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May 7, 2004
A Journey Back in Time ... Way Back!

TREK's 2 Vertically challenged teammates, Tom Licciardello and Dave McGillivray, find the perfect place to shop.. See more photos in our gallery

Dinosaur Colorado  - Today we completed our first full week of running across the country.  For many of us it would mark the first time in a long time (if ever) that we would exceed running 100 miles in a week.  Even with our ?short? first day we would cover 102 miles.  Not bad for a bunch of old guys!  Amazingly, we have been injury free, though muscles may be a bit sore and tendons are stretched a bit tight.  Our massage therapist, Zo? Alexi has been working hard to keep us road worthy.

Under clear and sunny skies the Whiners (group 1) began their 70 miles with a temperature reading of 31˚.  Considering the past few days, it was a shocking change.  Teammate, Josh Nemzer started his run wearing a Nike high tech long sleeve shirt.  Josh is known for his ability to withstand the chill, so the cool temperature was a welcome relief for him.  As the day wore on and the sun rose higher in the sky, the temperatures soared back through the 80?s right into the 90?s.  Josh scored the record for the largest temperature swing in one day - 62˚!

In the meantime, the ?Whiners? (group 2) drove ahead 70 miles to the start of their half of the assignment.  By the time they got to their start, there was no chance to enjoy the cool early morning temperatures.  The mercury quickly climbed from the mid-60?s to our familiar 80-90˚ range.  We must be acclimating ourselves to the heat and the hills because none of the team seemed adversely affected.

Today?s terrain ranged from the mundane as we passed through towns to startlingly beautiful mesas and red clay ranges completely devoid of signs of civilization.  These rugged hills seemed plucked from a Zane Gray novel of the Wild West.  It wasn?t difficult to imagine times past when cowboys (the real ones) road the paths that have now become highways where lumbering eighteen wheelers blow the hats off of unsuspecting runners.  As we ran, cowboy movies from childhood seemed to be playing before us in real time.  Were those Indians we saw on the ridge ahead?  OK, maybe the heat has affected us just a bit.

At the end of the day?s journey, we found ourselves in Dinosaur, Colorado ? so named because many dinosaur bones have been found in the region.  Not only have the Cowboys and Indians preceded us, but dinosaurs roamed these parts millions of years before.  A tough act for TREK USA to follow, but could Tyrannosaurus Rex hold a 9 minute pace for 140 miles?

Tomorrow we make our way to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and we are excited about reaching this beautiful ski resort. At the end of the day we will have earned a day off from running on Sunday!  Bill Lapsley is talking about taking the time to run a marathon being held near there (clearly he has been in the sun too long), and Mike B., Hap, Mike T. and Tom are hoping the slopes are still open. More likely, we?ll all take some time to rest, catch up with emails, postcards, and calling the wonderful mothers in our lives to wish them the best.  We wish you the best as well, for it has been your support and encouragement that has kept us going.