Adding Miles -FAIL

I decided to go rollerblading today. I thought to myself, "it is good exercise, I'll get some miles in, and I've always liked doing it."

So, I headed out to Hyland Lake Park Reserve in Bloomington. I chose this spot because I knew it had nice trails and would be less busy than the Lakes. I didn't know how my balance and stopping would be, so I wanted to be far away from large numbers of people who I could hurt or embarrass myself in front of.

I put on my safety gear: helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, and wrist guards. I laced, buckled and Velcroed up my blades and headed out.

I was very wobbly at first. It had been at least 6 years since I had been on them, but I got moving pretty well pretty quickly. I made it about a quarter of a mile, when I encountered trouble.

I was heading down a hill when I noticed that the trail was heading into a parking lot and had a stop sign. I applied the break, and nothing happened. I applied the break again, and I barely slowed.

I realized I had a choice to make. I could continue down or I could try and stop myself in the grass. Continuing down meant hopping a curb at the end of the trail and speeding into a parking lot. I'd probably fall in the parking lot. Stopping in the grass meant moving on to the grass and running on my skates until I slowed myself. I had done this before, but wasn't confident that I'd be successful this time.

I chose the grass. I made it about two steps before I totally wiped out, ending up in the bushes. I hit my right knee hard. My glasses fell off my face. I got scratched up on my legs. My pride was destroyed.

My knee hurts tonight, as does my right arm. But I'm already thinking about trying to head out again. I used to be able to stop in a variety of ways, so I need to go to a parking lot and practice before I hit any hills again. Anyone know any flat, flat, flat places to skate?