I am so pumped!  After 80+ hours of arduous high humidity runs across the North Carolina summer, I am finally in Buena Vista, Colorado getting ready to start running in the 2010 Gore-Tex Transrockies Run.  

Through the charity of my hugely encouraging family, I was able to come out early and spend a few days in Breckenridge acclimating to the altitude (what an amazing place - I may have to spend all my summers there - an endurance lifestyle paradise).

This morning I connected with Kelly Blake from OutsidePR (they handle all the PR for the event) and she, myself, Stan and Caitlin (both from the Bay Area) drove up from Denver across the gorgeous landscape to Buena Vista.  On the three hour drive we all were able to get a solid background on each other - though I am looking forward to learning more about each of them - anyone who signs up for an event like this, probably has something in common with some part of the rest of us.  

Rolling into town, the whole scene seemed to be buzzing around the community of runners the event has brought here. 

SWAG

I had heard great things about how they treat participants at this event, but was truly shocked to see what was in the race bag when I picked up my credentials.  Race Bag isn’t really a fair term - more like swag bag.  There was over $300 worth of gear from Timex, Salomon, Gore-Tex, Headsweats, Nathan, Zorrel, GU and others.  Even a set of portable shoe warmers from PeetDryer (didn’t even know they made those).  All in a bag big enough to carry, well, enough gear to camp for five nights.  And all gear I can use...like immediately. Seriously, well done! 

And I mention the sponsors here because they not only provide samples of their products to a truly captivated audience, but they all are thoroughly engaged in the event.  Several teams from each sponsor will participate in the run, hundreds of volunteers will be staffed from the teams of sponsors who are out here all week supporting the runners.   I’ve honestly never seen anything like it but it is, in my opinion, the way to go as a sponsor.  Engaging with those they support every day during the event. And they seemed so psyched to be here. 

KICK-OFF

The pre-race dinner was excellent - they even had an entire separate spread for vegetarians (so the carnivores could avoid the mistake of taking in too much...well...non-meat).  

Being a race promoter, I loved how Aaron (TransRockies Race Director) leverages his team and enabling partners to cover all the essentials.  The audience of over 300 runners was captivated and you could feel the energy bubble up as we all recognized that we were finally getting ready to run.  It was also interesting to see how many people were here for the first time.  More than half and from over 30 different countries.  It felt great to recognize the presence of people from so many places and, I presume, perspectives.

Getting to bed now (8:40pm).  Breakfast is at 6:30 and we run at 9.  Just a 20 miler...with 3,000 feet of climbing.  Should be fun.

PS - As we walked toward the car, our resident elite runner (Caitlin) reminded me that this first day was pretty flat.  Here is a photo of where we were standing when she *reminded* me.  We will be going over that flat part it in the first seven miles tomorrow.

/// You can see the actual course animation on my YouTube channel -

http://www.youtube.com/user/endurancesteve  it's pretty cool!