The best place in the world.

Cypress Hills and it is hot! Very, very hot. Above 30 degrees hot. Today is my run day and I felt that I was ready to go for a longer run so I tried to get out before the heat of the day kicks in. I am on vacation for a week and I hope to get in some quality training while I am here. My mission was to run 25k more or less. I was dealing with some variables such as terrain and temperature. The Cypress Hills are (surprise surprise) quite hilly. This week they are also very hot. The run started from the cabin, around Loch Leven, onto the Trans Canada trail system through a forest of the very majestic lodgepole pine that are impressively abundant in this area.

This trail climbs up to the plateau of the Cypress Hills. I head west towards Lookout point and push on to Bald Butte.
Bald Butte is a big hill that perches on the north side of the Cypress conglomeration. On a clear day, one can seen incredible view of the Saskatchewan prairie. I pass the sign that indicates that I have made it to Bald Butte. The sun is out and I am feeling the heat of the warm prairie air. I continue without stopping and when I get to the end of the pavement the road turns to gravel so I turn around to start my journey home.

A few kilometres later Deb shows up with some more water and Gatoraide to top up my supplies for the run back. This is not a fast run, I am feeling the heat and the altitude. I finished off the run with a loop arrow the lake and after in 2 hours and 20 minutes and I was bagged.
It seemed to be a greater perceived effort than I expected I am not sure why, but even though it was a tough run I throughly enjoyed it. Even with all the challenges, this is possibly the best place in the world to go for a run.