I’m trying to finalize arrangements for each of my slam races. Air tickets, where needed, have been booked although some are on Frontier Airlines who last week filed for chapter 11, so fingers crossed they will still be operating through the summer! Hotel bookings at the point to point races involve making a couple of reservations, but my conundrum is what to do on the Saturday night during the race? I should be out the entire night, but once finished, I’ll want nothing more than a place to lay down. As most hotels will not allow check in until the early afternoon, I have the prospect of hanging around tired, dirty (and in all probability very smelly!) and in desperate need of sleep (therefore it’s also likely I’ll be grump too). So I’m dwelling on whether to buy the extra night knowing that while I’m romping through the night at the end there will be a nice comfy bed (bought and paid for) with crisp clean sheets waiting. Thoughts of that at last year’s Bear 100 drove me nuts during the dark hours (literal and metaphoric) when my motivation was at a low point. If I was just doing one race this year it wouldn’t really be an issue but with four, the costs mount up.

Either way, I’m going to be one dirty girl when the going gets dusty. Or at least that is what I plan wearing; dirty girl gaiters. I’ve heard so many good comments about their effectiveness at keeping irritating dirt out of your shoes, that I’m going to give them a go.