Distance Run

I nearly forgot about this rather spectacular demonstration of the precarious balance between beasts and their prey.

The other night, I was heading out on a mid week run. Being the week before Christmas, I was getting started pretty late in the evening (ahem, shopping).

About a quarter mile into my run I came a part of the Crescent Trail that crosses a stream. Neatly positioned on either side of the trail is a long, shoulder-high galvanized fencing meant to keep mothers with out-of-control tots from careening into the creek ditch.

The fence is visible in this picture I took last winter…

Well, as I was getting into the fenced-in area, I noticed a small brown spot on the trail ahead of me. Some little critter I supposed.

As I got closer, I could clearly see that it was a bunny. “Hello, bunny,” I said as I approached. For some reason I talk to the wild life. My patron saint, St. Francis would be proud, hehe. Just as quickly as his darkened figure formed an image in my head, he took-off like a … well, like a scared rabbit.

I thought nothing of this. I see wild animals all the time on the trail.

But a little further down, out of the corner of my eye I briefly caught glimpse of a football sized light-gray figure sitting on the top of the fence on the right side of the trail. Again, almost a soon as I noticed it was there it took off. Effortlessly, and perfectly silently. It was eerie. One second it was there, the next it was flying off into the trees like a ghost.

“Hey, Mr. Owl,” I said under my breath, a little self conscious after my talk with the bunny just a few strides back.

Then the reality of this situation hit me. I sent the bunny home to his family, and I sent the owl home hungry! Wow. That owl was, in all likelihood gonna be feasting on that little rabbit within seconds of my arrival.

Life is a delicate, somewhat precarious balance. One minute you are nibbling on some leaves, thinking about this and that. The next you are being fed upon.

This encounter gave me plenty to think about as a I plodded along for the next hour…

Appreciate the now. It might be the last now you get.

Bill Gross

Woot.

Jeff Galloway’s books emphasized the need to have another goal in place by the time your next race arrives.

I’ve taken that to heart, and it has me back on a training program soon after Richmond.

My goal, the 5th annual Bighorn Trail 100 Mile Endurance Run, June 15, 2007.

For those of you who followed my first Ultra in the Great Bear Wilderness of northwest Montana, you know I love the big scenery of the West, and am willing to pay for the experience in sweat, tears, and a few toe nails.

Here’s the race overview.

BIGHORN TRAIL 100 MILE ENDURANCE RUN 2007 RUNNER INFORMATION

The 5th annual Bighorn Trail 100 Mile Run is an arduous trail run that will take place in the Little Bighorn – Tongue River areas of the Bighorn National Forest. Starting time for the event will be 11 AM, Friday June 15, 2007, with a 34 hour (average pace of 2.94 mph) time limit to finish the event. Runners must be prepared for potential extreme temperature variation and weather conditions during the event with possible temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the day in the canyons and being well below freezing at night in the mountains. The course is wild and scenic traversing territory inhabited by elk, deer, moose, bears, cougars, mountain lions, and rattlesnakes with the potential for wildlife encounters with runners. Crew access points on parts of the course are limited and the runner should be prepared to participate with a fanny pack and other necessary equipment to ensure their ability to safely traverse difficult remote mountainous trails in potentially unpredictable weather conditions. The course is an out-and-back consisting of 76 miles of single track trail, 16 miles of rugged double track jeep trail, and 8 miles of gravel road with approximately 17,500 feet of climb and 18,000 feet of descent.

You know I’m looking forward to this one!

The training schedule I’ve set out is arduous, but conservative, increasing my distance in a manner consistent with two key goals:

1. Not getting injured
2. Being fully prepared for the race

I’ll be posting more about the training schedule soon, and I intend to start posting my full training log on the blog.

Wish me luck.

Bill Gross