I am not sure what to write about. I am sick and tired of dealing with this stupid disease that I am sure I don't want to even give it the power of words today. So I won't. A tale instead.
I used to live in Leadville, Co. Elevation: 10,130 ft. above sea level. That's right, 10,000 feet above sea level. Anyhow, every summer they have a cross country race. The race course is on a 4x4 trail that goes up over Mosquito Pass elevation: 16,000 feet above sea level. So every summer people from all over the US and some other countries converge on this town of about 6,000 people to try to run over a mountain. They camp in the town park and the high school football field a couple days before the race to try to acclimate.
Meanwhile, at the local bar, there is a huge whiteboard hung up with blank squares that will be filled in with the runner’s numbers. At this establishment, you can purchase a square or two for $10.00 each. Before the race numbers are drawn and assigned randomly to the squares on the board in the bar. The biggest payoff comes with the number of the person who passes out first. There are other prizes also. The first puking, the most puking, the first hospitalized. And of course the winner. All the locals volunteer to line the course and keep track of these important statistics. Along with handing out the little cups of water, they have oxygen tanks and various 4x4 pickups with stretchers in the beds.
So if someone ever talks you into running a race up over Mosquito Pass, don't be surprised at how many of the locals show up to talk to you and all the others camped out before the race. Chances are someone has pulled your number and is sizing up their chances of you passing out, puking, or even winning.
’m not sure how this race got started, but I am almost sure that it was an idea generated in the bar that the white board hangs in.
I used to live in Leadville, Co. Elevation: 10,130 ft. above sea level. That's right, 10,000 feet above sea level. Anyhow, every summer they have a cross country race. The race course is on a 4x4 trail that goes up over Mosquito Pass elevation: 16,000 feet above sea level. So every summer people from all over the US and some other countries converge on this town of about 6,000 people to try to run over a mountain. They camp in the town park and the high school football field a couple days before the race to try to acclimate.
Meanwhile, at the local bar, there is a huge whiteboard hung up with blank squares that will be filled in with the runner’s numbers. At this establishment, you can purchase a square or two for $10.00 each. Before the race numbers are drawn and assigned randomly to the squares on the board in the bar. The biggest payoff comes with the number of the person who passes out first. There are other prizes also. The first puking, the most puking, the first hospitalized. And of course the winner. All the locals volunteer to line the course and keep track of these important statistics. Along with handing out the little cups of water, they have oxygen tanks and various 4x4 pickups with stretchers in the beds.
So if someone ever talks you into running a race up over Mosquito Pass, don't be surprised at how many of the locals show up to talk to you and all the others camped out before the race. Chances are someone has pulled your number and is sizing up their chances of you passing out, puking, or even winning.
’m not sure how this race got started, but I am almost sure that it was an idea generated in the bar that the white board hangs in.
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