Adrenaline Night Runs Recap

Hayley PollackCommunity, News, Race Report, Ultra Thoughts

Adrenaline Night Runs are over, the course de-marked, and the truck all packed up ready for the next adventure. However, the performances of last night are still playing over in my mind. At a wedding reception today, with a table of runners, the conversation quickly turned to Sion Lupowitz’s domination of the course and his progression as a runner. It was a performance of strength and beauty watching him power through all 54K with no one in his rear view. With the new shorter distance (from 64K to 54K) there was no mark besides the “W” on which to set his sights; yet, he left the bar high in his wake running 4:00:09 (7:09/mile). Daniel …

Mesquite Canyon 2015 – Scorching Tough Year

Jamil CouryNews, Race Report

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 …

Black Canyon 100K Race Report – Aravaipa Ambassador Jeremy Pager

Jamil CouryRace Report

Now that the dust has settled and I can move around without any fear of the tendons in my feet ripping apart, I think the time is right for a Black Canyon 100k race report. A little background: I am not an elite runner. I am a hobbyist who started running a little over two years ago, and entered the trail running and ultra scene a year ago. Black Canyon 100K would just be my second 100k race. I am what Ben Gibbard (of Death Cab For Cutie fame) jokingly referred to as an “elite mid-packer.” Also, I spent much of November and December with a nagging IT band issue, so my training was not …

Silverton Alpine Marathon & 50K 2013

Jamil CouryRace Report

Heading over to Memorial Park on race morning of this year’s Silverton Alpine Marathon & 50K, I was hit with a few drops of rain. The skies were cloudy and dark in the pre-dawn hours leaving me wondering what the runners would be in for during the race. As darkness gave way to light as runners checked in and prepped for the day’s event, the skies looked ominous, but were holding out. Nineteen 50K runners took off at 7am for the short out and back on the last part of the course. The first runner, Dennis Pollow Jr. was back through the start/finish line in Memorial Park at 7:32 and was off to complete the …

Mesmerized at the Hypnosis Night Runs

Nick CouryRace Report, Uncategorized

The Estrella Mountains stand as looming giants south of Phoenix, the rugged peaks jutting high in the sky.  nestled below the majestic giants are the single track trails located in the Estrella Mountain Regional Park, not as daunting but not to be underestimated.  Like the rest of the night series, the temperatures were warm but manageable as the sun sunk in the sky.  Runners who had participated in Sinister, Adrenaline, and Vertigo had an idea of what lay ahead.  With options of 15k, 31k, and 62k, over 175 runners arrived planning to run between one and four loops. The loop’s elevation profile. The course rolls through the foothills of the Estrellas, climbing gradually for the first …

Hypnosis Race Report by John Kruelle

Nick CouryRace Report, Uncategorized

I’ll start by saying there were two things I failed to execute on this run…  I needed two water bottles (only had one) and needed to fuel at a higher level, in spite of a good finish.   PRE-RACE All week the monsoon effects were drying out and temps were looking favorable for better conditions than Vertigo two weeks prior.  Check; great.  This holds up to be true.  The start temp is lower and the air is drier.  Compared to Vertigo, a 6.5 mile loop, this is 9.5ish.  Each had an aid station midpoint or so.  Check; great.  I’ve run the course before with Xterra, and while this is backwords of Xterra, this is still …

Vertigo 10k Report by Chad Palmer

Nick CouryRace Report

I had two completely different experiences between running the Adrenaline middle distance race and the Vertigo shorter distance 10K race. At Adrenaline, I felt great through the first 8 miles, not so great at miles 10-12, and then ended up jog walking miles 12 through 16 due to stomach cramps, dizziness, and exhaustion. The only thing that worked for me was consuming ice cold water. After I finished, drank a ton, and drove home I felt so much better. I realized that I must have had mild heat exhaustion. I had focused on eating a lot prior to the race and didn’t drink enough before the race and during the race. I also did little …

Vertigo Night Runs 2013

Nick CouryRace Report

The sun sets as the races begin. Storms brewed in the afternoon to the East of White Tank Mountain Regional Park.  But as runners begin to arrive the weather dissipates, leaving a light breeze and cooler than expected temperatures to run in.  After the mild-mannered Sinister and the constantly rolling Adrenaline, the course at Vertigo promises a good mix of flat and smooth trails coupled with a short but steep climb and rugged descent halfway around the 10k+ loop.  Runners choose between the 10k, 31k, or 63k races run through the starry night. The Surprise Running Club made a strong showing. The pre-race atmosphere is electric, with a village of runners, crew, and volunteers assembling …

Perfect Day at 36th Annual Kendall Mountain Run

Jamil CouryRace Report

Over 150 runners lined up on Saturday for the 36th Annual Kendall Mountain Run and 4th Annual “K2” Double. Both races start at 12th Street and Greene and follow the Kendall  Mountain Road 6 miles up to within 250 vertical feet of the 13,066 foot summit of Kendall. Runners then scramble up a steep trail to tag the summit marker before flying back down to town the way they came up. K2 Doublers make the ascent to the top twice for a little more than 24 miles. The race was first held in 1978, started by running enthusiast Bill Corwin who modeled the race after a famous bar bet made back in 1908 which sent …

My Nutrition Failure and Epic Resurrection at the 2013 Hardrock 100

Jamil CouryRace Report, Ultra Thoughts

Moving step by step along a dusty road winding several hundred feet above a roaring river over 10,000 feet above sea level, I was struggling to keep my pace at a something resembling “running”. I was still hiking strong on the ups, but when the road flattened, it took every ounce of my will to shuffle my feet into a run. I was queasy and not eating. Even water tasted bland and un-refreshing, not a good sign just 30 miles in to the 2013 Hardrock 100 Mile Endurance Run. Three weeks prior I had bounded up this road fresh and fit on a 56 mile dress rehearsal training run. Soon the road gave way to …