I'll be home for Christmas...

I guess "home" is relative, but for me just having moved to Bend, Oregon - Seattle is still called home; it feels like I have two homes really. I'm leaving this afternoon after a mad rush this week of settling in to my new place to spend the holidays with family and friends. I'm looking forward to the extended visit, downtime with Dagan, making jam with Ma, visiting friends and picking back up with the running! It is about time!

After about 2 years of training and racing I decided to take a full month off. After Quad Dipsea I called it quits till the end of the year... well I might cut it a little shorter than the end of the year by running on Christmas eve. The time off has been good and with all of the moving and adjusting it has been good to have that extra time.

That said, I have a new residence and this one is till May 1. I have plenty of room, so come visit. Krissy's camp is ready for visitors. From listening to the locals the snow is getting good and the skies are blue, it is a good place to visit (and live :) ).

Happy Solstice and Happy Holidays!

New Race back East

Following is an announcement (which you may have seen if you are on the Ultralist) for a new race that Clark Zealand is pulling together. I was back for Mt. Masochist and saw the profile and map... I'm intrigued and thinking about heading out for the inaugural race this October. Give it a look see!

Post from Clark:
Thank you to all who have inquired about Virginia’s newest 100 miler. Since my last email I have been inundated with questions about the details of the GRINDSTONE 100. Those who came to the MMTR saw a really impressive (or scary) elevation profile…along with the other Beast Series events. BTW, Beast Series event #2, Terrapin Mtn (March 29), is now both a full and ½ marathon…and the application will be ready soon…

So, in a collective response here are some facts about Grindstone:

Grindstone 100 (race #4 in the Beast Series); an advanced-level 100 miler with qualifications and trail work requirements
Date: October 3-5, 2008
Start/Finish: Camp Shenandoah, Boy Scouts of America Camp near Swoope, VA
Start time: Friday, October 3 at 6pm.
Overall Cutoff Time: October 5 at 8am (38 hours)
Aid Stations: 14 or 15 fully stocked aid stations including 1 or 2 medical stations
Course: One complete loop with an out & back from the Start/Finish on a combination of single track and USFS road and following, among others, the North Mtn Trail, Shenandoah Mtn Trail, & Wild Oak National Recreation Trail.
Course Area: George Washington National Forest, North River Ranger District & Virginia Dept. of Game & Inland Fisheries, Little North Mtn Wildlife Management Area.
Areas of interest on course: Elliott Knob, Jerkemtight Road, Southern Traverse, Confederate Breastworks, Mtn House, Camp Todd, Grindstone Mtn, & Chimney Hollow
Elevation change: 26,004 gain & 26,004 loss
High Point: Elliot Knob, 4463 feet (which you visit twice!)
Pre/post race activities: There will be a pre-race lunch with briefing and a post-race breakfast with awards. The camp has a large dining hall, fireplace lounge, as well as camping, swimming, & campfire areas.
Awards: Finisher awards including the traditional but really cool Grindstone Belt Buckle, special awards to top finishers and age groups and, of course, best blood.
Entry fee: $200 and increasing upon subsequent dates…
Application available date: April Fools’ Day!

Those with National Geographic Map #791 (Staunton, Shenandoah Mtn) should be able to follow the course without too much difficulty. If you’re interested in more details on the course itself, please contact me off-list at czealand@eco-xsports.com

Here’s a link to some photos on the course…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8977494@N08/sets/72157601901113550/

Please be patient while the website (www.eco-xsports.com) is completed in order to provide more information.