Thursday, August 15, 2019

A Different Kind of Race + Taint Talk

I seriously ghosted every single one of you for the past six weeks. I am a douche.

I'm a believer that the best writing comes from a desire to write not an obligation. And, I just haven't been feeling it. Never fear - I'm still out here doing my thing. Since the Dirty Thirty 50K I've kicked my triathlon training into high gear to get ready for the Harvest Moon 70.3 in Boulder next month.

But last weekend I did a trail race just to mix things up. It was the Cirque Series - A Basin. You've likely never heard of this series. Neither had I. I thought maybe I was joining Cirque du Soleil and I'd have to contort myself to the point of seeing my own taint - but NO! This is a newer series that goes to more extreme locations and makes people run up idiotic mountains with steep drop offs and bipolar weather.

I'm into that kind of thing (better than the taint business. Did you know a taint is basically the same as a perineum? There is this add for medication that comes on during the 6 o'clock news that actually uses the word "perineum" ((there is some side affect - like gangrene of the perineum? Who first discovered that?)) any way, I am always yelling at the TV "IT'S A TAINT"!! Or, that's what the Urban Dictionary would say).

Speaking of the Urban Dictionary. Here is a funny side story that has nothing to do with a taint or the race. My parents, who are 80,  were recently at a concert in Boulder at this famous place called Chautauqua, you know it if you live here. So the eighty year olds were wondering what Chautauqua meant, so my dad Googled it. Somehow it immediately took him to the Urban Dictionary (a foreign land for my dad) and he found out Chautauqua actually meant "liquid shit." He shared this with all of his octogenarian friends, who rightfully questioned if that was the true meaning. Turns out it really means "an adult education movement," but that is so...YAWN compared to liquid shit. I love my dad.



Moving on. So, this race was at the A-Basin ski area, about an hour outside of Denver. A-Basin is located at 10,800 feet which means you can't breathe for (liquid) shit. It was only 7 miles, but the first half was extremely uphill (as in you are climbing up the ski mountain to the top of a peak). We ran (if you can call it that) up to almost 13,000 feet. Here's what it looked like:



View on the way up
Just a little stroll along the ridge

Hello. Can I please take your baby home and raise him with my Golden Retriever?

Can you see me?

As we came down, we actually encountered some trees, which can be rare at 10,000 + feet.



The whole race I was thinking how I just did not want to come in last because the average age was probably 30 and everyone's bodies were perfect and boobs were taut and muscles were tight (don't look at my 52 year old gut).

But I won my age group (50 to 59) because there were only four of us and that is why I like getting older.

A fun and adventurous day. If you're in Utah, Colorado, Idaho or Alaska and are looking for a thrill, check out the series.


 SUAR

15 comments:

  1. So fun and I'm so impressed that you are crushing these trail races. Me, can I even call myself a runner any more? My body is rebelling and I don't even know what to do about it.

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    1. Getting older is tough and humbling. I know the RA doesn't help. But I admire your perseverance. Keep at it and I will too!

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  2. Today is starting out great! I checked your blog (like I do everyday) and BAM, new post!!! :-)
    That trail run looks painful. I think my lungs would implode for sure. You're a beast!!!
    That baby goat is adorable. What's going on with the mamma's coat? Looks like someone shaved only half of her. Talk about a fashion statement.

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    1. Thanks for checking...it's been awhile since my last post...obviously. Not sure what is going on with mama goat. I wish I could have found the rest of her coat on the trail to make a rug or something out of..

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  3. Those goats are totally giving you the eye, wondering WTF you are doing up there. And yes, probably thinking you are there to steal their baby for some perverted human thing.
    Welcome back to the blog world. People are still dropping in. I know this because then they come to my blog, crushed with disappointment that their favourite blogger is still on vacation, and consoling themselves with my photos. Yes, I get all this in my stats report.

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    1. HAHA!! Glad people are still dropping in on your world. I still love following your retirement adventures. I want to be there too.

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  4. I've missed seeing the SUAR writings show up in my inbox, but this was a great one to get back at it! Your sense of humor is so fantastic and right up my alley...dads finding the Urban Dictionary (and mine is a pastor so it's especially hilarious) and finding clever ways to include the word "taint" in a blog...yeah...I've missed this! Welcome back! =)

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    1. Taints and urban dictionary are where it's at!! Who cares about running?! I've got some fun stuff planned for the fall, so stay tuned. More inappropriateness to come.

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  5. Welcome back to writing. Missed your humor! And congrats on the race.

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    1. Thanks for being a loyal reader and sticking with me for long breaks!

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  6. Congrats on the race, that trail looks very tough. And also congrats on the 1st place in your a.g. In 2006 I became, in my age group, half marathon italian champ of the ports and we were only 5 of us!
    Beautiful photos.

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  7. Half Marathon Italian Champ of the Ports sounds very important! Nice job.

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  8. Seriously, such gorgeous photos! Congrats on the race and the returned desire to blog.

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  9. You are a rockstar. Glad to see you're still out there winning and showing the young punks how it's done. AG is still a win , right?!!But how are you staying so fit? I'm 54 and fatter by the week. :'(

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