Desert Solitaire

Surrounded by mountains, endless trails.

I've said it before.  I love running in the high desert.  I've thought about it a lot, especially during the runs, and can't describe why I enjoy it so much.  Anyway, I've gotten back into a good training groove following Leadville and feel like I should run well at Bear.  An update on the course conditions was emailed today and the description read, "outstanding condition", which is nice to finally hear after continually running races with abnormal overgrowth, rivers running high, abundant snow...  They did point out that a couple of the river crossings are high and wet feet might be difficult to avoid.  One thing I've learned this year is that I don't mind wet feet for racing.  Actually, depending on how many miles my dogs have pounded, it feels pretty nice to wade through ice cold rushing water.

The body feels perfect.  It'll be tested tomorrow when I hit a long run.  Last year on this day I ran 41 miles on the Colorado Trail with Scott Jaime, who, at the time was celebrating his one year anniversary of running the entire CO Trail.  I'm not sure I feel like going 41 miles tomorrow and definitely don't need to run that long but 25-30 with some good climbing (impossible to avoid here anyway) for sure.

I'm also now registered for the new Slickrock 100 in Moab, which takes place two weeks after Bear.  Slickrock looks like it has everything one would want in a 100.  Wander over to the well done race website and take in the photos and description of the course.  I wouldn't be surprized to see Karl's name pop up on the entrants' list.  If his back is better, this is a course he loves "running on the moon".

At the start of the season my hefty goal was to run five 100 milers.  Slickrock will be the sixth (assuming I finish Bear).  Bear is where my whole love of 100s began last September and to say I'm excited to run fast there this year is an understatement.  I'll miss having Aric Manning there as my crew but I'm looking forward to zipping through aid stations this time around and not having a friendly face there giving me an excuse to linger and chat.

Things I'll do differently this year:
No watch
Hydration pack the whole race
Change into Hokas later in the race to prepare for the audacious 5,000 ft descent at the end
I might use trekking poles.  Certainly enough sick climbs (23,000 ft climb) to warrant their use
McDavid compression (people ask how I recover so fast with almost no effect of all these 100s - McDavid)