Hubris In Motion

One online definition of hubris: Excessive pride displayed by a character, at times taking the form of a boastful challenge to the gods or other higher powers--often resulting in harsh punishment.


It seems apt.  Two weeks from tomorrow I fly to Anchorage for the Susitna 100.  I haven't been idle these past months, but I've hardly been training (i.e. running) like I was planning a hundred mile race.  Of course, my last hundred mile finish wasn't exactly the culmination of much training, and this might be further setting the stage for a spectacular fall of Greek-tragedy proportions (in the context of me doing something obscure that no one cares about, so imagine a teeny tiny imperceptible Greek tragedy in which I fall after my boastful challenge to the Gods of Really Cold and Very Far).

I think in no small part I'm most excited by the unknown of whether I will be able to do this.  Normally I have at least some sense of what to expect but in this case, I've still never spent more than 8 hours out in the wintery cold at a time and have never spent a night trudging through snow in the cold darkness.  I've never even been to Alaska.  My preparedness and the seriousness of this adventure are inversely proportional.  (Don't worry though my new -40 bag, which will be with me on my sled, will keep me warm in any conditions and Dave is loaning me his SPOT tracker -- and I don't intend to endanger myself).

Because I am a complete and unabashed geek, I'm already wondering what my race report will look like.  There's a good chance it will involve the word hubris.  Regardless, I'm excited for the adventure and have the sense that I will be glad I went no matter what happens (within reason of course).  This attitude is hubris as well no doubt... yikes.  The question I should be asking I suppose is whether I'm ready for my punishment.