Even though it was on the calendar, racing the CTR this year wasn’t looking that reasonable of a possibility. Life is busy, busy and I don’t get a ton of rest just doing the normal everyday routine, so adding in training for an ultra is asking a lot of myself and my family. I have been pulling off some decent results coming from similar place of half fitness, for a few years, but it is hard. It hurts more putting in those huge days of so much climbing and hiking with a loaded bike, without the body being conditioned for it. The recovery takes longer too, I am a mess for a while after these big rides. The CTR is especially tricky as I also have a lot of tasks as RD to attend to as well.

Still I found myself thinking about some of the big, gnarly climbs on the CTR course and wanting to feel the burn of being out there working so hard. Picturing in detail the big one out of Junction creek right off the bat, the wall of Stoney Pass, the endless rolls of Cataract and Coney’s, the seemingly evil of the Cochetopa Hills, the Achilles straining hike and brake burning bounce up and over 10 Mile. I was not flinching as I daydreamed about some of the monsters of the CT, it was time again to run my version of the “P”.

I got 5 weeks to polish up what ever fitness I have and get my gear checked over and then trimmed down. I have the support of my family, so I hope to carve out a few more hours a week to do all the things. Hats off to all the folks jumping into these events from a busy life full of work, family, etc. Getting to the start line is not an easy feat in itself, but to have all the prep done, the fitness as good as can be and still have the energy to try and race 530 miles of the CT is something else. So hope to be in Durango in about 5 weeks with my bike loaded ready for another great adventure.