I am a cold weather runner. Heat and humidity do a number on me, and since I live in a part of the country that is very hot and humid, I find maintaining my half-marathon training a real challenge through the summer. I really do not want to give up running outdoors and resort to running on a treadmill or indoor track. I also prefer not to run after the sun goes down for visibility reasons. My only option is to go to the Refuge, literally and spiritually. Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, a 21,676-acre swampy area enclosed by beautiful forests, lakes, and ponds, has become both a physical and spiritual refuge for me. My love for plants and animals (I have a degree in Biology), plus an old log cabin that had once been a part of my husband’s family but is now part of the refuge, first drew me to this place. Also, many of the roads are dirt and/or gravel so I can escape the pounding of asphalt on my body. So, began my journey of running on the refuge in all