The Trans Iowa Master's Program: Update.

Mrs. Guitar Ted was on Facebook last night when I heard her exclaim, "Trans Iowa Master's Program?!!.......What?!!", and then she gave me "the look".

Ha! Well, after I explained it, she shook her head and went about her business. Not everyone will be interested or "get it", but surprisingly, the reaction so far has been surprising and swift. This reminds me of when Jeff Kerkove first posted about the idea of a cross state mountain bike ride on his blog. (That eventually became Trans Iowa.) Folks seemed jazzed about this new challenge, just like they were back then about Trans Iowa.

I was busy yesterday spiffing up a page with my ideas for this on it. First off, I have to tip my hat to my fellow gravelists up North at Operacion Muerto.  Some of them were inspired by coming to T.I.V2 and have since been cooking up ideas for gravel rides in Manitoba. It was their rules and guidlines that I took and bent to my own purposes. (Thanks!) Secondly, the name of this event was inspired by Darryl Pals, so he gets the credit for the tongue in cheek name and theme behind the idea. (Thanks!)

Okay, with all the banter that happened yesterday, two things cropped up that I wanted to address in today's post.

1. Trans Iowa V10 will be a separate event from the Trans Iowa Master's Challenge. T.I.V10 will be run on the 26th and 27th of April, 2014 in a loop format out of Grinnell, Iowa. The Trans Iowa Master's Program, (TIMP), will be open for competition from June 1st through August 31st, and will be a point to point event from West to East across Iowa. Two separate events. 
2. Social Media: The focus on self support for the TIMP brought up the pesky issue of social media and digital connectiveness that we all seem to thrive on these days. My hope for the TIMP is that those who accept The Challenge will unplug themselves long enough to get the ride in and not be tempted into virtual route reports, mental support via all sorts of connective pathways, or to have those interested be tempted to rendezvous with riders attempting The Challenge on the course somewhere. That plus some other things that digital tethers bring. 

Of course, I would expect a cell phone for emergencies, or that  folks would post things on their timelines for those following along at home, but it can be used as a way to "prop oneself up" mentally, and of course, for cheating yourself out of the harder way that is more rewarding. In the end, I would hope those that do take up The Challenge will do so with honesty and integrity and follow the spirit of the event. If they do not, I probably won't know, and have no way to prevent that. It won't hurt me, gain anyone anything, and will only be a festering sore on one's spirit for their remaining days. Those taking up The Challenge will have to decide for themselves what is best.

More details will come in the future. Stay tuned....