35:45 minutes / ~4 miles

Route: Pouzar Rd

Gripes: Tight calves and thighs from yesterday, especially the first couple miles up the gentle slope. Black flies and mosquitoes in swarms, high heat/humidity.

Positives: Finally ate right, no cramps to speak of. One deer crossed my path.

36:14 minutes / ~4 miles

Route: Up and out the seasonal trail at the first path back to to Karlin Rd, and up Pouzar Rd a ways before turning around and heading back again.

Gripes: Humidity, cramps (gotta stop running so soon after dinner), cramps (period), had to stop and pee a mile in.

Positives: Saw four deer at various points during the run. Going out in this vicious heat and humidity combination, I told myself that a quick 15-20 minute loop would be fine, but I got it going, kept plodding along, and ended up with about double the mileage I was expecting.

36:31 minutes / ~ 4 miles

Route: Evening run down Pouzar Rd, a beautiful, practically deserted dirt road near my home in Northern Michigan and back again. Complete with meadows, wildflowers, houses set back in the hills, the threat of possibly seeing black bears and white tail deer.

Gripes: Vicious cramps from an improperly digested supper, heavy legs, an irresistible call from Mother Nature a mile in, bubblegum loss at the 0.5 mile point, chest pains, had to walk for a bit in the middle.

Positives: Felt strong at the end, excellent cool weather with just enough humidity to get the sweat flowing, new stopwatch performed admirably.