Chaptico, MD. It's hot. Haven't had the urge to pee, which generally is not a problem unless you've been sweating a lot. Taking a quick breather to rehydrate. Energy level is good.

View from Woodrow Wilson bridge. Looking North. In Bensville, MD. Swirling wind, once in awhile catches me from behind. Will need a water stop soon.

Leaving a bit late. 85 miles to go. Gotta get out of this DC traffic.

Long and Short

Went out for a run this morning. Nothing too serious, just figured I'd mix things up amidst all the cycling miles of late. Found a nice little loop down on some trails in Rock Creek Park. I've discovered some alternate entrances which are much closer to my doorstep than those I've used in the past. It was still pretty dark so I took my headlamp along. Seems I may need to get a brighter headlamp if I expect to do this further into the fall and winter. About 25 minutes, fartlek style.

I also ran Monday morning for a something like 20 minutes. The foot has been feeling OK. It generally doesn't bother me during the day, but it's still a little stiff when I take my first steps in the morning. It doesn't really act up too much when I run, however, which is a good sign. Actually, my achilles has been feeling it more than anything, which is interesting. This is how the injury seemed to progress back when I first started having issues. First the achilles, then the arch, then the heel. It seems to be unwinding itself in the opposite progression with which it started. Still, I've been sure to ice it plenty and keep up with the stretching.

Didn't do any serious riding Monday as I'd traveled back down from Philly and didn't really have the time. Picked up 16 or so just commuting for the day. Tuesday was 30 in the morning, 40 total. Yesterday was 37 in the morning, 47 total. This is the same progression I've been using on Wed/Thurs in past weeks, but I bumped it up a day this week. It's the same route on both days, with an extended loop around Bethesda on the 2nd day. There are a few checkpoints by which I can gauge my progress. The 5-mile time trial along the CCT went by in just over 15 minutes on Tuesday, which is good enough for a PB. Yesterday I finished the Arlington portion 2 minutes faster than on Tuesday, but lost about a minute and a half on the aforementioned CCT section. However, I finished the total ride yesterday about 4 minutes faster than last week, which is a pretty decent jump. I'm reminded that sometimes it's the larger picture that matters more than the details.

I'm looking forward to my excursion to southern Maryland tomorrow. Logistically it'll be a bit challenging. Sometimes it's awkward showing up at a social scene in sweaty bike garb, and there are a few loose details such as where to leave my bike, etc. I'm planning on leaving around 8:30, and I'm hoping to complete the 80ish miles in under 4.5 hours, putting me in St. Mary's by 1:00 or 1:30. My friend Gwen (who will be joining me in the wedding serenade) will be meeting me with a change of clothes, some stringed instruments, and hopefully some food. I'd like to get out Saturday morning on a 30- to 40-miler just to shake the legs out. Sunday I'll be riding the distance home. Won't have access to internet, so look for the long and short on Sunday evening.

Right Where Old Becomes New (Soggy 60)

Often times I find myself thinking, on runs or rides, about what I'll post when I report here. It's an interesting duality, the interplay between present and retrospect. Almost as if the experience is filtered through this narrative medium, where I'm searching for a spin, or simply taking mental notes that I want to remember.

The title of this post is one I'd intended to publish a couple of weekends ago on a ride through the western suburbs of Philadelphia. It refers to a point along the route where Old Gulph Rd. becomes New Gulph Rd. The symbolism was apparent both in the moment as I transitioned into a mental "phase" of my ride, as well as in the broader spectrum of things. I was overcome by a notion that things are changing, physically, mentally, spiritually; but that it's really more of a revisiting of familiar cycles. Which, of course, highlights one of the many reasons I love doing this, whatever "this" is. Training, or just simply surmounting small challenges and trying to do it better the next time.

All of this cogitation aside, I also had a great weekend. I have less time to ramble on about it than I'd like, but that'll keep this from getting too long.

Yesterday I traced a similar version of the aforementioned route, west of Philly, through the hills of the Main Line. These hills are tough, unforgiving, and surprisingly difficult for such an East Coast locale. But they were easier this time than the last. 58 miles in 3:23.

This morning I thought I'd do about 45, avoiding the hills for a steadier ride. It was raining, which always adds an element of excitement. I stuck to the flat and straight path along the Schuylkill River I've come to know so well, and took the westward leg of the trip pretty hard. The rain stopped when I got to Valley Forge, and I headed off on a short circuit around the park to round out the mileage. I got lost and wound up with more hills and miles than I bargained for, racking up 60 even by the time I was done. I couldn't quite match the pace along the VF trail I set on the way out, and the confusion in the hills prior led me to neglect my nutrition. This slowed me down further, but some focused breathing and a couple gels seemed to patch up my leaky sails. On the way back through town I stopped by the vendor area for some Bicycle Coalition of Philadelphia event and visited with some friends. I don't recall the total time for today, but it was slightly quicker than yesterday.

To my surprise and excitement I've discovered that St. Mary's City is within a 4-5 hr ride from DC. I have to be at a wedding down there on Friday and Saturday. Looks like I'll be taking the two wheel express, to and from.

Flux

The mornings have been refreshingly cool and the cycling has been voluminous.

It's become much more manageable to get a couple of hours in before work, especially when it's incorporated into my commute. I took direct routes to and from work Tuesday for 20. Wednesday it was 30 in the AM, 36 total. Yesterday it was 37 in the AM, 48 total.

Today is another direct to/from, although I haven't ridden home yet and I'm considering taking the scenic route. I really didn't fully recover from Monday's long hot journey until today.

I haven't exactly done the best job tallying my weekly miles, but, based on this week already, they've been in the range of 175-225. I'll probably max out around 250 before winding down for the century on October 9. I like that there hasn't been a focus on achieving a weekly mark. I've just been trying to get in as many miles as my schedule will allow. This seems to be working pretty well. For now.

I feel as though I'm still in this perpetual state of flux, even though a couple of months ago I thought I'd be adhering to a "plan." I suppose this is further augmented by the non-linearity of my running of late. I haven't done any of that biped stuff since Sunday. And because I have a double-header this weekend (two long rides) I doubt I'll get around to it then either. Maybe Monday?

I'm looking forward to October 10 for a couple of reasons. Maia will finally have moved to DC permanently (after a year of us bouncing back-and-forth between here and Philly). Secondly, I'll have the fresh opportunity to reassess my goals, and set some new ones.

77 for Labor

I've been riding (and even running a little!), just haven't been blogging. Lots of travel, work, adventures, not so much sleep.

Looking over the past few posts, I realize that here I sound almost a bit bored. This is definitely not the case, but I have felt as if I don't have any solid long-term goals. More on that in a minute.

I found myself in Vermont over the weekend to attend a friend's wedding. I ended up having a lot of free time, so I explored some state parks while I was there. Ended up doing a bit of trail running and hiking, which came somewhat unexpectedly. The urge to push through my comfort zone (which over the past year has consisted largely of not running) overwhelmed the restraint I've been exercising, and I wound up with three runs in three days. Friday, Saturday, Sunday.

My favorite was a steep ascent of Cannon Mountain in Franconia Notch State Park, NH. A lot of hiking mixed in because of the technical terrain. If I had to guess, I'd say I ran maybe half of the 5 or 6 mile loop. There was something like 2000 ft of vertical rise and descent, but the view from the top was well worth it. The foot has held up OK, but I'm still hesitant about making any judgments from all this. To be honest, my quads are more sore than my feet, which is maybe a good sign, in a warped kind of way?

Yesterday's quad-pounding didn't keep me completing my planned bike ride today. Last Saturday I did 60 miles in the suburbs west of Philadelphia (think north of Rte. 30). So today I figured I would push it a little further, aiming at around 80. The ride was mostly spectacular, although I'm adding some enthusiasm post-ride that I definitely didn't have in the midst of the wind and heat. It was remarkably windy, and this had two general effects; the first of which made me wish I had more water, and the second of which had me cursing the wind and various inanimate objects. I wound up with 77 in about 4:16. Long ass ride, and HOT! I don't feel like mapping it, but it was similar to this. I was 8 pounds lighter on return. The hills on River Rd. are SO epically challenging after working all the way out to Poolesville. Mostly mental. And I don't understand how McArthur Blvd can be uphill the whole way back to DC when the Potomac runs toward the city. Maybe it just felt that way.

I have no specific plans to up the ante in the track and field game until after my century. For that, I've decided that I'm either going to ride my fixie, or ride as fast as I can for the 100 flat miles. I have been toying with the idea of just up and registering for next year's Grandma's Marathon (June) to ignite the charcoal under my rump. But I'll have to see how the next few weeks go. Happy Labor Day.