3 weeks and counting........

After the 50 mile smack down that occurred, I regrouped and reassessed my game plan on race day in Leadville. Experiencing several meltdowns over a 12 hour period is difficult but rewarding on many different levels. If you've never hit the wall, it's difficult to truly understand the feeling when you actually break through the wall. On race day in three weeks, it's a good bet that I'll face the wall several times. The advantage that I have during this race is the fact that I will have both crew support as well as pacer from mile 50 to the finish. Below is a picture of Daley and Will on our training weekend on 7/23 as we traversed Hope Pass at 12,500 for the first time. They're both looking rather chipper.....the return over Hope Pass wasn't as pretty as everyone ran out of water, due to the sun/altitude and my pacers struggled to return to Twin Lakes through the river with temps at 40F....chilly, but felt REALLY GOOD!




We managed to get in 42 miles of 2.5 days in Leadville. It was a great training weekend. My race plan has been written and I will be sending it out to the crew and pacer this week. The weather was spectacular. On Friday evening we climbed up the Power Line to Hagerman and back. On Saturday we began at Twin Lakes and went to the Winfield Station side on Hope Pass and back. This was a long day....what should've taken 5.5 hours took 7 hours and change.....slept good! On Sunday we ran from Half Moon to about Twin Lakes...a good run out and a better run back. On Sunday afternoon we braved the traffic, which only took forever, to get back to Denver....checked in at the Embassy Suites....went out for a couple of beers and some great Sushi. Walked back to the hotel.....stopped at Dairy Queen....and hit the rack...after watching CSI for the first time.

Overall a great weekend...nursing a few minor tweeks ....but feeling good going into the TAPER......grrrr.


Cheers!