Running (SHT) 4:29:00 [3] 19.9 mi (13:31 / mi)
shoes: Cascadia 9 Red/Gray
SHT run. Robin dropped me at the Sucker River lot. I ran SW across Sucker River, French River, Normanna Road, then followed trail along Lismore Road to the lot. I then continued south to Bald Eagle campsite before turning around and heading back the the lot. (I needed about 20 miles for training.)
The Sucker to Lismore segment is the least pleasant I've run. The mosquitoes were mean in the shade. Worse, the flies were ferocious in the sun, and there was way too much sun. Large swaths of forest had recently been timbered. Moreover, the North Shore Snowmobile Trail was the SHT for many long miles. Think grassy trail with little mid-day shade and frequent mud puddles between low hills. There were no big climbs, and thus no open vistas. The trail improved south of Lismore, and I picked up my pace for a strong finish.
(Drank 20 oz an hour, in humid air climbing to 78 degrees.)