Wednesday, October 24, 2007

And so it begins

Date: Oct. 23
Mileage: 23.2
October mileage: 500.2
Temperature upon departure: 39
Rainfall: 0.15"

Earlier this afternoon, probably shortly after reading my Iditarod Invitational announcement, a friend e-mailed me a link to a blog entry, posted today. The title of her e-mail was, "So is this what it's like?"

And the answer, I sincerely hope, is "Yes, that's what it's like."

Then this evening, rather randomly, I received another e-mail from the author of that blog entry, a gesture of support from a person who actually knows what it's like:

"I'm a bit envious of your position — learning how to train and prepare for that race is also a great way to learn about life. It’s an ongoing process that I don’t ever seem to be able to get enough of, and each year as I find myself approaching Knik I’m forced to answer a lot of scary questions about where I've been, what I've done, and what I’m about to do. Not just with the race, but with my life."

To the stranger who understands: Thank you.

6 comments:

  1. Aw, we understand down here in Florida. Sometimes the AC is cranked down so dang cold in the Quickie Mart our poor bare feet damn near freeze off before we can pay for our yoo-hoo!

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  2. Way cool the way the universe aligns itself at times.

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  3. So, I have to say that it took me quite a while to determine how to construct this comment.

    It's going to take a great deal of effort to avoid using a smiley face emoticon along the way...considering that I'm addicted to the things.

    ANYWAY, I'm commenting here not because I have anything in common with your endurance biking or Alaska, (although I was stationed in Adak for a year while I was in the Navy), but because I'm looking for someone in Alaska to visit my blog. Yep, that's it.

    I've been fortunate enough to have folks from nearly all 50 states to visit...er, well, I guess since I'm eleven short I should say a lot of the states.

    {Here's a link to the post listing the states I'm missin'...if you're curious at ALL: "http://randomstatements.blogspot.com/2007/10/what-state-im-in.html"}

    SO, if you're willing and don't think that I'm pullin' your leg, please click through my profile and drop by for a minute or so!

    Thanks!

    :) {...sorry, couldn't help it!}

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  4. Hello Jill,

    Just wondering if you might like to add some Alaska prespective to a photo project?

    It's a picture an hour for 12 hours on one decided day, from all over the place.

    Info can be found at: http://jeromes-bikes.blogspot.com/2007/10/i-have-idea.html and the blog is: http://12hoursinphotos.blogspot.com/

    If you are interested, email me and I can make you a contributor.

    Cheers.

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  5. Girl, if anyone has the "right stuff" to train for and race this event, it's you. You've probably got more support than you know. Sure...some of the supporters secretly think you're insane, but they're still supportive!

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  6. A good Spanish catalog for adventure. Perhaps you see something interesting.

    http://www.desnivel.com/especialmaterial/

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Feedback is always appreciated!