Solstice

Rachel and I planned to be outdoors for the solstice today, but we woke to thunder and lightning. I have been caught in numerous storms this spring, so we decided to postpone the initial activity of biking to Homer Lake.

Rachel returned to bed, and I decided to run hills at the arboretum. 

When I arrived at the hill the wind picked up and the temperature dropped ten degrees. I began at 50k pace. After an hour it began to rain. Thirty minutes later the sky was blue and the heat and humidity increased. I stopped running after three hours had passed.

When I returned home Rachel and I drove to the landscape recycling center to collect firewood and mulch.

After napping we drove to Kickapoo for river tubing. 

David arrives this Friday. 

Respite

The past week I let my guitar studies slide.

During my eighteen year photography adventure I would take a monthlong break each August. The hot weather was perfect for running and getting fit. While my guitar quest is not as serious, I know the warm weather has seduced me to running.

Having signed up for a repeat of last year's races, the DWD 50k at Devil's Lake in July, and the eight hour Howl in August, the training is now the focus of my energy and attention.

I am starting to round into shape, although my endurance base is small. 

I ran the Buffalo five miler in mid May, averaging 7:30 miles.

Last Saturday I ran the Lake Mingo seven miler and finished in one hour. Last year I crossed the line in 56 minutes, and the year before that, 52 minutes. 

At last year's Mingo race I took a twenty minute rest, refueled, and ran two more loops for a 23 mile day. I decided to repeat last year's training so after the race I refueled and when I began the second loop I literally ran into Tana R., a fellow ultra runner, who was also going out for a second loop. We ran the seven miles together, which made the time pass quickly.

The day was hot with high humidity, and after the second loop I was on my own. At mile two of the third loop I became overheated. When I reached midpoint my head was baked so I splashed myself with muddy lake water. 

Tuesday I ran twelve hills at 5k pace at the arboretum, and yesterday 5 x 1000m hard loops at Busey Woods. Tomorrow I am planning to start at 5:00am, two South Farms loops for 24 miles.