Milk, Cheese and Beer...er, what's that smell?

What a glorious weekend. You really couldn't ask for better weather. Well, okay, I guess you could ask for a better Sunday...but Friday and Saturday were unbeatable.

Suffice it to say, I got out for a long bike and run. As you know, I took a few weeks off (well, pretty much off) while visiting my parents in Florida.

So, on a whim, I took off a little early on Friday to get in a good brick. Note to self: don't go out on a whim to complete a brick.

"Why? What happened," you ask?

Well, ummm, *ahem*, errr. Let's just say it's not a good thing to go 3 hours without nutrition. Or, it turns out, a spare tire.

I decided to ride the Clinton River Trail to the Macomb Orchard Trail. That was my first mistake.

See, the Clinton River Trail is built out of limestone. I've ridden it before. But never this early in the season. And the limestone rutted over the winter. It was, to be polite, bumpy.

Thankfully the Macomb Orchard Trail is paved with asphalt and, for the most part, well maintained. I was so happy to get the first 4 miles behind me.

"But, wait a minute," I say to myself. "I'm a little thirsty." I reach down to grab a water bottle...no water bottle.

Ooops...I kinda forgot to bring a water bottle. I kinda overlooked that when heading out on a whim, didn't I? What else did I forget? Oh, I don't know, maybe some fuel? How about my saddle pack?

About a half an hour in to the ride, I spied a 7-11. Oh, thank heaven for 7-11. (That sounds familiar). They really don't have what I need, but I pick up a few things that should get me through. Should being the operative term (I'll come back to that).

The ride continues on past the 32 Mile bridge. It really is beautiful out there.

On the way back, with about 6 miles left on the Macomb Orchard Trail, I notice that my rear tire is feeling a little soft. I was a little worried that I might have damaged the tube while riding on the washboard on the Clinton. It looks like maybe my worries were well founded.

But, at least at this point, it feels like I should be able to get through these 6 miles, and the 4 miles on the Clinton.

I got through the 6 miles.

I got through 1 mile on the Clinton before the tire was toast. Did I mention that I forgot my saddle pack? You know, the pack that holds my spare tubes? Yeah. That.

I have a hand pump mounted to the side of my bike. So, at least I was able to limp through that last three miles, pretty much stopping each mile to fill the tire again. But it was a pain, literally and figuratively.

After wrestling through the last 3 miles, I loaded my bike into the car, grabbed my shoes, and started out for a run.

The first 4 miles went well. But then I started to cramp up. I first felt it in my right hamstring. Then my left. Then my calf muscles.

"What's going on," I asked myself. "I couldn't have lost this much ground in two weeks, could I?" I mean, two years ago, I remember being saddled with a tightened achilles tendon that stopped me from fully running for longer than 2 weeks. And I was able to return to the run with, really, no real loss in ground.

So, what could it..."Oh, snap!...wait a minute..." That's right! 7-11 only had Gatorade. And Gatorade doesn't cut it for what I'm doing today.

I squeeze out another 2 miles back to the car. I drive home. Walk in to the house. Grab a glass of milk. Some cheese. And a beer.

I know it sounds like an odd combination. And, yes it is an odd combination. But it's exactly what I need to get some quick calories and protein/carbs in to my cramping body.

I fall on the floor next to the baby. She sidles up next to me. Pulls off my glasses. Climbs on to my chest. And smiles.

It was a precious moment, until I realized that what I was smelling wasn't coming from me! And I just had milk, cheese and beer!