As a few of us sat around Friday night preceding the 6th annual Mesquite Canyon Trail Runs finalizing a few details for the race, drinking a couple of beers, we would usually be sitting around a campfire. With warm temperatures already greeting the Phoenix area in mid-March there was no need. We sat around in short sleeve shirts and took in the night. The race starts on the Eastern end of the White Tank Mountains, a range that marks the Western boundary of the metropolitan Phoenix area. Looking towards the peaks we could see hundreds if not thousands of stars, constellations and more. Gazing back towards Phoenix, the stars slowly give way to a soft bright glow that drowns out the night sky and instead we see twinkling city lights. It was going to be a hot one in the morning.
Runners began to arrive and check in at 6:00am to an already brightening sky. Our propane heaters stood silently inside of our box truck and the neatly stacked logs in the fire pit unlit. Friends greeted each other and pre-race rituals were performed. Volunteers checked in and loaded up backpacks of goodies to transport to our remote aid stations. This year they hauled shade tents too, a welcome reprieve from the coming relentless sun.
Check-in on race morning
Sunny AZ in March
At 7am 22 hardy souls toed the line for the 50 Miler. Warnings of extreme heat and recommendations to carry multiple bottles and hydration packs fell deaf on some ears. A few runners left the start line with just one bottle in tow. The first few miles of trail along the Ironwood and Waddell Trails are flat and wind through giant saguaro forests – the signature plant of the Sonoran desert. At mile 2.5 things change as runners turn right onto the Mesquite Canyon Trail and begin a rocky climb up to the top of the range, passing one aid station and an old ranch along the way. Once along the top of the Ford Canyon Trail heading towards Goat Camp, the trail mellows out and a perfectly cut single track snakes its way in and out of canyons below the communications towers sitting atop the mountain peaks. Early leader Chris Palmer of Scottsdale was the first 50 miler into Black Canyon but he must already have been feeling the effects of the heat as he was beat there by 50K leader Charlie Ware of Tucson who started 30 minutes later. Palmer later dropped which opened things up for Ben Volk of Paseo, WA to take the lead and hold on to the win in 10:58. Michael Mayberry of Tempe was 2nd in 11:15 and right on his heels was our lead woman and 3rd overall, Jana Gustman of Pacific Palisade, CA in 11:16. The attrition on the 50 miler due to the head was especially brutal this year with exactly half (11) of the field finishing the full distance.
Front runners in the 50K
The 50K was next to go at 7:30 with 67 runners toeing the line. The race featured strong local runners from Tucson (Charlie Ware), Prescott (Michael Versteeg), Flagstaff (Bret Sarnquist), Waddell (Arrick Nietert) & Mesa (Adam Steidler). Charlie took the early lead and was the first runner into Black Canyon and Mesquite Aid Stations with Versteeg close behind in 2nd. The rest of the front runners battled close through the heat of the day as everyone descended into Ford Canyon, the most treacherous and hottest part of the course. Charlie emerged through the canyon first and held on to win in 4:24 with Versteeg 2nd in 4:32. Local Arrick Nietert placed 3rd in 4:43. On the ladies side, local Phoenix runner Laura Encinas was 1st woman in 6:18. Erica Smith was 2nd in 6:26 and Meggin Kirk of Scottsdale was 3rd in 7:02. The 50K finisher rate was much higher with a total of 60 finishers.
Charlie Ware of Tucson wins the 50K in 4:24
The 30K is comprised of a single loop utilizing the flatter Mule Deer trail before ascending the brutal Goat Camp trail at mile 7, a climb that is featured twice in the 50 mile race. Once runners top out, it is a fast section of single track along the top of the range with expansive views of Phoenix out to the East and a screaming 1800 foot downhill from the top of the Mesquite Canyon Trail down to the valley floor. 58 year old Kevin Tuck ran away with the victory in 2:34 ahead of Schuyler Hall of Tempe who finished 2nd in 2:38. Rock Steady Running founder John Storkamp of Minnesota rounded out the top 3 in 2:41. On the ladies side, Jane Murawski fresh of a win at the Elephant Mountain 50K a few weeks back took a commanding 1st in 3:14. Contance Wannamaker of Texas was 2nd in 3:37 and Jaclyn Knoll was 3rd in 3:39.
30K Men’s Podium
Over 100 runners participated in the classic 1/2 marathon course which completes a lollipop loop of the Willow & Mesquite Canyon Trails. This is not your average 1/2 marathon with over 1600 feet of climb! Ryan Warren of Litchfield won by a wide margin in a time of 1:43 with David Santiago 2nd in 1:52. Huffman Shorty was 3rd in 1:55. The women’s race was won by Kelly Nichols of Flagstaff in 2:08 who also won last month’s Elephant Mountain 12K. 2nd place was Jessica Goswitz of Houston in 2:09 and 3rd was Ashley Crump of Mesa in 2:14.
The 8K is our shortest offering at Mequite Canyon and features and out and back course along the flatter, winding Ironwood and Waddell trails. Brett Dubois won in 30:52, Blair Zimmerman was 2nd in 31:40 and Garrett Godoy was 3rd in 31:43. Deana Hall-Ollis of Scottsdale won for the ladies in 38:21, Erica Miles was 2nd in 38:41 and Jen Laughlin was 3rd in 39:31.
We want to thank all of our volunteers who really made this race a special one this year. Maricopa County Emergency Communication Group provided amateur radio support at all of our aid stations for the sixth straight year. Despite the hot temperatures we had a record number of total finishers for the event. This concludes the 2014-15 Desert Runner Trail Series. We will be posting overall winners of the series shortly and look forward to hosting the 6th year of the series starting with the Cave Creek Thriller on October 17!
Full Results are now available.
Photos will be uploaded soon here.
Sweet M Images was also out on the course – look for photos from them in about 1 week!
