the perimeter

lately, my choice running route has been the perimeter of ucla. it was my favorite trail in college for a few reasons: its proximity, its varying elevations, its average length, and the fact that it was the freakin' perimeter of a freakishly stunning campus (!!).

these days, i've seemed to chosen it for even more reasons.

it's comforting. it's like home. during the crazy-ass days when there are a million things on my mind, the ucla perimeter silences everything. it allows my body to take over. i have adapted to the terrain so much so that i know exactly when to conserve my energy (sunset blvd is a beast, yo). when i run past a particular wall of bushes, i can anticipate the scent of cinnamon toast crunch (don't even ask. to this day, i still don't know where that smell comes from). and after innumerable times running this trail, i know what times to avoid it so as not to be caught in direct sunlight while going uphill. it's muscle memory, if you will.

and as i run the perimeter today, in the present, i can't help but reminisce about the past - those days when i would come home to 11067 ophir, with emma baking some type of glorious treat and abby writing some massive, incomprehensible-to-the-average-jo-schmo paper. my heart swells with the purest joy.

with these specific memories, the freedom the trail brings, and the comfort knowing i have a forever home, i declare the ucla perimeter one helluva run.