Slammed

I get a lot of curiosity questions from my fellow runners these days. Most of them are centered around asking how I'm feeling and if I am ready for Leadville. It's funny how the gears in my mind turn when they ask me these questions. So many thoughts pop into my mind that revolve around the grand slam. Western States was a difficult race. There was a lot more running on flat surfaces there then I had anticipated. It wasn't nearly as hot as people say it can be, I was disappointed by the overall experience and regardless of all those flats, all those hills kicked my butt.

I remember landing in Las Vegas after Western States ended and breathing a sigh of relief that I had a month in between Western States and Vermont. And then, after flying home from Vegas and actually thinking about it.. I remember my feelings of surprise and the inevitable "Oh Shit" when I realized that after a week in Vegas, I was all ready two weeks out of Vermont. I had counted wrong, I never had a month. I had 3 weeks and one was all ready gone, given up to slot machines and walking around Vegas while sipping on Frozen drinks harvested within an 80 oz. plastic guitar.

I was asked quite a bit how I was feeling after Western States. I was sore for longer after that race then I have ever been after any race I'd done to this point. When asked if I was ready for Vermont, the answer was "I have no other choice." There I was 30 miles into the Vermont 100, legs all ready cooked and yet I was pushing up and down those hills until I could hardly take it anymore. Sitting in a chair at Tracer Brook (Mile 60) trying to wrap my head around this game known as the Grand Slam. Still on track for a buckle at Vermont knowing then and there that I was going to have to let it go... and concentrate on surviving. I had nothing left in my legs... and strategy in my mind. Strategy not geared towards finishing ONE race... but finishing them all. I had a meeting with my crew and tried to change their mindset from buckle to finish... it took quite a few hours for them to get it it seemed. They were so jazzed!

So here I am. I'm two weeks out of the Leadville 100. About to head to Colorado to run at an elevation most average athletes/runners would think of impossible. 12,000+ feet in the sky... 2 miles up... running 100 miles. I'll have had a 5 week break between Vermont and Leadville. I'm squeezing in the runs when I can but when it comes down to it.. "my last long run" before the next 100 has been the 100 I'd just run. I'm lucky to be able to get to the White Mountains of New Hampshire and just run and hike. Get some miles in. Time on my feet. Am I ready for Leadville? I have no idea... I'm honestly a little nervous. Constantly thinking about surviving Leadville so I can get to Wasatch.. and then, immediately then, thoughts change to my being terrified of Wasatch.

I'd say that over these last 3 months I've learned that as hard as the Grand Slam is physically, it's equally if not more difficult mentally. It's very hard to wrap your head around one race when you've got another race right after it. It's hard to fathom running at altitude when you live at sea level and you have no money to spend extended time away from home. I will say that this adventure in Slamming has been my greatest adventure thus far. This year in running isn't going to end with the Grand Slam... I've got a big project on the Horizon and I'm trying to wrap my brain around that as well.

I'm as ready for Leadville as I'm going to be.
I'm nervous
I'm Tired
and I'm sore.

Thanks for asking
SJ