Pain Is An Illusion

First off, thanks for the abundant birthday wishes yesterday.  It was a reminder that I'm a pretty fortunate, and often undeservingly so, guy.  I appreciate it.

Driving over 1,200 miles is certainly a painful illusion, especially when you mix in a painful 50 mile run when you intended a solid 100 mile race.  What made it bearable, nay, incredible were the people I got to visit along the way.  I've traveled all over the place for the last twenty years and am continuously amazed at not only the environments and situations encountered but the truly special people I meet and/or rendezvous with at random (typically appropriate) times in my life.

Pippit is worn out from driving but has his loyalties in order with my old La Sportiva C-Lite

On this little road trip /slash/ move from the Bay Area to Colorado (for the fourth time…) I stopped in Reno to see Darren and his beautiful family, continued on to Virginia City to visit Darren's bother, DC (Craig) where we had a nice evening trail run on the outskirts of town, then shared a conversation (and beer) filled dinner in their 1870s "old West" home before a sound sleep in the little town that is bursting with tourists and activity all day until a common knowledge switch is flipped around 5pm and it settles into the quiet main street reminiscent of the 70s (1870s or 1970s, you take your pick).  The next morning I started early at 5am for a 12+ hour drive over so many passes of 7-9,000 feet that I lost count while trying to coax my poor old Audi, loaded well beyond manufactures' specifications up the endless climbs, finally arriving in Grand Junction where I was greeted by Darren and DC's parents, Mary and Dennis.  I stayed with them for Grand Mesa 100 last year and have stayed in touch with them and their running exploits; both of whom have embraced (understatement, as is typical when one takes up the sport) running and racing and have amassed a rainbow of fancy medals surrounded by various awards whose numbers are only put into perspective by the countless photos of smiles and memories.  Thank you Darren, Craig, Mary, and Dennis.  I'm very fortunate and grateful to have you in my life.

Dennis, Mary, me, Pippit

My race at Grand Mesa turned into a death jog quickly with endless falling and near (not to sound like a little girl) fainting.  I cut it down to the 50 mile undercard distance, so I was back at Mary and Dennis' in time for dinner on Saturday.  They finally got rid of me on Monday and I made my way across the Rockies to the Front Range where I unloaded the car and was treated to a surprise (not like, lights switch on and "SURPRISE!!" but more like unexpected) birthday dinner out with my new housemates.  They're kind people and the place is very nice with more (by far) than I typically need in a shelter.  Oh, yeah, my extra set of Mavic wheels for my road bike were stolen off the top of my car.  I didn't even notice until I unloaded the car last night.  While disappointing, it's funny in a way because the wheels are made specifically for my bike and won't work on any other road bike.  Have fun with them, thief.

So, now I get back to basics with my own training, focus heavily on the athletes I coach, and reconnect with friends in Colorado while embracing the people in my life.

I'll be heading back to the Bay Area for the weekend of September 1st to hold two running clinics.  Details on content and how to register for them will be posted on this site and Facebook tomorrow.  Off for a run after some inspirational women's beach Olympic vollyball.  Have a good rest of the week.