Well, I finally got to try the new rollerblades. I bought them last
Friday evening. I had to work 6 days straight. I actually got up early
on Saturday and Sunday, but it was raining both days. My nephew is
still in school, so no luck with him on school mornings.

So, today it was! I was itching to go, and it was even better than
hoped for. My skates are awesome. I knew they were better, but even
skating around the parking lot was smoother and faster. We did the
trail in record time.  I forgot to actually time it the first
direction, but it was only 11 1/2 minutes the second direction, and
that was into a headwind. I suspect the first directions was a little
less. We also went down our fun hill a couple times, and we continued
past our parking lot and took the trail the other way too.

I am very happy. My nephew was sulky when I bought my skates. He had
been teasing me for being slow and complaining that he wasn't getting
a godo workout. But when he saw my skates and realized I might keep up
with him (and thus he might not be so much better than me), he got
sulky. He told me, "My skates suck. Yours are better than mine."

I understood why - he is a teenager and needs to be good at something.
So, it was good for him to see that he is still faster than me. The
skates narrowed the difference, but he is still taller and stronger
than me. If we skate together, our conditioning should improve
together. So, really, the only advanatage I will have is technique,
and I improve that enough, he will get competive and improve his as
well.

Anyway, it was great. For me, it was mostly more fun, making the
skating something I want to do even more, any dry day off that I can
get. For my nephew, it was better because he actually had a workout. I
think he hated to admit it, but he was much more tired. He extended
one of my breaks and added two that I didn't need. I also found that
on the return trip, I was able to keep up with him and coast
frequently, while he was working. I think he is more of a sprinter,
able to go fast, but he runs down sooner. I am more of an endurance
skater. I can't sprint much yet (need more conditioning), but I can go
longer at slower speeds. He said his legs were aching, but I only felt
it in my lungs (I have astma).

So, I think we have a great system now. We are pretty evenly matched.
With more conditioning, I can improve my ability to sprint, while he
can improve his endurance. We will both be getting a good cardio
session, and we are both having a good time. He is a great workout
partner for me.

Now, just pray that the forecast is wrong, and I could have a couple
dry half days (long enough to make the path dry). I have Saturday,
Sunday, and Tuesday offl all with rain predicted. Otherwise, I have to
wait more than a week for another day to go skating.

--
Meghan & the Zoo Crew  
Equine and Pet Photography
http://www.zoocrewphoto.com