Ear to the ground:

“I used to want to be Don Draper. Now, I just want to punch him.”
– “Mad Men” fan discussing his dismay thus far over the show’s final season

Self starters

Like running races but hate shivering at a crowded start line in the wee hours of the morning? Or maybe you’d like to alter the course to suit your preferences or sneak in a mid-race nap?

Well, the Mountain Challenge Series just may be your ticket. A fundraiser for the Silverton-based Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies, the new race series has no start or finish lines, no aid stations and no early morning wake-up calls. That’s because it’s a virtual race series.

But before you envision glazy-eyed geeks logging make-believe miles on a screen, this series is very much a literal race, with real miles logged. The brainchild of the Center’s Data Manager Kimberly Buck, an avid trail runner who lives in Silverton, the series challenges participants to run or walk either 50 or 100 miles in a specific time frame, ranging from a brisk 24 hours to a more leisurely 10 days.

There will be three races: June 13, June 27 or July 4. But instead of showing up bleary-eyed on race morning, racers simply log in using a fitness-tracking app or small pedometer device (Fitbit, Jawbone, Withings or Moves) and hit the trail. Competitors are required to sync up their results once a day to MatchUp.io, which will display racer’s standings and stats in real time.

“I hope folks will find the Mountain Challenge Series to be fun and worthwhile. I know it will be motivating to watch the leaderboard during the challenge, lending this event a sense of camaraderie that ‘live’ events have. But without the crowded trails!” said Buck.

Entry fees range from $49-$69 with proceeds going to the Center, a nonprofit organization that tracks regional climate trends. The goal is to raise $10,000. To register or for more info., go to www.MountainChallengeSeries.com

C’mon, take a free ride

If you prefer to log your miles sitting down, ridership on Durango Transit will be free Sat., May 10, and Sat., May 31. Sponsored by San Juan Basin Health Department, the free rider days are meant to raise awareness of “World No Tobacco Day,” which seeks to educate on the health consequences of tobacco.

For those days, rides on the regularly scheduled Loop Bus Routes and the on-call Opportunity Bus (must meet certain requirements) within city limits are free all day (the Main Ave Trolley is always free to ride.)

For transit schedule and routes, go to www.getarounddurango.com.