It was a beautiful Sunday morning for a run—bright and sunny with enough of breeze to keep the temperature bearable.
Greg met Nick at the bottom of the trail. They were both in shorts and lightweight, breathable T-shirts, with running belts for their water bottles.
“Ready to test your stamina?” Nick asked.
Greg looked at the trail, which rose at a gentle slope as it entered the trees and smiled in apparent relief. “You bet.”
Nick didn’t have the heart to tell him it would get steeper and rougher a few yards in. He didn’t think Greg would chicken out, but he wasn’t willing to take the chance.
“Beat you to the top,” Greg called out as he took off.
Nick raced after him, catching up and keeping pace with him as the trail wound through the trees and became increasingly more rugged. To his
