It is possible that this time I have bitten off more than I can chew. Can you hear me choking? I am always chasing that next big goal. I wasn’t sure what it was going to be, but now I know.
See if you can guess.
6 days – solo running
120 miles
20,000 feet of climbing
Colorado Rockies
(PSA: No, this is not a relay).
No clue what in the hell I’m talking about? It’s the TransRockies Run in August 2016.
Even it it hurts like hell and you are puking at lest it is beautiful
Let’s say you’ve been reading this blog forever. God bless you. Maybe you remember back in 2010 when I did Stage One of this run (21 miles) with Dean Karnazes as my partner.
Dean is admiring the vein in his arm
That year, Dean ran with a different partner for each of the six days. I was the first and of course the most beloved. Dean still probably thinks of me in the shower, dreams of me at night. He misses those farts I left on the trail, no doubt.
That day, when I finished the 21 mile Stage One I was so tired and sore that I did not know how the rest of those crazy bastards were going to run all six days. There was this thought in the back of my little brain that I wanted to do that someday, but I had just started running a couple years earlier and that seemed a bit eff’ing outrageous.
Not that it doesn't seem any less outrageous, but no time like the present, yeah? I mean I am not getting any younger (almost 49, bitches!) and I am not presently injured (miracle). Plus it’s the 10 year anniversary of this race and it is going to be epic.
Day One: 21 miles, 2,200 feet of gain. Buena Vista, CO to Railroad Bridge
Day Two: 13.4 miles, 3,400 feet of gain (Hope Pass). Vicksburg, CO to Twin Lakes (Leadville)
Day Three: 24,2 miles 2,700 feet of gain Leadville, CO to Camp Hale
Day Four: 14.2 miles 2,900 feet Camp Hale to Red Cliff
Day Five: 23.6 miles 4,100 feet Red Cliff to Vail <this day is going to kill me
Day Six: 22.2 miles 5,100 Vail to Beaver Creek <-this day is going to kill me more
That all adds up to some crazy shit.
Lest you think I am going to carry all of my shit (gear, not actual poop. I’ll leave that on the trail), I am not. The beauty of the TRR is that they transport your gear from the start to the finish, provide your meals and set up your tent before you get there. There are also massage people and hopefully psychotherapists. And beer. Lots of beer. Because it’s good to drink a lot and get dehydrated when you are running an average of 20 miles per day.
Tent village:
Hopefully I will be too tired at the end of each day to be kept awake by fellow runner’s snoring, farting, love making…
For some this may sound like torture. For me, it sounds like the chance of a lifetime. As runners, we seem to get addicted to digging deep and how that feeds our souls and awakens who we truly are.
Sure, this isn’t until August, but you bet I am going to be throwing in quite a few races between now and then as part of training. Stay tuned.
Want to come along? There is a 3-day option (first three stages) or a the 6-day. The six day is typically done with a partner, although there is a solo option. I am running on a media entry, so I am going by myself. Register HERE. (it’s already over 80% full).
Have you ever done a muti-day run? Would you?
What’s your big 2016 running goal?
SUAR