When a Desk Jockey Flips...tires that is.

By Jameson

I honestly think that the idea of adventure is the thing that most excites the standard desk jockey athlete; that thing that propels you toward doing something far more than your standard day. The end result is fantastic, great water cooler talk to be sure, but it's the build-up that I have now while looking out at the big, stupid-crazy sage-covered hill behind work thinking 'hey, maybe, just maybe I should run that stupid thing tonight!?' that really drives me to find adventure.

Yesterday was a prime example of the adventure bug creeping into the workplace. Fresh off an epic 25k trail race the day before, I thought to myself 'now what?' and quickly found the solution in the parking lot of Anytime Fitness.

Tires. Worn-out, grimy, full of water and perfect for flipping end-over-end in the heat of the day, tires offer a great chance to feel like a beast. Ever tried flipping a 200-pound tire? I hadn't either until two weeks ago when I saw those ugly hulks steaming on the pavement. One flip and I was addicted.

For the archery addict striving to reach the mountain top there can be no better activity than flipping tractor tires. Strenuous? You bet, but you feel like a million bucks afterwards! This is just one of the ridiculous/obscene things I have incorporated into my archery season training, plus it's just fun throwing heavy things around! For more information on tire-flipping check out YouTube and learn proper form first.

Adventure Blog--Post Beacon Rock 25k race entry

By Jameson 

The ringing of the cowbell only furthered the feeling of accomplishment, acting as a shot pushing my worn out body into a newfound reserve to finish strong after 15.6 miles of brutal hills and valleys.

            A combination of the smiling faces of aid station volunteers and the never-ending motivation from fellow runners is the glue that holds you together as miles threaten to break down your body.

            The Beacon Rock 25k trail race offered this desk jockey athlete the perfect venue to discover the breaking point and paved the way for a new mantra: leave nothing on the table.

            This mantra was born on a jagged switchback trail where, calves screaming and heart pumping, the basalt cliffs and rolling Columbia basin views threatened to pull me off the trail with their beauty, I was hit by the simple philosophy.

            For fellow desk jockey athletes there is no greater reward than reaching a hard-earned goal and carrying that feeling home like a trophy. My true trophy 

            So I sit, empty can of salsa con queso still rolling on the floorboard, quad shot Americano's occupying the cup holder and Yellow Ledbetter blaring on the radio, setting the tone for yet another successful adventure.

            Finishing time: 2 hours 54 min., Scotty’s finishing time: 3hours 13minutes. 

The Adventure Journal...desk jockeys guide to aimless wandering

The Beacon Rock Challenge

A mixture of fine deluxe mixed nuts, empty salsa con queso rolling on the floorboard and a milk container-turned-spittoon and a solid left arm tan, mark our travels as rolling hills of golden grass and asphalt lead us to the starting line of the Beacon Rock 25 and 50K trail race. 

"Are you nuts?" was how the conversation about the race began, as Scotty, a hardworking desk jockey/casual runner, projected his concerns about yet another overzealous idea by myself. My sole defense was that adventure is the goal for the summer, as I work the desk as an intern with the Grant County PUD. One month of nudging finally broke Scotty’s resolve and he committed to the event, the Beacon Rock 25k near the Bonneville Dam in southern Washington.

"Training" had turned from that thing you did so you could justify the beer you drank afterward, to that thing where sweat was a currency deposited into a bank of preparation. I'm not saying that beer is not a vital aspect of proper training, as the photos show, stopping at an awesome freezing cold swimming hole requires carbo-loading with beer!

Distance has never been a factor for us as runners because distance has never factored into the equation. Maintaining a high standard of healthiness has always offered Scotty and I the ability to hunt in far-off places with relative ease, even as Scotty nursed a long-lasting achilles tendon issue. The prospect of pushing our physical abilities finally presented itself in the Beacon Rock race and, because we aren't too bright, the training mileage ramped-up immediately to near-dangerous levels.

So here we sit, stale coffee sloshing in the cup holders, Bush’s' "Glistering" being blared through the speakers as a leaky cooler threatens the back seats upholstery and a looming question, "did we train enough?"