OK, so Horace Greeley and Jerry Rubin uttered these now famous words long before I did, but it still applies. It struck me this past weekend there there are two momentous “rights of passage” taking place in the local Bimbler community. One of our Bimblers, the archetype for all other Bimblers, is on the verge, while the other, one of our younger Bimblers, has stepped over the threshold.
No less a luminary than Mr. Bimble himself takes the giant step of departing for the Western States Endurance Run this week. While this is momentous in and of itself, it is but a smaller part of his larger quest. For those not immersed in Bimble culture, let me elaborate. Mr. Bimble has chosen this year, a year in which some have claimed he should acknowledge the fact that the years are advancing (he ain’t getting any younger) to prove his mettle, his vigor, and the fact that he still has PLENTY of youthful exuberance left. Mr. Bimble is attempting to become the YOUNGEST runner from the state of Connecticut to ever complete the Grand Slam of Ultra-running. The Grand Slam is perhaps the most prestigious series in the sport of trail running today. So few have the audacity to attempt it, and far fewer the fortitude to succeed. By the way, the fact that Mr. Bimble would also be the FIRST runner from the state of Connecticut to complete the Grand Slam seems almost secondary.
Our resident Bimble Food Guru, the Mayor, has experienced a milestone as well. He has achieved the “ripe” old age (ripeness is paramount for raw foodists) of thirty. Happy Birthday Mayor! SO, that means that the Mayor heads into his big upcoming racing event, The Vermont 100 (coincidentally, the 2nd race in the Grand Slam series), as a “grown up”. Well Mayor, I will try to speak for the majority of us Bimblers in saying “Welcome to our world” of age, and aches, and pains, and naps. But seriously, I hope the Mayor never loses his unconventional approach to, well, everything, and always questions the status quo. We collectively achieve strength through diversity.
Now, this all comes together in Vermont this July, when the not over the hill yet Mr. Bimble does battle with the not over the hill yet Mayor. We wish them both success. Just remember Mayor, Mr. Bimble is getting a 20 year head start!
Thanks Forrest!
A couple of comments about this year’s Slam, there are 2 CT based runners trying to do it this year and who said I wasn’r getting any younger? It’s all lies! 🙂
The WSER provides a ‘live’ webcast during the event, I’m not sure how frequent the updates are posted but it can be viewed from this link: http://webcast.ws100.com/
Also, when possible Guthrie will try to text updates to the Event Update page, but that all depends on whether there is cell coverage and that she stays awake!
Forrest,
I didn’t see you jump up and down when I did my Grand Slam when I turned 50 last year: 1/8 Marathon (Branford Road Race), 1/4 Marathon (Sea Leag Shuffle), 1/2 Marathon (Niantic) and yes baby, the full freakin Marathon! Certainly a first among half-centurion, curry loving, neo-americans? Aw shucks.
Dear Mr. Booman:
I seem to be needing to spend an inordinate amount of time apologizing to you lately. Last Friday night, I questioned your sanity, and now I have slighted your prodigious feats of athleticism (although I, along with others, did congratulate you after ING NYC, you were just in too foul a mood to notice). So, for the second time in less than a week, mea culpa.
Now, since I am always willing to share the blame (especially the blame being heaped upon me), I would like to suggest that this is all at least partially YOUR fault. You need to get more aggressive in your marketing, hire a new agent, get a new PR person, go for more sponsorship, do book signings, etc, etc, etc…
I will gladly take on the role of agent and PR person, in exchange for 50% of all your race winnings and 25% of all your endorsement fees.