Twenty-four years of March 10ths, and the pattern's pretty clear... this date has it out for me.
Start with the derailleur mutiny of 2002, forcing an impromptu single-speed ride home. Two years later, job uncertainty arrived via email. Then 2006's tech triumph with Travelers Advantage launching, followed by 2008's glorious 78-mile Lolo Pass push in the first jacket-free ride since Thanksgiving.
By 2009, I was evangelizing Action Wipes for 24-hour racing (priorities, right?). 2010 brought roadside refuge from nausea and life's general mess. 2011 introduced Dipper and Borah, my deer companions during interval training, while 2012's backroads Jenga quest proved the journey matters more than Target's toy aisle.
Then came 2014's sleep-deprived hallucinations during the Fat Pursuit, poppy seed muffins saving me at mile 100. Quick stops at Little Bear Cabin and Yellowstone explorations in 2015, followed by 2016's snowy Wednesday night ride. 2017 taught me Montana doesn't do spring, just sudden summer. And 2024's flat tire under the Big Dipper reminded me when to call for help.
March 10th keeps delivering mechanical failures, physical limits, and unexpected detours. But looking back, those disruptions led somewhere worth going. The universe has a sense of humor... I'm just along for the ride.