Happy Birthday BTYPES!

HAPPIEST OF ALL BIRTHDAYS to my dearest Brittany, aka Btypes!!

...aka my marathon-running-partner-in-crime...

Brittany and I have trained for almost all of our marathons together (Richmond, Boston, etc.), but she is much more than just a random running buddy.

Last week I had a birthday and Brittany crafted a blog post that was literally one of the nicest things that anyone has ever written about me.

PLEASE click over and check it out, it made my heart so warm with friend-love.

...and now today is HER brithday...

So I just want to take a moment to tell you all what this girl means to me.

Brittany is the definition of pure life to me.

You can call her up to join you for a run and she's there.  Or if you're secretly hoping to swirl around the whirpool at the gym, swim laps and gossip on kick-boards, she reads your mind and makes it happen.  Or grab a beer at a local brewery...or ride bikes to an outdoor summer festival...or just drink a glass of wine on the couch...she's there-- always up for anything.

She's a genius in the kitchen-- an intuitive chef.  A wonderful entertainer, with her own unique sense of style, always able to cook up something creative and delicious in no time.  I love heading over to her house for little gatherings, so relaxing and stimulating at the same time.

Brittany makes EVERYONE feel at ease and is probably one of the least judgmental people that I know.  She is more interested in learning about you and asking you questions about yourself than she is about talking about herself (even though I love hearing her talk about her life adventures, she always has the best stories.)

She LOVES to learn and I'm really excited that we will both be in school at the same time this fall (although she's attending the brand center and I'm studying anesthesia) because we will be able to relate to each other about what it's like to have our heads buried in books again.

Brittany has a zest for life that you won't find in many other people.

She is ALWAYS interested in tackling a new adventure.

She sees the beauty in everyday life.  We can go for a run to a random old grown-over building and both stare at in in awe and imagine what it would be like to go to a dance party there, in the 1880's.  We can run through a sketchy neighborhood/awe-inspiring river view/random park together and appreciate more than meets the eye.  It's fun to peel back the layers of life with her.

Brittany enjoys pushing herself to new limits and setting new challenges for herself.  A girl after my own heart.

She has a natural running gift and she qualified for Boston during our first Marathon in November 2011.

Brittany and I traveled to the 2013 Boston Marathon together and it's difficult to describe how meaningful it was to share that weekend with her (running our first Boston Marathon together, the Runner's World events and party, exploring the city...)

Ok friend, hurry back from your summer in California so that we can celebrate our Gemini birthdays together!

A Running Theme-- While Traveling

I've been off from work for the last week and a half, but somehow I still have yet to catch up on everything.  How does it always work out that way...more time off = more behind with life!?

Usually this would drive me nuts, but I've been so happy traveling and exploring that it hasn't bothered me.

[Highlights of the first half of my birthday week can be found in Friday's post.]

RUNNING has been one common theme that has remained during my wanderings from VA to DC to NC to SC :)

Running is my favorite way to discover a new city.

It's the best way to see more than you would while walking...but still at a rate that allows you to absorb and appreciate new things.

Favorite run of the past week = a bridge run in Charleston, SC.  We covered nearly 6 miles in the hot afternoon sun and I'm not normally a hot-weather runner, but I'd do it again at the drop of a hat.  Gorgeous views.

view while bridge running in Charleston, SC

And I haven't been able to get enough of these colors in Charleston either:

view while running in Charleston, SC

Do you enjoy running when you travel to a new city?
YES, best idea ever.  Amazing while doing it...and then as an added bonus, you have even more energy for more exploring afterward.

5 Friday Favorites (lululemon and my bday)

Thank you all so much for the birthday wishes!!!!

Before we get down to business here-- do any of you gals want to go for a run in Charleston with me today?  Maybe start downtown and head across one of the bridges?  Send me an email (neonblonderunner @ gmail dot com)

These photos are just a summary of my favorite moments from my birthday week so far...hopefully this will turn out ok because I'm blogging from my phone and this blogger app drives me crazy haha.

1) a wonderful birthday treat, a new lululemon get-up:

2) going for one of my favorite runs down to Georgetown from my parents' house:

3) I loved having an early birthday with my family, they rock my world.  My mom made a fantastic dinner with a bunch of my favorite childhood dishes and my sister gave me this decadently delicious cupcake:

4) I got to see Naur on my birthday, so happy, so much laughing, the night was heaven on earth!

5) loving on the little crescent moon at the lumineers concert, at my favorite outdoor venue with a clear, crisp sky:

 

Bonus photo:  just the sun hanging out with the water, I could look at this all day:

What are your weekend plans??  Anyone racing??

-I'm continuing on with my birthday week vacation.