A friend had suggested I check out the Cumberland Valley Rails-to-Trails Race Series sometime. This was the sometime. And, the race start time was the exact time our summer officially began.

6:34 P.M. EST – and the 5K/10K on the Cumberland Valley Trail began. With 51 finishers in the 5K and 81 in the 10K, the size was just right for an out-and-back rail trail run.

After a day of 90 degree weather, I decided at the start to take it easy and enjoy the trail. Underfoot was pea gravel, overhead a lot of shade until mile 4, and a slight breeze through the trees. So there would be no question that summer had begun, the mulberry trees bordering the trail had dropped copious amounts of their fruit leaving the soles of my running shoes tinged with a lovely shade of pink.

The Summer Solstice Run is one of a series where points are given for participation and results in each of the race series. Age Grading points based on each runner’s gender, age and performance toward the total race series are calculated at each individual race in the series. As it happened, at 76.61%, I was the top age grader in the 10K for the Summer Solstice Run.

After joining with old friends and making a few new acquaintances, I drove home under a beautiful sky and a full Strawberry Moon. On this day, we enjoyed out longest day of light. When it finally gave way to darkness, the Strawberry Moon took over to brighten our night.

Ah, the sweet pleasures of summer.