Road Rash Chronicles

 Last night at 4-2-1, right from the top of the class, Dom dropped the bombshell that we were going to do a marathon distance instead of our normal 25k.  Oh crap.

I was sort of excited to see if I could do it but I was also very very tentative considering all the boot and back issues I have been having lately.  Last week, after only 30 minutes of skating, I had to take my skates off because my ankles hurt so bad.  So you can imagine my trepedation when Dom mentioned a marathon.  Yikes.  Keep in mind that I only recently completed a 21k distance.  Anything over that was new territory.

I had luckily heat molded my skates again on Saturday night and decided to do a 10K before the group showed up for practice.  I arrived about an hour early and while warming up Dom showed up for a mini session with another skater.  I tagged along.  What a saving grace that was.  I was able to get the back and hips warmed up and adjust my laces to a comfortable threshold.  I even moved my frame yet again.  Still having probs with that left skate.  

Anyway, for the most part, I was okay.  I had some back and hip issues but never at the same time and almost always bearable to some degree.  Not to mention the speed we were tracking at was not race pace but not slow by any means.

We saw a few skaters here and there like Dan D and Ray V but it was only Ray who whipped around and joined the pack for a few kms.  We tried to convince him to come with us but he bailed out.  I guess he wasn't up to a real skate with the pros.  ;)

As the night progressed, Dom decided to test our road skating and quickly pulled us off the paths and onto major roads.  Hills, and cars and the most unbelievably horrible pavement I have ever experienced.  Island Park drive should be closed down.  It was like skating on glued together gravel stone.  Up to that point, I had never felt anything like it.  

By the 30+ marker I was getting tired and my ankles were beginning to bother me a bit.  Technique was quickly diminishing and as a result everything else started to get sore.  Especially the bottoms of my feet.  Since when does that happen?  Strange.  But before we knew it, we were back at the parking lot and I couldn't get my skates off faster.  Then of course, Kim and I had to reward ourselves with Dairy Queen.  Now that is the life!  

I had to laugh at one of Dom's critiques however.  While skating behind me for a few kms, she said "you are doing something wrong but I don't know what it is.  I know it is something but I don't know what "it" is."  

This morning, although very happy I actually did the distance, I feel like I am going to die.  My legs and hips are so sore that I can't even fathom that I have a 2 hour tennis game at 3 followed by another training night of skating.  Walking hurts....the last thing I want to do is put my skates back on.  But I also realize that that is probably the best thing I can do.  Damn!

So here is our route from last night.  It shows 30k but with my warm up, it was officially 40km.