It's July and hotter than any summer I can remember. But for a few days, I am enjoying the 70-ish highs of Glen Arbor, Michigan. Hanging with my family, climbing dunes, biking, running and boating. It is glorious. This weekend, I will be back in the summer heat that is Texas where I plan to volunteer and run at Muleshoe Bend -- one of the Capt'n Karl's night races.

After running 2 miles without stopping last week, I've been trying to emulate that by running a little slower and steadier each time. It hasn't been perfect but I think I am back onto something fundamental. To run consistently, you can be a speed demon every time -- especially for those of us not gifted in this realm.

And, hey, rate this 'cast on apple podcasts, please.

This one is a bit embarrassing. It's about some financial stuff I've been handed this month. *I am not asking for money. I will be OK.*

But it affected my outlook and ability to push through.

But then, I had a couple of good runs and feel empowered.

Never Give Up.

This episode includes a throwback to 2014 where I powered through and overcame my mental blocks. It is also about the ups and downs of the brain at a race.

Billie is one of my new favorite people. She has this energy about her that draws you in. She is a frequent participant and volunteer volunteer at Tejas Trails races.

We talk about her running journey and I press her a little about how she got into a relationship with a narcissist. I think this will be helpful for a lot of folks who may be entangled in a similar situation.

Her words are empowering.

Photo: Billie after she won first place in the women's master's in her race at Spider Mountain in May.

Oh, boy. This one is personal. Very personal. It's about depression, taking medication and an unexpected trip to a mental hospital.

This may trigger some, so just know this.

Jenny Gruber is a tough woman. She has limped for miles on a bad ankle because she didn't want to let her husband and son down. She has tackled some tough races and persevered. Her latest challenge is bouncing back after contracting COVID-19. Plus bonus content of Hazel at the end. (Well, in the video version. In the audio, I try to describe it.)

I'm making my second attempt to run 100 miles at the end of this year. The first time, I stopped at 100K because I hurt and my mind wasn't right.

Hundo, aka Orlando Montalvo, has completed more than a half-dozen of these beasts on different terrains.

He takes us through his journey and offers advice for you aspiring 100-ers.

Getting older is inevitable. Having health issues as you get older is likely. You can try to outrun bad genes, but sometimes you just are stuck with them.

I found out on Friday that I have high blood pressure -- this runs on both sides of my family, so it isn't a huge surprise. I guess I figured being active and eating fairly healthy would help me outrun the bad-news gene pool. On top of that, I have depression and had to have my thyroid removed. All of this means daily medication to keep everything in check.

I found out a couple of my running buddies -- fit ladies who have run multiple 50-and-100-milers -- have high blood pressure. It made me feel less alone.

Still, I'm going to try and incorporate a few new things in the diet and subtract some of the problematic ones (bye, frozen meals, so long, tacos and burgers...) and see if this can be put under control.

The moral of the story is no matter how healthy you may seem, your ancestors may thwart some of that.

I volunteered and ran at Reveille Peak Ranch this past weekend. It was two days of weather contrasts: cool, cloudy and breezy on Friday and blazing sun, hot and humid on Saturday. For me, it was a welcome relief from early March at Camp Eagle, where my face felt frozen.

It was fun to help out at the start-finish and get in a short 4-miler on Saturday. Got to reconnect with some folks and make some new friends.

This week is Orville Peck week: I see him in San Antonio on Wednesday, in Dallas on Friday and in Houston the following Tuesday. Just in case anyone was wanting to know. Ha ha ha.