Run Steep, Get High

Jamil CouryUltra Thoughts

Ok, so I have a bit of an obsession with the San Juan mountains of Southwestern Colorado and The Hardrock 100. It all started innocent enough. I had run a couple of ultra marathon races in 2005 and I was excited to see how far I could run. Sometime in the summer of 2006 I stumbled across these photos taken by Klas Eklof of the 2006 Hardrock 100 Mile Endurance Run. As soon as I got through the second or third page I knew that I HAD to run Hardrock. It was if it was calling my name. High altitude, steep & unrelenting climbs and descents, unpredictable weather, wildlife and amazing scenery staged through some …

Scorched Runner – Training In The Heat

Jamil CouryUltra Thoughts

Triple digit temperatures have settled in for us in the “Valley of the Sun” for the foreseeable future. It will hit 110 on Friday and the expected low during this weekend’s Adrenaline Night Runs will be in the 80’s. With recent news stories of heat related deaths in our local mountain ranges, it’s time to think a bit about heat acclimation and safety when going out for our training runs. Just because it is hot out doesn’t mean we as endurance athletes need to hide in the gym and run on a treadmill, but understanding the effects on the body and how to prepare are important. I actually find running in the heat to be …

Flagstaff Trail Running – A Guide To Sucking Wind

Jamil CouryUltra Thoughts

It is an annual summer pilgrimage for us “desert rat ultra runners” living in Phoenix. A chance to escape the sweltering heat and enjoy a sweet respite of cooler weather . Some locals may call us the weekend warriors of altitude, but nonetheless we are happy to migrate north for some of the best trail running our state has to offer in the summertime. No, Arizona is not just desert. I was first initiated into the beauty and benefits of a weekend away on the trails north of Flagstaff could be while training for my first 100 mile race, Angeles Crest back in 2007. The “old guard” of Arizona ultra runners had been using the …

Nutrition Experiments at 100 Mile Races

Jamil CouryUltra Thoughts

I’ve had my fair share of nutritional disasters during ultra marathons, especially during 100 mile races. The nature of a 100 miler magnifies all of the little factors that go into running or racing long distances. Sure you can miss a couple of gels or get behind on hydration in a 50K and still be able to push through to a reasonable finish, but in a 100 mile race, mistakes are sure to catch up with you at some point. While I would like to go into other keys to success in 100 mile races in future posts, today I will focus on nutrition. This will not be an scientific article or a dogmatic preach, …

Ultrarunning Style – The Board Short Dude

Jamil CouryUltra Thoughts

I got to thinking about ultrarunning style after reading a post from ultrarunner and race director Candice Burt about “The Style of the Elite Runner Girl”. She was contemplating how to differentiate herself as a female ultrarunner and create her own unique style. Her post explored her frustration in finding that for every good idea she came up with, that look was already taken by some other girl. I”m not someone that has consciously been concerned about my style (or lack thereof), but I am aware I have inadvertently created my own in the sport. My own “look” has evolved quite considerably over the past seven years as an ultra runner and I have come to …

HOM100 – A run to kick some ALS-ass

Jamil CouryRace Report

I first heard about the HOM100 when I stumbled upon Trevor Davenport‘s Facebook page. I didn’t really know what HOM stood for at first or why he would be running 100 miles around a 2 mile loop around his neighborhood, but it sounded interesting and like something I would do myself. Trevor has run many of the Aravaipa Running DRT Series ultra events over the past couple of years including this year’s Mesquite Canyon 50 Mile and is active in the local running community including penning a few articles for Trail Running Club. I spoke with Trevor about the HOM100 when he volunteered at the Sinister Night Run (he was the guy with the rainbow …

Running Scrappy In The Old Pueblo

Jamil CouryRace Report

I was exhausted, tired and dammit my feet hurt. I was trudging through dry grasslands not sure of why I had even decided this was a good idea. I was in the foothills of the mighty Santa Rita Mountains South of Tucson, walking along the Arizona Trail bound for Kentucky Camp, under the shadow of Mount Wrightson and just a couple small towns and a few dozen miles from the Mexico border. I had put myself through an ordeal and at the end of the day had absolutely nothing to show for it except a stinging, biting DNF. No, this was not the 2013 Old Pueblo Endurance Run, I am rewinding back to April 2011 when I …

Zane Grey 2013 – Jamil Coury’s Race Report

Jamil CouryRace Report

The Zane Grey 50 Mile Endurance Run spans the length of the historic Highline trail beneath the Mogollon Rim, an escarpment on the edge of the Colorado Plateau.  The entire Mogollon Rim stretches for over 200 miles across Arizona, but our little run along the highline trail spans a mere 51. While dense Ponderosa Pine forests cover much of the land above and beneath the rim (pretty much as far as the eye can see), the 1990 Dude Fire burned over 28,480 acres of land beneath the rim (affecting many miles of the highline trail between Washington Park and See Canyon), destroyed 63 homes and claimed the lives of 6 firefighters. This fact is important to …

Fluid Sports Nutrition to be Liquid Nutrition Sponsor of Insomniac Night Series

Nick CouryNews, Press Release, Uncategorized

Fluid Sports Nutrition is partnering with Aravaipa Running to provide the liquid nutrition for the inaugural Insomniac Night Trail Running series.  Fluid will supply Fluid Performance at the aid stations throughout the night series, along with samples to runners at the race.  Fluid Performance Drink combines ingredients that work in unison together and provide more benefit than taking them individually. When consumed during exercise training and competition, Fluid Performance provides the stable energy, electrolytes, and taste you need to perform.  Fluid Performance Drink is also easy to digest thanks to its gluten-free carbohydrates, it is dairy free, and contains no unnecessary ingredients. What are the benefits of Fluid Performance Drink? Energy Delivery – Simple & complex carbohydrates …

Black Diamond to Sponsor Insomniac Night Run Series

Jamil CouryNews, Press Release

Black Diamond Equipment has stepped on board to sponsor the inaugural Insomniac Night Trail Running series. Black Diamond will be offering discounted pricing on two of their headlamp units that may be purchased with registration or on-site at each Insomniac events. Lighting is important for all types of night running whether it be on the streets around town or hitting the local trails. Not only is it critical to light your path while running to avoid rocks, curbs and other obstacles, being seen is something that shouldn’t be brushed off. Trail and road running safety at night is as much about being seen as being defensive and a good light will go a long ways …