After much anticipation, the 2021 Dirty 30 had finally arrived. Ben, Dave and I were allowed to roll over our 2020 entry’s, given it was cancelled due to COVID (which makes sense for a naturally socially distanced event full of young, fit people – but I digress). I was just glad to finally experience the legend that was this race, coupled with Race Director Megan Finnesy’s hard work and unrivaled attention to detail, it certainly did not disappoint. This was my 3rd ultra overall and by far the most difficult. Keep Reading…
Last Sunday morning Dylan Friday and I ripped off our skins and skied down to the base of Ajax Mountain, completing the Grand Traverse ski race from Crested Butte to Aspen two and a half years in the making. After being cancelled due to COVID only a couple weeks before race day last year, it was time for redemption for many racers this year and those who stuck with it were rewarded with one of the finest nights the event has seen in its 23-year history.
Dylan and I first signed up for this one in late-2019 and put together a pretty solid training regimen throughout the winter leading into March of 2020. After the race was cancelled we took the option of rolling over to 2021. Fast forward a year and we approached the race with cautious optimism the second time around. Though numerous races have gotten back onto their feet over the last 6 months, the Grand Traverse entails several aspects beyond COVID that need to fall into line to successfully pull off a race to Aspen. Keep reading…
After running the Sheep Mountain 50k in August, I knew wasn’t quite ready to wrap up my season just yet. Originally, Ben, Brian, and I had planed to run the Devil on the Divide 50k in September. But, well, you know the drill. That race got cancelled, just like all the rest. Or, should I say, almost all the rest. Keep Reading…
I thought about opening this trip report by adding up how much money I’ve spent on races this year, almost all of which have been cancelled. But then I realized I don’t actually want to know the answer to that question.
First it was the Dirty 30 in May (pretty early on in the pandemic, so understandable, I suppose). Then it was the San Juan Solstice in June (second year in a row for that guy, oof). Then it was the Devil on the Divide in September (seriously, F Clear Creek County for that one). Suffice it to say, COVID has not been easy on the wallet for those stubborn enough (i.e dumb enough) to try to do what is arguably the single most anti-COVID activity (health wise, at least) in existence: running races. Keep Reading….
