[Photo from a website claiming to have photographed a ghostly orb at Bear Creek Park.  Looks like a smudge to me.  Click on the photo to read more.] 

Location: Bear Creek Park
Distance: 10 miles
Temp: low 80s?  Surprisingly cool for Houston

• Saturday morning's run was yet another Track Long Track.  The SMARTLite workout was 2 mile warmup, silly walk stretches, then 2×1200m at 10K pace, 3 mile recovery, 2×1200m at 10K pace, 1 mile cooldown. 
• Ran with Maureen and Pamela, with Barb as our fearless SMARTieLite leader.  It had rained on Friday evening, and the sky was still cloudy, creating some wonderfully cool temperatures for Houston.
• Once again, I went out too hard and fast on my first 1200m.  I really need to work on pacing myself - by the end of the workout, my intervals were identical in speed with my recovery jogs. 
• For our 3 mile recovery, Barb led us through the west part of the Park along the Sullins Way loop (I think).  Really muddy, but fun to explore a new route.  At one point, we turned a corner and a flock of about 50 snow white herons flew into the air - it was a beautiful sight.
• Although I should have done the full 14 miles, I did the 10.  Right now it's more important to me to run with a few other people than to run alone on the longer route.  I should probably start changing that approach soon, though.  
• I decided to put in an extra 4 miles later on in the evening.