They all can't be "easy" runs.

4 on the trails. 10 am start.

10.2 miles. Hood route to legacy trail to colonia and back. Slow chugging in the heat. 

I went out with boy #2 in the boat yesterday for @ 5 hours. It was hot, but calm, except for all of the wakes thrown by other boats. We have a 14' jonboat with a 9.9 hp four stroke suzuki tiller. In other words, the smallest boat on the water. When a 32' boat goes by, even in a no wake zone, it can get kind of bouncy. John ran the boat all day and I was just passenger. he did a great job, and has now spent more time running this boat than I have. We made it all the way up to Blackburn point bridge and back. You give a 14 year old total control of where he's going like that, and he'll act like it was the best day of his life. Being out in the sun all day is probably not the best way to spend my time a week out from race day. but on the other hand, I got much closer with my son out there. And I can't think of the last time I spent 5 hours on a boat without a beer!

5 on the trails. I had to stop twice for out of control dogs. Meh. Also, I stopped when I heard this big commotion in the shrubs next to me. A squirrel ran out and across my foot. 

7.5 miles. Hood route to legacy trail and back. 6:30 am start. 85 deg. 77% hum. 77 d.p. In spite of that, it was a very smooth run. (btw, Rochester MN is 54 deg. 89% hum. 50 d.p. right now) Anyhow, I was thinking about finishing a race again. It's been 19 months since my last race, and 35 months since my last marathon. When I'm out on a training run, and I'm thinking about race day experiences, or what it will be like to cross the line, I just run better. I think too much of my training this summer, I was thinking about problems. Maybe it's that I'm too far removed from race days to go to that well. There really is a power to positive thinking. 

3 on the trails. 8:15 am start. 

Spouse and I spent the whole day traveling Friday. Srq - msp. Drove to Rochester. The place Spouse booked us is 2 blocks from the start/ finish line. We are across the street from an Ethiopian orthodox church. It is a historic house where the floor creaks with every step. Saturday morning I picked up my bib at the saddest expo ever. I was in and out in 5 minutes. Then we toured a whole bunch of local places. Since the entire city is dominated by the mayo clinic, and mayo family legacy, I can't stop making "mayo on the side" or "mayo on everything" jokes. It might cost me my marriage, but it may also be worth it. This town is fantastic. I am biased, because this is not winter. But everything has been lovely. There are a ton of trails crossing the city. And some Nordic ski trails, whatever that is. This place is great.