the blades

just got back from some inline skating. it's been nearly two years since my last skating incident, after which, within two days, i found myself both pre-emptively dumped and once again on the advil 4x4x4 plan. both quite fond memories.

this time i've little fear of knee injury and even less fear of being dumped.

i took the old FC bike path route that i'd taken so many times in the past. it's changed a little, but not much. someone has ground down a lot of the root-induced blacktop-buckles and re-paved some of the rough spots, but other spots are as rough as ever.

i'd forgotten about the adorable squirrel lookouts. they waved to me as usual.

on the way "there" i saw some jackasses waterskiing in the fester city stink lagoon. on my way "back", they were getting a chatting-to by the "harbor patrol". i didn't know the stink lagoon had a "harbor patrol", and the very idea cracks me up. doubtless some fearless fester city resident frantically dialed 911 to report stink lagoon traffic exceeding 2 knots and the "harbor patrol" was scrambled to write the jackasses a ticket and explain to them that "fun" was outlawed in fester city back in 1972.

i can't believe someone would spend the $$$ on a motorboat and then use it in the stink lagoon. color me boggled.

also on the way "back" i heard, over the sounds of full-blast infected mushroom a nasty screech and bang sound. right within visual range was the 101, though the area of origin of the screech-bang was obscured by a bridge. sure enough, traffic began to slow. guess i was an auditory witness to an accident.

and now, the answers to the burning question that everyone is dying to know. was it fun?

answer: sorta.

the downsides :
- the inline skates hurts my footsies something fierce. i wasn't wearing my superfeet, but i don't think even they would help. after a while, as usual, my foot went numb. has to do with pressure points in the boot, i can reverse the effect if i stop and wiggle. still, not exactly "comfortable".
- it's slightly terrifying. the path is uneven and i'm still not too confident on the skates. i've never had a major acute skating disaster, but i'm always on the verge of one. there are cracks and roots and all sorts of nasty obstructions all over. i really don't want to spill. that'd be bad for my primary sports (running, hiking, lifting), all of which are already oh-so-gentle on the joints.
- it's not very cardiorific. it used to be, i used to be bushed after an hour of it. but after a 6 mile run yesterday, 9 miles on the skates was cake today. but if i'm exercising it'd at least be nice to feel like i deserve an ice cream afterwards. no ice cream today. if it wasn't so sunny i might not even have been sweaty.

the upsides :
- it's not very cardiorific. relaxing (if not for the terror).
- i get to wear a tank top
- it's fun to not be on a bike but still move faster than running (i averaged 9 minutes/mile for 9 miles. never mind the pace; i haven't (yet) managed to run more than 6(.12) miles at any pace.)

in sum, it's a major pita for some decent semi-relaxing fun-in-the-sun. i'll take a run or a good hike over skating any day, unless it's the day right after a run or a good hike, in which case i might have to think about it. i've been known to ignore my don't-do-the-same-exercise-activity-two-days-in-a-row rule.