I nailed my 20 mile fast-finish trail run. This was a welcome surprise after my dismal 18-miler. I was terrified that I would bonk, yet that never happened. Except for an emergency bathroom stop at mile 14, I ran comfortably the whole way.

I did the first 10 miles with Seriously, the dog we co-parent. Those were hilly miles, and rough footing, and isolated, too, which is why I was glad to have the dog along.

(It’s so great running with a dog, isn’t it? They are such good company. They trot along ahead and never complain about the pace or the weather or their tight hamstrings.)

I dropped Seriously off at the car right around the ten mile mark, and MM came out and picked her up and took her home. By then I was deep in the second half of the run, which was much flatter and with better footing, too.

I kept the pace on the slowish side until the last few miles, when I progressively picked it up until I was in the lower 8s. Then I held on for dear life.

I also did a fastish run with my partner on the Coastal Trail later in the week and wow, running on smooth pavement with very little hills was such a high after weeks of hilly and rutted trails. I ran so effortlessly! I barely had to pick up my legs. It was pretty awesome.

Mike’s sister came up from Haines for a visit and brought Birdy, her Lab mix. We were doggy sitting Peka for the weekend and OMG, the two dogs had a blast together. So much energy. I was exhausted just watching them.

Saturday I took them for a sunny beach walk and of course they had to romp in the marshy areas until they were covered with mud.

That’s been my week: Running, swimming, working, reading, writing, hanging out with Mike and watching PBS documentaries. We pick up Seriously later this week and I can’t wait to take her for a run. She is the best dog to run with and, get this, she doesn’t chase moose.

Have a great week, everyone.

P.S. I’m reading the most wonderful book. It’s YA novel and so, so much fun. Give it a read if you have a chance, okay? The writing is so perky and odd and funny that I often want to cheer.

Weekly stats:
Monday: 52 laps, swimming
Tuesday: Rest day
Wednesday: 7 miles hilly miles
Thursday: Speedwork–.50 x 6: 7:50, 7:13, 7:29, 7:29, 7:30, 7:35 plus 32 laps swim
Friday: Rest
Saturday: 7.5 miles
Sunday: 20.15 miles
Weekly total: 39.15 running, 84 laps swim