cave creek

Cave Creek Thriller 2016 Race Report

Melia CouryRace Report

“Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.” –John Ruskin. There was plenty of delicious sun to go around for everyone at Cave Creek Thriller. The weather may have been toasty as the day progressed but the warm personalities of the runner’s shined through. Whether it was discovering a new friendship, celebrating a long travel with a run or taking that first leap onto the trails the group came out for another great reunion. New friends were made as they battled through the terrain. There was more than one account of runners meeting on the …

Kendall Mountain Run 2016 Race Recap

Melia CouryRace Report

A Race Riddled With Tradition Energetic rays of light flooded the town of Silverton this morning as nearly 300 runners towed the line of the 39th Kendall Mountain Run. As per tradition the race began in front of the Grand Imperial Hotel with the firing of a gun by Wiley Carmichael. He has ignited the race since the inaugural run 39 years ago. With the echoing bang the crowd of runners moved through the center street of town before ascending Kendall Mountain. During the race, runners experienced beautiful pines, breath taking views, and substantial elevation gain to the summit. Exciting Men’s Race Hailing from Ethiopia and currently training in Colorado Springs, Daniel Hadis, lead 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 …

2013 Silverton 6/12/24 Hour

Jamil CouryRace Report

A smoky morning greeted runners at this year’s 2nd Annual Silverton 6/12/24 Hour Mountain Runs held at the Kendall Mountain Recreation Area.  The run takes place on a 1 mile loop on the Kendall Trail which was hand built by Rodger Wrublik and Jamil Coury in 2010 specifically for the Silverton 1000 mile challenge. The loop is not easy enough being at 9318 feet above sea level, but also climbs 250 feet up to the top of the ski lift on single track trails and a small section of dirt road. This is no Across The Years! The loop was accurately measured with a Rolotape surveyor’s wheel to be exactly 1 mile and runners aim …