Once again, I felt the need to go long or go home. And once again, it was a furnace outside. Dew point was I think 70 when I left. It stayed there as the temp increased on a sunny day on the Gateway. I was dripping with sweat after just a mile or two and honestly not enjoying it as much as I wish I had. Lots of people on the trail today. Three people complimented my pace (not that I care). Someone gave me a banana and someone else offered to pour cold water on my head at the turnaround (which I wish I had said yes to). On the way back, I just tried to get home in one piece, and while it hurt, the splits show that the wheels never really fell off. But I did stop sweating as much, for one reason or another which was nice. Splits: 4:17, 6:18, 6:09, 5:57, 5:57, 5:57, 5:54, 5:52, 5:51, 4:03, 4:17, 5:49, 5:51, 5:58, 5:54, 5:51, 5:58, 5:56, 5:57, 3:40. Overall, 5:55 pace. I had a string of 8 straight miles which were as fast or faster than the previous one, totally unintentionally. Glad the smoke is gone!
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