Training Log Archive: vmeyer

Overnight in Flintstone, MD. Good thing, since I was so bleary at 9:30 PM last night after the race, that I felt impaired driving the five miles to my cabin from the race site. Props to the cabin property owner, June, who delivered my room key to the race site earlier in the day, since I wasn't going to make it there at a reasonable hour. Granted, they don't live on site, so it was in her best interest as well, but I just needed to let her know I was going to run late, and she did the personal service thing. She also doesn't clean the cabins until 12:30-1 on Sundays, so I was able to arrange a late check-out.

I felt uncomfortable leaving the race equipment in the car at the trail parking lot, so I left it in the cabin, rode, drove back, loaded up, showered and then hit the road. It added about an hour of driving time to the day, but it added much peace of mind.

Plan was to get up early and drive to Hancock, MD and do the full Western Maryland Rail Trail. Got a little later start then I had intended, and also got a little lost in Hancock... :)

Beautiful morning with temps in the mid-50s. Sun stayed tucked behind the clouds most of the day, and I did get a little chilly - mostly my toes. Wore a very light long sleeve short and a vest. Tried to discard the vest after 10 mile, but I needed it. An UA long sleeve might have been a better choice.

Started at ~7:45, and rode the ~10 miles towards the start, back to Hancock, and then ~12 miles to the other end, and back again. It seemed like the wind was constant, and I considered stopped when I got to the car after ~20 miles, but the part of the trail I had completed is not the nicer part (runs along busy I70), so I knew I would have to go the other way as well to feel like I got my "money's worth.". Glad I did.

Felt like I should have been a little faster since I did 3:36 last July. I may have not had the front wheel on like it should have been, so there may have been a little bit of drag there. Or, perhaps, I will also be a slow rider, and that is OK, really!

Saw only about a dozen people the whole time. Trail was much more crowded when I stopped on the way home to use the port-a-john at the estern end. :)

Race Timing: EX2 9 Hrs CM - Rocky Gap

Before race timing duties at Rocky Gap.

One loop of the lake in each direction. First loop 1:00:00, second loop 1:03:12. Wore my 310s the first loop, and changed to asics for the second loop.

Was not super speedy, but I was enjoying myself until I took a very hard fall about 3 miles into the second loop. Good thing it wasn't on the pavement. That would have been really nasty. My right bre**t took a direct hit with all of my weight landing on the front of it. Curled up into a ball and whimpered for a little bit, then brushed myself off and continued on. It was very painful, and I was pretty rattled.

Bruising on the right thigh as well, just above the knee. So, I think I was fortunate that it was only the fleshy parts of me which made contact.

Got out of bed late after a restless night. Driving in at 8:30 vs 7 is more of a pain since I would encounter traffic associated with 8 different schools, so biking in was actually more appealing despite the gloomy skies. I also didn't want to go all week without biking at least once into work.

Thermometer said 54, and the forecast high said 88, so I figured shorts would be OK, especially for the ride home. I was smart enough to wear a long sleeve shirt under my sleeveless shirt, since it turned out to be a bit raw out. And, it seems like today's high is actually 66, not 88, not that I am complaining about that!

Almost a perfect ride in with just about 30 seconds of stoppage time, included in the total time. I was going so fast, that I decided to blow through the stop signs on DeWitt, instead of almost stopping at each of them (all four way stops, and hardly ever any cars on the street). Luckily, I recognized the police car coming towards me and stopped at the next stop sign. Back to law abiding citizen after that.

Speedy, for me, ride home helped by the lack of headwind experienced on every other ride home from the new location.

Also able to power halfway up the hill before going into survival mode. I look forward to the day I feel good all the way up the hill. That day will come.

Did not want to post another goose egg, so despite the nap after work, the humid conditions, the threat of severe storms, and the general lack of motivation, I went for a run, and then a walk. Yeah me!

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