Cave Creek Thriller 50k

Firstly I'll say I really don't have much to add in addition to already superb race reports from Aravaipa Running & McDowell Mountain Man AKA Jay Danek. Definitely check those out as I'll be brief in my account.

Went into the race not fresh being that I did Mt. Ord (couldn't resist) the Wednesday before... awesome time but it does include 4k ascent and decent. My hamstrings and calves were feeling a bit tired from that.

50k group on the charge

Photo courtesy of Aravaipa Running

The field out there was quite competitive with a variety of Arizona's talents. The trails at Cave Creek are just superb... very nice and manicured. I think this is relative to each person but I found them to be nice. Runnable all throughout and I think that is what got to people. You can go all out if you want and that's what people did. People started out fast and it was pretty much a game of who could last the longest. Despite cursing my shoe choice (despite looking cool) and muscle fatigue from some good recent training I went out there and did my best. I think 4:10's out there is realistic (ran a 4:26). It's a really sweet course that isn't the easiest or hardest but is a great example of desert trail terrain. I also donned the Aravaipa jersey and am super excited to be part of their team. It's an honor to be a part of such a talented and incredible group of people.

Until next time!

Photo courtesy of Bret Sarnquist

Man Against Horse 50 mile

If you were a centaur could you win both man and horse races? A plausible question I ask myself during the 28th annual Man Against Horse 50 mile endurance run & ride.

Start of the 2011 Man Against Horse Run

A run where both Man & Horse share the trail through the beautiful mountains of Prescott Valley. Man and beast pitted against each other in an eternal battle for grand dominion of planet earth (cue dramatic music). OK so that last past isn't totally true.

This has been on my radar for about a year and I'm so glad I did it. It was a really unique experience and the funnest runs I have done as of yet (even though I had a couple rough patches). I'd like to extend my utmost gratitude to Nick Coury for his help on a couple aid stations where without I would have be much worse off. I also am led to believe his mountain beard does have magical powers just by the sight of it you can run faster.

Pictures I have can be found here: https://picasaweb.google.com/103914733600237276293/ManAgainstHorse50Mile?authkey=Gv1sRgCLzgw-6O45KQnwE
More race pictures can be found here (very nice and high quality): http://mapphotography.smugmug.com/Running/Man-Against-Horse/19366190_FJr4TM#1514276844_HvBXRVt
2011 Results: http://managainsthorse.net/result.html

Paatuwaquasti - Water is Life 50k

It's been a long time since I have posted anything and it's mainly because I never know where to start. So instead of thinking I'll just start.

I didn't do any races from April to August so it feels like a LONG time. I however did some pacing/crewing at Angeles Crest 100 (which was amazing, scary and inspiring at the same time). Other than that most races during those summer months normally require long travel or are things that require entry that involve lotteries or extra requirements.

Finally racing season has finally starting to begin here in Arizona, for me at least. I did the Paatuwaquasti - Water is Life 50k which is not a race more-so a run or experience. It was really awesome and lots of fun to be out there with other people. You can read a great report on that here: http://iantorrence.blogspot.com/2011/09/paatuwaqatsi-run-water-is-life-50k.html

Here are some digital photographs:

I really wish they wouldn't put those awful power lines everywhere. Ugh.

Dude on the left there had a little too much sun tan lotion on... looks like casper.

Finishing up wearing my Air Jordans

It was that big.

Finish conversation. All the cool people wear baller shorts. Just FYI.

Always one step ahead of fashion. Don't hate.

Upcoming Stuff:

I have given a lot of thought of the runs I will be doing in the upcoming months. This is what will happen:

Man Against Horse 50 mile - October 1
Javelina Jundred 100 mile - November 12
TNF 50 - December 3

I think that looks good. The thing I'm a bit... uhh inquisitive? about is Javelina. I have no idea how that shit will play out. It's loops but it looks fun because of the Halloween aspect and huge group of runners and support... but damn loops. Oh well. It's close... has a sweet ass belt buckle. I want a buckle so I can:
a) wear a rockin' belt
b) intimidate people
c) intimidate intimidating people
d) look badass

Yeah I have no idea how my training is going to play out for 100 miles but I'll finish one thing a time.....

Leona Divide 50 Race Report

This race report is way past belated but the experience is still quite fresh in my mind. I think that's what it's like for anything you do for the first time being the LD50 was my first 50-mile run. I signed up for it only a couple days after doing my last 50k of the winter running season here in Arizona. Having not completed a 50-mile yet it was something of importance to do. Here's a breakdown:

Goals & Breakdown
So my original goals were to: finish, finish in top 10 and complete it in 7-8 hours.

I accomplished all of these. I finished 10th place in 7:34. I did have some issues during the run and with those aside I feel I realistically could have finished in 5th in the lower 7's at optimum performance given some circumstance aside. I can't complain being the race was my first 50-mile experience. There were some parts that were challenging but I was going into it not feeling that great, too.

Course
Lake Huges, CA is a beautiful area... it's very serene and peaceful... it almost has a Vermont like feeling. The course was primarily an out and back (should have studied it better) and had some good climbs. It was much sandier (is that a word?) than I expected... really wore the wrong shoes for these conditions and think that was a downfall for me. The morning started out a bit chilly and it got quite windy on the tops of the mountains during the day.

Volunteers and aid stations were top notch. I saw some dude in a rabbit suit with a talking parrot at half point... wtf? lol. They had an 80's and Alice in Wonderland themed ones, as well.

Company
I went with David James and James Bonnett. Seriously, can you have anyone better to go with? Top notch athletes... I felt honored to tag along.

Conclusion
Awesome experience... definitely a race you'll want to check out and makes for a friendly first 50!