I am not going to Moab.

Time to get off the fence, and I’ve spent too much time on the road lately. Good luck, everyone. Transformative metaphysics all around.

I am planning on doing a Rim-rim-rim in the Grand Canyon Saturday, to start off the days mojo, and get the monkey off my back. The Double Crossing and WRIAD are both special epics for me, so doing them within a week has special symmetry. This plan is dependent on the current forecast of lowish temps, cloud cover, and a decent chance of rain staying current. A stellar run yesterday evening has me psyched to get time on the feet. It’s been too long since I’ve been in the ditch.

On a more mundane front, we played another round of laptop roulette today, with Poobean going in to get the power supply-plug juncture fixed, and me spending a chunk of time putting Demo TopoFusion and iTunes on Jellybean. The later is intimidating, but will provide the coverage and detail we’ll need for the race next month. Sunday is currently set aside for finalizing the checkpoints locations and cleaning up a few details (trail locations on the ground, as opposed to on the map). Tricks will be in store, and I’ll be shocked if no one gets lost, though the possibility of really getting lost are quite low, provided one does nothing too stupid. I’m excited.

More exciting is the addition to iTunes of M’s old music stores, everything from Enya to KMFDM. I’m enjoying early 90’s Beastie Boys at this moment.

Lastly, and yes Dave this is a foot race, would be the Plain 100, of which the immortal Davy Crockett says
We were introduced to the Search and Rescue teams. At several places along the course we would check in with these teams. However, these SAR people could not provide us with any support or information. They would not give us directions nor answer questions. If they saw us taking a wrong turn, they would not correct our mistake, they would only take note if a search was later needed. Wow! They would ask us how we felt and the only correct answer should be “I feel terrific.” We practiced that phrase several times During the race we could only receive aid at one point, mile 55 (actually mile 60) where our drop bags would be located. We could receive aid from another runner at any time along the course. Pacers could not be used.
Could be an interesting alternative to the Wasatch, though the course is on singletrack that sounds very bikeable, and is thus of lesser interest. Machine used when applicable, feet otherwise (Scott Morris had a MTBR thread last year about riding the Wasatch course, and it seems to be a genuine question as to whether a bike would be an expedient). I find the notion, and especially logistical challenge, of self-supported ultra running very interesting. Advances in mindset need to be brought along so that more organic courses are set, less tied to the traditional distances and more to the natural layout of terrain. This weekend I’ll push the limits of the Nathan pack for 12+ hour outings, and see what comes up.

Life continues on in a very normal fashion, time being taken up with work, training, and all the many little things that eat minutes mysteriously. The afterglow settles in, becoming outwardly invisible, inward fire and fuel. The nights and mornings are cold, even this far south. It’s a good time in the world.