Lightening the Load

Lightning isn’t supposed to strike twice, none the less 3,200 times which is what happened on June 21st in the Tahoe National Forest.  The state’s a blaze and ashy haze called for a cancellation of the 35th Western States Endurance Run.

Endurance run?  When someone says “Fun Run,” images of stroller pushing, puppy dog leading, chit chattering runners comes to mind.  When someone says “Marathon,” I imagine lean runners striding in bright colored sneakers and “I mean business” sunglasses.  Endurance run?  I am uncertian that humble title correctly classifies this challenge.  Western States is a 100 mile trail run that starts at Squaw Valley floor, 6,200 ft, climbs 2,550 vertical feet in the first 4.5 miles to reach Emigrant Pass, 8,750 ft, and then proceeds west climbing a total of 15,540 ft and descending a total of 22,970 ft before finding the finish line. 

Maybe they should call it “Western States better-be-one-tough-son-or-daughter-of-two-too-tough-parents-descending-from-great-big-tougher-than-tough-tough-guys….”  How many toughs was that?  Better be a tough-ta-farian man.  When your Granddad died he willed you T-O-U-G-H.

Now say “Endurance Run,” and images of runners with bulging muscles, gritted white teeth choking a “I’m going to kick your butt” smile, and maybe even a touch crazy comes to mind.  

This morning the big boss, my son, and little boss, my daughter (call her heffa), sat buckled into the jogger geared out in dum-dums and sippies ready to hit the road.  I did a few stretches and waited for Jim and Garrett to arrive for a Mountain Drive run.  I had not yet met Garrett, but I knew he had trained to run the Western States E-Run.  I half expected to meet an action-figure ripped disappointed man.  The other half of me expected to meet an action figure ripped very disappointed man. 

Garrett arrived and although tan and toned, he was as humble and soft spoken as he was kind.  The course of our run he never mentioned the immense disappointment he must be feeling to have not had the opportunity to run the race he had undoubtedly spent hundreds of hours to train for.  Instead, he spoke with a warm smile and sense of peace about his up coming alternative weekend.

It seems to me that tough isn’t all that’s needed to complete these challenges.  Maybe there has got to be some Zen.  Knowing that just because you train does not mean that you will start and that just because you start does not mean you will finish and being able to handle all the bumps of that road just might get you over the line in the end.

Besides, this morning some of his hard core training was put to great use pushing boss and heffa.  Thank you Garrett!  Momma needed a break!

~ by drea on June 27, 2008.