A Random Thing Happened on the Way to Piermont

But first, before we get to that, a few things.  My single-ness is well documented on this website as are my efforts to not drown on July 13th (the date of the Big Race).  But with the summer and my summer house fast approaching, and my recent propensity to be hung over after two beers, I decided that I needed to focus and really fine tune my training ... so that come summer I can have more than 2 beers and stay out past 10 and STILL get up early to swim/bike/run.  So, Friday night (after a fun and productive trip to target), when I could have easily gone home, ordered in and gone to bed, I went out to dinner and then to the bar and STILL got up at 6 am to cycle the next day.  Go.Me.  And Saturday, after getting up at 6 am, biking 50 miles, running 1.5 miles and visiting grandma, I went out again until 12:30.  You can admit it, I know you're impressed.

Anyway, Saturday was chilly, but my friend Christine and I had vowed to ride to Piermont and the three boys that showed up for the group ride seemed to be on board, so we were off.  The boys usually take off on the these rides and we/I follow behind.  They wait for us at the obvious stopping points, we re-group and solider on.  We had regrouped for the last time before Piermont, our goal.  We had chosen the coffee shop at which we would meet when we got to our Goal (we were each in various stages of under-dressedness and none of us had full fingered gloves on, we needed to HOLD the coffee more than we needed to drink it at this point).  I admitted that I didn't know where to turn to get to our Goal, but Christine said she knew the way.

The first place we turned led us down a big hill to ... a dead end.  Where we saw 4 adults walking 8 dogs and I promptly FREAKED OUT on the inside but managed to hold it together on the outside and even TOUCHED one of the dogs (with the palm of my gloved hands, no skin touched the dog) in an effort to get accurate directions.  Because, not only did we now have to go UP the big hill, it was raining ... and the rain was coming down harder by the second.  We needed to get to the coffee shop and we needed to get there soon without anymore diversions.

We went up the hill and to the intersection where the dog walking people told us to turn but we weren't sure if it was right, we called the boys who should have been there by now, but they didn't answer.  We didn't want to waste more time so we asked a solo cyclist who was coming from where we thought Piermont was .... he shouted "its back that we, but I'm lost too."

Awesome.

We headed in the general direction from which he came, went the wrong way at one fork in the road, turned around and then, then saw signs for our Goal.  Just in time, because it was REALLY raining now.  And it was cold.  The guy we asked for directions passed us, reconfirming that we were going in the right direction (or were all hopelessly lost, I suppose) and as he passed I thought he looked familiar.  Like someone I went to college with maybe?  But I wasn't sure who, and it was a vague resemblance and its hard to know what someone REALLY looks like in cycling gear.  

But when we were almost there we passed him ... on the side of the road on the phone and it really did look like this guy, Brian.  Sort of.  Christine yelled out that she knew the way now, and potential guy from college, clipped in and followed us along.  Finally, finally in the warmth of the coffee shop, the direction/potential guy from college was behind us in line and I said, "Did you go to My College?"  And he said, "Yes.  K.Michele, right?"  I was floored that he knew my name.  Honestly, I would have been surprised that he knew my name in college - he was good friends with my roommate, but we shared very few words between us during those four years, so I really didn't think he'd recognize me now, ten years later.  We chatted.  He's training for IMLP (which is why I didn't recognize him right away, his body has totally changed), introduced me to his gf (who somehow got there first ... either she's speedy or he put in a bunch of miles and was meeting her for the end of his ride).

At any rate, what are the odds of getting lost in the rain on a bike 25 miles from home and asking some guy for directions and having it be someone you know (or knew 10 years ago)?

Random.

Finally, I know this isn't fast for the vast majority of people out there, but you know those 10 minute miles I lost after the marathon?  Lately, I've found them on occasion, but today, after my 50 miles of bike riding and 1.5 mile run off yesterday I ran 9 of them.  So, I think I can say that they are back.  Hopefully for good.  Or at least through July 13th.