Waiting for the Barkley Start

"When your body starts to betray you and you feel totally defeated mentally, remember this: You are not this body. You are not these thoughts. You are a beautiful and perfect soul deeply connected to a much larger universe. And running five loops at Barkley is but a drop in the ocean of all of the Self's potential achievements. So. You will keep going.

Try, as best you can, not to identify with the body or with the thoughts. Get connected to something much, much bigger than the small self. Let the mind empty of everything else."

-Anon

Barkley Training Grounds

I think I've found my Barkley training grounds.  Lands End in Duke Forest off of Whitfield Rd in Chapel Hill. Not more than 100 feet of elevation change at a time, but it's steep and overgrown. 2mph is pretty good progress. Wash, Rinse, Repeat...

 

2011 Training Schedule

"Pre-training" in January, then a 9 week cycle for Barkley, 3 weeks REST (i.e. basking in glory, conducting interviews, etc.), then a 9 week cycle for Western States.

 I have some thoughts on what I'd do if I get into Hardrock, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there... Lottery on 2/5.

Appalachian and Bartram Trails 12/31

Had a great New Year's Eve run with Matt Kirk, David Dirito, Carl Laniak, Mohamed Idlibi, and Scott Brockmeier. 27ish snowy, slushy miles starting from Nantahala Lake on the Bartram trail, linking up with the AT and continuing to the Nantahala Outdoor Center in 6 hrs.

Lots of fog and snow...

With David "Balto" Dirito

Barkley "Condolences"

with our sincerest condolences;

we regret to inform you of your great misfortune during the drawing for the 2011 barkley 100 miler. it was your execrable bad luck to be selected to have your hopes painfully dashed on the course (most likely while being miserable, cold, and both mentally and physically damaged.) raw chicken will be served on Friday, april 1, with the conch to sound sometime after midnight for a Saturday april 2 start which will follow an hour later.

personal bugle serenades will begin shortly thereafter.

may your personal choice of deities have mercy on you.

should you come to your senses …

or have the good luck to be provided (or able to manufacture) a plausible excuse for withdrawing now, or at any time prior to the actual running of the event, please inform us at the earliest possible time.

although it defies logic, there is a lengthy weight list of individuals who honestly believe that they want to exchange places with you.

regretfully yours,

laz