August 22, 2009
The Goal
Today was a normal Saturday for most. However, for ultrarunners, it was a big day. The Leadville Trail 100. I have talked about my infatuation with Leadville before. Last fall after the end of my season at the Denver Marathon, I loosely thought that I would attempting the LT100 this year. Well, one thing lead to another and I knocked my wife up. Due date — Leadville Trail 100 race day. That was an easy cop-out for 2009. I set my sights on other goals and was just fine with that.
During every run this season, I think about the LT100 for 2010. I used to think it was enough to want to just finish. That is the A goal. However, now I think I need to set a B goal and that is going to be to go sub-25 hours. I haven’t quite grasped what that will take over finishing yet. But it doesn’t scare me.
The race is 365 days away. I have a lot of time to train and prepare. I am not going to be singularly focused — yet. I still have this season to finish. I need to break 3:30 at Denver in October. That was the original A goal for this season. However, I am starting to get that BQ itch given I got 5 more minutes as a gift for getting older. Wondering if I can pull it off. It isn’t a question of whether it will happen — it is just a question of when. This year. Or next. I am zooming in on the target but not sure if I am in a big hurry yet.
Anyway, I am posting this just to keep myself honest. The LT100 isn’t something you just go out and do. It is a mission. A journey. And I know that this winter, when the shirt goes back on, and the pants go on, the gloves and hat go on, and it is cold outside and I don’t want to venture out to run — I have to. Off-season will have a new meaning this year. It will entail some rest but holding a better base than I did last season.
In the meantime, I am going to keep doing what I have been doing. More. More distance, more time, more elevation, more weight loss, more fueling, more learning. Next summer, I hope to be in Leadville for as many or more weekends that I am in Longmont. Training on course.
I thought of going this alone because I didn’t want any dependencies that would jeopardize the result. However, I think the journey will be more fun with a crew and I remember how nice it was to have one for a 50 mile race. This time we are going to be running through the night. It is going to be wild.
So that’s my plan based on the excitement of today’s event. Things might change based on life, injuries, and other randomness. But I hope not. I am ready to find out who I am — next year.
