I’ve often dreamed of writing regularly but with so much “busyness” I never seem to make the time. I enjoy sharing bits and pieces of my racing and training, but it is challenging to keep momentum for writing with so much going on. I’d like to change that in 2015 and therefore will be publishing a weekly article right here on this blog about the happenings at Aravaipa Running. This will not strictly be an article about what races are coming up or a race report from last weekend’s training runs, but instead a forum for me to share my thoughts about anything related to Aravaipa Running and even some bits and pieces of my personal life. After all, these are so very much intermingled that it is truly a part of my identity. I’m not sure where the balance will hang between personal or business but hope it will be insightful and a fun way to stay connected with Aravaipa on a weekly basis that is a little less formal. I welcome your comments and feedback.
With this first posting comes great change for Aravaipa Running. My co-race director, brother and friend will be pursing other professional goals starting in 2015. Although this is a necessary step for Nick in his own path and happens in business regularly, it does not come without great sadness. Nick was by my side from the beginning of this journey and our friendship goes back decades. Our own birth into this sport happened at the same race and we’ve run many training and racing miles side by side – too many to count. We’ve build up so many great things in Aravaipa Running together over the years that it will be very different not having him there to call up about that new exciting idea I’ve got brewing or get stoked on his new development for the timing system or the latest entrant to sign up for a race.
I will miss working with Nick and having him at every race and there will be a huge void not easily filled. Although sad, I am excited as ever for the future of the sport and what Aravaipa Running can bring to the community.
Nick pacing me at Leadville 100
With a New Year comes the completion of one of our most rewarding events that we produce, Across The Years.What began on a high school track in Phoenix as a 24 hour race back in 1983 has evolved into a multi-day running festival at a world class venue (Camelback Ranch) featuring some of the top 6 day running performances of the year (not to mention many other great personal performances at all distances, friendships and memories). This is only the second year featuring the re-birth of the 6 day race and we’ve already seen back to back years with two men going into the mid-500 mile range. Dave Johnston’s performance this past week (551 miles) was mind-boggling to me as he seemed to run with complete easy to almost 500 miles in just over 5 days. Once he sensed his true goal was out of reach (we can only speculate what that was) and looking no worse physically, he let down his guard and drank a beer while walking some laps, talking to new friends and marching his way to keep ahead of second place. He could have easily surpassed the event record and US Road Record set last year at ATY by Joe Fejes (555 miles), but that was not important to him. I am both baffled and a bit in awe of this.
Kelly Agnew and Dave Johnston at ATY (as he hit 300 miles)
No less impressive was the runner up performance by Christian Mauduit of France. He is a deca-Ironman finisher and had a personal best of 504 miles in 6 days leading up to this race. He told me post race he was disappointed there were not more runners in the 500+ mile range. Without skipping a beat he professed that if an “average” runner like himself can run 540 miles, some truly great runners should easily be able to run many more. To me that seems incredibly humble and likely a contributor to success at the distance.
I also have to mention Sue Scholl who set the event record for women and also looked fresh and strong well into the last day of running. She won and set the course record at Vol-State last year and has many great performances ahead of her.
The camaraderie at an event like Across The Years is truly amazing and to see so many runners come back year after year is a treat. There are true living legends of our sport that attend each year and I treasure each time they come back.
As we move into this next week, it is a quick turnover from the roads to trail as we unload, clean and reload the trucks for the San Tan Scramble Trail Runs out in Queen Creek. This trail race is a true “hidden gem” of the desert runner trail series and one of my favories. Dense saguaro forests and stunning views of the Malpais Mountains will have you thinking you are literally miles away from civilization – that is until you hit the Goldmine Trail. That steep climb will snap you back to reality with a heart pounding steep climb to the pass with fantastic views of the entire South East valley. I want to thank in advance all of our outstanding volunteers that will make this event fun and memorable!
If you’d like to join us for a run this week, we’ll be out with the Aravaipa Group Trail Run at Papago Park for a 1 hour run and follow up social at Brat Haus. I’m looking forward to getting in a run with everyone this week and will look forward to greeting those racing at the finish line on Saturday.
Other Aravaipa Running news:
- San Tan Scramble – Registration for San Tan Scramble closes online Tuesday at Midnight but registration will be available at packet pickup & race day. Packet pickups will be at iRun Thursday 4-7pm and Cadence Running Co. Friday 5-7pm. Last year’s winner and course record holder Catlow Shipek of Tucson will return to run the 50K again this year.
- Javelina Jundred registration opened today for the 2015 race and we already have over 58 entrants as of this posting. This year’s race will take place on Jalloween!
- The final Black Canyon 100K training run will take place Sunday, January 18 on the final 24.5 mile section of the course from Black Canyon City TH to Emery Henderson TH. RSVP here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1560588107492512/
- Here is my Strava link of the final Black Canyon training run: http://www.strava.com/activities/230872775
- Sign up for Crown King Scramble, our training run weekend and training program for a chance to win a Transrockies RUN3 Stage Race: https://aravaiparunning.com/network/crownkingscramble/2014/12/24/transrockies-run-3-giveaway/
- I will be speaking at Road Runner Sports Tempe next week on Monday, January 12 for RaceLab’s “Ultra 101: Trail and Ultra Running Clinic” Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/843151132390989/