Weird weekend... I had a very busy, cycling-focused weekend planned. I intended to ride on Saturday, then today to attend a cyclocross race and the She Got Bike! fest, and pick up some new shorts at the LBS. Well, I woke up yesterday to an overcast sky and a 30% chance of rain. It did rain for a while in the morning, but then cleared up later in the afternoon. Seeing that sky first thing in the morning did me in, though. Looking out the window at a completely grey sky does terrible things to me. I ended up depressed- not sad or melancholy at all, but with no motivation, no inspiration, and no energy -and just sat in front of the tv all day. Didn't even open the front door once. Total sloth day

Today, though, was an entirely different matter. The sun was peeking out when I got up, and I immediately got moving so I could get to the 'cross race by 10 am. On the way there, I started thinking about how much I really wanted to ride this weekend. When I got to the race and saw all those other people on their bikes, it was decided. I stuck around for the last few laps of the first heat, then bagged the rest of the day's plans and went home to get my bike.

I ended up having a really, really great ride out around Hancock, Md. I had taken a wind jacket and shorts, but it was a tad chilly so I made a pitstop in C&O Bicycles in Hancock and picked up a pair of knee warmers. Once I realized that I had to pull them up high and tuck them under my shorts, they were perfect. I rode the 12 miles out to the end of the Western Maryland Rail Trail at a high cadence/speed and felt great the whole way. Also did my good deed for the day by stopping to herd a very aggressive snapping turtle off the pavement so that he wouldn't get hit.

Usually at the end of the WMRT, I turn around and return the same way. Today I decided to cut down to the C&O Canal towpath, to which the WMRT runs parallel, and head back to Hancock that way. It was a hellatiously bumpy ride since I'd inflated my tires to pavement pressure, but I was still able to keep up a fairly high cadence/speed. I think it was from watching those 'cross racers this morning. I couldn't have jumped any barriers, but I felt tough and strong barrelling along the towpath.

After a quick shower and some pasta, I am now in an almost euphoric mood. Endorphins rock