Bighorn 100
Just showered in Sheridan, Wyoming.
There isn't anywhere else i'd rather be this weekend.
3 of us left San Francisco some 24 hours ago taking 2 cars, 2 shuttles, 2 flights and one car rental landing in town just after 2am. Hello, big wide open spaces. Hello, drive-through liquor stores. Hello 75 mph highways.
Hello, red state.
There's something about being in a totally different place in America that I love. It challenges you to check your Bay Area smugness (see South Park season 10 episode 2 for explanation) and experience how other people live. Yes, of course, you're still going to ask for an egg white omelette without cheese, hold the toast, and I'll have water only please but you're still having breakfast in a cafe/cigar store that sells advertising on the ceiling.
We're here crewing and pacing for our friend, Dana, going after her 2nd 100 mile trail run belt buckle. People seemed surprised that I'd spend money and vacation time traveling just to see someone race but it's so much more than that. It's traveling to some place wild and beautiful, going with some of your favorite and fun people, watching an amazing person attempt something unfathomable to you and being a part of her quest.
It's adopting catch phrases that spring to life and spill off your tongue ad nauseum and planning outfits and themes and playlists and signs to both amuse yourself and keep your runner going strong. It's feeling so tired you laugh at nothing while thinking of your friend still running and running and running - as the sun sets and rises and sets again.
There isn't anywhere else i'd rather be this weekend.




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