West Texas

Not a lot to say about the trip to Big Bend this weekend besides it was freaking awesome!!  Big Bend has simply got to be one of the most beautiful places on earth and I'll leave it at that.  My cousin Justin and his brother in law Marc are a joy to be around and we already have a tentative date set for a return trip in Nov.  The original plan was to hike the Dodson trail (20 miles out and back) but after a terrible nights sleep and some soul searching I suggested that we do the long version of the South Rim instead (short is 12 miles, long is 15).  The South Rim hike is THE hike people come from all over the world to do and I was already feeling a little guilty about the three of us doing MY thing.  I knew they would be very happy with the change in plans once we actually got to the South Rim and they were.  I also knew when we go to the South Rim they would be as intrigued as I am about doing the 30 mile Outer Mountain Loop. With their map reading and navigation skills we were able to get a pretty good visual idea about where the Outer Mountain trail is as we looked down on the desert floor.
I have some close friends who've done amazing things, 2 who've done the Grand Slam of ultra running. Another has completed several races of the Grand Slam.  Multiple friends who've run the Boston Marathon.  A friend who's done several Ultraman's also!!  I suppose we all want to leave our mark or have a legacy of some kind.  For several years I've put a bit of pressure on myself to do the ONE big thing to raise myself up to my friends status as having done "the big one".  I do have a few races I can hang my hat on but not the one that says, "Jeff Farrell did__________!!"  2 Rocky Raccoon 100 mile finishes do not qualify as big by the way, although my 24:47 finish at the age of 48 is somewhat up there.  My 50 mile and 50k PR's are pretty darn good.  8:52 and 4:53 but not the one BIG thing.  I've decided I'm done chasing that "thing".
After this weekend it's looking like my personal legacy will be my time spent in west Texas, specifically Guadalupe Mountains and Big Bend and surrounding areas.  I have 2 very ready and willing cohorts in my cousin Justin and his brother in law Marc G.  Marc loves west Texas so much he's looking into purchasing several acres in Brewster Co. and converting a steel container into a liveable place to stay a few times a year.  This most recent trip to Big Bend was my 9th trip to either Big Bend or Guadalupe Mountains with a 10th trip in the works back to Big Bend in November.  So, the immediate goals are maintaining my running health, getting in the occasional 50 miler or 50k, continuing my 15yr+ average of 20 mile weeks in pursuit of running enough miles to get get around the globe (25,000) and a TRIP EVERY SIX MONTHS TO WEST TEXAS!!!