Friday-Saturday there was a relay "race" called the Ragnar that went right by my house. Why the quotes around 'race'. Let me take a step back and explain what a Ragnar is. It's a relay race either run on trails or roads (depending on location). The Snowmass location is considered a trail run and parts of all 3 loops each participant must run did involve trails. Much more involved roads and sidewalks and paved bike 'trails'. I believe there is a 32 hour time limit (Ragnarians run through the night with headlamps and a full moon). There are two types of teams--regular teams with 8 people --each person must complete each leg of the course typically handing off to a teammate after each leg. The ultra teams must run each leg twice. The three loops are:
Green/ Easy 4 miles 775 vertical gain
Yellow/ Intermediate 3.6 miles 845 vertical gain
Red/ Hard 6.7 miles 1526 vertical gain
For a grand total of 14.3 miles.
Why am I writing about the Ragnar? Why the quotes? It turns out the Red course goes right up Sinclair road. Right by my house. Right up that road I was struggling to run the whole way up when I first moved here. Good news for my ego. 90% of Ragnar 'runners' could not run the whole way up. Actually most didn't run at all. Nor race walk. Not even skip. I saw a heck of a lot of walking.
I am not much of an athlete. I did not train for the Ragnar like these competitors from all over the country. But I do 3/4 of the red leg 2-3 times a week. In 35 minutes. My reward is a nice fast workout with some decent views while trying not to get run over by a car. And maybe a quick meditation at the bench at the top.
I must call most Ragnarians out---walking isn't racing. Finishing isn't an accomplishment worthy of spending the entry fee. Instead why don't you come to Aspen and walk the whole government trail from Ditch to Aspen and finish off with a nice dinner someplace in town and then go home and sleep in a bed, not in a tent on the soccer field in Snowmass. You will have a much more beautiful hike, better food and a better night sleep. And no need to use a port-o-potty.
Why do the Ragnar?
Why do we (western society) need to make a competition out of everything(the most egregious example being yoga competition --let's compete to see who is more mindful and relaxed)? Was Ragnar invented so guys could wear lycra half tights, lycra shirts and camelbacks while walking up Brush Creek road? Do people really need an excuse to 'train' for something and then brag about their killer accomplishments. Is Ragnar really a business allowing some folks to make money off of many people's fear about going for a walk in the woods alone and not having anyone around later to validate their accomplishment?
We all know the answers. Much of the population needs validation. They demand a participation medal. They need bragging rights and they must have the best kit (seriously those lycra running half shorts have got to go). And while Aspen does have some braggarts and show-offs my very unscientific poll would suggest we have a much smaller percentage of those than the population at large. And given the number of serious athletes and outdoors folks we have in this little town I would say the ratio of ego to skill is very low.
So a suggestion--when you come visit our town leave the ego at home. Realize the middle school kid at the table next to you at Brunoletskis making their own kiddy pizza might have skinned up a 14er earlier that day, the guy sitting next to you at the bar was an Olympic paddler who did his own kinda triathlon earlier that day (ski, mountain bike, hockey game) and your waitress did a 25 mile trail run just to get the images of last nights ill thought out trip to Bootsy Bellows out of her head.
You too can do this. Take this great bit of Aspen to wherever you live. Go for a hike, run, walk, paddle, skateboard, meditation. Enjoy it. If you want some camaraderie ask a friend to join you. Competition is great, and I love it. But it needs to be kept in a very small box. If you want some competition beat your best. And when you want to compete train like hell and then leave it all on the field--puke, weeze, crawl up Sinclair road but don't bloody walk the whole thing. Enjoy living every day, not winning everyday. Ski what is fun, not what soothes your ego.
And ask for and listen to other's advice. I screwed up again. My daughter and I went for a walk up to lost man lake. From the upper trailhead. Without snowshoes. Woops. Well luge ing down on our butts was fast, fun, scary cold and wet.
Check out the reflection in her sunglasses---snowshoes would have been useful.
No comments:
Post a Comment