“We’ll see you Thursday…”

So as I very well mentioned- upon setting out West I was throwing many, MANY ideas at the wall. The pasta that stuck (who does that? it doesn’t work, you have to just try the pasta) without it costing too many monies, were a few good opportunities for me to drive and run. There was no real plan. With the list (including, but not limited to, the possibility of getting abducted by aliens or eaten by bears in the crazy mountains) I was quite satisfied with whatever ended up being clever.

Three weeks before the race- having sent in my media remittance form and purpose- I was not sure what would go. I certainly didn’t expect a “Thank you for sending this over. I have you written down! We’ll see you Thursday at checkin.” from the RD herself. The Mountain Ultra community as a whole almost felt mysterious for me, so it became clear this was what I was setting sail for. I did not expect the people surrounding this race to be everyone I had looked to be with (if even for a short weekend) for a really long time, but I was pretty sure.

When your whole life has felt like one big extended Vision-quest the best way forward is to follow your feet and take notice when the lights start guiding your way a little easier…..or you at least tend to notice when the wind is at your back. Things fell together perfectly, even the beautiful drive and a great Turkey sandwich in Wheaton.

And so it goes- There I was. Thursday Afternoon. Crazy Mountain 100.

The type of race you read about, or watch through the windows of the internet and think “Whoa!? Is that what Ultra is REALLY ABOUT?” Yes. Obviously.

It all felt unequivocally natural, like I had been there before. Just being with the Family that we are all a part of by deciding to take this very specific ride. The Bukowski quote on the website is a good one, but I much prefer the updated and wilder Counselor of the Western world:

“Some may never Live, but the Crazy never die.” – Hunter S. Thompson

Here come the Crazies.