We have taken a little bit of a break from running and for good reason. Aimee and I welcomed Basil to the world on June 20th and our lives have been forever changed (for the better). Finding time to run over the past month has been challenging, but there is obviously good reason to be spending more time indoors. During the last several months I have been packing in as many runs, bikes, and swims as possible, usually bricking some combo of them together almost everyday; and at minimum, I had completed a marathon each month. Those days will take a break for a while, but I am learning new ways to train while doing my part to help raise our newborn.
This past weekend I decided to keep my marathon a month streak going by running in the Psycho Psummer 50k Trail Race in Kansas City, Kansas. I chose this race because we were headed to Omaha for two weeks and it was on the way. I like trail races, but since my June 3rd Minneapolis Marathon I had not run over 9 miles or over 30 in a week and here I was going to do 31 in one day! So, on the Monday before the race I went out and ran 16 just to reassure myself that I could finish. Trail races are more physically demanding than road races, but I also think they are less demanding mentally. Having the opportunity to eat, fill water bottles, and just stop and walk when you want makes them totally different from a road race. Even though I am out there much longer, the mileage does not seem to matter as much. 
Everyone thinks Kansas = Flat, but I can honestly say this was the most difficult race I have completed. It is nowhere near flat and at almost any point on the course you are going up/downhill or you are on a slant which is very tough on the ankles. This trail is very narrow, rocky, root filled, and at times nothing but switchbacks. I would estimate 90% of the trail was shaded, which was nice since it was 97 degrees, and when you were not in the shade it felt like you were in an oven. With Chicago 12 weeks away, I would say this was a good start to my training.
Oh, the new addition to our family? She helped me cross the finish line in 23rd place.
