Your first Imogene Pass run? First off… congrats! You are now doomed to repeat this pilgrimage year after year. This race grows on you. You will swear never to do it again as you race and will be plotting your training strategy for the following year as you lie in the grass 10 minutes after you finish.
I have done this race 6 times, heading to my 7th this year and am pretty psyched. I have learned a few things and will pass them along.

• If you stay in Ouray, you get hot springs and beer at Ourayle House after the race to soothe the pain.
• Try to do negative splits. If you go out hard, you will go a lot slower than you would if you rally an hour in. Get slowly faster (effort-wise) and you will finish with a lot of power.
• There is a false summit. Don’t be crestfallen when you look up and see the race going on well above where you thought you though you were about to top out.
• Take the race requirements seriously. You may really need the hat, gloves and jacket.
• Be careful on the switchbacks off the summit. It is wicked sketchy. A lot of blood gets spilled here.
• Summit Gummi Worms. Mmmmmmmm.
• When you can see Telluride, you still have a long way to go.
• You will be in the pain cave for a long time on the way down. Prepare yourself mentally for the extended torture. It is downhill and will crush you mentally unless you can continue to push through the pain.
• Take a lot of fluids, more than usual. I have often wished that I wasn’t cramping on the last 5 miles and all because I failed to drink enough. Endurolytes are wonderful!
• Take time to look around. Not only are you in a beautiful place, but you are surrounded by a huge crowd of like minded athletes and amazing volunteers that are all loving everything that you are experiencing. Coloradans really know how to party. Altitude is also a state of mind.
• The soup at the end is the BEST soup you have ever had. Ever.

Enjoy and see all y’all at the finish line!

As if in perfect coordination with the new snowfall in the mountains this morning, priming the potential for an epic run-off for river season, Avery Brewing announced recently that it will join Colorado breweries Oskar Blues, New Belgium, Ska Brewing, Breckenridge and Upslope Brewing in canning their creations. Boulder Brewing’s Hazed and Infused is slated to hit the stores later on this month as well.

Gone are the days of suffering in the Heineken, Budweiser, Coors, Tecate doldrums while quenching sun induced thirst on the river. For those of you uninitiated into the world of recreational rafting, canned beer is as important as any other critical piece of gear on a boat. What else would fuel a day long expedition into the unknown with good friends and good food? Who else would carry a kayaker’s required ration of barley pop? Given the shrinking size of play boats these days, the role of the raft is even more important in maintaining harmony on the river. Glass is banned on rivers by anyone with half a brain, leaving cans the only other option. I, for one, look forward to reaching into my cooler and pulling out an Avery that, according to BrewNews.org http://beernews.org/2010/05/the-craft-beer-can-revolution/, is rumored to be a hoppy pilsner. A perfect complement to a sandy beach rest stop on a hot July day.

Mmmmmmmmmm…… beer!

Glenwood Springs Brewery

• One of my all time beer heroes is the Vapor Cave IP, one of the standards that have made the brewery famous. Hoppy nose and hoppy dry finish. Not over board, like heavy IPAs can be… great with strongflavored foods.
• Available to the brewery only via growler.

Ska Brewing, Durango CO

• Beer to tune skis by. Modus Hoperandi Indian Pale Ale has the canned sensibility to make you conservative with your wax, but the hop strength to make you power through your edges. Not as huge a beer as Oskar’s legendary Dale’s Pale Ale. I like its hoppy balance and bright nose. Ska is truly a world class brewery.
• Available locally, canned like all river worthy beer should be…

Ourayle House

• Ouray, Colorado’s little bit of heaven after running, backcountry skiing or ice climbing. The Mr.Grumpy Pants Brewing Company, a one man- two dog operation, lays out a variety of unique craft beer that are always changing, usually 4 or 5 to choose from. I recommend sampling everything… a couple times.
• Bring your dart arm, questions about good places to go play the next day and cash, no credit cardsaccepted.
• Available from the brewery only via growler (or gallon water jug… I saw one of those filled up)