Welcome to the 2:15!

It's official now: all you runners are part of the fastest pace group in the half-marathon. We hit two major points today: the water stop, which will be the social point for our remaining months on the trail, and we had our first post-run cocktail!
It was pretty hot this morning, and we had a little shorter run because of it: by the Giant Nerd Watch, we ran 3.88 miles in 42:43, or an 11:00 minute per mile pace. Very solid run. We kept together in a nice tidy pack, we shared the trail, and we ruled the parking lot after the run.
Your homework during the week is important for race day: we're building the base for our longer runs now. It's hot, so do your running in the mornings or indoors - the treadmill is a dreadful invention, but it beats heatstroke. Swimming, biking, tennis, salsa dancing...all good cardio training and fully acceptable alternatives to one of the day's runs.
I'll be gone next weekend, celebrating the Fourth of July with my family in Iowa. It's the annual Dunlap Firecracker ~5k. I say 'about' 5k because running from the park to one edge of town, aroud the care center, across town to the John Deere dealer and then back to the park is still less than 3 miles. Then we eat fried things and watch the parade. It's my grandmother's 90th birthday party on Saturday, then the other grandmother turns 86 on Sunday.
Spend a safe holiday with your loved ones, and I'll see you back on the 12th!