I think we all can agree that the current state of the world is not what we had thought it would be. Sitting in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic that has closed schools, businesses, and daily life as many of us know it.
I for one, have had to stop working all of my jobs since they are all based on interfacing with people. All the gyms are closed and we are left to workout in our homes or getting out for exercise in nature (which is always a good thing, in my opinion.) Restaurants are closed completely or on a skeleton staff allowing for carry out only. I have very much enjoyed working as a server at two local restaurants. It’s fun, fast paced, and I get to talk to so many people.
Generally all events are cancelled or postponed, you must maintain six feet away from people you don’t live with and you aren’t allowed to be in groups any larger than 10 people total.
That leads me to the state of trail running and racing. The snow has melted and we as runners were anxiously awaiting the start of the spring racing season. But one by one the spring races have been cancelled. I had two big races on my schedule this year. Western States 100 in June and Superior 100 in September.
Since getting word in December that I had gotten lucky in the Western States lottery I had been putting in the work. The work in training - lifting weights, hill repeats, long runs. No excuses. This was a race of a lifetime, and I was going to be prepared. I put in the work at my jobs, picking up shifts, putting money away for the time away from work this summer. I’d get up on Saturday morning run for 3+ hours, go home and eat, soak in the tub, and head to the restaurant and put in another 6-8 hours on my feet. My watch was logging 25+ mile days most Saturdays. Week after week.
Two weeks ago it all came to a screeching halt. I worked my last Saturday shift, and by that Monday the restaurants were closing for two weeks. That was just the start. Fast forward those two weeks and we are now on a strict Stay at Home protocol. The restaurant and gym are closed until May 1 at the earliest.
I still had my training though. They hadn’t cancelled Western States. It was the one piece of normalcy that I could hold on to. It was what was motivating me when it seemed that everything else was falling apart.
Until yesterday. The email arrived. Western States is cancelled. We have an entry into the 2021 event however.
Now I’m the first one to say that I sign up for these long events because I love the training. I really do. I love getting out into the woods, running, moving, exploring. I love the community of people who also do these events. I so grateful for everything the sport has given me.
But golly, I am disappointed. Another year out seems like an eternity. I was so excited to be able to participate in Western States after 5 years of putting into the lottery. And on the opposite side of that emotion is disappointment. Disappointment that I am unable to make that trip to Squaw this year.
It’s kind of like this - the training is a cake & the race is the frosting on the cake. And while I REALLY like frosting, I don’t really want to eat it without the cake. And while I really like cake, I much prefer it with a healthy layer of frosting. So dang it, I want my cake & frosting, too!
And yes, there are much bigger problems in the world. SO many bigger problems. But I’m going to take a minute to be sad, because I was so excited and I had been working so hard. And after I’m done being sad, I’ll lace up my shoes, go play in the mud, clear my head & focus on the future. Because as my Grandma Bunday taught me, “This too shall pass.” And it will. And we’ll figure it out. One day at a time. And we’ll come together as a community stronger than before.
So if you made it this far, thank you. Thank you for listening. And if you are sad, it’s ok. We’ll process it, and figure it out. Because sometimes change IS hard.