97th ride of 2020 - Saturday, 8/15/2020

 2020 mileage: 2797.5

This is the shirt of a group to which I belong:


When I set out at 6:30 this morning, it was with the full intention of riding my 31-mile round trip to Matthei Botanical Gardens. But I hadn't ridden it since July 19, the day before my July 20 surgery (following which a lengthy hiatus from riding was mandated). I just resumed riding this week, and could tell as I rode out by both my speed and by the way that my body felt, that I had lost considerable stamina during the long layoff.

As I neared St. Joseph Mercy Hospital (my 'home away from home' where I lived June-December 1993 while recovering from my May 22 acciden—I had an initial stint in Intensive Care at University Hospital, but don't remember being there whatsoever, as I was in coma until late July), I realized that it would be prudent to rebuild to that longer ride somewhat more gradually, so I made the decision to settle for "just" a loop around St. Joe's. This still gave me a good, significant ride, however—27.0 miles in 3:05.

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