Thoughts from the Saddle: Humidity, Mars Rover, Suicidal Turtles

While I rode the Difficult Run/CCT loop this morning, a few thoughts made their way through my head:

• It's like getting licked, head to toe, by a big, sweaty dog. Those of you who live with humidity, know what I'm talking about here. Although the thermometer may show an innocent 85 degrees Fahrenheit, you'll sweating like a pig in an oven. As someone who won the genetic lottery - I sweat so little I hardly ever use deodorant - humidity can be a bit disconcerting. On a sweltering, humid day, I feel like Superman after he got dosed with Kryptonite-infused Gatorade. Ugh. I took this picture this morning of Difficult Run. The stream looks so glassy and smooth - it's like the water itself is sweating...
• Eat your heart out, Hollywood. The Mars Rovers are simply cool. It's indisputable. Transformers relied on fancy film editing software and Shia LaBeouf to entertain us. But NASA's the real deal.
• A clan of suicidal turtles has moved into Wakefield. I took this picture last week - nearly nailed the poor guy. Not five minutes later, I practically assaulted his brother. Why do these little creatures have a death wish? The world may never know. One thing we can be certain of - they ain't gonna last long out there.
  

Open Letter to My Wife: I'm at Wakefield

Love,

As you know, I didn't get a job at Spokes this summer. I really wanted to work there for one simple reason: to earn some money to pay for bike stuff. Sure, I could get another job, but I'd probably have to drive there (ugh) and it would probably be lame (double ugh). Without that job, I've got no money and a lot of time on my hands.

As I see it, that leaves me with just one course of action. I've gotta ride long and I gotta ride hard. All day, every day. I have to ride my bikes into the ground. Chains are going to break at the clip-clomp of my cycling shoes. Hubs are going to melt as I mercilessly apply foot to pedal. Handlebars will cringe at my touch and collapse in my iron grip. Sooner than later, all that will be left of my bicycle stable will be a few mangled frames and smoldering pile of Shimano-stamped iron slugs.

"But don't you love your bikes?" you might protest. It's true. My bikes have earned a special place in my heart. But while I have enjoyed my bikes thoroughly, let's be honest: they are on their last legs, living on borrowed time. I have made the Sora components of my road bike last thousands of miles farther than Shimano ever intended. The hubs, drivetrain, and fork on my mountain bike are thisclose to giving up the ghost. I'm afraid it's time to take Old Yeller out back, as much as it pains me to do so.

And once I've properly put a bike to rest, I'll have to replace it, right? Right now, my bikes are like a three-legged dog - a serviceable companion if somewhat funny. But if I loose a bike? A Two-legged dog? That's just pitiful.

So, I'm sorry I didn't pick you up from the metro today. I'm riding at Wakefield. But I've included a map so you can meet me there! Once you arrive, just listen for creaking, rattling, and thudding - that's the sound of my mountain bike staggering once more down the trail.

love ya,
josh


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Loose Ends: 2007 Christmas Letter

I was tasked with writing the newsletter this last December. Here, for the sake of posterity, it is in its entirety:

2007: A Year of Firsts

Hello wonderful friends, family, and other well-wishers!

Cali and I are enjoying life as DINKs (dual income, no kids) – which, factoring in the outrageous cost of living in the DC area and our chosen professions is less lucrative than it sounds. 2007 was an eventful year for us, full of firsts in marriage…

First Trip Beyond US Borders (Together): Our most exciting (and expensive) adventure of the year was visiting Cali’s sister Hannah in France. The trip coincided perfectly with our six month anniversary and a streak of miserable winter weather in DC. We stayed with Hannah in central France; with Hannah’s French friends in Biarritz, on the Atlantic coast near Spain; and with other friends in Paris. It was great to take in the culture, spend time together, and escape the humdrum of winter work.

First Master’s Degree: Cali graduated in May with a Masters in Public Administration (MPA) from The George Washington University. After graduation, Cali accepted a job offer from the non-profit organization where she had been interning, the Partnership for Public Service. At the Partnership Cali is learning much about our federal government and enjoys working with dedicated, smart co-workers in a comfortable work environment (including Friday afternoon snacks and Monday bagels). Not to be out-educated, I started a Masters in Science Education through Virginia Tech two days after Cali’s graduation. The program operates out of the Northern Virginia satellite campus; it’s fairly close to our apartment and is designed around a teacher’s schedule. I should finish in August, leading to another first – first VT grad without a clue of what a “Hokie” is! (OK, probably not a first…)

First Time Attending Church in Swimsuits: There’s only so much you can pack into the hot Arizona desert in July. A white shirt and tie didn’t make the cut, so when Cali and I went to church while visiting the Havasupai Indian Reservation we did so in swim trunks. Cali convinced her supervisors at work to give her six weeks of vacation this summer. We flew to Utah where we went mountain biking on Antelope Island, swimming in the Great Salt Lake, fly-fishing in the Weber “river,” backpacking in the Unitas, cliff jumping at Causey Reservoir, night hiking Grandeur Peak, scouring art galleries for affordable, original Utah paintings (we found one!), and visiting family and friends. We finished our trip by journeying to the Havasupai Reservation, in the bottom of the Grand Canyon, and exploring the beautiful waterfalls.

First Anniversary! Always true to the essentials of our relationship, Cali and I celebrated our one year anniversary mountain biking. It’s almost hard to believe we’ve been married for more than a year. It’s been a wonderful year though and we’re looking forward to many, many more. I have the most wonderful wife in the world.

First Time My Wife Cheered While I Was in Pain (probably not the last): We often have friends come visit us since we’re so close to our nation’s capital. During each visit, we usually take them downtown to see the sights. This year I decided to enjoy the sights in another format. The Marine Corp Marathon starts at Arlington National Cemetery and weaves 26.2 miles through the city before finishing at the Iwo Jima Memorial. It was a great race on a bright, clear, but windy day with 20,000 other runners. Favorite fan sign (at mile 19 while crossing back into Virginia): “You are NOT almost there! You still have 7 MILES to go!” At moments like those, I was especially glad to have my beautiful wife cheering me on in my first marathon as a married man! (Certainly, it won’t be my last!)

Now you’ve just read our first Ence Family Year-End Spam-O-Gram! May we all find joy and adventure in 2008!

Accompanying Photos:

Josh and Cali in Biarritz

Hannah, Josh, & Cali in front of Notre Dame

Josh on the Great Salt Lake

Cali and Josh on top of Bald Mountain (High Unitas)

5 Things I've Already Learned This Summer

With school out and my VT classes at a manageable background hum, I've found myself with a lot more free time. The last two summers Cali and I have been able to travel out to Utah to play with friends and family. Unfortunately, six weeks of vacation is a bit more than Cali could manage this summer, what with the 9-to-5 job she's workin' these days. Which leaves me, well, with quite a LOT more free time than I've had in a long while. Sure, you think I'm just sleeping in, watchin' YouTube videos, and biking my brains out. Well, you'd be right on one of those three counts.

I have learned a bit, though, in the short week school's been out:

• Fancy degrees mean nothing in the face of bad timing. In order to finance my bike lust and summer adventures, I'd planned on working at the local bike shop, Spokes Etc. I was stoked about spending so much time around bikes. Unfortunately it wasn't meant to be. Despite a BS in physics and years of cycling experience, I was beat to the punch by a bunch of college kids home for the summer. The manager encouraged me to re-apply near the end of the summer (when those college kids return classes to earn their nomenclature). By the way, if you're a wealthy philanthropist looking to make a teacher's summer break, shoot me an email!
  
• Traffic in the metro DC area is surprisingly manageable during the mid-morning hours. Last week was my birthday! Hooray! As a birthday adventure I undertook a NoVA mini-epic on my road bike. I left at 9 AM - perfect timing to avoid rush hour traffic, but enjoy the morning sunshine. In fact, traffic was such a non-issue I've started making plans for all sorts of mid-morning King-of-the-road rides.

*gasp* Bike down Georgetown Pike?!? Are you suicidal?!? Don't worry, folks. I get all my crazy out before lunch!

• Cleanliness is next to godliness. I've been working on a thorough re-arrange and cleaning of the apartment. It's a liberating feeling to just throw stuff away.
  
• I miss my wife. Granted, I don't see my wife any less now than I did during school. BUT in the past I spent 99% of my free time with my love. So it sure seems like I see her less now. Summer would be MUCH better if she were with me!
  
• Crocs make for great cycling footwear. It's true. I'm planning on doing our Pitt-to-DC bike trip on flats - I know, I know, what kind of serious cyclist doesn't ride clipless all the time? As someone who considering installing clipless pedals in my car, I avoided making this decision. BUT I can carry one less pair of shoes on the trip if I just use flats and wear "normal" shoes. Uber-retrogrouch Grant Petersen (of Rivendell fame) has written about using Crocs for cycling. Despite his crankiness (which I can't really hold against him), the man is onto something. They're actually quite comfortable and stable when combined with a quality flat pedal.
  

Loose Ends: Marine Corp and Charlottesville Marathons

About the same time that I made a first attempt at this blog, I began training for the Marine Corp Marathon in late fall of 2007. I posted up a few times about the training. Well, I did it! A belated "Huzzah!" for me. Here's what I wrote at the time in an email to friends and family:

"I'm sitting at my desk, quads aching, knees stiffening, and feet shod in my most comfortable shoes (crocs) - yup, it's the day after a marathon! After months of training, I finally ran the Marine Corp Marathon and had a great time. Cali and I got up early Sunday and were on the metro by 6:15; it was a good thing we left early. Although we heard about the incredible crowds (35,000 runners with at least that many spectators), it was really a sight. The metro was packed and nearly the entire course was lined with fans, two or three rows deep at some places.

Dawn arrived beautifully while we were making our way to the starting line. The weather was a little on the cool side and pretty windy, but bright and clear. At around 8, the race started with a bang (literally, a cannon was fired) and I crossed the starting line a minute later. The course started at Arlington National Cemetery, headed first into Arlington, then out Spout Run and across Key Bridge, then looped through Georgetown, then followed the river down to the National Mall, ran along Constitution Ave. and back on Independence, went all the way down around Hain's Point, crossed back to Virginia into Crystal City and finally back to Arlington where it finished close to the Iwo Jima Memorial. Needless to say, I say pretty much all of the Washington DC sights in one morning!

I found Cali after the race and celebrated with her. It was great having her at the race - another memory that we'll share forever! Because the race is a big loop, she could crisscross her way through the city and see me at a couple of places (at the start, at miles 10, 15, and 19). She ran with me a bit at miles 15 and 19. Seeing her really was a pick-me-up!

I finished in about 3 hours and 40 minutes (about a 8:20 min. pace) - definitely not my best time, but I'm satisfied. I made a few mistakes - I didn't eat enough during the race and wore myself out too soon. But my primary goal was to finish. I'm especially proud of how consistently I trained; I only missed a few training runs over six months."

Clearly, I was suffering from the all too common, post-marathon "what a great experience!" delusion. Let's be frank, folks: a marathon is a painful experience. You have to be at least a several shades of crazy to contemplate, decide, train, and participate in a marathon.

Let's look at the photographic evidence:

"What kind of idiot am I?"

This was at about mile 18.5. Sure, I look fine, but I was feeling it - burning quads, aching arches, weak limbs, and the mental anquish of realizing that I'm some sort of idiot for thinking that running 26.2 miles would be "fun." Thanks go out to Cali: she had be wipe away the froth from my mouth so I wouldn't look to psycho.

Post-race:

Relief

Yup, the medal was my "prize" for surviving, kind of like when you were a kid and the dentist let you pick out a stupid toy for enduring a half hour of torment. Still, you can see the delusions seeping into my head at this point: "That wasn't so bad. It was pretty cool, in fact. You should do another..." In retrospect, I could have saved myself time and money by simply cutting off my toes and been done with it.

But, I was in the grips of an attractive delusion. After a month or so off, I started training for the Charlottesville Marathon in April. This race would be a real pain-fest - hills aplenty. My training was a bit more relaxed; my goal was just to finish.

Charlottesville was beautiful in April - buds were popping out, the weather was warm and sunny, and spring fever was fueling the delusions of many others, besides myself.

We enjoyed a leisurely after evening before the marathon - picked up my race packet, enjoyed the weather, and wandered around Charlottesville.

Express yourself.

The Free Speech wall is a cool feature of the Euro-style pedestrian zone downtown. It's essentially a big slate wall with free chalk and the encouragement to express yourself. Cali drew the cool mountain in the lower foreground. Above it I wrote "Oh, be wise! What more can I say?" Yup, we're outspoken extremists.

The race was just what I was expecting: a long, painful death run. Hills, hills, hills. Did I mention the hills? Cali found a way to meet me out on the course a couple of times, although considering my pace, she managed to read War and Peace between sightings. (Thanks for your patience, babe!)

Here I am... walking. (I wish I could say the only time I walked was at the aid stations...)

Out for a 26.2 mi. stroll

My primary goal was to survive, my secondary goal was to finish under 4 hours. I accomplished both. (Of course, my tertiary goal was to cross the finish line prancing like a physics fairy, but well, that didn't happen.) All in all, a quality pain fest.

Why do I do these things again?

Oh, yeah, the insanity...

Insanity... the water's fine! Come on in!

You're back? *awkward silence* When did you leave?

OK, ok, ok... I know only a few hundred people ever read my blog...

OK, fine, a few dozen...

OK, fine, it was only ever my wife (love ya, babe!)...

AND it only lasted little over a month...

So I can't really call this a "comeback." It's more of a second attempt that may very well be aborted when other demands take precedence. In any case, I'd like to try again...

You may have noticed: I've re-formatted the blog to sort of "start over." Snazzy, exciting, fresh! That's right, I'm movin' on! No lookin' back!

Still, there are some things that have happened in the last year that I'd like to write about:

• Follow up on Marine Corp Marathon and Charlottesville Marathon
  
• Graduate school - I'm only a few months from finishing a Master's in Science Education from Virginia Tech
• Summer 2007 adventures - Utah, Havasupai, 1st wedding anniversary
• New bike - Motobecane Outcast 29er (single speed)
• Flyin' solo in Active Physics - the tribulations and successes

So, stay tuned!