ANDY PEARSON

Melia Coury: I’m Melia Coury here with Aravaipa Running, standing here next to Andy Pearson who just won our 2016 Mogollon Monster.

Andy Pearson: I did.

Melia: Congratulations.

Andy: Thank you.

M: And you kind of lead it out from the gate. How was that?

A: I ran it in the inaugural year in 2012 so I came in knowing what the course was like and it was an advantage to be able to visualize all parts of the course throughout the day. And knew what I was getting myself into. I was like well, someone’s got to win this might as well be me.

M: How were you preparing for that?

A: Not very well. Spent basically the last two months without any mountains at sea level. I was traveling with my wife and we were in Michigan and Amsterdam for like two months and so I got only flat road miles. So I was like let’s see what happens. It could be a massacre or it could turn out great I guess. Um, but I’m feeling it now because I did not prepare properly.

M: Were there any difficult parts of the day then where you noticed your lack of training?

A: Not necessarily the lack of training but it was so hot. Just Highline was so gnarly. And up top on that first cabin loop and then going up Myrtle. I got super dehydrated and didn’t notice it at the time until I started peeing brown. After I got over the top I was just completely out of it. I couldn’t breath and my stomach turned after that climb up Myrtle. So, ah that was fun. That was just I didn’t have a ton of heat training in me I guess; not enough water either.

M: So you got a little more water and the sun went down…

A: Yeah the sun went down and we got to Buck Springs. And as soon as the sun was down I was like yeah we got this thing. And just cranked it all night and had some great pacers that helped me out.

M: Was there a particular part of the course you enjoy running on?

A: Um I mean the view from the rim road is amazing. Um, and also the grass section on Highline is so insane. You can’t see anything and you are just stumbling around. And I just like it for that because it is so gnarly and there is nothing else that is like it. So that’s kind of a fun part too.

M: What is it about Mogollon (Monster) that made you want to come back this second year?

A: Um, I mean I think the first time I ran it I just that this place is gorgeous. It’s a brutal course. There is not place like this on Earth. It’s such a cool part of the world. So I was so excited to come back and it just finally worked out this year. You just don’t get views like this and terrains like this anywhere else. So I love it.

M: Do you have any plans next?

A: I’m going to sleep today at some point and probably drink like 10 beers. And I’m probably going to do McDowell Mountain Frenzy. 50 to get some UTMB points. And I might do Lazarus’ Big Backyard Ultra in October.

M: Awesome.

A: Ya, more stupid stuff.