Makes it kind of special down in the core
And you’re dreaming of them Saturdays that came before
It’s found you stumbling
Stumbling onto the heart of Saturday night

— thomas alan waits

—

I’m shuffling around the little indoor track at SCC trying to think of a reason that the upcoming race won’t be a disaster. Nothing comes to mind.

It’s odd to start a race in the evening. Everything is out of whack. The morning ritual, the packing, the rhythm of the day. All you can do is wait.

Races are funny. I had talked myself out of the Aravaipa October thing yesterday. How can one company take over the world? I would do tomorrow’s race, and then that was that. No more Aravaipa. Except for Across the Years, of course. And, um, maybe Fat Ox. And possibly Crown King. But that was it, dammit. Boycott, baby, boycott!

And then today they posted that the October thing is open for registration, and they have created what may be The Coolest App in the History of Cool Apps so that the daily postings are on autopilot from Strava and you can plot your running streak and it is so fantastic that I couldn’t resist, and so I signed up.

I suppose boycotts are silly anyhow. We can’t change the world. The world doesn’t want to be changed. And it really IS an amazing app.

Oh, well. I am in the throes of my feud with Coach Ella anyhow. Might as well cheat on the side a bit.

I remember back when I was confident that I would be ready for this race. That was a long time ago. I guess we crank up the engine and see if this thing will shift out of second gear …

You gassed her up and you’re behind the wheel
With your arm around your sweet one in your Oldsmobile
Barreling down the boulevard
You’re looking for the heart of Saturday night