mogollon monster

The Moments I Live For Part II – Mogollon Monster 106

Jamil CouryRace Report

All we could do was laugh out loud as we trudged and waded our way through a chest high sea of grasses which had completely covered up what was left of the eroded, rocky and deteriorated Highline Trail.  It was dark and eerie, with a full moon overhead and who knows what types of creatures rustling in the bushes all around us. Any attempt at running was futile as we would either roll an ankle on a hidden rock, slip on a large tuft of grass or step on one overhanging stalk of grass and stumble as the other leg tried to lift through the tangled mess of vegetation.  We would always be scanning for …

Flagstaff 50 Endurance Runs

Jamil CouryRace Report

Running in Arizona isn’t limited to hot, desert trails winding around saguaro cactus and ocotillos. Although that is the typical scene around the Sonoran Desert surrounding Phoenix and Tucson, just a couple hours north brings higher altitude and the dense Ponderosa Pine forest surrounding Flagstaff. The town itself is at 6,910 feet and is situated at the base of Arizona’s highest mountain range – the San Francisco Peaks which rise up to 12,633 atop Humphreys Peak. Flagstaff is well known in the running community as a hotbed Olympic caliber athletes looking for high-altitude training. Flagstaff also offers one of the best mountain trail systems anywhere, with a local urban trail system, trails in the Mount …

Flagstaff Endurance Runs – Approved!

Jamil CouryNews

We have some very exciting new this week, as we just received approval for a 50 mile & 50 kilometer trail ultra in Flagstaff, Arizona.  AlthoughFlagstaff is a mecca for some of the nation’s best runners, has a thriving running community including a growing number of ultra runners, and some of the most beautiful high altitude trails in the Southwest, there have been no ultra runs permitted in the area (the nearest being the Zane Grey Highline Trail 50 mile and new Mogollon Monster race near Pine/Payson about an hour and a half away). We’ve been working on obtaining permits for well over two years, confronting a myriad of issues that has likely prevented any sort of …

2011 McDowell Mountain Frenzy Report

Jamil CouryRace Report

  The 3rd annual McDowell Mountain Frenzy trail runs again featured 50 kilometer, 25 kilometer, 10 mile and 5 kilometer courses primarily on the rolling and technical competitive mountain biking tracks.  These courses feature tight banked turns, lots of rolling hills, desert wash crossings, and several “stunts” along the way to keep things interesting.  In its second year, the Frenzy 50K leaves the competitive tracks and heads out towards the foothills of the McDowell Mountains, turning around at the Dixie Mine. Runners couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day, as the glow of dawn revealed a beautiful cloudless sky and cool temperatures.  The 50 K runners gathered just before the 7am start as Nick gave …

2011 McDowell Mountain Frenzy Preview

Jamil CouryRace Preview

The 3rd edition of the McDowell Mountain Frenzy comes to McDowell Mountain Regional Park this weekend, taking place mainly on the “competitive track” mountain bike courses first built in 1998.  The competitive tracks feature rolling hills, narrow single track, banked turns, and several named “features” including “T-Bone Ridge” (the final climb in the 25 Km & 50 Km courses), “The Chunnel” (a horse tunnel/bridge featured in all races), “Double Dip” (two steep descents at the start of the race), and “Cactus Corner” (aid station on the far southwest corner of the 10 mile course). The 5 Km race is the shortest in the DRT series and follows the Sport Loop, featuring a single loop around …

2011 Pass Mountain Report

Jamil CouryRace Report

The 2nd edition of the Pass Mountain Trail Runs featured slightly modified courses of the 50 Km and 26 Km routes and the consolidation of last year’s 10 Mile and 9 Km into a single 11 Km race.  With an overall entry limit of 200 runners, we knew we could only offer three race distances this year.  During race week, the race sold out (the 2nd DRT Series race in a row to sell out) and we were primed to have 200 runners join us for a beautiful day out at Usery Mountain Regional Park. The changes to the two longer courses were slight: we moved runners from the sandy and convoluted Channel Trail up …

Koerner & Howard Crush The Javelina Jundred

Jamil CouryRace Report

It’s not every day you can simultaneously run a 100 mile race and watch as both the existing male and female course records vanish before your eyes.  Participants in this year’s Javelina Jundred witnessed a rare event this November as both Hal Koerner and Evan Honeyfield went under the previous best time of 14:20 set by Dave James in 2009 and Liza Howard dismantled Jamie Donaldson’s best of 17:11 set in 2010.  Javelina’s unique “washing-machine” style (reverse direction each lap) repeats the 15.4 mile Pemberton Trail, allowing not only for the elite runners to see where they stand against their competition, but also for the rest of the field to watch the race up front …

2011 Pass Mountain Preview

Jamil CouryRace Preview

  The second annual Pass Mountain Trail Runs will feature 50 Kilometer, 26 Kilometer and 11 Kilometer race distances on trails within Usery Mountain Regional Park and the Tonto National Forest.  This is the only race in the DRT Series that ventures outside of the regional park system and onto Forest Service land.  The views from atop the saddle on the Pass Mountain Trail are quite spectacular, with the Goldfield Mountains spreading out to the east towards the Superstitions, and views of the Salt River to the north. While the 11K features little elevation gain (with the exception of going over Cat Peaks), the 26K and 50K courses will conquer an 800 foot climb up …

costume run

2011 Cave Creek Thriller Report

Jamil CouryRace Report

As the subtle glow of dawn appeared off to the west, runners bustled about the ramadas of the group picnic area; some checking in, others placing their drop bags along side the trail, and some catching some warmth of the umbrella heaters while chatting with friends.  The morning was cool, but not quite brisk, ensuring a warm day ahead.  At 7am, 41 runners headed out on their first loop of the 50 kilometer course led by Ian Torrence, Jay Danek, Scott Bajer and Michael Carson. They would first head out on the newly added out and back section along the Slate and Flume trails before completing the main Go John and Overton loop used at …