It was a very pretty morning at 8500′.
But I still can’t get that damn hair (or whatever) out of the lens.
I’ve been in a funk for a long time now. It has been occasional, and low level (except when it’s not), but it’s been there ever since I got back from the Parcour. A combination of the overwhelming grind of school, a reduction in my self-confidence and stress-reduction abilities since I got transferred as a TA back at the beginning of October, and most significantly, a lack of adventure to look forward to in anticipation. My life has needed a steering goal beyond school.

The AMWC should have served as one, but lurking in the back of my mind has always been the financial impracticality of it. The likelihood of keeping up with all my other commitments and raising the ~2000 dollars necessary for the race (raft, entry fee, travel) is just very slim. So unless circumstances change dramatically, I’m letting that one go for 2010.

But TransIowa starting and finishing in the town of my alma mater, that I cannot pass up. I’m hoping for bad conditions as befits an even numbered year, and a battle for anyone to finish at all. I’ll be training with that kind of finish in mind.

All of which gave me the kick in the butt necessary to get out the door shortly after 6. The upper glades of Carlton Ridge had filled in pretty well, stump dodging was easy and enjoyable in 4″ of fresh on a solid base. The mid section was good too; there are enough trees to keep you on the trail, but enough snow to make mini-turns and checks to scrub speed predictable and fun.

The lower trail was pretty thin, and twice I hooked an edge on a root or stick and went flying. The first time I did a full superman face-scrape down the trail, whacking my chest on a mostly buried stump on the way. Owie. The second time I rag-dolled at a good clip, untangled my plastic and aluminium appendages, and decided to walk the rest of the way down. I’m not especially fit right now, but even if I were, nothing trains your legs for skiing like skiing.

Let the season begin.