2009 Transrockies Run

Last week, my training partner Kevin and I signed up for the 2009 Transrockies Run - 125 miles over 6 days in the Colorado Rockies. What were we thinking?

At this month's meeting of our running club, Kevin asked if anyone else was interested in running across the Rocky Mountains next summer. I wasn't there, but I imagined most people didn't quite understand what he was proposing, and our club treasurer simply replied, "what the hell?!"

When I considered this event many months ago, I felt a bit out of my league. Any athletic endeavor spanning six days and rewarded with $20,000 in prize money should be restricted to well-trained athletes who don't have real jobs. I pictured myself lining up at the start line with other adventure racers, fast packers and ultra marathoners, all entering the event not just to complete it, but to race and win. I could imagine the looks as they sized me up and wondered, "what the hell is he doing here?"

Then I made the mistake of checking out the web site. Suddenly, the event seemed manageable, and enticing. Fully catered meals, massage service, and a staff who tears down and sets up camp for you each day. I checked out the elevation maps for each day. It is designed carefully to let you acclimate to running long distances...with very litte oxygen. I fear we have woefully underestimated the hardship of actually running at an elevation of 8,000 - 12,000 feet.

But there comes a point when deciding on any event where you just know if you're going to do it. For me, it is not normally a series of logical choices that lead to the decision. I often back into it by removing the impediments. Float it out to my wife a couple times very innocuously to test the waters. Make sure I can do it with my work schedule. Fill the race schedule with other events that lead up to the main event. Make the decision, figure out later how to train for it. I always ask myself, "if you don't do it, will you wish you did?" Consider the people you will meet, the scenery you will take in, the experience you will always remember.

Today, I flew over the Rocky Mountains on a flight from Chicago. Talk about delusional. From 39,000 feet, anything seems possible. So, what were we thinking when we signed up? An epic adventure.