If it were about five degrees warmer, this week would have been a prime example of my favorite kind of weather. Dark storm clouds are hanging just low enough to trap all the sunlight and make all the colors of spring look really over saturated, and the wind is strong enough to wreak havoc on any attempts to style your hair. Wild and wonderful and singing of change, just the way I like it.
This kind of weather makes me feel like anything is possible, so naturally I let this feeling overtake me and signed up for the Mountain Masochist Trail Run. This is a 50 mile run in the mountains near spy rock, in case you've been following my earlier adventures. The race actually finishes at the campground I've gone to almost every October since I was little. No, I've never raced anything like this, and yes, I think I've probably lost my mind. But hey, race registration only stays open for a week, and signing up forces me to get started training right? I also made a pinky promise earlier this semester that I'd do it, and you know you just can't go back on those. Let the mileage buildup begin!
Other recent adventures include racing bikes with the cycling team, snapping my derailleur and learning a lot about bike maintenance on the fly, figuring out how to swim without using my ankles, and buying a sketchy, sketchy commuter I've named Lady Eleanor (Aliéanor if you're feeling French). I've also noticed that I'm starting to run into the same people every where I go. I spent about two hours chilling on the porch of east coasters while I waited for some parts to be installed on Theo, and I saw at least six people from the tri and cycling teams. I also passed five people during my run at Pandapas today, four of which were members of vt ultra or the cycling team. Does that mean that I'm one of them now, since we all seem to be drawn to the same places? It's a neat thing to think about. When I first came to tech, I didn't imagine that I'd be one to be drawn I bike shops and trail runs but here I am!
