Dirty Kanza 200 - The Dirty TEN: Ben Weaver

We thought we were sending nine...but you can't send nine for a 10th Anniversary of the Dirty Kanza 200! Bring on the band! Musician, artist, and poet Ben Weaver is Dirty Ten! -Kid

Lately I have been struck by how much the general population seems consumed by a fear of death and loss, but at the same time in the face of these fears takes very little action to support life. It’s as if there is a ratio, and as the fear increases, the living decreases, which in the end equals death. It has always seemed to me that the eagles are not concerned with death when they dive. It’s all done in an act of living.

This is my first time riding the Dirty Kanza 200, or riding any endurance event of this length. Adventure for me is a broad concept. Whether cooking, raising my kids, writing, playing music or sleeping in the woods, the one thing that has always unified my definition of adventure is that it is life supporting. It feeds the soul that expresses itself through the spirit.

Sometimes supporting life means giving voice to the voiceless; the trees, rivers, people, and ideas that precipitate change. Other times the focus of supporting life has more to do with me directly; supporting my health and awareness. This is where the intersection with my own sense of adventure and life supporting endeavors has delivered me into the hands of the DK. I want to hear what my inner voice says when its carriage (my body and mind) are pushed closer to the edge. I want to explore and understand more about the highs and the lows, and the ditches the run alongside both. What is my voice going to say at mile 50 and 100 and how will that inform what it says at mile 160? How will what it says at the finish line inform the looking back?

Usually my riding has me on a road carrying my banjo and guitar en route somewhere to play a show, or facilitate some type of community building event relating to an ecosystem. I think there is an ecosystem to the DK. I am fairly certain even people who don’t exercise that much could complete most anything. But those that think they can’t, quite obviously never will. It intrigues me to be out in unfamiliar terrain, choking dust, sharing air and sun with a thousand or so strangers who for at least that day, have decided, that they can.

I am riding the DK in support of living. My goal is simply to finish before dark.

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Yes folks, we saved the best for last. For those heading toward Emporia, we hope you can make it to Ben's free concert that Thursday night. If you like his writing, you will like his music, I can ensure you. -Kid