MDay -35 -- Sun. August 16

New week, back onto the training schedule -- FIVE WEEKS left, arg! 何とかなるけど。

Missed SRRC meeting again. Instead, found myself in Delmar, so planned out a route using the old railway trail, hoping that it'd been fixed up since I last biked it. It was just after noon by the time I could get out, having driven up in the a.m., so I took water and had sunscreen on; aiming for 9 miles.

Back streets to the trail, stretch a bit, then off along the ballast-gravel surface (a bit hard on my thin trail shoes), enjoying the slight down gradient and feeling hot but ready to go with it (not pushing pace). After about three miles reach *that bridge* -- alas, more or less unreconstructed. Someone had bolted together the 3-4 loose ties in the open section mid-bridge, but there were still the other two open sections as well as the slightly crumbly sleepers right across. Ouf. Didn't want to risk pausing to think, or look down, just headed right out with careful steps. Very scary, but made it across w/o incident, inshallah, and kept right on going. Phew!

Trail ends up at railyard by SoPearl street, where I couldn't figure a way out: stopped clock and found a playground next to the yard, so with help of trees climbed the 8' chainlink fence and jumped down the other side. Threw water bottle, and it disappeared (temporarily) down a rabbit hole! Banged forearm on something in a heavy landing, but mainly okay. Out of the playground, then along road to McCarty Ave: up the hill and straight across until it intersects with Delaware. VERY hot, and running low on water, plus feeling the sun on bits I'd forgotten to protect. Mmmf.

Back along Delaware, then dive down into glorious shade on the yellow brick road. Down to the river, cross the old bridge and up the other side back to Delaware, seriously looking for water now. Icecream stand has an outside fountain, so stop there to drink and refill bottle, promising to go back later and buy icecream (which I did, with kids :-).

After that, simple run on back streets to home from home. Miss the turnoff near the end, and kind gardener sprays me with hose -- 快適！ Data:

Time: 1:17:25
Distance: 9.69 miles
Pace: 7:59s

Comment: this was *hot* and I was roasted by the end -- still, the running felt good, interesting if difficult terrain in places. Achilles tendon a bit sore, but planning a day off tomorrow after three days on. Good start to the week, I think