~6.5 miles @ ~11.6 min/mi

"We are the champions, my friend!" I tell Kerry, in honor of Freddie Mercury who died 24 years ago yesterday. Kerry remembers an awesome performance by a Queen tribute band at a friend's wedding. We're at mile 6, climbing the hills of Churchill Rd, pausing to pet dogs and chat with neighbors as the sun rises. The Grateful Dead's "Uncle John's Band" loops inside my head.

It's a frosty morning, almost-full moon low in the west as we begin. Two deer eye us from the far side of a meadow. Kerry's calf is mostly recovered from the Potomac Heritage misstep at mile 11 a fortnight ago. Her son Fletcher gets back this afternoon, his first visit home from college. Tomorrow is a Turkey Trot in which they have competed for the past 7 years. So we skip speedwork on the Langley High School track and plan 5k race strategy. Best of luck, Mom!

(trackfile) - ^z - 2015-12-11