than they actually are. And I need to stop it before I drop over dead from all the stress I create for myself. 

• I probably won't get any sleep tonight. 

• Brian and I went to a Kalai concert on campus last night and it was so great! That's about the fifth or sixth concert of his I've been to and he never gets old. His music is like a nice pillow. If you don't know Kalai, take a listen to one of my faves from him. You're welcome. 

• If you have any suggestions of what I should be when I grow up, I'm open to them. Because I can't make up my mind. 

Running Against Cancer

Our bodies are amazing. Have you ever thought about that before? Like how amazing is it that our legs can move and our eyes can blink? Pretty amazing, I think. Last Saturday I had a reminder of how amazing my body is and how grateful I am for it.

Over the weekend, I ran my second half marathon. BWell ran it with me and it was his first! My mom and Aunt Amy ran too. This half was in American Fork so we drove down early afternoon on Friday so we could get our packets, eat dinner, and just relax. Then on Saturday morning we woke up at four in the morning to get ready for our race. No, I did not type that wrong, we got up at four in the morning. When we went outside, all the stars were still out and the air was cool. We caught a bus which took us up AF canyon to the start of our race. The gun went off at six and we were off. 

The first nine miles felt glorious. The first seven miles were all downhill out of the canyon, so that helped me run some pretty fast mile times. Well, fast for me. I was averaging about eight minute miles and it was fun because Brian ran with me. I tried not to let Brian know, but I was actually really worried about him. He's been recovering from a foot injury so the longest run he'd been on was a six miler. Well, Brian told me I couldn't stick with him the whole time and I should go ahead, so at around mile six I did. I had a goal to get under 2 hours. My last time was 2:07 but it was a hilly course plus it was raining. So I felt like if I pushed it, I could break the 2 hour time. 

Well, the last two miles we ran through town. The shade and coolness of the canyon were gone, and it was hot. I don't like running in hot. I ran through every sprinkler that was near the sidewalk to try cooling myself off which I think helped a lot. Once I was almost to mile 12, I started to get the chills (which isn't normal in almost 85 degree weather). I knew my body was wanting to shut down. But I only had one more mile. Just one more.

But then the two hour pacer man ran past me. I watched as that sign which read 2:00 bounced past me and I felt crushed. I wasn't going to meet my goal. But then my stubbornness came out and I ran after that sign. There was no way I was going to barely miss getting my two hour mark. I don't know how, but my legs just carried me faster and faster until I passed the two hour pacer and continued to pass other people in front of the sign. Then I saw balloons. And cheering people. And the finish line. And I made it. I made it in 1:59. I only got a minute under two hours and I almost pooped my pants in the process, but I got my goal. And that's all that matters. 

Then I went back to the finish to watch for the rest of the gang. Brian didn't come for a while. I started worrying. Then someone smacked my butt. I turned around and there stood Brian. He only finished four minutes after me. I was bummed I didn't see him finish, but I was so happy he felt so good. He didn't even seem out of breath. Then we watched my mom and aunt finish. My aunt hung back with my mom to help push her and she must have been good help. My mom got her personal best by ten minutes! She did awesome! I love watching people I care about finish a race. 

Any ways, all the money from the race went towards cancer patients, which I feel pretty good about. After the race, I just kept thinking about all the people who were suffering from cancer, and then I thought about myself and how my healthy body had just carried me 13.1 miles. Then I felt guilty about all the times I complain about my body. 

My hair is too thick and frizzy. 

My shoulders are too broad. 

My teeth aren't white enough. 

My feet are too wide.

My chest is too flat. 

I don't want to have that attitude anymore. It's ridiculous how hard I can be on my body sometimes. My body is a gift and it can do pretty amazing things. I guess that's why I like running. It's a constant reminder of how amazing the human body is and can be. 

And it's pretty amazing that after running that far, we all immediately ripped open the box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts that Brian's brother brought us and devoured them. Rhett was such a nice man. He not only watched us finish and brought us doughnuts, but he also took a couple pictures on his phone. Just to prove we really ran.   

Sunday Best: A Little Leg

head scarf: F21, t-shirt: Obey brand via Buckle, skirt: thrifted, wedges: Target, bracelet: farmers' market, earrings: Claire's 

I found this gem of a skirt hiding on a rack at the DI and I about passed it by. You see, it was paired with a hideous matching suit jacket.

But then I ran my hand over it a second time and thought, "You know, this skirt without the jacket might not be so bad." 

And then I saw the slit in the skirt and thought, "You know, that might just spice things up."

And then I bought it. For three whole whopping dollars.

And I wear it all the time. 

1. Because it goes with everything. 

2. It's comfy. 

And I love how surprising the slit is. I just want to stick my leg out from it all day e'ery day. Now I understand what Angelina Jolie's deal was. She just wanted to stick that leg out of that slit so dang bad and say, "Hey world, look at this slit in my dress! And check out my calf muscle too!" 

Can't say I blame her. 

Speaking of legs, my legs have been soaking in epsom salt baths over the past 24 hours. We ran a half marathon. We were way happy with the results, but I can't say my legs feel the same. But more on that later. 

Oh, and during this "photo op" my mom and aunt were present and mocked me. And I felt embarrassed so I tried covering my face . . . . 

And I also tried running away . . . .

And then I just acted awkward . . . .

So my aunt tried to show me how to pose correctly . . . . only she felt awkward too . . . .

So we just laughed. Good times.

Logan Love: Wind Caves

Summertime in Logan is picture perfect if you ask me. Things slow down since a lot of the college crowd leaves, the weather is warm but not too hot, and there are always plenty of fun things to do. One of my favorite things to do during the summer months here in Logan is spend time up Logan Canyon. It's one of the prettiest canyons I've ever been in. It's like this secret little treasure tucked away from the world, and I'm totally fine with that. There are great running trails, great camping sites, and. . . .really great hiking.

Hiking is kind of a hobby of mine and BWell's. We enjoy it and I think it's a much better way to spend my evenings rather than flipping through channels on television. A really popular hike here in Logan is the hike to the Wind Caves. 

The hike up is just under two miles, so it's relatively easy. There are a lot of switchbacks, but it's easy enough that kids can do it. And the view at the top is breathtaking. It's fun to explore the caves and then the hike down always seems to go fast. If you'd like, pack a dinner to eat when you get to the top. That's always a fun time.  

We always try doing this hike a couple times every year. It's fun to hike during the day and at night. I recommend both. 

Last Friday, we went on this hike with our friends Shayla and Jace. And afterward, we totally went to a campsite to build a fire. There was a camp set up where we started the fire, but no people. It was a bit eerie but that just added to the fun. After eating several s'mores and putting the fire out, we got out of there before anyone showed up to cuss us for disturbing their campsite. It was a great summer night though. I'm definitely looking forward to many more.