Being svelte I expect you have never even heard the term “secret miles” (secret kilometers in this post modern age). Those of us that are, shall we say, BMI challenged, strive to get in early season training outside the watchful eyes of potential peloton members. For the uninitiated, we attempt to sneak in an extra thousand miles on the bike/skis/trail, etc. Then, just as in the classic movie, “Sleeping With the Enemy”, you surprise your opponent new found skills. Dropping the pack is never as satisfying when the tongue draggers say something like, “Well, it looks like all your hard work has finally paid off.”. This is not just an athletic thing either. Getting the only “A” in Quantitative Methods would not have been nearly as much fun if everyone knew how much time it cost. No, you want to just breeze in and out like its no big deal. So, I did get in a dozen secret K yesterday. The parking lot was empty! Imagine that. Granted, it was raw for October but 28f will feel balmy in late January. Sure it was choppy and icy but we will long for that in a week’s time. In August we all see the real athletes on roller skis getting ready for the season. I keep sports in their lane and rarely roller ski anymore. I don’t care how sharp your carbide inserts, the poll angle is never the same as skiing. Portions of yesterday’s ski were wonderful sections of double poll after double poll. The oak leaves had accepted a good deal of moisture and offered no more resistance than the snow. Granted, the down hills were a gritty affair with a serious amount of stemming to avoid scuffing up my face. In any case, let us keep this between the three of us. I wouldn’t want anyone to know I snuck in some secret miles.
See you out there,
Sondo