Somewhere in my youth or childhood, I must have done something good. Today's run was another blessing. Wayne picked up Kevin and me and we drove up to meet Larry at the parking lot at Deer Creek Dam. We ran along the gravel trail on the north side of the reservoir from the dam up to the train station in Midway. Wayne and I actually went an extra 1/4 mile to the barn to get the full 8 miles up so we could get 16 miles overall. The weather was perfect, with partly sunny skies, moderate temperatures, and just enough of a breeze to keep us cool. I carried a bottle of water and dropped it about 4.25 miles out. It was nice to share it on the return trip. The bathrooms at the train platform where we turned around were also welcome. It would be nice if there was water there, too. There is a nice variety of uphill and downhill along the route, climbing ridges and dropping into small valleys in between. The combination of running on gravel and all the uphill and downhill made the run feel more like an 18 or 20 mile run than 16. The pace wasn't fast, about 9:30/mi overall, but it was a great workout. I made the comment during the run how lucky we are. How many people can get together with a few good friends and go for a 16 mile run at about the same pace? And enjoy such natural beauty so close to home? To top it off, I get home and my 16 year old daughter is making homemade pancakes from scratch. They were awesome. Yes, somewhere in my youth or childhood, I must have done something good. | 