Still Here

I have spent the better part of this week in altitude training with an ultra-athlete and I am still here. It was a lot of fun to get into some crazy country and explore not only the great outdoors but a lot of my inner self. It has been great to bond with my dad in such a meaningful way and I will have novels to write when I get a few more minutes than what is allowed here in the lobby of the B&B here in Silverton, CO.

The race starts tomorow and I will be meeting up with my dad at 4am on Saturday to pace a 6500-foot elevation gain over a 16-mile leg starting at 7000 feet. It is an interesting thing to watch all the racers congregate in such a small little town. The energy is contageous and quite intoxicating and I almost have the race jitters as if I were actually a competitor.

Maybe some day I will compete on that level, but not any day soon. 100 miles in 48 hours over this rough country is really not my idea of a good time. I am more in the range of 8-10 miles per day and I stop to smell the flowers, observer butterflies and look for wildlife. If we cross someone on the trail, I stop and chat. This is definitely NOT the racer mentality.

I will write more later and post all the neat concepts, insight and experiences I have had out here in my favorite kind of wilderness later.

I'm Ascared, but Here I Go!

So this is it. The big adventure I have been training for is finally here, and I am no longer in "hard-core" training. I am allowing myself more carbohydrates to boost energy for the rigorous terrain and high-altitude living. The anticipation is just about too much for me... Either that, or I ate too much pasta at Olive Garden an my body is in shock.
I can't believe it is finally here. I wish I could say that I met all my goals, but what the hell. I can't win 'em all and I have ALWAYS had my head in the clouds when it comes to setting 'em in the first place. I guess it's better to shoot for the stars and hit the moon than never get off the ground. I am strong and happy and everything seems to be in working order. I have nothing to complain about, and I am not ashamed of what I have accomplished. I got the gear, I've trained hard and I am ready to tromp all over those mountains for the next 8 days. YAE for mountains! YAE for me!
I am really hoping it was enough, and that I am able to acclimatize well and quickly. Dad has been up at elevation for the last 7 days and should be pretty well ready for the big race. The next week with me should be a cake walk for him, but I have the distinct fear that it will hurt me a little bit. I have decided that fear is not a bad thing, so long as it adds to, not takes from the adventure.
John long, a famous climber, once stated "the caliber of the adventure is proportional to the level of doubt maintained." If I had nothing to doubt, no fear of possibly being a bit of a weenie, then it wouldn't be an adventure. Fear can be justified, and in the wilderness, it is ALWAYS better to be prepared for what might hurt you than to be lost out in the cold.
I have decided that it is far more important to understand my fear, than to overcome or suppress it. If I am not enough, the mountain will let me know, and it is an honest and worthy opponent. But oh the thrill of winning that battle and proving to myself that today, I am enough! Fear is nothing to be afraid of and I am woman enough to admit that I am a little scared. But I am scared in a motivated, excited sort of way and here I go. Wish me luck and pray that my dad is feeling good when I pick him up at mile 56.

Gratitude Sunday: Independence

Today I am catching up on my Gratitude Sunday entry and what better day to be grateful for my independence. I think of all the people who have made great sacrifices so that I can have the freedom to choose so many things. So many have done so much, even to the point of laying down their lives for my privilege to worship my God as I choose, define my values as I choose, chase the dreams that I choose and do so in the manner that is most fulfilling and happy for me.

Thanks to all the people who have fought to establish and defend that privilege throughout history. Thanks to all the people in the armed forces today who continue to defend those privileges and thanks to all the law enforcement and legal officials who uphold those privileges. Though the system is imperfect, it is the best we have and I am grateful for the independence and freedom it permits.

To be truly grateful for my independence, I must BE independent. I must take advantage of the opportunity to think for myself and define my true identity, my relationship with God and my real dreams. The freedom we celebrate on this 4^th of July should be celebrated in everyday choices and I am going to be intentional about my freedom to choose what I really want. My life is an adventure and I am so grateful for the opportunity to make it my own and enjoy the beautiful country I live in.