Author: Mark Allman

A variation on “long run Sunday” is “long ride Sunday.” It’s so strange. There’s nothing like fighting to stick to the distance plan, and the further you go the more determined and confident you get.

Today’s ride was a 13.61 mile rolling hills route. Several stops for traffic lights. Pace was 4:29.

A later morning ride. Since it was well after sunrise, I decided to ride a route that is mostly great but has a short stretch that’s all torn up and busy. At least I could creep along and see what to avoid.

A few days ago I did something in my sleep to my knee. Ugh! It woke me up. I do tend to thrash around a bit. It might push back the start of running by a few days to a week. Whatever. From now on, I’m wearing a knee brace to bed.

Today’s ride was a mildly rolling 7.65 mile route. Pace was 4:22.

A welcome cool morning for a ride. It’s July, so getting temperatures into the high 50’s isn’t to be taken for granted. It makes it harder to get out of bed at 4:30 though.

Today’s ride was a 12.38 mile hills/rolling hills route. Pace was 4:27.

Interesting ride this morning. I don’t have clip-in shoes and peddles, just the classic flat peddles. This means that I only get power on the downward part of the peddling motion. When in the cycle does that start exactly? What I noticed is that if I start pushing too soon, then I’m not so much pushing the pedal forward around the cycle as pushing the pedal straight towards the center. That’s not helping really at all, and also I feel it in the knee, especially my left knee (not the one I twisted). It was a good, long ride, with plenty of time to focus on technique.

Today’s ride was a 12.38 mile hills/rolling hills route. Pace was 4:26.

A mild and muggy morning for a ride. I decided to try a fairly flat route that I’ve used for years but that currently has a small part torn up and then patched. It’s not a stretch that I’d run on — too much debris, too many holes, etc. There’s no way to see that stuff on a dark, early morning run.

Today’s ride was a 7.65 mostly flat route. A few rises and grades, but definitely not “hills.” Pace was 4:13.

Another cool, clear morning. It rained overnight, so some wet/slick spots.

Today’s ride was an 8.05 mile rolling hills route. Pace was 4:34, which is the same as yesterday.

A cool morning for a ride. Good work. Get after it. The knee doesn’t complain, so that’s good. I can feel that it’s still healing and needs more time, but all I can do is give it the time it’ll require. If I had only stopped months ago when I first felt something.

Today’s ride was an 8.05 mile rolling hills route. Pace was 4:34.

The early morning grind. Get up, get going. It’s resistance. It’ll be interesting to see how they reproduce the grind in the metaverse. It’s what separates the talkers and the pretenders from the doers.

Today’s ride was a 6.28 mile mildly rolling route. No climbs, just grades. Pace was 4:42.

Cool but not too cool for an early morning ride. Not much traffic. Not a cloud in the sky. Also, no knee pain. I expect three more weeks or so at least.

Today’s ride was an 8.05 mile rolling hills route. Pace was 4:30.

Adding distance. Not much vertical. Also no issues at all. It’s back-and-forth on a stretch that’s not too far from home, just in case.

Today’s ride was a 10.42 mile mildly rolling route. Pace was 4:39.