Happy Saturday! How has your summer been?
August has felt as though it’s stretched itself into three months, maybe because it was only last month that we were in Mt Hood for Wy’east, being freshly reminded of how much we love the Pacific Northwest. Having spent the first 19 years of my life in this region, I can confidently say there’s nowhere else I’d rather be this time of the year. And now we’re here! I’ll save more about that for a future post.
Animal Updates
Two weeks ago Stackalee, one of our remaining two guinea pigs, passed away. I hesitate to say that it was unfortunate because she lived a really good and really long life. We adopted her from Whatcom Humane Society near the end of 2018 and she did well moving with us from Washington to Arizona to California and then up to British Columbia. We’ll miss her loud, confident presence but are grateful for the six years we had together (she was already an adult when we adopted her, so she lived a long guinea pig life!).
The rest of the animals are healthy, although we’ve already had four vet visits in the short time we’ve been here: two at the animal emergency for rats, one at the exotic animal vet for another rat, and one at the regular vet (luckily just up the street) for Jack, who developed a urinary tract infection. Honestly, four vet visits in one month is a relatively low number for us, so we’ll take that as a win.
Our biggest animal news comes in the form of rabbits. After years of having to separate nine of our rabbits into three different groups due to fighting, they’re all getting along! Rabbits are surprisingly territorial creatures, and bonding any single rabbit with another is hard work, let alone an entire group. Something shifted when we moved the animals into their new set-up here in BC, and two of our rabbits who were previously mortal enemies are now spending large parts of the day grooming each other. This also makes enclosure cleaning day easier!
Running Gear
After running upwards of 30,000 miles, mostly on trails, in the last decade, I’ve had time to identify the gear I love and the gear I won’t use again. Functionality is the at the top of my list for what I care about, followed by quality and sustainability (the two of which often, though not always, go hand in hand.) As a Topo Athletic-sponsored athlete, I train and race in Topos, but I’ve been free to wear any running clothes and use any piece of gear my entire running career.
My closet is mostly Janji at this point, which makes me a biased reviewer but without incentive as I’ve never been paid to wear their product. That said, I jumped at the chance to test out their latest collection, particularly since my closet fits a California climate and not a fall-in-the-PNW one.
Here’s what I tried out:
I have eight pairs, all in different colors, if that tells you anything about my preference for these shorts. They’re light, breathable, have a comfortable waistband, and offer a simple pocket in the back for a key or gel. I find Janji sizes to be a bit generous, so sized down from my typical size for these.
At 29 grams, this is probably the lightest hat you’ll ever wear. Bonus that it can be tossed into the wash, folds into itself for easy packing, and comes in bright colors. Like the 3” AFO shorts, I have five or six of these hats in varying shades of yellows and greens and blues. The bungee strap also makes them highly adjustable, without allowing them to get caught in my ponytail. I prefer the low-profile fit of these hats, though people with larger head sizes may find them a tad small.
A nice, lightweight (notice a theme?) long sleeve shirt that’s perfect for shoulder seasons. I find myself pulling on this top on crisp mornings and tying it around my waist by the end of a run. I prefer more loose-fitting shirts, and appreciate that this doesn’t cling to my sides.
While there are several Run All Day Tanks without this graphic on the back, I’m fond of the colored horses. Here’s why: Janji partners with local artists (if they’re shooting in Mongolia, for example, they’ll partner with a Mongolian artist) to create limited-run graphics. The graphic shown below was created by Mongolian artist M. Erdenebayar for their Mongolian Steppe Collection.
Like the Run All Day Long Sleeve, this tank is made from fast-drying, lightweight fabric that’s a good choice for hot or humid days. This print, titled Vastlands, was created by artist Gawaa and is said to reflect the texture of the Mongolian grasslands.
While I tend to go for bright colors, Janji also offers more neutral tones. I also appreciate their size range which extends from XXS to XXXL for women.
Their cost is a bit steeper than some other running brands, but I find the quality is worth it. They’re also one of very few running clothes that wash well, don’t pill, and don’t retain a smell.
Books
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
At nearly 500 pages, this is a hefty novel but I found myself finishing it off in just a few days. Adirondack summer camp. Missing girl. Family money (and the ability to hide what you don’t want the world to see.) Worth the size of the read!
Called by Mother Earth: A Father’s Search for His Son Greg F. Naterer
I appreciate being able to visualize a location I’m reading about, and this non-fiction work is based in Manning Park, located 2 hours east of Vancouver and home to races like Fat Dog 120 and Frosty 50K. In 2020, 25-year-old Jordan Naterer went missing while on a solo hiking trip up Frosty Mountain. What follows is a father’s months long on-the-ground search for his son—but with a lot of self-reflection about what it means to listen to nature. There’s both grief and growth in this book, and it’s one worth reading if you’re enamored with the area like I am.
What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma by Stephanie Foo
Nick and I listened to part of this book on the drive up from California to BC, and we didn’t come close to finishing it. It’s also the first audiobook I’ve listened to (so take this review with a grain of salt.) This memoir is honest and raw, and at times challenging due to the abuse and neglect that’s present. Like the story above, however, it’s also one of tremendous growth: how Foo presents herself at the beginning of the book is entirely different to who she is at the end. In retrospect I would have preferred to read it, but still recommend it, particularly for those interested in complex trauma and the difficulty in both diagnosing and treating the condition.
Lastly, a special shout out to our wonderful neighbor, Glen, who’ll we miss as we transition to moving back to BC. And to our amazing friend, Ted, who is helping Nick pack as I type this.
Wishing you a happy long weekend!
Great to hear all your news Jade. Sad, of course for the guinea pigs but what a long life. Sounds like the move has been good for the rabbits. Great that they are getting along. Looking forward to hearing more about your races. Did you get your horse here to BC? Take care!!! Love Auntie Mar