Well I always knew I was the runt of this litter. Last weekend Don does a 9-mile run in the blast-furnace of New Mexico with 4,000 feet of elly gain and JT did some kind of crazoid run in Rock Springs, Wyoming which I can’t find any info on because I don’t think they have internet service in that little whistle-stop. While they were busting butts I was doing a measly walk up South Arapahoe Peak in the Indian Peaks Wilderness, a modest 10-mile (roundtrip) hike with 3,300 feet of gain, topping out around 13,343.

Given the way my lungs were often expanding and contracting at an alarming and laborious rate, I’m even more pumped for the Ascent! Ran Ruxton and up the trail a bit on Tuesday the 7th, reaffirming that this is the meanest start to any run I have ever done. In honor of the “world’s fastest human,” Usain Bolt, who recently retained his title, I’ve decided to change my name just for the Ascent. If you’re cheering runners along the trail, I’ll be the last of the Pikes Peak Triple Crown Runners, clad in the gold singlet with purple print. Please, if you will, shout out for “Insane Dolt.” After the run I’ll be searching for a simple symbol, a la Prince, so I can become “the runner formerly known as Beagle.” Maybe it’ll be a simple cross they can plant on the summit after I expire at the finish line. Actually some excitement is starting to build with the Ascent rapidly approaching. So before it gets any later let me once again thank the sponsors of the Triple Crown Runners: Tim Bergsten of pikespeaksports.us, Ron Ilgin of the Pikes Peak Marathon and Mike Mazzola of Mountain Equipment Recyclers. Their support and encouragement has made this entire experience a whole lot of fun, as it should be. Right? Can I start tapering now?