Running With Reason: Good Times

Often times when running long distances you forget most of your journey. It's bizarre, all of a sudden you've ran 18 miles and you wonder what the heck just happened. During this time if you're fortunate enough to have a partner by your side, you experience what I like to call "Giggling Hysteria"! I've had the awesome opportunity to run with some amazing people, two of which stick out and are dear to my heart. Miss Tara Hallie and Miss Carey Reiten. We've experienced so many laughs and moments of "giggling hysteria" that I often wonder to myself how we managed to keep from peeing our pants?

Being able to talk while running I feel is a blessing. This is something that I wasn't able to do when I first started. I remember my sister in law Kristie, chatting away during my first runs back in the day, and I thinking, "How can you be talking, at a moment such as this... are you insane"? Now I can't imagine not talking while running with a partner. This is how I got to know Tara and Carey, and I would not change those moments for anything. I love these two women, they inspire me, pray for me, and have helped me to accomplish so many things in life. If it weren't for them, I know I wouldn't be running today.

Carey and I, Gary Bjorkland Half Marathon 2009

Tara and I, Gary Bjorkland Half Marathon 2008

The stories, the laughs, the tears, the blisters, the sweat, the sunburns, the snakes, the water bottles, the energy beans, the miles upon miles, hoping,the trees, the hail, swimming, ice cream with peanut butter and oreos, access shakes, chiropractor appointments, planning, runner poops, thanking God for toilet paper, water belts, knee pain, giving up, crossing the finish line, new shoes, dirty shoes, praying, spaghetti,venting, growing, giggling, hot tubs, losing toe nails, creepy trail guy, race packets, cliff bars, the future, bananas, sunglasses, buffs, Garmin, Wenzyl coming into contact with a beaver, muggy days, cold mornings, wickers, and last but not least, making friendships that will last forever.