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Events:Stone Cat 50 Mile Trail Race November 6, 2010 Middlesex Fells Trail Race December 4, 2010 AMC Mountaineering Committee Ice Program Winter 2011 AMC Mountaineering Committee Rock Program Spring 2011 Pictures:AlbumRunning Data:20102009 2008 |
Fri, 23 Apr 2010When I finished Stone Cat last November with a time (barely) fast enough to qualify for Western States and then was not picked in the Western States lottery (Congratulations, again, Michelle.), I immediately registered for the Vermont 100 Mile Endurance Run. I also had aspirations to do some significant ice climbing this winter and finally start leading on rock this summer. But through the winter I barely managed a few half-hearted runs. Most of this was on the road rather than trails. I cancelled on Breakheart Dan's birthday run and withdrew form the Fells Trail Race, which is run on a course that I have come to consider a second home. I could blame work or family or any number of things, but the truth is I have not made my favorite outdoor pursuits a priority. Today I received emails from climbing partners Robert Castro, Shirish Nilekar, and Kevin Pyles. These guys, along with Breakheart Dan, Trail Pixie Emily, trailgrrl Michelle, Steve Latour, Kevin 'kZ' Zelechoski, and Rob MacDonald are people who have had a serious impact on my outdoor life. I was with Shirish and Kevin Pyles last year when Shirish climbed his first Gunks leads. I was with Robert the previous year when we watched our friend Raghu, and four others, get partially burried by an avalanche during a snowstorm on Willey's Slide. The AMC Mountaineering Committe's New Seconds Weekend is coming up in a couple of weeks, and everyone is trying to plan climbing partnerships and routes. I replied that I'd try to make it. I was inspired to head out for the first time in three weeks for a run. I managed 7 miles with significant hills in 1:00:16. My undertrained heart shot through the roof at an average 169 beats per minute, but I feel great. With Vermont just 12 weeks away, I have real doubts that I can get into the shape to haul my weary carcass 100 miles in a day, but today I ran well. |
