BTiful

Today, I received this email...

To have given blood, sweat, and tears for something that truly matters is something I will always cherish. I have loved seeing, in many different ways, the amazing things that Building Tomorrow does.

I am so proud to have been connected with this organization, and I am excited to see what the next 5 years holds in store for BT!

A little more than five years ago, I set out to name a vision of engaging young people in the United States in the quest to provide universal access to education to children in rural sub-Saharan Africa. For a few weeks straight, I'd keep a pen and paper next to my nightstand, writing down words and phrases that came to mind. The following morning, I'd enter them in to a URL bar, type '.org' at the end and see if anything came up. buildingtomorrow.org, led nowhere. Score. With what many have described as a 'Build-a-Bear-esque" looking logo, Building Tomorrow stormed on to three college campuses that fall. Outwardly, the vision was simple-students stateside would support the construction of schools in Uganda. Inwardly, well, there was nothing. A recent college grad working where his stockpile of Lego's once stood, that was the closest I'd ever really come to building much of anything. How these schools were going to come about half a world away was really anyone's guess... Tonight, with the help of our Honorary Chairman Archbishop Desmond Tutu, 160 guests will join us in downtown Indianapolis as we celebrate Building Tomorrow turning five years old. The journey has been an incredible one-filled with countless moments of anxiety, excitement, challenge and camaraderie. In a few short months, Building Tomorrow will open the doors to our 10th academy in Uganda, providing classroom space for over 3,000 rural students. Behind those classrooms are thousands of stateside students, from elementary school all the way through college, who've embraced the notion that social change starts with them. On behalf of the hardest-working team you'll find anywhere, we say webale nyo, thank you very much, for carrying Building Tomorrow atop your shoulders and continuing to believe in the transformative power of education. We couldn't be any more thrilled to celebrate this awesome occasion, knowing full well the incredible work that remains ahead of us. Good thing we're just getting started. -George PS - If you'd like to make a donation in honor of our 5th birthday, please do.

Run the Rocks

This morning, I ran the Run the Rocks 5K at the world famous Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, CO.

Or, as is shall be called from now on: The Ouch Run, or the more daring Coloradans are Crazy Dash.

For the first two miles, I was thinking this was going to be my favorite race. It looped around the parking lot, and shot down the road. Nothing but winding mountain road straight downhill. As I was running down the hill at a ridiculous pace, all I could think about is how I wanted to be on a bike so I could be flying down the hill. One of those hills.

Train of thought: I am dominating this race! I am going to dominate my PR. This. Is. Awesome!

Down. Down. Down. Down.

As I kept going downhill, passing the amphitheater, dropping far below the elevation of the finish line, I had this epiphany of impending doom. I have to go up. Shit.

The last mile & a quarter was brutal. BRUTAL. 98% of the people around me had to stop and walk up this beast for a good portion of time. The other 2% wanted to. I was one of them. That amazing downhill turned into this wretched, soul crushing uphill.

Up. Up. Up.

To top it off, Red Rocks has what I have deemed "The Staircase of Death." So after killing yourself on the back half of the 5K, the finish line was at the top of the S.O.D. Ugghhh...

I honestly haven't had my butt kicked that hard since high school football workouts.

This race made me realize 2 things:

-I need to really get into trail running if I am going to be racing in Colorado.

-I am going to HURT tomorrow.

Time: Not so good.

Workout: Amazing!

What a beautiful morning in Colorado!

Yewtahh

An unforgettable weekend getaway.

Friends. Fall. Mountains. Mormons. Football. Face Paint. Choir. Colleges. Dinosaurs.

Laughter. Lots and lots of laughter.

Top 5:

5. Reconnecting with friends - That's what this trip was all about - friends I haven't seen in a long time, even years... and spending time with people I love.

4. Fall drive through the mountains - There are few things more beautiful than driving through snow-capped mountain roads as the leaves are changing.

3. Acting like a 4 year old at Thanksgiving Point - Face painting, photo booths, digging for fossils, making magic wands, 3D movies, and exploring the museum. Side note: If a girl dressed in a cat costume tells you that something is "legit," do not trust her. It will end up being a creepy wizard doing lame magic tricks that even 4 year olds called out that they were fake. Lesson learned.

2. BYU football game w/ Team Voyles - So much laughter. In case you're curious, if you start an amazing rendition of "If you're a Cougar and know know it, clap your hands," only one person will clap.

1. Mormon Tabernacle Choir - Dream come true. You NEED to go see them perform before you die. Leave now.