Salida, Two Days Away

Leaving for Salida tomorrow. Picking up Chad in Loveland around noon from where we'll make the three-hour trip to Chaffee County. We're planning on camping on the course not far from the start, and will probably do a recon drive through as much of the course as possible once we get there.

According to a recent email from the race diretcor, the course looks to be clear of snow and ice, although the weather forecast is calling for snow and rain for much of the day tomorrow, so we'll see what we end up with. The course looks to be a steady 2,000 foot climb through the first eight miles or so, with rolling hills to the 12-mile turn around back to the jeep-track turn-off, from where the course drops and returns to Salida. The worst underfoot conditions, assuming no snow, are on this section with some pretty loose and steep sections, according to Jeff O who has run the course a number of times.

I'm hoping last year's winner, Ryan Burch, will be there as we're pretty equally matched pace-wise. However, with no published entrant list, there is no way of knowing who'll be there, so the only goal is to get under 3:30 and to get a good read on my current level of fitness. Good luck to anyone reading who's going to be racing.

Also, good luck to all Way Too Cool runners racing this weekend. This one is shaping up to be an all out sprint. When you've got the likes of Scott Jaime hoping for a top ten finish, you know it's going to be fast.