A retired local anesthesiologist builds endurance by cross skating Blackie’s Pasture

Martin London pushes and lunges through Blackie’s Pasture on his cross skates Feb. 18. The specialized, all-terrain roller skates include 6-to-8-inch tires, bindings that wrap over regular shoes and brakes activated by leaning back. Cross skates are designed to simulate cross-country skiing on pavement or trails, but there’s one key difference, he says — no soft snow to break a fall.

“You don’t want to wipe out on these,” says London, 72. “You hit concrete.”

The Mill Valley resident and retired anesthesiologist says he cross skates at Blackie’s Pasture weekly and has taken a few falls over the years.

“One tumble I was going real fast, but luckily I had my helmet on,” he says.

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