Trying to get the body in shape to handle a coupla planned long rides in August and September so doing longer rides on weekends. Starting at 0800 was appropriate with oppressive humidity and highs well into the 90s predicted but STILL struggled after getting to the categorized climbs around 22. The series of mountains were well known ahead of time but the combination of heat and old age did not help. The first, Cote d'CapitolHill, definitely gets your attention, followed by a series of rolling but always upward slopes. At 28.3 is Mont 15th St, with grades nearing 10% at the top; 10 KOM points were available. After a series of downhills and small climb, there was the HC (beyond category) Alpe d'Klingle at mile 30.3. After a short rest, the peloton climbed the next mile and a half (note to self, mayyyybe consider Porter St next time?) (Note to note to self, maybe, but the Klingle trail is cool and green and traffic free...) before descending to the Rue d'CapitalCrescentTrail and neighborhoods of Bethesda for another 2.5 mile climb, though not with the grades of the Cat 4 Mont 15th or HC Alpe d'Klingle. By this time the peloton was moving pretty slow with hot swollen feet and sore contact points from chafing on wet shorts. After more resting, the group soldiered on, up the Col TrolleyTrail at 41.1 before heading easterly and southerly and DOWNHILL at 43.5. The last little climb up Mont du Henson Trail was quite the challenge with 45 miles on the legs and the heat ... w/Dan