#75 Collasal/Vail 55K Completed!

 Yes!  This was my second time running this race and now I remember why I don't want to run it more in the future. This is race , which is run entirely on the Arizona Trail is a very rocky section of the 800 mile trail.  I was tripping everywhere! No major falls and completed the 34+ mile in just over 9 hours.  It was actually a great day to run - lots of sun but a very cool breeze to keep runners cool.  It's basically a 16.9 mile out and back style of run.  It took me 4 hours on the way there and 5 hours on the way back.  The last 4-5 miles is basically not runnable - you just have to fast hike it to the finish.  My legs and feet were done!

Lori and Sunny met me at the 29 mile aid station which was a very welcome surprise.  Then Lori drove down to the finish and captured some great photos and video - all of which is greatly appreciated!  Thanks Lori - you're the best, of course!

Here are some photos.  Thank you all for your support!

12/9/24 - $100.00 Donated to the Shiley Marcos Alzheimer's Disease Research Center

Flagstaff 55K Ultra #74

 Hi everyone!  Well I finished yet another Flagstaff 55 K or as it turns out, 34 miles of running, jogging, hiking, and walking on 9/21/24.  I finished in a little over 9 hours and very glad to be done!  It turned out to be a long day without my usual wife who meets me at the 21 mile aid station, so I was on my own!  I handled it and all was ok.  

The day started off like usual as very cold and ended as a beautiful day in the mid 60's.  The run was filled with lots of sunshine, some rain, some wind, and towards the end, some mud from a previous rain storm.  The last 6-8 miles of this race is just long and really rough.  I had to hike most of it and was having some bowel issues which was not fun at all for at least 10 miles.  It turned out to be a long run after 12 noon or so with really no one to talk to like most years.  I probably finished near the back of the pack which is fine by me.

My hotel turned out to be a joke with the cold water faucet breaking and the tub didn't fill up.  Oh well, just another day.

As a side note, the race director Ian, said I have the record for the number of times running the 55K!  I'll take it!  Sweet!

Thanks again everyone for your support and take care.

9/24/24 Donated $100.00 to the Shiley Marcos Alzheimer's Disease Research Center

Ultra #73 - Prescott Circle Trail!

 Hello all!

Twas a great beautiful day on June 1 in Prescott running a route I've done many times before.  Basically, Lori and Sunny drop me off 31 miles from own home on the Circle trail and I run home all on trails!  It's a beautiful route - a lot in the forest which helps me out from the hot sun.  

Lori and Sunny meet up with me about 15 miles into the run and we have lunch together by the Aspen Creek trailhead.  I was dealing with some slight cramping in the legs at that time, so a good 1/2 hour of rest helped me out for sure.  The next 6 miles was going to not only be really rough terrain wise, but hot as well.  I went slowly during this part for sure.  Not much "running" can be done in this section.  Going up to Goldwater Lakes was slow going as well - I got pretty tired here.  With only 4 miles to go, I perked up a bit and managed some slow running and met Lori and Sunny on Old Senator road right near our house.  So, that was a wonderful sight and much appreciated!

I got in a around 4:20 pm or so after starting at 7:10 am or so.  All in all, it was a great day.  Boy, those Coors Light beers sure tasted great!

Here are some pics!  Thanks all for the support!  Take care!

Norb

$100.00 Donated to the Shiley Marcos Alzheiemer's Disease Research Center  6/3/24

#72 - The Cuyamaca Flagging Run Ultra

 Hi Everyone!

On March 28 I decided to help my buddy flag a portion of the San Diego 100 course for a training run.  We had a great time actually on a fine but cool day in the mountains.  BJ, John, and I shared many great stories while running and hiking and flagging the course.  I went a total of 28+ miles which took around 9 hours in the Cuyamaca mountains.  There were plenty of knee deep streams we had to go through which added plenty of excitement to the run and kept us cool for sure!  BJ and I afterward went out to a local bar and had a few beers and burritos and shared many great stories as well.  I had a great time and was sure glad I went to San Diego to run in the mountains!

Thanks everyone for the continued support!

On 4/1/24 - Donated $100.00 to the Shiley Alzheimer's Research Center.

 

 

#71 Tortolita Reserve Ultra

 Hey all!  Yeah, I did another one while I was still in decent shape!  Using my car as an aid station in the Tortolita trailhead, I had everything I needed.  The course (mostly bike) course is set up as a 9.3 mile loop in the Tortolita mountains which are only a 30 minute drive from my house.  So, I did 3 laps and then some to come in at 29 miles - right around 3:30 in the afternoon.

It was a beaut of a day, starting out pretty cold, but by the 2nd lap I had shed all of my extra layers.  By the end, I was pretty tired and feeling the effects of the effort and of the previous ultra about 2 1/2 weeks ago.  I had some bowel issues and some stomach pains during the first half of the run- which I rarely do, but I dealt with it by slowing down, eating, walking, hiking, and jogging when needed.  Oh well.

Anyway, it was a good day and proud to put forth this effort.  Thank you all for the support!

Here are some pics!

$100.00 donated on 2/17/24 to the Shiley Marcos Alzheimer's Research Center

#70th Ultra - Oracle Rumble 50K

 Yes, I did indeed finish the Oracle Rumble on 1/27/24 in not a record time, but finished nevertheless!  A great nice sunny but cool weather was had by all!  Lori and Sunny met me with about 4 miles to go at Tiger Mine road which was greatly appreciated.  My time was about 50 minutes slower than the last time - which I believe was not only due to getting Covid again (3rd time) awhile ago, but I really haven't practiced that much on this harder section of the Arizona trail for awhile now  So, I felt a bit under trained, but managed a decent hiking pace nearer the end.  This is not an easy course even if your are in great shape.  The middle section is the toughest.  My best ultra running friend BJ ran too so it was great to talk to him a few times during the race, however most of the day was pretty quiet, and I listened to no music or podcasts!  My time was around 8:50 or so.  I was home by 5:30 and drinking a beer at 5:31!  A great day to finish this tough race!

Here's a few pictures.  Thank you for all of you supporting me!  #70 is done!

 

$100.00 Donated to the Shiley Marcos Alzheimer's Disease Research Center 1/30/24