The Western States training weekend was much more then I expected.  We started out by taking a bus to the Robinson Flat aid station which is 29.7 miles into the run.  We would then run the remainder of the course over the next three days.  The first day would prove to be the toughest.  This 31 mile section is what has been called "the meat of the course".  From Robinson Flat we would cover these aid stations.  Miller's Defeat 34.4  Dusty Corners 38.0  Last Chance  43.3  Devil's Thumb 47.8  El Dorado 52.9  Michigan Bluff 55.7  Bath Road 60.6  and Forest Hill 62.0.  Only 4 of these aid stations where here for training.  To start out on this section we had some gentle down hill switchbacks and some great forest running.  I felt good but always worry too much.  It was fun to listen to Gordy talk for a while about some legal history  on the preservation of this famous trail.  We also passed more then one old mining apparatus.  We  run right through the heart of gold country you know. Things were going good, not great but good until I got to the first drop into the canyons.  I knew that the up hill would be hard but I was not prepared for the tricky down hill sections.  These trails are meaner then I could have ever imagined.  George seemed to think this was funny, I was not laughing! I had to be careful not to look down.  Here is a runner checking how far there was to go before reaching the bottom. Be afraid,  be very very afaid!  Man that is a long way down!!!