At Long Last … Luck?

Despite my Irish surname, St. Patrick’s Day has no special significance for me. And, as for the supposed connection between the Irish and good luck, in the troubled history of the Emerald Isle there is clearly more of the bad.

But let’s give this St. Patrick’s Day its due, at least here in Washington County, where we have our own Erin. Today was brilliantly sunny, dry, and generally pleasant if not especially warm. It was good enough for a bike ride—I joined a couple of friends for 30 miles on the roads between West Bend and Newburg—and it looks like the start of a very good stretch. I still haven’t ridden on consecutive days this year; the weather hasn’t permitted it. In the week to come, I might have to force myself not to overdo it. Between now and Saturday, every day should be warmer than the last. The forecast calls for sunshine and manageable winds. Some rain might arrive next Sunday but probably not enough to make the day a complete washout.

I am far behind last year’s pace and I probably won’t make up the deficit by the end of the month. But my racing season is still a long way off. There’s plenty of time to get fit. Right now I just want to get into a rhythm, with more days on than off.