Training Log Archive: kissy

This was a little bit of an exploration run. I wanted to see if I could get to the W&OD trail from a side trail that I saw earlier. There was a bit of confusion when the walking trail merged with the golf course trail, and I turned around because I didn't think I could go on the golf course trail. I saw a man shortly after I turned and asked him if we were allowed on the golf course trail. He said that almost always no one cared, but every once in a while "you'll get an asshole who yells at you. Just act stupid." I said I have no trouble acting stupid and turned around again to get to the W&OD.

Today was a local orienteering event at Great Falls, MD, but you had to pre-register for it, and by the time I got around to registering, it was sold out. Drat. I found out that Mom and Don had registered, though, so I decided to go to the park to see them and then go for a bike ride on the C&O Canal. Well, it seems that every other person had the same idea, so by the time I was just half-way down MacArthur Blvd., I had already decided not to try to get into the park. That decision was confirmed later when Mom said it took them an hour to get from Falls Rd. into the park.

So I turned around, parked in the Carderock parking lot and rode from there. On the way, I could see why there was so much traffic on the road...I was dodging people right and left on the trail. It was like a sunny Saturday afternoon on the W&OD trail.

I made it safely to the registration area, rested my bike on the ground, and was talking to Mom for about 20 minutes when there was a huge BANG that sounded like a gunshot. It had come from the direction of my bike, and when I turned to look, I saw that my front tire had blown out! How weird! I'm not sure what happened except that maybe the tube was pinched, and it took that long to explode? Who knows, but it sure scared everyone there! Luckily, I had another tube, so I replaced it and got back to my car just fine.

I can understand the crowds on the trail because it really is beautiful.

C • bang 1

Some pictures from the paramo.

C • your pictures are wonderful 2

Took a hike with Marit and Annie on a beautiful fall day that felt more like summer.

I got home early this morning (2:00 a.m.), so slept in a bit longer than usual. My whole trip to Colombia was remarkable. It was a little disconcerting though not being able to communicate with people. Far fewer people there spoke English than what I'm used to when I travel to Europe. It has inspired me to sign up for Rosetta Stone, which is offered through my work. I'm on a mission to learn at least conversational Spanish.

C • ¡Buena suerte! 3

C • Burma shave! 1

C • Spanish 3

Another session in the hotel room. This felt better than Tuesday...my knee didn't hurt as much.

Someone was on the treadmill when I got to the fitness room, so I decided to make do with the elliptical. Luckily, he was finished pretty quickly, so I moved over to the treadmill.

Meg and I in the paramo:



And a view of Bogota from the Bosques de Bellavilla:

I am in Bogota! My first time in South America. I got in late last night, so I haven't seen much, but tomorrow we go on a field trip up to the Paramos, higher in the Andes. I had no idea that Bogota was at 8600'. I was worried about running this morning, but I guess all the time I've spent in Laramie helped because I didn't feel the altitude at all. This running was done on the hotel treadmill because of kidnappings. There's that.