The 2013 resurrection of the Crown King Scramble did not disappoint in either fast times nor good times. With registration opening just 6 weeks prior to race day, a field of 147 runners signed up for the race from Lake Pleasant to Crown King up the old Crown King Trail 4×4 road. With a total of 6,750 feet of climbing along a point to point course from the Sonoran Desert to the ponderosa pines of the Prescott National Forest, this is a classic and tough ultra. The starting line was moved to the shores of Lake Pleasant, giving runners at the starting line a nice view of the Bradshaw Mountains they would be climbing to the top of all day.
The race would start at the top of a boat ramp overlooking the lake and begin with a 1.1 mile stretch of pavement through Lake Pleasant Regional Park. Trent Briney (2:12 marathoner and 2004 Olympic Marathon alternate) and Kalib Wilkinson (2:19 marathoner and McDowell Mountain Frenzy 50K runner up) took to the lead, casually chatting away as they gapped the field in the first quarter mile. They were completely out of sight of a large second pack of runners by the time their feet hit the dirt just outside the park. Josh Trevino, another local favorite for the race ran conservatively in what would be his first ultra. Briney and Wilkinson ran together through halfway with Kalib pulling away from Trent up the big climb of the race beginning at Mile 15. Kalib reached the mile 27 Oro Belle aid station in 3:32 with a solid 13 minute lead over Trent, but struggled in the final 4 miles. He held off Trent and finished in a time of 4:10:40, the 4th fastest time in the history of the race. Trent held off a surging Eric Bohn by just 30 seconds, finishing 2nd in 4:16:26. Trent & Eric had the 5th and 6th fastest times in the history of the event!
In the women’s race, Pemberton 50K course record holder Kristina Pham ran strong early on, staying in the second pack of men for the first few miles. She was two minutes up on three time Crown King finisher Tracy Shank at the mile 27 aid station and went on to win the race in a time of 5:39:46. Tracy was just behind her, finishing 2nd in a time of 5:40:19. New to the trail & ultra running scene and in 3rd place was Mel Branta in a time of 5:49:47.
The race finish line was once again located at the Crown King Saloon where runners were greeted with mason jar beer mugs, “I Survived the Run” stickers, a BBQ lunch provided by the local café and plenty of opportunities to swap stories about the days adventure in the large outdoor seating picnic area next to the saloon.
The aid stations on the course were staffed by long time volunteers and past race directors of the Crown King Scramble. The mile 8 Cow Creek station warned that “runners are welcome, but bandits will be shot”, mile 15 was themed as a Hawaiian Luau, mile 19 Silver Mountain was put together by the local Bronco 4×4 club, mile 2d2 Fort Misery was reported to be serving margaritas and mile 27 Oro Belle won the best aid station award with their “best support aid station” featuring bra’s hanging from the bushes lining the course.
A total of 137 runners made it to the finish line in Crown King under the overall 10 hour cutoff. Thanks to GU Energy for the awesome nutrition support all along the course, Maricopa County Emergency Communications Group for the radio support, Phoenix Rescue for medical, Yavapai County sheriff’s department for sending a deputy out to monitor the race, all of the amazing volunteers and the town of Crown King for the amazing finish line setting. Hope to see you all next year for the next edition of the Crown King Scramble!