Thursday, July 2, 2026

A Star-Spangled Coffee Gathering

Well, friends, July has arrived!

How about we gather (virtually) and have a chat over coffee? I have a lot of stuff in the works for this new month, and I’m looking forward to all kinds of summer weather to get things done. 

If we were gathered over coffee, I start by sharing my June stats. With a recovery week (following DAM to DSM, on May 30th), and a week of vacation, the running miles took a hit. Walking was strong, due to all the active recovery. Biking is basically getting started, and going strong. 


If we were gathering over coffee, I’d tell you about the Strawberry Moon being a near no-show. It was somewhat bright in the hazy sky as I was driving home from my son’s place (Monday evening). I didn’t get home until just before 11:00PM, but I was out on the street a mere few minutes later. I snapped the pic, below, about halfway through the first mile. It slipped behind the clouds, though, by the time I hit the 1-mile mark. Nonetheless, I got two late night miles done, and another full moon run has been archived.


If we were gathering over coffee, I’d tell you about these “cute” sandals. I bought them last year, early in the summer season, but they gave my poor toes blisters every time I wore them. Finally, after several outings this season, my feet love them now. 

Finally, “fashion-before-function” is working in my favor

If we were gathered over coffee, I tell you how excited I am excited for all the fitness on-tap for July! For starters, I’m running the Fifth Season 4th of July 8K on Independence Day. I’ve only run this race once (in 2019) and it was a fun deviation from the small town 5K I’d run numerous times in years prior. I even managed to snag a 3rd place AG, so there’s a little self-imposed pressure to place again. The weather is looking dry (at the moment), but warm and humid, so it will not be an especially fast or furious endeavor.

From 2019, with Barb!

I also have more Des Moines Corporate Games events coming up (the cross country race, on the 11th), and the 5K road race, on the 18th). There is another Iowa Brewery run, this time n Des Moines, on the 12th. And, let’s not forget RAGBRAI, which I’ll be riding on the 21st and 22nd (approximately 60 miles each day).   

Finally, if we were gathering over coffee, I’d remind you June 29th was Volde’s 9th birthday! Can you believe it? Indeed, June 29th was a memorable day, in 2017, for me and my staph-infected right knee.

From clockwise, upper left): A few hours post-emergency surgery, all wrapped-up with a wound vac, a week post-op (those stitches were so ugly!), and with the stitches removed.

And now? The 6-inch scar is barely noticeable.

Anyways, that’s what I’d bring to the (virtual) table if we were gathered for coffee. July is here and the summer season is definitely in full swing!

If we were gathered for coffee, what would YOU share? 

Since it's the first weekend of the month, I'm linking this with Deborah and Coco for the Ultimate Coffee Date



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