#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

 

 

Another one Done! #52 - In the Books!

 Yes, another adventure ultra run was completed yesterday 9/15/20 in Prescott, AZ.  Run mostly on the Prescott Circle Trail around the city, I basically charted out a 32 mile section of the trail to complete it in a little over 8 hours.  I finished right at home too which is so nice to do and so convenient!  I was in the tub within minutes of finishing soaking and cleaning my salty and crusty body!  Lori and Sunny met me around half way (15 miles) and gave my much needed food and drink.  A couple band aids were applied on my hands because of a fall on the trail around the 14 mile mark.  Oh well, not the first time!

My route basically started out from one of the northern most sections of the Circle trail and end at home near the southern most section of the trail.  It got hot out there and I needed all the water I carried too.  I had to lay down for awhile in bed after the tub soaking too.  I guess it took more out of me this time since I only finished my other one not even 2 weeks before.

I so happy I got another chance at finishing another ultra for Alzheimer's!  I relish these times and I'm so happy that I'm able to do this.  Thank you God and Mom, Joan Susan Lyle!  Also, thanks to my dear wife, Lori, of course!

Here are some pictures!  Thanks for the support as always!

$100.00 Donated to Alzheimer's on 9/16/20

 

#51 Just Completed!

 On September 2, 2020 I decided to do another Ultra-Marathon in Prescott, AZ.  Since my 55K race in Flagstaff was cancelled because of Covid, I decided to do one on my own.  With a little over 8 hours, I finished another 50K I drummed up primarily on the Circle Trail in and around Prescott.  I picked a great day to do it - it got a little warm but I had plenty of fluids to keep me going.  Lori and our dog Sunny met me half way and provided me some well deserved drink and food to keep me going - so that was extremely appreciated!  I virtually had the trails to my own and saw very few people.  I guess I only gained around 3500 feet overall, but it sure felt like more!  I tripped and fell down once on the trail and my right calf seized up for awhile.  That hurt, but I got a good massage from Lori and she took care of it.  Thank God for Lori.  All in all, a great day and another $100.00 for Alzheimer's!

Thanks for the support everyone!

$100.00 Donated to Alzheimer's Research on 9/7/20

#50 Ultra Marathon - Circumnavigation of Colorado's Engineer Mtn!

Wahoo!  Halfway completed in my quest!

On a picture perfect day (6/28/20) in the San Juan's, just north of Durango, CO., one of my bestest ultra running buds, BJ and I did a 28 mile ultra around Engineer Mountain.  It was a beautiful day- especially to take great photos of the spectacular scenery around us!  Up near Rolling Pass, we got to see the Hardrock 100 course from a completely new angle, ran on the well established Colorado Trail near the Rolling Pass and then down into the Cascade Creek.  We used Engineer Mtn. trail, the Colorado trail and the Cascade Creek trail in a circumnavigation of Engineer Mtn.  It was an astounding day all around!

Starting around 7:20 am we took our time running and hiking throughout the day.  We ended up finishing around 5:20, we ascended around 5500 ft. of gain, and saw an outstanding part of our back country of the U.S.   BJ had planned this whole route before so I greatly appreciate this plan!  It worked perfectly and we just had a great day.  It was pretty tough - that's for sure!  I'm glad we took our time and we didn't push it.  It paid dividends in the end.  I mean just look at the pictures!  Wow!

Thanks again for all the support!  1/2 way through!!!!!!!!!!!!!

$100.00 donated 7/1/20 to the Shirley Marcos Alzheimer's Research Center

#OperationInspiration Virtual 50K Race (#49 Ultra) done!

Wow, what a day full of good times, good runs, all for a good cause!

Irunfar.com thought this whole virtual race up in which all people who took part donated and supported funding the WHO in the midst of this Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund.  They generated over $52,000.00 and all the funding is going directly to helping people in need all over the world.  I feel honored to have taken part in this.  Lori, and daughters Della and Abby also did their own workouts to contribute as well.  Lori ran 11 miles, Della did a total of 16 miles and Abby did a 1 hour cardio dance.  Everyone who took part in this did at least a 1 hour workout and then share it on many different social media platforms.  I ended up doing a 50K around our neighborhood using all the social distancing guidelines, etc. Della and Lori each ran a few miles with me too, so I wasn't bored at all!  I listened to an audiobook a lot on the run around the neighborhood so that helped as well!

We had great weather the whole day too.  Some neighbors even cheered us on!  I even had my own aid station set up in front of my house so I could easily get what I needed from time to time.  Very convenient! 

Well,  thanks again for your support.  Here are a few pictures of my run.

$100.00 on 4/5/20 donated to the Shirley-Marcos Alzheimer's Disease Research Center