Whilst others are out there suffering/enjoying 206 miles in the saddle from Logan to Jackson, I feel quite pleased with myself for getting out there and accomplishing a whopping 13.95 miles (but twice up Big Cottonwood Canyon Road past the Old Mill.

I seriously think this has been more of a wasted season than last year … how depressing is that? But at least I haven’t given up on the bike completely. We’ll see what I can accomplish tomorrow. But starting next weekend, I’m about to be very busy … most of my Saturdays from now through December are going to be spoken for.

Climber’s Trophy next week. The First Annual (Not) The Season Opener Cyclocross at the Canyons on the 20th … possibly the Ogden Twilight on the 26th … and then the UTCX season starts in full swing on the

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As soon as I got out on the road today, my tooth (the one under the temporary crown) started hurting … higher blood pressure, perhaps, causing it to throb? In any case, since the air actually seemed fairly clear of particulate matter today, I decided to push on.

Definitely didn’t have the legs to attempt any real climbs, so once I got to the zoo, I headed back along Wasatch to 21st South, then dropped back into Millcreek, instead of taking Wasatch all the way back down. When I hit 45th South, didn’t feel like I had done quite enough, so pushed on down Holladay Blvd a bit further towards Cotton Bottom; flipping around and heading for home when I got to Cottonwood Elementary.

Legs and lungs felt okay, but my tooth was definitely bothering me a bit … 11 more days until the permanent crown.

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Now that the Tour is over, it’s time to get off the couch and back on the bike … of course, 3 weeks off, when you’re already not fit, can be painful when you do get back on.

The Garmin didn’t record yesterday’s ride properly, but here’s today’s …

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No legs. Very hot. Should have started earlier in the day. My fault.

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… another pair of dead legs.

Crossed the new bridge across I-215 at the north end of Wasatch, right by the entrance to Parley’s Canyon … didn’t realize it dead-ended in gravel in the gully on Parley’s Trail … so did a little impromptu CX’ing on my Vittoria CX tubbies … thankfully no flats.

Ran into A-Train, the Tri-Geek and Lucy Nosebiter while climbing back out of the gully, so stopped and a bit of a chat, then promptly ran home so I could upload today’s ride into Motionbased as quickly as possible, because I’m a geek like that.

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Now … to get out of the chamois, then shower to wash off the salt, sweat, and stink … then figure out what I want to eat that will replenish calories in a good, healthy way, rather than ordering a pizza and stuffing my face.

And as always, the CarboRocket kept me well-hydrated and energized … I’ve gone for a few rides now just to have an excuse to drink it!

Longest ride of the season thus far for me … yeah, yeah, for most of you, this is nothing, but anyone who has been reading this blog over the last couple of years knows that I’ve been dealing with (unfortunately not very well) a lot of personal/emotional shit … so to me, the fact that I even made an attempt at Emigration, after going south into Cotton Bottom is an accomplishment.

Turned around after re-filling bottles at Ruth’s Diner, then dropped into Sugarhood for some Mexi-Coke and a banana at Liberty Heights Fresh, then took it as easy as I could on the way home down Highland, hoping that slight stabbing pain in the back of my thigh didn’t turn into a charlie-horse.

Still managed to just about double my biggest vertical day of the season thus far, as well as tacking on a few extra miles.

Home now, obviously, and about to jump in the shower to rinse off the salt. Then Advil. Then hydrate more, and a movie.

I hurt, but I feel good!