Unfortunately,there was nothing fun about the pain in my leg last week, but I was determined to get out there and do my 13 miles on Saturday. Like so many times before, I promised myself I would keep it slow, steady, and effortless.
This time it was easy to keep that promise because there was no reason to rush. I had nothing to do that day except go to the Phish show.
The route I mapped from my hotel - the Comfort Inn in Absecon, a mile from the Atlantic City limit - took me on Route 30 eastbound into the city's outlying residential area. It is a heavily trafficked highway and did not always have a proper shoulder, but it was only for the first few miles.
Once in the more peaceful residential area, I took Ohio Avenue straight into the Tanger Outlets shopping section known as The Walk. With the downtown casinos and Boardwalk to my left, I was dodging pedestrians across Arctic Avenue, but was keeping the pace easy so I was in no danger of plowing anyone down. I headed straight into the Phish foot traffic as I hooked around Bader Field as the phans were already making their way in. That marked the halfway point as I proceeded past the field onto another highway into the West Atlantic City section of Egg Harbor.
Eventually, there was a sidewalk as more businesses appeared around me and I entered Pleasantville with a turn onto Main Street. Only three more miles to go, I made a right onto Delilah Avenue which took me back to Route 30 and the home stretch to the hotel.
The fact that the landscape is entirely flat in that area was a big help to my ailing leg. I exerted little effort beyond simple forward motion and finished the 13.6 mile course in approximately one hour and 42 minutes, a 7:30 pace. It was a beautiful day - sun shining, low 70s, and I felt good, despite the twinge that continued in my leg. It was no better, but no worse, either.
And it was time to go to the show and dance.
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