Silverton: Check In: Added Miles

Silverton is an odd town, like it hasn't figured out what it wants to be since mining was discontinued.  Growing up in Flint Michigan, the auto capital of the world during many decades of the 20th century, I empathize with towns that rely on one industry, especially an industry that requires little skill and education.  These folks get accustomed to making good money, living a middle class life without foreseeing any potential end to it, so they spend earnings instead of saving.  Then when it comes to an end, there are a glut of unemployed people with no skills or education and the only jobs are at 7-Eleven where one might earn 10,000 a year, one tenth of his former income.  My mother still lives there in our $15,000 home, which has black iron bars on every window and door and has a handgun in her purse by her side while she watches television, so it resembles an old west jailhouse.  It was dangerous there when I was growing up (every year Flint was in the top 5 -in the country- for violent crimes; something that gives a resident an odd sense of pride).  It's worse now (on our last phone conversation, she told me she's too scared to fill the birdbath any longer, in her own back yard) but she won't move, ever.

Buick World Headquarters in Flint, Mi where I worked when I got out of college.

Here's the Buick site now.  They tore it down in 1998.

Ouray and Telluride have reinvented themselves, taking advantage of the surroundings.  Places like Silverton seem to want that reinvention but are lingering in a purgatory of worn out homes and tourist shops (without tourists).  There is potential and I'm not sure what needs to be done to kickstart it.  I could see myself living in Silverton.  Leadville is even worse off.

After putzing around town, I made my way over to runner check-in, got my bib number, medical check (BP 118 over 75 and HR 48), then shopped through the abundant Hardrock merchandise.  I found out that there are two miles being added to the course this year, due to a reroute late in the race.  I refuse to think about that and the added 30 or so minutes to my already long day(s).  I then sat in my car at the finish visualizing running through the chute of flags and reaching the rock.

Ominous skies during the afternoon thunderstorm.  They've put up a flag from every US state and country represented by the runners.

I finally got into my shabby motel room a bit after 1pm and vegged out watching tv, spending the better part of 45 minutes carefully pinning my bib number to my race shorts.  Crazy enough, I awoke this morning thinking of the placement of the bib and have decided to relocate it higher towards the waist due to all the climbing.  I can over think things in the same manner I can over paint watercolors until there's just a puddle of grey liquid rolling over the pencil lines - wasted energy.

I made it out for a solo run a bit after 5pm and found a faint single track above town.  Every run here is UP and I'm guessing I climbed maybe 800 feet up and over the shoulder of a canyon with a rushing river down below.  The trail undulated through woods and meadows still damp from the brief afternoon rain and angled setting sun.  It was one of those runs that could lure me into several hours out had it not been intended as a shake out for a big effort on Friday.  At just 45 mins, it was probably the most meaningful and enjoyable run I've had this year.

Post-shake out run.  These socks are being retired...

Ouray, CO

I've ended my sponsorship with Tecnica.  The shoes just weren't working for me and I can't promote something I don't love.  They were kind to take on a runner of my level and I appreciate their support while I used the shoes.  For the race tomorrow I'll start in Pearl Izumi XC and switch to Hokas at Grouse Gulch (mile 41, I think).  Wet feet are part of this race, constant wet feet from countless river crossings.  I have good fortune, to this point, with sturdy feet, rarely get a blister (one in three years), and no black or lost toenails.  My runs at Bear100 and SD100 were dry, so who knows what 30+ hours of wet-footed running will bring.

The cafe (where I'm writing this morning again) has a constant flow of Hardrock runners in and out.  Bryon Powell is at the table next to me tapping away at his laptop.  Bill, from Leadville, an older gentleman who may be the biggest fan of ultrarunning and ultrarunners wore down Bryon's ears for a while.  Bill did the same with me at race check-in yesterday.  He's a very nice guy, who wants to know everything he can find out about the sport.  I mean, he's here for the race (a week beforehand) for no other reason than to simply watch...and talk about it.

Today will just be filled with time fillers.  12pm is mandatory runner briefing.  Before that is runner check-in, so I'll probably linger around for that, maybe snap a few photos, drop off my drop bags.  Exciting stuff, no doubt.