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Mile 528.  Lou felt better today and picked up his pace significantly.  Perhaps it was this fine side view of La Verkin's block letter L on the hill, or maybe it was Todd Christofferson's walking thought.  It was a nice morning for a walk!

Cheerio!

Today's walk was 2.32 miles, done in 41:46 minutes at an average pace of 18:00 minutes per mile. This route had an average tortoise rating of 4.9, earned by climbing 139 feet in the 1.16 mile uphill portion.  Average elevation was 3233.

Here are the overall stats so far for 2016:

528.87 miles walked, compared with Lou's goal for this date of 515.92.

35,876 total feet climbed so far in 2016, compared to a year-to-date goal of 31,752.  Lou hopes to climb more than the 61,316 feet he climbed in 2015 -- but in less time each day than his 1:07:04 hour per day average in 2015.  So far in 2016, Tortoise's walks have averaged 57:58 minutes each.

His average pace so far in 2016 has been 17:45 minutes per mile, compared with his 18:25 minute per mile pace in 2015.

Lou has walked 363 consecutive non-Sundays since his 8 missed days May 2-11, 2015. Overall he has walked on 466 of the 475 non-Sundays in 2015-16, a 98.105% consistency rating.

And now for today's walking thought, with thanks to Wounded Duck for suggesting it  ...

Elder Christofferson begins with, "My remarks this evening are about America's great heritage of religious liberty -- and about the need for each of us to defend that heritage before it is too late."  He goes on to say, "Religious freedom is the cornerstone of peace in a world with many competing philosophies.  It gives us all space to determine for ourselves what we think and believe -- to follow the truth that God speaks to our hearts."

He then asks each of us to defend religious freedom in many important ways, concluding, "above all, as the Apostle Paul wrote, 'be ... an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity (1 Timothy 4:12).'  ... Live your faith so that others will see your good works, experience your genuine love and friendship, and feel God working through you.  Americans tend to respect and protect what they believe is good.  So let us show them the highest and best in our faiths -- our willingness to love and serve others, to build strong families, to live honorable lives, to be good citizens."

-- D. Todd Christofferson, "Religious Freedom -- A Cherished Heritage To Defend", Freedom Festival Patriotic Service, Provo, Utah, June 26, 2016

The tortoise is smiling!