Today's sermon was from the book of Marathon, week 10, day 7. Day 6 and 7 were less perlious journeys than last week, with 6 miles and 9 miles respectively. The children's lesson this week was "stay on the right!" as they passed the runner on the trail. "Single file!" their father cried; the runner thanked him for his mercy in erasing a potentially dangerous obstacle, just one of many she had encountered. Others included a Little Yappy Doggie too small to see between the feet, Happy Mormons Leaving Church, the Taller and Faster Running Man, and several Caged Animals.

I opted for a loop of what's usually 4 miles and two loops of what are usually 3 miles. Since I didn't quite return all the way home, I figure I lost at least a half mile from the first 7 miles. When I got to the third loop, I was going to cut it shorter at about 2 miles to do my 9, but the clock said either I was going fast or needed more miles, so I added the last mile on. Even with the extra mile, I still finished under an 11 minute mile pace (if it was 9 miles), so I have no idea what the distance actually was.

Next weekend is another long run, somewhere between 16 and 20. I think I'll drive myself to a shady part of the multi-use trail and do 3 loops of 6 miles. I don't have a 6 mile distance measured out around home, and 4-6 loops of my meausred distances (3-5 miles) will drive me nuts anyway. I can get to the trail from my house, but it's a really exposed and dry area. Depends on weather, I guess.

Halfway there! Marathon in 9 weeks.