Going Down to Moab, Gonna Have Myself A Time

Somehow I find myself a day away from my first trip to Moab for 2011. Oddly enough, my last real race report on this little blog was from the last trip of 2010 to Moab. I guess something about that place makes me want to write.

This time, it's for a return trip to the Moab RedHot 55K and 33K. Last year, it was for the 33K with my friends Jen and Nick. This year, it's a lone-wolf trip down in what looks to be sketchy weather for the 55K. I'm reserving the right to downshift to the shorter distance if the weather is disastrously bad, but a huge part of me just says "Suck it up, sista, it'll make you stronger to face that fear." I've had a lot of balls in the air lately, and lots on my mind, and it's easy to give into that temptation to run the shorter race. I also had the first really craptastic race in awhile last weekend at a local 10K, so that gets into the head for sure. It was a race PR, but a lackluster performance that was not up to what I thought could have been possible after last fall's racing season.

I think staring down all that uncertainty and fear of failure might be the best thing, though, even if I am out there all.day.long, moving along slowly in my zero gear. The course was challenging last year, and it is a little scary actually KNOWING what to expect this year with that route plus 14 miles. On the flip side, I am inspired when I'm in Moab. I felt like I was running across the sky on this course last year, and that's a powerful feeling. Being with like-minded folks who just get it is another aspect of the whole thing that makes me think I CAN make it through, even if I am the last one out there and even if I'm swearing off ever doing something like it again in the final miles.

In other news, I've joined a relay team that currently consists of six women and one man for the 24 Hours of Moab, a relay event that takes place in late March. This involves a six mile loop, and logging as many laps as possible around that loop in a 24-hour period. I've wanted to join a relay team for some time, and am stoked to venture into this new racing territory. I have no idea what to expect, how many laps I'll run or how I'll feel, but I'm excited for the adventure. For now, I just need to do some laundry, pack up some gear, and get myself safely to Moab tomorrow. The next adventure awaits in less than 48 hours.