Firstly, victory and success to Fred, Chris, Dave, and all the other GLR aspirants.

Looks like a mighty fine weekend for it. Good on ya, gents. I’ll drink an extra beer tomorrow evening.

Secondly, please direct your attention to this. One of my hero’s in the world today. Also, this: “Reaching the lip is like wrestling with a waterbed.” I met and climbed with Bob in Vedauwoo years ago, his ways of climbing suit the area in a remarkable way, a testament to the extent that his techniques evolved in isolation from the rest of the climbing universe. I want to go back.

Thirdly, KMC “registration” is coming along nicely. Some old folks, and plenty of new people from fairly far afield. I think it’ll turn out very well indeed. I have the whole week after off, time to play with friends in Zion and then visit SLC for the Wahsatch Saturday. It occurs to me that I should be asking Adam about covisitation on some mountain singletrack. Eh?

The more I think about it, the more I’m interested in actually riding my mountain bike, which I have not done at all in the last two weeks. Just donut runs on the fixie.

Fourthly, and related, my bike’ll look a bit different in a couple weeks. Eric and I took the first step last night. More news later today or tomorrow.

Fifthy, it’s June, and time to take stock of the world. The year thus far has exceeded my expectations in many ways, finishing the Rim Ride in particular provided an epiphany: I can actually do this stuff fairly well. Then the KTR pointed to the next door, and the degree of dedication I’ll need to make it worth my while. Little things that will become necessary, like eating less ice cream and visiting a gym (for core work and most importantly to keep ahead of the curve with my knees) seem larger than they should. I struggle with making sacrifices, have a mental block against self-deprivation. I can easily exercise more so I can eat more, and vice versa. It’s the opposite that will become problematic.

And I say will because I will. I’ve had fun with it this year, and am using this right now as public self-coercion to not be a slacker. I want to become good at riding bikes for a long time.

This year will be a learning period. Beyond anything, my knees need to become healed in a definitive way before the training loads I’ll want will become possible. Not to say I won’t continue to work hard through the summer; I’ve got the Kaibab and Crested Butte, and the standing (primarily logistical and financial) question of the E100. And in general I like being really fit, and want to keep building the years of base necessary for these things.

But the real deal will be goals for 2008. So, here we go:

1) Sub 15 hour KTR.
2) GLR finish.
3) Wasatch 100 (trail run) finish, sub 30 hours.

And so it begins.

First order will be the knees, and strengthening my hamstrings and small-muscle groups very proactively. A check-in on that will become part of this blog. A dreaded workout schedule/calender on the wall at home another.