A COLD WET MORNING kept me from starting my Saturday run at 8:15 a.m. as usual. That’s what happens when I’m away from my regular running group, who heads out at that time rain or shine. I geared up around noon, only to find out the batteries on my Garmin were nearly dead. So it was back to catching up on email for a bit. Got into Glen Arbor around 1:30.

The route was a 13.6 mile loop around the big part of Glen Lake, starting and ending at Cherry Republic and a big nasty hill (“Look at the bones!”) at the 9-mile mark. Perhaps the weather gods decided I’d been punished enough yesterday, or maybe it’s just Michigan, but the rain stopped, the sun came out, and the wind was actually at my back for a good while.

Right about the halfway mark I stopped at Laker Shakes for some water (I’m a big spender) and promised I’d be back. Which I was after the run, obtaining my self-reward shake of Mocha Almond Fudge. (Tastes a lot better than the protein powder and spinach version, and far more motivational.)