~11 miles @ ~15.9 min/mi

"I'll try a 100 miler, but you have to run it with me!" Last week's C&O Canal 100 by Dr Stephanie inspires others to ponder the distance. "Or maybe first do a 100k? Hmmmm, have you run your age in miles yet?" Gayatri and Barry smile at babies in prams, hug friends whom we meet, and admire cute dogs. Emaad and Rebecca dash ahead.

"OK to touch?" Somebody's back itches, but before scratching a friend it's always good to confirm permission. Experiments with a stick find it insufficient. An explosion of flowers line Rock Creek Trail today, perhaps provoking allergic reactions. Late-season cherry blossoms blanket the ground.

"And I was at least 5 minutes ahead of the cutoffs!" Barry reports on the Big Sur marathon last Sunday. At the base of the Mormon Temple Hill a large faux rock is padlocked to the ground. The Temple itself is closed for construction. A direct route leads back to KenGar, past the Noyes Childrens Library owl carving and kitschy antique store window cat-and-vase displays.

(trackfile) - ^z - 2018-05-21