#57 Ultra with BJ! (Covid No More Run)

 It was a great day overall on December 11, 2021.  I managed to pull off another Ultra adventure run with my great ultra running buddy, BJ!  Wow, what a day on the Arizona Trail near Oracle, Arizona.  We did just about 28 miles exclusively on the Arizona Trail starting at Freeman Road Trailhead to Tiger Mine Trailhead for 27.4 miles.

Just having Covid not more than 3 weeks ago I managed to buck up and run/hike this adventure run. I did a few longer runs beforehand.  We did this run in a little over 8 hours and along the way had a great time telling stories, singing, and eating our favorite foods we had packed for the entire route.  This route has no water whatsoever so we had to take everything with us to make it up to Tiger Mine trailhead where Lori and Sunny were waiting for us!  What a lovely sight that was to see Lori and Sunny about 1 mile away from our finish on the trail.  What a great way to finish on a lovely but very cool sunset overlooking the entire area.  We gained just about 4000 feet overall.  I had some issues where my things were cramping up a bit, but I managed to take care of them as they happened.  No biggie.

Lori and Sunny dropped us off at the trailhead at 9:15 and we were running at 9:20.  All day it was very cool as we ran south on the AZT.  There were 2 significant climbs which I was not really prepared for but managed to get up slowly but the body finally warmed up and the trail was way more manageable for me after that.  BJ was incredible with his stoic running ability to manage an even pace all day.  It was fantastic to have him for this great adventure run.  I had a great time.  Afterward, we had a drink at our favorite bar in Oracle, then had a super fast meal at Carls Jr., had a beer or two at home, then actually managed to get in a hot tub later on.  We immediately went to bed and called it a day.  And what a day it was!

Thank you all for your support.  Here are some pics of the day.

12/13/21 Donated $100.00 to the Shirley Marcos Alzheimer's Center

 

Run around Prescott Adventure Run 50K

 Hey everyone!  2 weeks after my last race in Flagstaff I felt great, so I decided to do another Ultra on my own in Prescott on October 2, 2021.  Why not!  I basically did the same route I did last year which started near Granite Mountain and ran 32 miles entirely on the Circle Trail and finished right at our home in Prescott!  What a great run it was indeed!

The run took me 8 hours and 40 minutes with a very nice nice 1/2 hour lunch stop with my wife Lori and Sunny where the trail meets Copper Basin road.  I did manage to do some "bonus mileage" by not looking where I was going and ended up on a trail I didn't know!  Oh well, no biggie.  I managed to take some pictures and listened to some great music and podcasts on my air pods too so I really enjoyed the day

Our dog Sunny managed to get away from Lori when she dropped me off at the trailhead and he caught up with me within the first 1/3 of a mile into the run.  I had to run him back to Lori at the trailhead.  No biggie, just caulk it up with "bonus mileage"!  The day turned out to be just perfect running conditions the entire day too..  Such a great day overall.  I did managed to trip and fall just as I was about to get to White Spar trailhead.  I got scraped up and some blood was spewed, but, again, thems the breaks!

Lori and Sunny met me yet again about 1 mile from our house and we all ran back together on Old Senator road.  What a great day.  Thank you yet again, Lori for helping me as always!

Here are some pics and thank you all for your support for 100 by 100!

$100.00 Donated to the Shirley Marcos Alzheimer's Disease Research on 10/6/21.

#55th Ultra! "33 for 33!"

 Hey everyone!  Yesterday I completed the Flagstaff to Grand Canyon 55K for my 55th Ultra Marathon for 

100 by 100.  I finished with a time of around 8:24 for the 34 miles.  And what a day it was with my wife Lori and daughter Della supporting me in every way!  It's just what I needed too!  Thank you both so much!  I loved being there with you and we had so much fun too!

It was a beautiful day with great running temps and great people to talk with on the run, in aid stations, and at our hotel.  I was however treated to an ongoing rain/hailstorm and slog fest for the last 6 miles of the 34 mile run.  This was the only really, really hard part.  These last 6 miles entailed trying to run and hike through really rough lava rock 4 wheel drive roads that were so water logged that in ever step you took more mud would get stuck to your shoes.  My shoes must have weighed 7 pounds each so it was extremely difficult and it took forever for me to get to the finish!  3 rounds of rain and hail helped out in my misery as well!  I took it in stride and was just laughing - that's all one can do in that situation!  Lori and Della were there at the finish and took lots of pictures too.  The beer at the ended tasted so good! 

We got to our hotel, showered up, and went into downtown "Flagg" and had a great meal and drinks.  I was in bed immediately when we got home and went fast asleep!  A very fun and worthwhile day was had by all.  I am very fortunate being able to do these crazy runs with my family in tow!  

Thank you all for your support!  Here are some pics!

 

9/19/21 - $100.00 Donated to the Shirley Marcos Alzheimer's Research Center

 

60K of a 92K Whiskey Basin Ultra Completed - #54 Done!

 Well, I must say, I was not in top form on 4/17/21 but managed to complete 38 miles of a 57 mile Ultra in Prescott, AZ.  It would've been nice to complete the entire course but the legs and knees got the best of me and I would've missed the time limit of 16 hours.  I was out there for 10 1/2 hours so I call it a good Ultra and add this to another 100 by 100 run.

Rather a cool day overall with in and out sunshine and a few speckles of rain so the course was nice and dry.  By the time I got to the 16 mile aid station I was off my pace by almost an hour and it just progressed to get slower especially when I finally got to the 33 mile aid station where Lori and Sunny were waiting for me.  The constant barrage of rocky trail on about 3/4 of the trail got the best of me and I could only hike through those areas.  I have fallen on those rocks before a few times so I was leary of them.  I had some issues with some bathroom breaks along the way so that added to my tiredness.  In retrospect, I guess I could've finished going 17-20 minutes a mile, but I'm not sure if they would've given me a time. AND, at what cost to my legs and knees?  I need to go another 45 or so Ultras to complete my quest, so in order to do that, I need to be a little kinder to these 64 year old legs!

I appreciate Lori and Sunny for being on the course for a total of 3 times to cheer me on!  Thank you so much and love you so!  Also, my training coming into this race was not the best - in the midst of moving, going to my daughters wedding in Texas 2 times, and last weeks 16 mile adventure run with my friends, I was tired I must say.  This is not where one likes to be when coming into a 57 mile race.  Oh, well, I got the Ultra I needed so I have to be happy to have to completed that!  I'm just lucky to have the ability to do these crazy runs at my age!

Thanks everyone for your support.

$100.00 Donated to the Shirley Marcos Alzheimers Disease Center

30 Mile Prescott Ultra!!!

 Oh yeah, I managed to squeek out #53 Ultra Marathon on February 8, 2021!  Plans up until this point were thwarted due to a bunch of different things going on AND due to close to 3 feet of snow dumped on us here in Arizona.  Trails and roads basically have been off limits for like ever, so I found a fairly nice easy part of the fantastic Circle Trail around Prescott and had a fantastic day, overall.  

I started off in the very brisk 30 degree weather around 7 am. but eventually it warmed up to 60 and had a great run - very enjoyable. I ended running the 30 miler in 7 hours 42 minutes.  It was not particulary a hard course I set up, but was a very scenic one for sure.  Lori and our dog Sunny met me on the trail close to the 23 mile mark also!  We ran together for awhile on the Peavine Trail which I really enjoyed.  I used my car at the Peavine Trailhead parking lot as my home base where I had a stock pile of food and drink I needed for the day.  During my run, I listened to 3 Mountain Outpost podcasts which was great because these guys only talk about running, which is fine by me!  Sunny weather greeted me the entire day as well - which was well received!

Here are a few pics of the day!

Thanks for the support you all!

$100.00 donated to the Shirley Marcos Alzheimer's Research Center on 2/9/21