First time in a year

 It's Cornhusker State Games time!  It's been going on for a week, and it has a bit more to go.  This morning was the Volkswalk portion, and it followed the same route as last year.  But it's not nearly as sweltering as it was then.

For a dozen years or so, I've done something with these games.  It was under their auspices that I did my first "real" "baby" triathlon.  My activity has dropped in miles and increased in minutes, but at least this once a year, my friend Gerri and I have gone the distance.

Hopeful and chipper at 6:55 a.m., getting started from the school.

Sweaty with the sun burnishing bright and warming up at the end, 9:23 a.m.

Our winding path, 6.45 miles long.  No visiting stops this year, other than at the rest areas with water / nibbles provided.  Last year we kept running across people we knew, as due to last year's horrid heat EVERYBODY started out that early.  It's only supposed to get up to 89F this afternoon, and I think we've been a bit spoiled by the week of cooler weather with short bits of rain we just had.

And in the end, they hung finisher medals on everyone, whether they did the short path (2 miles) or the one we did.

In the books.  Longest outing in 2023 so far.

Still no orange kitty.  But the gray one is spry and happy and himself, now that he's allowed to go out and set his own pace.  For some reason, I'm not distraught about Rubia's absence, but as the days pass, I might get there.

Life is good.  Spark on!