From my DailyMile Report: (Because apparently I forgot to write a post here - eep!)

A gorgeous run - and with the most challenging hill I've done to date. Typically these trail races include some steep uphills followed by steep downhills, but this out-and-back was essentially one gigantic straight-up hill.

(Said the race director: "Right after the aide station at mile 1.5, take the dirt road. And that's when the pain begins.")

Of course, that meant straight-down on the way back - which might help the lungs, but pounds the knees and calves!

My eat.blog.run teammates aren't going to believe me (because I was a total slowpoke for The Relay) but for one section of the trail I ran at a 8.5 minute mile. Granted, I was at a 20 minute mile for the trudging uphill. And no, my fastest time was not flying down the steepest downhill, but rather the flat part that came *after* the downhill. *Eh, I'll take it!*

The scenery as we ran around the lake was pretty, and then seeing the lake teeny-tiny when we were above it was amazing. Thankfully I didn't see any bees, despite a large sign warning, "Caution: Bee Hive on Trail!" Eeeeeeeee!

I think I may have my running mojo back (knock on wood.) It left me at the beginning of May and continued through the start of July. But last Sunday's Half and today's 10k both felt fantastic. I hope to keep feeling good, as my autumn race calendar is crazy.

Bad Bass, conquered.