Arizona bound

A minor foot injury kept me from lining up for the AZT300 start last week, and while I was happy to have not experienced the snowy, mucky early miles through the Canelo Hills, I was disappointed to not be racing in Arizona again this spring. But injuries heal and envy grows (especially after watching Jefe demolish the 300 course record on 1.5 hours of sleep), and I now have a one-way ticket to Tucson for Friday. By ~5am Saturday morning, I'll be at the Mexican border with some generous help from Scott ready to tackle his 750-mile route north to Utah. Friends of mine will be conveniently camping at a slot canyon only a few miles from the end of the route at the Utah border, so I've got an ambitious deadline to meet my ride home. I don't know if it's possible, and I know that everything will have to go smoothly to make it happen. I'll have to cover 100+ miles per day on average, which is a tall order on the AZT, especially when there's a 21-mile hike across the Grand Canyon involved. But what better motivation - finish fast and you have food, water, and a ride waiting near the finish; finish more slowly, and you're stuck in the middle of nowhere with nothing but whatever you carried.

Well, that's that. 3.5 days until the time trial begins...

You'll probably be able to follow along at here and here.

Thanks to Eric for some phenomenal new Epic Designs bags, the guys at Pearl Izumi for continuing to help me out with clothing and footwear, and Michelin for the new fast-rolling 29er tires.

5 miles, 1800' up, 1800' down, and still smiling. Test successful, and under a full moon to boot!