… by going to Holladay City Hall after work today, and casting my ballot. Now the rest of y’all need to go do the same.

Voting is not just a right and a privilege, but also a duty.

View Larger Map

After officiating at the Climber’s Trophy (the Utah State Hillclimb Championship) today, I felt like I had to get out and turn my legs over a little bit; at least briefly. I was hot and tired and drained from sitting out in the sun most of the afternoon.

A little more than 10 miles; essentially completely flat (a whopping 450 feet of vertical gained today), and the scary thing? I was slower on the flats, than some of the racers today were up Big Mountain.

But I rode. And I did score two bags of Caffe Ibis Triple Certified (Organic, Free-Trade, Shade-Grown) Espresso Roast as a thank-you for working today … in addition to the pay as a USA Cycling official, of course.

Mmmmm … coffee … yummmmmmmmmmmmmy.

View Larger Map

Was going to tackle Emigration today, but the exercise-induced fat-and-out-of-shape asthma kicked in hard today … or the pollen, possibly, since my sinuses have been acting up as well.

So instead, tried to take it fairly easy on Wasatch from Hogle Zoo all the way down to 7200 South, before dropping down Big Cottonwood Canyon Road past the Old Mill and back into Holladay. This loop is essentially what the Cutthroat Racing team used to use for their Monday recovery rides, starting from Spin Cycle, in years past.

I was a little cross-eyed from oxygen-debt climbing up the bike path from the bottom of Parley’s back up to Wasatch, but I think I saw Fastgrrrl (nope, got confirmation it was not she, but a doppelganger) dropping down the path going the other direction; whomever it was got a nod, but I was gasping so hard, I’m surprised I didn’t fall over.

Now, the question is what movie do I want to watch after I get out of the shower?

Ushpizin? Be Kind, Rewind? Into the Wild? Empire of the Wolves? I’ve got time to think it over …

View Larger Map

I know as well as anyone that most MaxHR calculators are guides, and that the only true way to determine your max is to have a VO₂Max test done … but the calculators should be relatively decent estimates for everyone but elite athletes.

According to the most common forumula (220 - age), my MaxHR should be 178 bpm. In practice, I know that my MaxHR can reach about 183 bpm, but definitely not comfortably.

Today was not a good day, and I knew it wouldn’t be when I started off at 123 bpm before even turning a pedal.

Typically, anaerobic threshold is considered to be about 90% of max, so using the two numbers above, my AT level should be 160-164 bpm. I spent nearly half of today’s ride above 160 bpm, and averaged 155 bpm (87%) for the entire ride; even on the slight downhill sections on my way back home through Millcreek into Holladay.

So much for today’s “yeah-right” goal of doing twice as many miles as last weekend. I didn’t think that was likely, but was hoping for at least as many miles; but I don’t even think I managed quite half, and I am spent. This didn’t feel like the usual lack-of-fitness struggle, but rather that it was going to be a rough day no matter what.

But I still got out there, and that’s what’s most important.

Some of the amazing cloud formations in the sky over Holladay after an amazing microburst storm blew over Salt Lake County this afternoon.

View Larger Map

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.

View Larger Map

I don’t know if it’s the heat or my (lack of) fitness level, but after only 20 fairly flat miles today, I am completely shattered. At this point, I’m even too tired to get up and walk into the kitchen to try to find something to eat.