McDowell Mountain Frenzy

"Hey look" Korey said while pointing out a cow leaping through some brush a few hundred yards in front of us.

"Nice" I responded. "I'm surprised we haven't caught up to backpack guy.." I said referring to the lone runner ahead.

"Me too" Korey replied.

 I took a drink from my handheld, there were only a few drops left. "When is the next aid station, do you know?" I asked. 

"There is supposed to be one at 11 miles.."

 I looked down at my Garmin; 11:35 miles. 

"I haven't seen a course marker for awhile...?"

...

When my buddy Korey Konga let me know he was coming down from Ashland to defend his CR at Aravaipa's McDowell Mountain Frenzy, I was super excited. Korey and I became fast friends during his short stint of living in Tucson. We both love to run, to race, to compete, to push ourselves to the limit and to never settle. 

Javelina Jundred was the first race that I started and failed to cross the finish line. I had a knee injury going into the race and eventually, I was forced to drop. I was extremely disappointed albeit immensely motivated. I had that nagging "redemption race" pulling at my strings..

I would have never made the decision to jump into a 50 mile race so soon (6 weeks after Javelina) had it not been for Korey running in the race. My legs were just fresh of feeling better and I was putting in some decent miles. I thought about going to the race just to cheer Korey on and hang out. But I am a competitor and for God sakes, I love to race! So I made up my mind and registered. 

The few weeks I had to prepare were very mediocre in regards to solid training runs or high mileage. However, the Sunday prior to the race I had a huge PR at TTR's Cowhead Saddle run. I gained a little confidence and began genuinely looking forward to the race. 

Kristi and I made a last minute decision to skip getting a hotel in Phoenix and make a (long) (really long) day of it. At two in the morning my alarm went off, obnoxiously jolting us out of a 4 hour slumber. "Ahh, why do I do this crap?" I thought to myself. I began daydreaming of getting back from the race and climbing right back into bed. "Everything valuable in life is met with challenge, I suppose" I thought as I packed my running gear and into a duffle bag. A little after 3am we hit the road. 

The drive to McDowell Mountain Park went very smooth. We have gotten all too familiar with this journey. Strangely, the last three races I've done have been at that location. I yawned my way there, arriving around 6:15 in the morning. 

It was cold out. Better yet, it was freezing out! I went to get my bib and immediately ran into Walker, who was there to help sweep the course and Steve Bagg, who was running the 50k. Pretty soon the man of the hour, Mr. Korey Konga, arrived. We all got to talking and catching up while trying not to catch pneumonia. After I finished fumbling around with my running attire, I squeezed a ClifShot down my gullet and thought "It's go time!" I was ready. Kristi snapped a pre-race pic of Korey and I and we made our way to the start.

Korey and I Gettin' Ready To Rumble

To say I was excited would be an absolute understatement. I was jumping up and down as adrenaline coursed through my veins. "This is gonna be a friggin' blast!" I shouted. "Hell yeah it is. We are going to go under 7 hours!" Korey exclaimed. Having never gone sub-8, this seemed ludicrous. But his confidence was rubbing off on me. "Maybe sub-7 is possible..." I began to think.

As we counted down I envisioned the race, the journey ahead. I said a quick prayer as we all shuffled out of the start. Another runner blasted by everyone and jumped out in front. Korey and I looked at each other and started to laugh. "Damn, backpack guy is doing 6:30 pace out of the gate.." Korey said. We would refer to him as "backpack guy" for the remainder of the day. 

From the very start of the race Korey and I rambled on and on, catching up on lost time. "Damn, backpack guy is already out of sight" I was in disbelief. "We'll catch him, it's just a matter of time" Korey replied. And I already knew we would. 

The single track trail was very runnable. We cruised with ease right around 8 minute pace. I felt great. My legs warmed up and I was feeling no pain. Korey and I both have big dreams when it comes to our running. We have that competitive nature streaming through our blood and share the desire to win races and get sponsors. And I firmly believe that we will both be successful in doing this.

"Cruising" ~ Photo courtesy of Aravaipa Running

Around 4 miles in we rolled into the Gate Aid Station. We chatted with the guys working the AS and quickly continued on. The sun was rising behind us, spraying bright orange rays across the desert floor. The air was crisp and it made for perfect running weather. 

Pretty soon we connected to the Pemperton Trail. I have become quite familiar with this trail. "Pemperton Trail. I have run over a hundred miles on this damn trail in the last couple months.." I explained to Korey. "I'm tired of you!" We seemed to have a very good rhythm going as we made our way to the Pemperton AS.

"Hey guys, you're only about a minute behind the leader!" The bearded gentleman working the aid station exclaimed. "Only a minute, we are gonna catch him soon!" I added. "I was abandoned at this aid station, I don't even know what I'm doing!" He informed us. After filling up my handheld we bolted out of there. "You're doing a great job!" I shouted back to him. 

"See you when you guys come back around!" I heard him say as we continued on. 

We remained deep in conversation as we trekked up the Pemperton Trail. "It's crazy that we are going to be running up that" Korey said as he pointed out Thompson Peak in the distance. "Yeah, it seems so far away.." I added. On we went. Mile after mile.

...

"Yeah, I haven't seen any course markings for a long time.." Korey also, sadly admitted. 

"Do you think we went off course?" I felt myself begin to panic. "Do you remember any of this?" I asked.

"It all looks the same. I couldn't tell you.." 

We both agreed that we were getting further and further away from Thompson Peak, that this was not the right way.

How far had we gone off course was the question. We turned around and started running 6:30 pace in search of our mistake. There were no other runners coming our way. We were all alone..

"How did we miss a turn?" I mumbled. Or not notice that there weren't any course markings. How?

"We must've just been bro-in' out" Korey said. He was right. We had been so wrapped up in our conversation that we completely stopped paying attention to anything else!

Finally we saw some mountain bikers coming our direction. "Hey, you guys seen any runners back that way?" We needed answers! 

"Yeah, waaay back there." His words were like razor blades.

Our race was over.

We continued back down Pemperton Trail for what seemed like an eternity. We were both in complete disbelief that we could have gone so far, so completely unaware of our surroundings. 

We finally reached the point of our mistake. There, virtually in the middle of the trail, were two signs with arrows pointing in the direction we did not go.

"How in the... How did we miss that?!" I cried. We had no one to blame but ourselves! 

Korey and I took our time getting back, prolonging our embarrassment as long as possible. We actually got over the frustration rather quickly and enjoyed running and shooting the shit. We discussed life and how running has helped mold us into better people. It turns out Korey and I have similar stories. We tried to see the "silver lining" as to why the race turned out the way it did and we seemed to enjoy just running. Running in it's simplicity.

Finally we reached headquarters and cruised on in. "No, not you guys!" Jamil shouted as we trotted in with our tails between our legs. 

This picture says it all!

Yep, us guys. 

It turned out to be a really awesome day hanging with some great people. I am glad I got to share some miles with a good friend of mine. You can't put a price on these moments, even if they don't go according to planned. 

Congratulations to the 50 mile winners, Harland Peelle and Maggie Beach. Way to rock it! And thanks to Aravaipa Running for continuing to raise the bar when it comes to putting on first class events. Well done as always.

Until next time....

Stay on the trail!

Walker and Myself Soakin' it in

The crew representing

McDowell Mountain McFailure (a little humor always heals:)

Running Reflections

It's two weeks until the Javelina Jundred and I am in the best shape of my life. I feel light as air as I make my way up Phonline Trail's initial ascent. My mind is wandering. I'm in a zone. 

I see a runner far ahead of me zig-zagging up the single track. I push harder. I don't know how else to be when it comes to running. What can I say, it's in my blood. "Go get him" I tell myself. This was supposed to be an "easy" run but now I am full-steam ahead. 

I continue flying up the steep and eventually I cruise past the other runner. I am daydreaming. I am thinking about Javelina. I am lost in thought. I envision crossing the finish line and collapsing to the ground. I have tears streaming down my salty face. I get up and say "my job here is done" and everyone cheers. I smile. This is what I dream about. 

The single track flattens out and I am all alone. I am running fast. I am running very fast. I hop from rock to rock like a billy goat on crack. I continue to dream. I lose myself. 

Suddenly I am jerked out of my dream state when I catch a toe on a rock and I am sent airborne. The amount of time spent in the air couldn't have been more than a few seconds, yet it felt like an eternity. I could easily see that this wasn't going to end well. There was nothing but jagged rock to cushion my fall. 

I land hard on nothing but rock. The wind is knocked out of me and I choke. I am dazed. "What the hell..." I mumble to myself, "did I just wreck myself for Javelina?" This wasn't part of the plan. 

There is blood pouring out of several large lacerations and I can't feel a thing. I wrap the worst cut up with my bandana and take off. The blood is splattering as my legs begin to turn. I stop for a moment and look down. There is a pool of blood beneath my feet. I laugh. 

Instead of cutting it short and turning around, I continue on. Blood pours off my knee as I hammer out 6's coming down the Tram Road. I still feel nothing. 

I make it back home and survey the damage. Besides having some pretty gnarly cuts, I am okay. "Damn, dodged a bullet there.." I tell myself, "and hey, I got a few nice scars!" I really am an optimist. 

Sore but undaunted, I remain poised. 

It's one week until Javelina and I am running entirely too fast down the Tram Road. It's my last training run before the race. I take a step. A step I have taken thousands of times. But it feels different. My right knee is filled with pain. "What is that?" I ask myself as I grind to a stop, "That didn't feel right.." This wasn't part of the plan. 

The remainder of my run I limp along. I am bruised-up, cut-up and limped-up. "How could this be?!" I am enraged. "Why does something always have to go wrong?!" 

Well, I am not always an optimist.. 

I toe the line at Javelina feeling like I can't run a hundred yards and I run 65 miles. Is that a failure? I must accept that it was not meant to be. My legs are back and I am blessed to be doing what I love once again. I am more motivated than I have ever been. 

This is part of the plan.

Javelina Jundred

The few months leading up to the starting line of The Javelina Jundred was an incredible journey. I never could have imagined that I would consider traveling 100 miles on foot. That sounds insane or just plain ridiculous..

My love to run further and faster has grown more with each passing day. I love mountains. I love trail running. I love ultras. I love to push the envelope and I'm just getting started.

I can say that in the 3 months of training leading up to my first 100 mile race everything seemed to be smooth sailing. I don't want to bore you with a bunch of stats, so let's just say I was putting in a lot of miles. I had an "eye-opening" race at Vertigo where I suffered cramps that would have killed a small child. I followed that with probably my best race ever at Javelina Jangover. 

My body seemed to be holding up really well, as I was walking that line of big miles and avoiding injury. Three weeks outside of the Jundred I put in my last long run, TTR's Mount Hopkins Ascent/Descent. The 24 miles spent on forest road felt like a good way to wind it down.

In the following weeks I managed to have my worst fall ever (I never told anyone this) and seriously aggravated my right knee (or this). I was a complete wreck mentally in the week leading up to the race. I finally had a meltdown. "My right knee is jacked, I have a damn limp!" I whimpered to Kristi. After my picture perfect training, I felt like my body was giving out. "Did I over-train?" I sadly thought..

I had too much invested into the race to not give it a go. I knew I could run on my seemingly "fragile" legs, but my confidence took quite a hit. A lot of the excitement was replaced with stress. 

On Friday morning Kristi and I got our bags packed and headed off to Fountain Hills. Packet pick-up was at the Fort McDowell Radisson, where we were also to be staying for the next 3 days. The resort was beautiful. We quickly noticed the crowd of crazies gathering in the court yard as we pulled up. 

I made my way over to the group and immediately saw my buddy Steve Bagg. Steve and I trained a little together and have both been working toward the same goal. "What's up man?" I exclaimed as I saw him and his girlfriend, Becky, lounging on some comfy chairs. "I'm just ready to get this started" Steve said. "I've gone on some short little runs this week and keep having these aches and pains.." Hearing him say that brought me some relief. "I've been dealing with the same thing!" I emphatically explained. 

I soon found the line to pick up my bib. I already knew the Coury's gave me the number 3 bib, which was cool. Having a low bib number is kind of an honor. As soon as I grabbed my bib, Kristi pointed out that it was also personalized. "Look, it says Sirunben!" I was a bit shocked. "Awesome!" I shouted. I'm not gonna lie, that was pretty sweet. Sirunben is a nickname my brother, Max, gave me. Through the powers of social media, Aravaipa Running knew that. 

After Kristi and I ate some dinner we called it a night. I managed to drift in and out of sleep, never actually "sleeping". This is nothing new to me, I rarely get any sleep the night before the race. At 3:00 am my alarm screamed at me and it was time to get up. "Knee feels good" I mumbled under my breath as I got into the shower. "I am going to do this" I told myself. 

Kristi and I arrived at Javelina Jeadquarters around 5 in the morning. Our group of runners and crew all gathered for some pre-race talk and a picture. Steve, Renee, Craig and myself all were very excited. So much hard work goes into this moment. The dedication and commitment is all put to the test. Right here. Right now.

Craig, Renee, Steve and myself amped and ready!

Finally the time arrived to line up. I stood towards the front of the group, among some of the worlds most elite ultra-runners. Ian Sharman, Joe Grant, Jeremy Humphrey, Hal Koerner and the local superstar, Catlow Shipek. 

The countdown began and before I knew it, we were off! I chatted with Steve as we began jogging through the pre-dawn light. The air was cool but signs that it was going to warm up quick were quite apparent. One of my main fears of running 100 miles was going out too fast. I felt like Steve and I had a nice easy pace going, our breathing never seemed the least bit strained. 

The sun quickly rose and daylight hit. It was beautiful out. "We are so blessed to able to do this" I said to Steve. "Yes, we are" he agreed. The front runners were out of sight and that allowed me to relax. I was worried I would get wrapped up into trying to keep up with them, thus destroying my race. 

"How do you feel?" I asked Steve. "Great. You?" He responded. "I feel good.." I answered. I wasn't being honest. My right knee didn't feel right. At all. "If I can get though this first loop, I'm sure my legs will loosen up.." I thought to myself. "I will be fine..."

I rolled into Jackass Junction Aid Station for the first time of the day. Jay Danek was there to help get my bottles filled and offer some encouragement. I put some food in me, popped some S-Caps and took off. Steve and I pretty much stayed together for the entire first loop. Ian and Hal were in the lead followed by Joe, Jeremy and Catlow.

I got a nice burst of adrenaline as I shot through the line to complete loop number 1. I felt pretty good as I did my best to put food into my system. I walked over to Kristi and changed out my cool weather gear. Steve rolled up and Becky helped him with his gear change as well. I grabbed my pair of gold sunglasses and popped them on. "Time to go 24 karat gold status!" I shouted. I felt great! I kissed Kristi goodbye and began my second loop. Steve followed right behind. 

It was really starting to heat up. It was only 9:30 in the morning, I knew we were in for a scorcher. Steve and I ran and chatted for the first couple of miles but soon I made some separation and he was no longer in sight. "Guess I will be spending some time alone" I thought. I began passing a few runners here and there. I felt pretty solid as I made my way into Jackass Junction for the 2nd time.

I joked around a bit with some of the volunteers while I fueled up. I got mad-props on my solid gold sunglasses (deservingly so). "How you feeling?" One asked. "Just starting to feel good!" I exclaimed. And I was. I felt invigorated. "See you soon!" I shouted as I trotted off. Everytime I got a good rhythm going, my knee reminded me to check myself. I was trying to make sure that I wasn't favoring my left leg but deep down, I knew I was. "Oh well" I thought, "if it doesn't hurt now, I'm fine.." 

As I reached the Tonto Tavern Checkpoint there were a couple of runners visibly suffering. "Man, it's hot out. I think I'm gonna go into safety mode and just try for a hundred K.." One said as he was gulping water like a maniac. "No man, don't think that way. You're here to run a hundred miles!" I demanded as I ran off.

I reached Coyote Camp AS feeling downright beastly. I crammed some pumpkin pie in my mouth and bolted out of there. The leaders were coming back my way and had shifted position. Jeremy was in front followed by Joe, Hal and Ian. "Keep it up man!" Koerner shouted to me as we passed by each other. "Koerner just told me to 'keep it up'. That is freaking sweet!" I thought to myself. Very soon I saw Catlow cruising along. "You look great, man!" I yelled towards him. "You too!" He responded. I could tell, Catlow was going to have a good day. 

I ran into Javelina Jeadquarters with a grin spread across my face. 30 miles in and I felt solid. "Maybe my knee really is fine?" I wondered. I fueled up and went over to Kristi and Becky. We talked for a minute and Becky sponged ice water over my head, cooling down my blistering body. "Ahhhh that feels good" I chattered, the frigid water streamed down my skin. "See ya.." 

I was feeling pretty relaxed as I began the 3rd loop. I watched a bunch of runners coming the opposite direction go by before I saw Steve. "You look good, man" He said as we passed by each other. "How do you feel, Steve?" I asked. I didn't hear him respond. "Mmm, I wonder if he is okay?" I thought.

I hadn't been passed by any runner and figured I was in the top 10. I was beginning to feel the heat wear on me and had a little nausea. Soon a girl came up behind me and then passed me. "Damn. Chicked already." The woman that passed me was Rhonda Claridge, the eventual female winner. 

I managed to keep Rhonda in sight for quite some time before settling down and focusing on MY race. I scampered into Jackass Junction feeling pretty queasy. I was now forcing myself to eat. Not a good sign. I took some Tums, remembering how they saved me at Jangover. It was blazing and people were dropping like flies out there. 

As soon as I left the AS I got my first bout of cramps. I collapsed to the side of the trail as I felt the muscles in my calves begin to seize up. "Not again!" I cried. Pretty soon a guy passed by me and offered help. "I'm good. I mean, I'm not good but ya know.." I was a little delirious. I picked myself up off the ground and begin walking down the trail.

The cramps subsided and my nausea eased off. Tums once again took care of business! I began running again and felt a burst of energy course through my body. I got my second wind and it felt great. Pretty soon that machine known only as Hal Koerner came rumbling up the trail. The guy looked like he was running 7's as we passed by each other. Once again he offered encouragement before disappearing out of sight. Dude is a class act, all the way around. 

A few minutes passed by and I saw no one. Then in the distance I saw a runner I know all too well. Catlow was now in 2nd place. "Damn, is everyone falling apart?" I asked him. "Yeah, it's the heat. Get iced down. You're doing great!" He encouraged me. It was quite some time before I saw Joe coming my way, holding onto the 3rd position. Then Jeremy in 4th. "Ian must've dropped..? I thought.

I rolled into Rattlesnake Ranch AS with a positive attitude. I ate some food and chatted with the volunteers. "You sure are color-coordinated" one of them pointed out. "That's half the battle, right?" I jokingly responded. I said thanks as I bolted out of there, eager to get loop 3 done.

I managed a solid pace the remainder of loop 3. I turned the corner and shot through the line. I was happy to see Dallas there lending a hand. "Damn man, it is brutal out there.." I whined to him. "Get at it. This is where all your heat-training comes in! He tried some encouragement. "Yeah, I suppose.." 

Michael Farris came up to me. "You're doing great. Running a smart race. How do you feel?" I began to feel very dazed. "That loop was rough. This next one is going to be worse" I mumbled. After Michael  drenched me with ice water, I made my way over to Kristi. "Hey, babe! You are doing great!" She said to me. Becky and a mutual friend Ed were also there encouraging me. "I'm never doing Javelina again." My attitude was declining, "too many loops. Too repetitive." I added. "Don't you see? Loops makes it easy on the crew!" Ed cynically explained. We all laughed. "Good point!" I said as I took off to begin loop 4. 

Going into loop 4, I felt like I was okay. I wasn't feeling great by any means, but I was okay. I soon reached Rattlesnake Ranch AS. "Back already!?" One of the volunteers said. "Yeah, quick aren't I? I responded. All of a sudden I felt the urge to get out of the sun and take a seat. Not good. "Can I sit for a minute?" I asked. I sat there for a few minutes, trying to gather myself. As another runner approached the AS I forced myself up off the chair.  "C'mon Sion.. Let's go already..."

As soon as I left the AS I realized that running was becoming very difficult. I eventually found a formula that began to work. My spirit got lifted again and I was enjoying myself. Soon I approached Cristian Rios..or "El Matador". He was walking like a zombie up the trail. "How you doing, bro?" I asked. "Sleepy" He mumbled quietly under his breath, "I don't want to keep my eyes open". I agreed that shit had got rough. "Well, best of luck, bud.." I continued on. 

If I could pin-point an exact time when things went awry, it would be soon after I passed 'El Matador'. My legs felt dead. I was struck with nausea. I just wanted to make it to the AS but it seemed like I was going nowhere. I finally took a seat on the side of the trail. "What's going on?" I thought to myself, "you trained for months for this." 

I find strength inside of myself by reflecting on where I've been and how far I've come. I focused on digging into my soul for the strength I so greatly rely on, only to be met with emptiness. Soon a runner passed by me as I stumbled along. I could feel my race begin to slip away. "And where the hell did Steve go?" I wondered.. 

I kept on truckin' as best I could and eventually made it to Jackass Junction AS. The scene there was reminiscent of a hospital emergency room. All cots occupied by incapticitated runners. I found an empty chair and took a seat. "Wow, I feel like garbage" I said to one of the runners laying on a cot. We had a short conversation. I offered as much encouragement as I could before Justin Lutick appeared and quickly began heckling me. "This stuff is easy for you because you're from Tucson, isn't that right?" He stated. He got me to laugh! I jumped off the chair and began walking down the trail...

The remainder of loop 4 quickly became a death march. I was passed by several other runners as delirium wrapped its evil tentacles around me. I wasn't drinking enough water. I was no longer eating. I took several breaks to sit in the baking sun. Hal blazed by me looking as strong as ever. Catlow was still in second place with a comfortable lead on Joe. 

The lack of energy, the bothersome knee and the nausea had beat me into submission. "I think I'm gonna drop at a hundred K.." I told myself, "I can't continue. It's impossible." After another sad attempt to eat something at the Coyote Camp AS, I took a seat in the shade. I was silent. I went back and forth in my head on weather I would drop or continue after 100K. I got up and staggered on. 

About a mile from Javelina Jeadquarters my stomach decided it had had enough. I was forced to my knees as I expelled everything inside of me. It was violent and loud and completely uncontrollable. A couple of people walked up to me. "Are you okay?" One asked me. "Define 'okay'" I quipped. "Is this your last loop?" They looked concerned. I gaged. "It is now."

After I pried myself off the ground I managed to start running again. My stomach felt perfect now. A runner coming back my way shouted "looks like you climbed out of your funk!" Maybe I could keep going.. "No it wouldn't be smart" I thought, "could I?" 

As I inched closer to Jeadquarters, I saw 3 people looking my way. "Wait, that's Walker, Duer and Dallas!" I got a little energy and ran over. "Hate to break it to you, but it looks like it's just gonna be a hundred K for me.." Their faces showed disappointment. "Take a break, eat something, give it a few minutes and see how you feel"  Duer encouraged me. I jogged through the line completing 100K in 11 and a half hours. I was still on a pretty solid pace. 

I took a seat and my crew went to work. I had Kristi, Dallas, Duer, Walker, Outridge, Michelle and Becky all encouraging me to continue on. "Where's Steve?" I asked Kristi. Steve had an IT Band issue early on and had dropped. He didn't want me to know, feeling like it wouldn't be motivational. All of a sudden Steve appeared and also began with the encouragement. 

I couldn't stop now. I had to at least try to go on. One of my ears felt clogged, like my equilibrium was off. I ate a cup of soup, changed my shoes and shirt and felt a lot better. I agreed that I would continue on with Walker pacing me. "I think I can do this.." I told myself. 

I got up and gave Kristi a long hug goodbye. I felt like I was leaving the planet! "Who knows when I will get back??" I sadly thought. 

Walker and I headed off. I began to run and immediately felt a shooting pain in my left knee. "Ouch" I thought, "I hope that goes away." I knew I had been favoring my left leg the entire day. Now it was injured. I continued to ignore the pain as best I could. "Dude, my left knee hurts" I finally admitted to Walker. We both agreed that it would eventually loosen up. That I was okay. But deep down, I knew it was going to get worse.

We arrived at Coyote Camp and I staggered over to the food. I grabbed a few pretzels and took a seat. Walker continued to try and keep me motivated. But I knew my race was over. I was injured. "I think I'm done, bro" I told Walker. "Knee hurts, my equilibrium is jacked. I just don't think it's safe to continue on. I'm sorry." 

The walk back to the Jeadquarters was one of the most empty moments I've experienced. I came here to run 100 miles and I failed. I felt so defeated. 

I walked in and looked at Kristi. No words needed to be said. I sat down. It was over. 

Aravaipa put on another first class event with all the bells and whistles. I had a blast and traveled further than ever before. I learned more about myself and my love for the sport grew stronger. A special congratulations goes out to Renee, Craig and Ken on completion. You all worked for it. Enjoy it! And Catlow on his impressive 2nd place finish. You are unbelievable, my man!

This was obviously not the ending I had hoped for. Not the ending I worked so hard for. The disappointment hurts but the motivation is overwhelming. 

I'm hungry for more.

This ain't over

Javelina Jangover

Following the sufferfest I endured at Vertigo, I knew I had some more work to do in preparation for the Javelina Jundred. After the leader put more than 30 minutes between us, I was able to slice his lead down to a mere 5 minutes going into the final 6.5 mile loop. I was then hit with the worst cramps I've ever experienced and was lucky to hold onto 2nd place.

I knew if I didn't get my cramping issue worked out, I was in for a very painful awakening at the Javelina Jundred. Since my race at Vertigo I have amped up my mileage and practiced various fueling techniques. I feel like a good part of the cramping I suffered can be chalked up to under training. I hadn't done very many long runs going into Vertigo and that ultimately was my "Achilles' heel". 

I have had some very solid 'back to backs' over the last 7 weeks, including 2 more TTR PR's. I really wanted to see if I could have a good race, free from the cramps. What better of an opportunity than to do a race on the very same course that the Javelina Jundred takes place on!

Aravaipa Running's final night race of the series was exactly what I needed. Javelina Jangover Night Races take place on the Pemperton Trail. It is the very same 15.5 mile loop that I will get to know "all to well" during the Jundred. Aravaipa loves to offer up lots of choices in terms of distance, a little something for everyone. 

The choices for Jangover were 25k (one loop), 50k (2 loops), 75k (3 loops) or 100k (4 loops). They even had a short 7k course for those more "sane" type of runners. My first thought was to jump into the almighty 100k race, ya know, the more the merrier. But as I thought things through, I realized that 60 miles may actually do more damage than benefit. At that distance I have more of a chance of getting hurt or burning out and with 6 weeks to the Jundred, I didn't want to risk it. I settled on 3 loops. 

Before I registered I had to convince Kristi on how important the really race is. "C'mon babe, I need to get these cramps under control" I told her. I didn't get the response I wanted right away. Racing can be pretty expensive and I have to say, Kristi has sacrificed quite a bit to allow me to follow my dreams. On I went, "I think it is really important to get to run on the course, it is really going to help me in the 100." Finally she caved. Not only did she cave, she got us a hotel room just 4 miles from the start. What a gal!

My excitement and anticipation for the race was sky high. I felt like my training was going as good as it possibly could. I felt more fit than I had in quite some time. And in terms of aches and pains, I had very few. I had been focusing on long slow paced runs while also mixing in some good tempo. I felt confident that I was going to have a solid race, even with all the variables a race of this distance holds. 

On a hot Saturday morning Kristi and I set off to Fountain Hills. On our way out there we were both exceedingly proud of how well we had planned this out. There has been a few different trips that were not planned well, causing more stress than excitement. After stopping at Cracker Barrel for a little pre-race fuel we arrived at our hotel and checked in. 

We had over an hour to relax before we had to leave. I meticulously went over my running gear as if I were about to perform heart surgery. It was a foreign, albeit wonderful feeling to have everything so perfectly in order. I kinda felt like everything was falling into place!

"Well" Kristi said, "let's get going, I guess.." You see, Kristi's excitement is a bit different than my excitement. While she is genuinely excited for me and my love to run, she is a little less excited about waiting for me while I run for hours. Completely understandable. But she does it and I love her for that (among many other things). 

We arrived at the McDowell Mountain Regional Park about 30 minutes prior to the start. I usually have at least an hour to get my crap together, all of a sudden I got stressed out. "I have to hurry and get my bib. Where are my water bottles? What time is it?" I was like a broken record. "Relax" Kristi told me, "you have a half hour, just relax". 

A few of my running friends were also there to run the 75k. Tucson Trail Runners were representing. Renee, Dallas, Craig, Ken, Bruce and myself. It was cool that there was friendly faces around, I relaxed and got my mind prepared for the adventure. After Kristi applied an 'Aravaipa Running' tattoo to my neck and snapped a few group pictures, it was time to party. 

A group of about 20 of us lined up and wished each other luck. I looked over to my left and noticed a table holding the awards for the nights races. They do a great job with the awards, all unique to each race. These particular ones were Indian Warrior statues. Very cool. I scanned over them until I saw the "First Place Male 75k" award. I stared at him for a moment and thought to myself, "I kinda like you. I think I want to take you home.." 

We did the usual countdown and slow shuffle out of the gate. I smiled at Kristi as I ran off. Jamil ran ahead of us with a video camera rolling. He is amazingly gifted at running backwards while balancing a video camera on a poll. After a hundred yards or so he moved to the side and the race was underway!

I didn't want to go out fast, one of my usual mistakes. So I just eased into a reasonable pace and relaxed. I was in front but was trying to stay somewhat with the group. After about 3 minutes I looked over my shoulder, I was already well ahead of everyone. "Don't go out too fast!" I barked at myself. Truth is, I was actually going pretty slow. 

About a mile into the race I had made good separation from everyone. I could see a guy in a green shirt a little ways back. "Maybe he will give me some competition later" I began to think. I was really enjoying the Pemperton Trail. I had been told how "runnable" it was and that was not a lie. I enjoyed watching the sun setting behind the mountains, spraying pink pastel over the rocks. A light breeze caressed my skin and I felt it begin to cool down a little. "This race is going to be epic" I said aloud. 

The sun had disappeared behind the mountain range as I rolled into the Granite Tank Aid Station. I popped a couple S-Caps and got my bottles refilled. I wasn't going to repeat the same mistakes I made at Vertigo, so I made sure to eat. I did realize I had nearly run out of water prior to the AS and was a little concerned that that may become an issue later on. A little girl sprayed me down with a water-mister and I took off. 

The next section was super fast. A slight descent on single track had me constantly checking myself, making sure I wasn't going too fast. I began passing some of the 100k runners, who had started their race 30 minutes before the 75k. It was a breath of fresh air to see some other runners out there. I got a burst of adrenaline and before I knew it I was running sub-8's. "Cool it down, Sion" I told myself as I eased back into an 8:30 pace.

Darkness had replaced light and I turned on my headlamp. The temperature had dipped, I felt blissful. As I neared the finish of my first loop I could see a bunch of headlamps in the distance. "What the heck is that?" I wondered. "Maybe it's the 100k racers coming back my way..?"

Pretty soon I reached an intersection with runners coming off a trail and connecting to the Pemperton. A guy was standing there directing the runners. "What's going on? Where do I go?" I asked him while already knowing the answer. "Keep going straight on the Pemperton Trail. These are the 7k runners." His voice sounded familiar. "Dude, what's up Walker! I shouted. "Hey, man! I thought I would surprise you guys. I'm just out here sweeping the course and helping out. Point eight miles to aid, you are kicking ass!" He sounded ecstatic. I laughed, gave him five and took off. 

I rolled into Aravaipa's Ultracity feeling so fresh and so clean, clean. I munched some food and swallowed a handful of salt. Mmmmmm salty-licious! I finished up at the AS and made my way over to Kristi. "You are doing awesome, Baby" she told me. "I feel fickin' phenomenal!" I eagerly responded. I grabbed my phone, popped in my headphones and cranked the techno. "Bye, Babe. See you soon!" I said as I began loop 2, this time in the opposite direction.

I was feeling full of energy and downright beastly. There were tons of runners going the opposite direction as me and it added to my adrenaline. "Good job" one would shout, "you too, keep it up" I would shout back. I soon approached another runner going the same direction as me. "What up, man?" I asked while running beside him. "Are you running the 100k?" He responded "yeah, what are you running?" I sensed he was concerned I was going to pull ahead of him. "The 75k" I said. "Oh, nice!" He seemed relieved. His name is David Bloom and he crushed a hundred k in a time of 10:31:26 for the win that evening. Nice work David!

I continued on and saw all of my fellow Tucsonans running through the darkness, sending them regards along the way. My water bottles were draining rather quickly and I was forced to be aware of how much I was drinking. "Damn, I was certain 40 ounces would be enough between aid stations" I thought, getting frustrated about the mistake. There was nothing I could do about it other than accept it. As I approached Granite Tank AS, I twisted the cap off my handheld and gulped down the last savory drops.

I did my best to eat and drink as much as I could at the AS. I felt great still and my mood was very positive. At 22.3 miles into the race my legs felt great and I had no signs of cramping. I didn't waste much time before I bolted out of there. I was jamming music and having a blast running up and down the single track trail. I hit 26.2 miles at 3:42 minutes. I thought back to my first marathon where I had run a 4:01 and crawled to the finish. "You've come a long way!" I felt invigorated. 

Water became an issue again, I had just a few drops left with over 3 miles to aid. I was able to run this last section amazingly fast. I began daydreaming of gulping ice water. I wanted to get to the AS as fast as I could and began to disregard keeping my pace conservative. It was a gradual descent into Javelina Jeadquarters and my pace was proving it. I cruised into Ultracity smiling from ear to ear. 

I gulped cup after cup of that magic liquid known as H2O. I couldn't get enough. I was fully aware that this next stretch to the Granite Tank AS would be the toughest of the evening. After my water intake extravaganza, I walked over to Kristi. "You are doing great, babe. How do you feel? She asked. "I feel like I wanna quit running" I said with a slight laugh. "You can't quit now, you still have fifteen miles to go.." She was serious. "See you when I'm done!" I scampered away in the same direction as the first loop of the evening. 

I headed off and began thinking. I thought about my life and where I've been. The misery I once had has been replaced with a passion for life. A beautiful life. I knew that I was due for some suffering. I was ready. This is what I live for. I want to feel the burn. I want to be challenged physically and mentally. At one point I had no direction, no importance. This is my direction. I am important! 

It had been around 2 miles since I made the turnaround to begin the last loop and I finally saw the second place 75k runner. We exchanged quick grunts and continued on. I was sitting comfortably about 4 miles in front. On the other hand, I was really beginning to feel fatigued. All of a sudden the "runnable" trail felt a little less runnable. There was a headwind and it felt like it was a constant ascent. "Man oh man, I don't remember this section being this hard on the first loop.." I said aloud. I made sure to keep my legs moving. Perpetual forward motion.

I was really starting to hurt when I ran into Dallas and Renee. "What's up guys?!" I shouted at them. We exchanged a few words and some encouragement. It was back to the task at hand and I knew I was going to run out of water prior to aid. I envisioned gulping buckets of water. I became a little dazed.

As I neared Granite Tank AS my attitude plummeted. At one point a runner ecstatically pointed out a rattlesnake. I was too drained to care, hell, maybe seeing a rattler would put a little more pep in my step. I continued on. 

I got a little spirit when I saw the AS and came rumbling in. "Can you fill these with ice water please?" I asked. I was struck with nausea. "I feel sick, do you guys have any Tums?" I whimpered. I had never tried using Tums and the thought of eating those chalk tablets made me want to spill my insides. I needed to try something. "Yeah, we have some" he eagerly answered. I grabbed a couple and chewed them up. They tasted like shit. 

I became faint. "Do you want to sit down for a minute?" he asked. "If I sit, I may never get up" I mumbled half-lucidly as I staggered back down the trail. I forced myself back into running. I still felt ill but managed to settle back into a solid pace. Slowly but steadily my nausea subsided. "Wouldn't you know it, tum tum tum tum TUMS worked!" I shrieked like a maniac. 

Everything became beautiful once again. The wind was at my back as I took advantage of the gradual descent, picking up my pace again. I had a blast running full steam ahead and began realizing I was in the drivers seat to a solid first place overall! 

I had about a mile to go. I still had water and was holding onto a sub-9 pace. I was finally going to get a win. When I saw the lights I got that "oh so wonderful" last jolt of adrenaline and flew around the corner. "Yeah Baby!" I shouted as I shot through the finish line. I did it!!

46.6 miles completed in 6 hours 46 minutes and 56 seconds. The realization that I had just run a nearly perfect race began to dawn on me. This is what I work for. This is what I live for. These are my dreams. 

I basked in the moment. I accepted congratulations. There is something so special about this sport that I can't even put into words. It is sacred. 

After sharing the moment with my beautiful girlfriend, there was only one last thing to do...

Go get that award!

Inked

Long Live TTR!

 

Get Some!

Gimme The Loot!

Perpetual Forward Motion

"Perpetual forward motion. Perpetual forward motion" I keep telling myself as I trudge up Old Baldy Trail. The rain is beginning to fall harder and I'm getting a little cold. I'm getting cold, and it feels so good!

The first TTR run of the new season is underway and a group of us are scampering up Old Baldy in search of the summit at Mount Wrightson. 

I crawled out of bed this morning on exhausted legs and a sleep deprived mind. My feet hit the carpet and I whined. "Um yeah. I guess" I mumbled half lucidly to myself as I stumbled into the shower. Training for a hundred mile race is a lot of work. Yesterday I ran 26 mind-numbing miles along the Rillito River Path. By myself. A marathon. Now, a day later, I get up at 4:30 in the morning to drive out to Madera Canyon for TTR's Wrightson Ascent. Yawn. 

My mind was as mushy as the bowl of Cream of Wheat I was drinking. I find that drinking my pre-run breakfast is much easier than chewing it. Chewing is a lot of work. "None of my TTR times are going to be fast" I explained to Kristi. "All of my TTR runs are going to be on the second day of my back to backs. I'm going to be slow as dirt.." 

As soon as we began the run, I could feel yesterday's miles weighing me down. I let a good chunk of people go ahead of me. "Go on, Sion" Chase said to me as we trotted off to start the run. "I'm not looking to be fast. I ran 26 miles yesterday" I replied. "26 miles. Well then, you should be good to go!" Chase encouraged me. "Yeah, of course" I said with a hesitant laugh.

I never felt so tired or heavy at the start of a TTR run. I'm usually oozing adrenaline, eager to jump out in front. I watched Nate and Catlow quickly disappear as I began the initial "endless" climb. 

"Perpetual forward motion" I told myself as I immediately felt like I was going to bonk. I was able to focus on keeping this simple. The good ole fashioned "one foot in front of the other" approach. All of a sudden I felt relaxed yet energized. I passed a few people and settled in. I knew I wasn't going to see Catlow or Nate again, but I didn't want to see anyone catch me either!

The wind was whipping through the canyon and rain continued to increase the higher I went. "Perpetual forward motion" was my new mantra and it was working beautifully. I came up behind a older gentleman hiking his way up the trail.  "Excuse me sir" I politely said as I made my way around him. "Twenty six point two.. What's that, your age?" He said while laughing, referring to the tattoo on my left calf. 

A few years ago I slept in an abandoned house on a makeshift bed created out of old clothes I had found there. I spent a few nights in the sketchy neighborhood, a soul lost in a crumbling world. Running would ultimately change my world and the idea of running a marathon was life changing. Literally. The tattoo represents something so sacred to me, something only I can understand. I get heckled frequently. And because of the recent explosion of "26.2" paraphernalia, rightly so. But it will never change how I feel about it. Ever. 

"Wow, you're pretty quick" I responded, "I mean wittiness not running, obviously!" I felt a burst of adrenaline course through my veins. I heard him mumbling something under his breath as I quickly cruised up the trail. "That was kinda mean" I thought, "Nah, that was pretty damn funny.." 

I was about 3 miles into the climb when I realized I was on the fastest pace I've ever had. It is really hard to shave time off of this run. I've done Wrightson a handful of times and have always finished the ascent right around 1:18. My new mantra, "perpetual forward motion" (in case you forgot) was propelling me up the trail at an incredibly fast pace. 

As I approached mile 4, my animalistic behavior took over. I felt drool dripping slowly down my chin, and I loved it. I was grunting relentlessly. The rain and wind continued, I was completely drenched. I was at peace. I reached mile 4 and looked at my Garmin; 58:56

I knew that if I could keep my pace under 20 minutes I would PR easily. The fact that I'm saying "keep my pace under 20 minutes" tells you just how ridiculously challenging this run truly is. I made quick use of the most runnable section of the day and began the last grueling stretch before the summit. 

There was not one second that I had not been moving forward. Not one fraction of a second that I wasn't pushing myself to my limit all day. And I felt it. It was going to pay off! I absolutely love the last section before topping out. Endless switchbacks of rock, each looking identical to the last. 

I knew I was nearing the top. I was at my limit. I couldn't go any faster. "Good job, man!" Catlow shouted at me as he made his descent. "Thanks!" I replied. A few seconds later Nate came rumbling down the trail. "Nice job!" He said, "you too!" I responded as I kept on truckin'..

I knew nothing short of a heart attack would prevent me from setting a new PR. My mind was filled with excitement as I pushed up the final stretch of rock extravaganza. 

I hit the summit, looked down at my Garmin; 1:14:30

The elation I had is indescribable. It is the reason I do this. I felt half-dead at the beginning of the run and fought through it, crushing my old PR in the process. 

I stood up there for a brief moment while the wind and rain slapped me around. I looked in every direction at this beautiful planet. I reminisced. "You may be the luckiest person on earth" I thought to myself. I am enriched with freedom. 

One of the most interesting elements of running is that it mirrors life in so many ways. There are so many obstacles and so much challenge. You can give in or you can fight. The choice is yours. 

And so it was. A day for me to go and do exactly what I thought impossible. And why not? I may do that run a dozen more times on fresh legs and miss that mark. 

Then again, I may not. 

Summit Life ~ Mount Wrightson

Evil Removed

The world is my playground.

I leap and I bound.

A breath of fresh air. 

My life turned around. 

I power forward.

Motion complex.

Limits are endless

Rewarded effects.

The need to live. 

A life on the run. 

Redirected achievement.

The sound of a gun.

Fast set of importance. 

A segment of time.

Fire inside.

Glorious finds. 

A reason to glow. 

The chance to improve.

Brilliant being.

Evil removed.

Mogollon Mindstate

When my buddy, Michael Duer offered up the opportunity to go run some trails on the Mogollon Rim, I couldn't refuse. The Mogollon Rim extends approximately 200 miles from northern Yavapai County to near the border with New Mexico. The massive formation seems to create a boundary between 2 completely different worlds. Below is the smoldering desert, while above it is crisp, cool mountain country. The contrast is spectacular.

This opportunity came with an added bonus. Duer's family has a cabin in the woods outside of Payson, just a few miles from where we were to begin our run. A mutual friend of ours, Mike Walker was also blessed with this sweet invite and chose to join us. The 3 of us piled into Duer's 4-Runner and headed on out. 

We did a lot of talking on the way to Duer's family cabin. We talked about any and everything to do with running. I ran that. He ran that. On my run. Did you go run? That runner is fast. That runner is slow. That runner is a freak. We are running geeks. 

With our incessant running babble flowing like Niagara Falls, the trip to Payson went surprisingly fast. "There's The Rim" Duer pointed out as we made our way into town. It looked like a long, cliff-like mountain range spread as far as the eye could see. I immediately got goose bumps as I began daydreaming of running up there. We stopped at Safeway to grab some of the essentials and made our way to the cabin.

After settling in at Duer's awesome family cabin we began getting all of our running gear together. We had just about everything you could imagine one would need for a long run. Camelbacks, bottles, gels, snacks, packs and hats. Socks and shoes, S-Caps and Gu's. Turns out we did forget one thing; Drinking water! Like a bunch of Morons, we had everything, except the most important thing. 

After making another trip to the Safeway in Payson for water, we got back to the cabin and called it a night. I rarely sleep well away from home. Let me rephrase that; I rarely sleep well. I managed to doze off as the rain drops began to fall outside. 

The morning arrived quicker than I would have liked and I forced myself out of bed. Like the weather outside, my head felt cloudy. I stumbled out of the front door and breathed in the fresh mountain air. There was a cloud cover and the air was thick with moisture. I immediately felt invigorated. This is exactly where I want to be. In the mountains. In the moment. 

The three of us said little to each other as we got all of our running gear together, our minds focused on the adventure we were about to embark on. I laced up my running shoes and felt my inner-animal come alive. "This is going to be amazing" I thought, "I can feel it". 

It took us about 30 minutes to drive from the cabin to Washington Park, where we were to begin our run. A smooth blanket of clouds lingered overhead, frosting The Rim. Jeremy Dougherty was the host of the run planned. Jeremy is the race director for The Mogollon Monster 100, and this was a 50k "preview" run for the upcoming race.

Washington Park

We pulled into Washington Park and met up with several other runners. I recognized a couple guys, one of which is part of the AdiUltra Team and a runner I follow. His name is James Bonnett. James started ultra running when he was 10 years old and completed 101.4 miles in 24 hours when he was 12. At 27 years old James is a seasoned veteran with a bunch of wins under his belt. "Wouldn't that be cool to share some miles with James" I thought to myself. After some chit chat and a brief course description from Jeremy, we began our journey.  

The start of the run was a 2 mile climb straight up the Rim via the Arizona Trail. I went out with Jeremy and shared my excitement for the day we had planned. "Wow, this looks nothing like Arizona" I exclaimed, "it's like we are in the Rocky Mountains!" Jeremy seemed to have his power hiking in full gear and I followed close behind as we climbed into the clouds. The last stretch before the top was almost at a 90 degree angle. "Glad this was at the beginning of the run" I mumbled to myself as I reached the top of the Rim.

Photo by Jeremy Dougherty

Photo by Jeremy Dougherty

 Jeremy explained the directions for the next part of the run as some of the other runners approached the top. He was going to drive ahead and begin marking the course.  I felt great. The views were spectacular. Clouds formed a thick fog-like layer in every direction. The next segment was 4.5 miles on the Rim Road. I looked down the road but could only see a few hundred feet as the clouds swallowed up the distance.

I headed off, down the Rim Road. I saw another runner coming up behind me and I slowed down so I could have someone to chat with. The other runner, Noel and I got acquainted. He had attempted the Mogollon 100 last year but had dropped at mile 85. He explained that he was going to have redemption this year. Best of luck, Noel! 

I was enjoying running in the clouds along the Rim Road, occasionally stopping to peer off the edge and snap a pic. The view was absolutely incredible. I could have taken a thousand pictures and not one of them could do it justice. One of the most beautiful places I've ever been. As I continued on my own, another runner caught up to me. He introduced himself as Sean. I recognized him but couldn't pin point exactly where from. 

Sean had a nice pace going and I was glad to have somebody to run with. He had also ran the Mogollon 100 last year and had also dropped at mile 85. "So are you going to have redemption on the Monster, this year?" I asked him. "No, I think I need a break from the Mogollon Monster. For awhile" he replied. He seemed to know his way around up here, so I was able to relax and fall into a nice groove. 

From the Rim Road we took a left onto Houston Brothers Trail. This is where my day really began. The single track trail was outstanding. Tall ponderosa pines towered overhead. "This is awesome!" I shouted. "It really is!" Sean agreed. The two of us held onto a solid pace as we zipped up and down the beautiful trail. 

As the two of us cruised the trail we chatted about running and life. Somehow we got to talking about running marathons, and how we both ran the Tucson Marathon this past year. "Wait" I said "now I know where I know you from. You past me at the 15 mile mark. We had a little discussion" I tried reviving his memory. "I sort of remember that" he said. I continued on, "yeah, it was right after that hilly out and back section. At the aid station I looked at you and said 'that section sucked'... You looked at me and said 'I loved it' and took off. I never saw you again". "Oh, now I remember!" Sean said while laughing. Turns out Sean beat me by about 5 minutes. 

From Houston Brothers we connected to Barbershop Trail. Barbershop Trail climbed for a bit before dropping into a meadow of beautiful wildflowers. I continued running right behind Sean, our conversation had quieted as we both seemed absorbed by the beauty surrounding us. It's moments like these that force me to appreciate where I am today. I am free. 

It's moments like these that force me to remember. I must always remember my past. A past I would love to forget, yet hold onto for strength. Memories of being a prisoner within myself are flooding my mind. Locked inside of an empty apartment. Locked inside of an empty soul. I run harder. Terrified of tomorrow. Fear controlling my mind. I run far away. I run because it saved my life. I am free. 

This section had some short but steep climbs and the elevation began taking a toll. I felt a bit winded but was determined to stick with Sean, using past emptiness as means of persistence. I was later informed of Sean's legendary status in the ultra world. Sean Meissner's Ultrasignup page is as long as the Declaration of Independence. Good God. 

Barbershop Trail led us to the U-Bar Trail Intersection. We ran into Jeremy here and helped him mark the course for the confusing area. We casually ran the next couple miles on U-Bar until stopping to munch some food where the trail dips back down into single track. A few other runners caught up to us, including a very entertaining guy named Justin. Justin has acquired the nickname "The Mouth" for obvious reasons. That guy is a world of entertainment! 

We continued on some more of the most glorious single track trail I've ever run on, making our way into Dane Springs. I stopped to look at an old broken down corral, it looked like it was hundreds of years old. There was fresh water flowing out of a pipe there and we all filled our bottles and packs. What a beautiful area this was. I noticed a heard of elk moving through some of the higher country. "Did they escape out of that old corral?" I thought jokingly to myself. 

Pretty soon the rest of the group came running down the trail into Dane Springs with James leading the way. It was the first time I had seen Duer or Walker since we started the run. "It's not my day" Duer said to me, "I've been low on energy all day". "It's pretty awesome out here though" I tried some encouraging words. He agreed. "What up man!?" I hollered at Walker as he approached me. "This is sick, but I'm sure feeling yesterday's BCL on my legs.." He replied.  Walker is in the height of training for his first 100 miler and had put in 17 tough miles the previous day. Jeremy shouted "later guys!" And took off.

Dane Spings~Photo by Jeremy Dougherty

  I jumped into running mode and followed close behind. The single track was simply luxurious. Smooth, runnable trail that went up and down. The weather had been perfect all day. The clouds still remained, creating almost misty conditions. Suddenly the trail descended into a canyon with a creek flowing through it. Jeremy and I stopped and waited for the others to catch up. The scenery was breathtaking.

Photo by Jeremy Dougherty

We continued running up and down, in and out of various canyons. Stopping here and there, staying in a group for the next 6 miles or so. I had managed to eat everything I brought, saving one gel for an emergency. I was a bit concerned about the lack of food, there was still over 10 miles to go. 

Pretty soon we passed by Pinchot Cabin. Just a cabin in the middle of a meadow. Bizarre. We began  to wind our way up a steep hill and all of a sudden I heard someone ringing a cowbell. Soon I saw a little girl and her mom waving at us and ringing the bell. I made it to the top and low and behold, like the greatest treasure on earth, there right in front of us; 

A.

Fully.

Stocked. 

Aid station. 

There couldn't have been a better feeling. Soon the rest of the group arrived with equally excited outbursts. Jay Danek and his wife and daughter were to thank. Jay is another well accomplished ultra runner and the author of a book that recently hit the shelves. Thanks to the Danek family!

Danek family aid~Photo by Jay Danek

 Duer walked up to me looking like he had been hit by a train. "Yeah, I'm not doing Javelina this year. I've been struggling all day. Just not in shape for it.." "Well maybe your just having a bad day" I responded. "No. I am just not ready" he admitted. "Good. You can pace me!" I exclaimed. I look forward to your "motivating" words during Javelina, Duer!

We all stuffed our face for awhile but it was time to finish this adventure. James took the lead and I followed behind. I really wanted to run with him and now was my opportunity. He took off at a nice clip and I followed closely. We hung a left on Fred Haught Trail and began a steep climb. James made the ascent look effortless as I tried not to fall back.

I figured this would be an ideal opportunity to ask James some questions about all his ultra glory and possibly get some good advice. So away I went. We talked about some of his strategies for running 100 mile races and how he got into running at such a young age. It was very beneficial to get to hear some of the things he does that have helped him have so much success. He is a very humble guy with a world of experience.

Eventually we connected back to the Arizona Trail. The single track trail continued on, with rolling hills and nice descents. My interview with James had ended and we ran to the sound of nature for the next few miles. It was an amazing experience getting to share some miles with someone of that caliber. In the end, we were just a couple of runners doing what we both love. Priceless. 

After passing General Springs Cabin, another cabin alone in the middle of nowhere, the trail turned into a forest road. We continued up the road to the edge of the Rim and eventually back to where we finished that grueling first climb. 

A few of us sat down on the edge of the Rim and glistened in the moment. The conditions remained mostly cloudy and entirely perfect. 

The high I get from moments like this is euphoric. 

After a short stay on the edge we dropped back down the steep segment of Arizona Trail. The clouds darkened and closed in on us. I began to feel the rain drops hit my body as I descended the cliff like section of trail. I felt like a billy goat jumping from rock to rock. 

The rain continued to fall harder as I made my way back into Washington Park, wrapping up the most epic day of trail running I've ever experienced. 

Pretty soon Duer and Walker came rumbling down the trail and into Washington Park. The rain continued to fall harder. 

 We all gathered for a brief moment while a torrential rainstorm congratulated us.

This is what I live for.

Mogollon Mindstate