So, Friday, I did what some inline skaters call a 'Birthday SKate'. That is, it's your birthday (or within a few days) and you skate some route that is as many miles as your years on Earth. Frankly, this stuff was more fun when I was 53.
I rolled what was notionally an uncomplicated route from home in the UWS up to Van Cortlandt, and then following the Empire State Trail. Shit got serious around mile 42 or so because I took a fall near one of the crossing gates and overbuckled… 1/
my skates afterwards. (Rollerblade enclosures loosen when you fall.)
Unfortunately, it was only a few miles after that to the Putnam Trail, which was the oldest asphalt on the route. Tree route problems in Mahopac aside, OMG, the next ten miles sucked because of aged rough asphalt.
Eventually made it to the edge of Brewster and said F-it and followed the actual trail route to the railroad track and up the steep hill.
But okay, I've reached Brewster, but it's not as many miles as my age! 2/
Hey, there's the new Maybrook Trail that I had meant to explore anyway. So I rolled up the trail and discovered there's a Great Swamp.
And as soon as the fitness tracker on my watch said I had rolled my age, I stopped. Turned around and headed back to the train station in Brewster.
That return, plus getting home from the Harlem train station, I finished the day with 72 miles. It's six hours later and I've had a few drinks, and my ankles still hurt like hell.
Roadskater, Ph.D.