AR Ramblings

I’ve been seriously slacking on this blogging thing again. However, I’ve just been chillin’ (and recovering) this year and don’t really have anything on my race calendar. I’m also feeling kinda lost as to what sport(s) I want to focus on. I wonder if writing down some random thoughts will help? I might as well try it and see…

• I haven’t found any upcoming adventure races that are appealing to me (and that I can afford). Unless it is 24+ hours, I’m generally not interested. There have been a few races cancelled this year, some dates that just didn’t work out for me, and the remaining events are notorious for organizational issues, or poor maps, or poor course vetting. I’m also without a regular team, and finding folks with similar physical abilities and goals, requisite technical skills, compatible personalities, and mentally capable of keeping a positive outlook over one or more days of continuous racing is a pain in the ass. Just getting to the starting line has become somewhat tiresome, with not enough payback in terms of race course quality and experiences.
• AR also seems to be getting kinda lame (er, tame) these days. Maybe I’m just old school, but I usually dislike supported races, urban races, stupid human tricks (special tests), and dumbing down water and ropes courses because no one has the appropriate skill levels for anything truly technical. It seems that more and more people are needing/wanting safe “adventure” races…ummm, just being on a trail doesn’t make it an adventure…not for me, at least.
• An exception to the AR rants above is the Overmountain Extreme, which I’ll probably race again in the fall as a solo. It’s a very cool, very fun race with some amazing scenery, and is still doable for newer racers. I don’t feel the need to train for it, though. I’ll just do it for fun and see what happens.
• I haven’t found time to do much paddling or climbing for the past couple of years. Training for AR makes it hard to dedicate substantial time to either of these disciplines and gain some “real” skills. Maybe I should just get back into one of those and ignore the rest?
• I have a crazy idea lurking in the back of my head to eventually run the Green. This will require buying a creek boat (and hiding it from Vonda…If the narrows don’t thrash me, then she certainly will when she learns I’m planning to run it!). Transitioning from III+ playboating to IV/V creeking will be quite an undertaking however and consume a lot of time.
• I could always learn to swim better and do some triathlons for fun. 70.3 or iron distance might be cool. I never thought I would say that triathlons sounded fun, but the simplicity is kinda appealing. You just show up and then swim, bike and run as fast as possible. The lack of a mental component (as in AR) might be a little boring after a while. I can’t imagine myself doing it long term. It would definitely provide some motivation for a consistent training program and some speed work though.
• It has been fun just doing some unofficial adventure runs over the past year. I will be starting my third SCAR run on July 26. This time will be north to south, with a bigger (and crazier?) crew of runners making the attempt, and some much-appreciated aid at Newfound Gap and Clingmans. Battling heat exhaustion instead of hypothemia will make for an interesting change of pace :-P I guess I could do some ultras, but I never seem to train enough to really compete at any level. I think I enjoy doing ultras for the experience and opportunity to explore new trails, more than for the competition.
• I’ve still never run a marathon. I need to tick that off my list. Just completing one would be too easy tho. I’d have to set a goal. Qualifying for Boston might be cool. 3:15 would mean a 7:26 avg pace or better. That might be doable. Just need to add some regular speed work and tempo runs to my completely random running workouts.
• The title of this post reminds me that I need to set up my slackline again. “If Charlie falls off the slackline and no one is there to hear it, does that still mean he was over-thinking things again?”
• HOWEVER, if anyone needs another teammate for a serious attempt at winning the Upstate race (and the free entry and airfare to the Abu Dhabi race in December), then I will be dedicated to a strict training regimen between now and then, and all of the above debates become moot!!! Anyone? Anyone? Please!
  :-)