Grand Adventure

Mesquite race is done and my legs feel real good. Now on to the Grand Canyon. I will have lived in Arizona for 34 years on Tuesday in those 34 years NOT once have I taken the time to travel down the trails of the canyon. What a fool, people come from all over the world just to take a hike in its beauty. Yet there it is in my back yard and I have taken it for granted. I guess I have taken a lot of things for granted in life. This past year has really opened my eyes to what is real in this world. Anyway I'm headed into the canyon on Wednesday and I'm pretty excited. A solo run to Phantom ranch via the south Kaibab trail and return trip up Bright Angel trail 18 miles of beauty, wonder and awe! I’m packing somewhat light I’ll wear my normal running clothes but add tights and a pullover for the first few miles. Its forecasted to be in the mid 20's on the rim at 5 am and getting into the 80s at Phantom Ranch in the afternoon. I'll start with my camel back at about half full to save weight on the downhill then fill it up at the Ranch maybe grab some breakfast too. There will be some snacks in my pack, a few GU's and my camera will be close at hand. I want to run it fairly quickly but I also want to take a lot of pictures so I guess we'll see what happens.

Friends Again!

The last time I saw Andy Clemans I was very drunk at Los Dos Gringos in Scottsdale. Jed and I left the bar went to my house and Becky proceeded to go into labor with Leila that was over 8 years ago. WOW that was an awesome and very rough day. Through the powers of Facebook Andy and I have once again become in contact. Friends again. We decided to do the Whiskey 50 mountain bike race in Prescott. How cool is that. Then I called and bugged him to do a trail race with me. Here is where Andy's coolness comes into play. He's just started running and ran the rock and roll NOL 1/2. Without too much hesitation he signs up for one of the toughest 1/2 marathons around. The Mesquite Canyon trail race is the last race in the Ariviapa DRT winter series and its SUPPER steep, ROCKY, ROUGH, and loaded with Cholla Ballz. Andy did an awesome job running the race! A couple slips a few chollas in the back but other than that he finished the race with a very respectable time. I had a great time running knowing that somewhere out there was Andy working his ass off.  Every chance I got I was looking for him. A few times I actually saw the big SOB. People around me probably thought I was nuts yelling GO ANDY from the top of the peaks but f them. My race was pretty good although my legs didn't open up until mile 5 or 6 then it was on. One of the cooler things that happened was while running up the mesquite canyon I looked up and saw a few deer standing 100 yards up on the steep side of the mountain. When have you ever run in a Maricopa County Park and seen deer watching a race. The up hills were pretty freaking brutal not only steep but very chunky and loose. Once my legs were awake I opened them up a little bit I ran my ass off. The far turn around was really cool flowery down hill I hit them really hard and made up some time. Once I got back to mesquite canyon I was very intimidated by the steepness and rockiness of the terrain. That is until a woman came flying up from behind she was smoking the downhill. I made some smart ass remark and she told me if I was man enough that I should race her to the bottom. She warned that the downhills are "HER THING". Well it was on fear be damned I got on her ass and we BOMBED down the hill she was awesome.  She was fast and very good at running down hills! We raced to the bottom I never fell or stumbled fear was left far behind. It was one of the most exhilarating things I have ever done. The next thing I knew we were at the aid station at the bottom of the hill and she won. The last 2.5 miles were hot and sunny the nice breeze from the higher elevations was gone. I sprayed my head with my water bottle and finished the race. NO PAIN NO ACHES I felt really good. I grabbed some snacks, water, a bowl of pasta and a lawn chair. I waited for Andy to come trucking down the train as hard as it was I was worried about him. But the next thing I knew he came running up the trail to the finish. GOOD WORK ANDY! It was a great race it was an even better reunion with an old friend!

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Spring break is hereish.

So here are my plans for the next week or so On sat 3-12 I’m running the Mesquite race in the white tanks with Ariviapa running. Andy Clemens is going to run with me then probably shoot me for talking him into running it. It’s going to be a great time I'm going to crash at Andy’s house the night before the race saving me from a 3 am wake up. THANK YOU Andy! From there Becky and the kids are taking a mini vacation to stay with friends in Vegas then meeting up with me and Rex in Flagstaff or at the Grand Canyon. I have to work Sunday and Monday while they are gone but I’m taking Tuesday off. It’s my birthday and all. I’m leaving Tuesday to Mather campground so I can run the canyon on Wednesday. Poor Rex will be in the grand canyon dog jail while I run . They don't allow dogs below the rim of the canyon. My plan is to wake up early catch the Grand Canyon shuttle bus to Yaki point and follow the South Kiabab trail down to Phantom ranch, have a bite to eat then turn around and "Run" up the Bright Angel trail. I’m packing light I’ll throw on my New Osprey Talon 22 pack with 100oz of water, some snacks, change of socks and a couple of warm layers. I’ll be sure to snap some pics of the whole trip for u'all to enjoy. When I’m done running the canyon Ill free Rexley and either wait for Beck and the kids or meet them at the hotel in Flagstaff where we'll spend a few days goofing off. I hope there is snow I want to do some boarding and get the kids on some skis.

Quick epic

So I decide today I needed an adventure. But i didnt know what to do or where to go. So I hopped on my bike and rode East until the paved road ended and turned to dirt. My end goal was to reach the Alamo section of the Arizona trail. Its one of the most fun and beautiful sections of the az trail.Google said it would be a 50 mile trek I was thinking 60+ so with 144 oz of water, some snacks and warm clothes I ventured into the wild. I didn't make it to the az trail I got lost at mile 40,  missing a turn somewhere. But I made it to Box canyon and some totally brutal hills. 55 miles in all I had a great time I didn't ride the single speed I took the old trusty Gary Fisher with gears. Glad i did and Kinda glad I didn't make the alamo section I was nearly out of water and sunlight. Becky and the kids picked me up at Gonzales Pass 5 miles from Supie town and we had an awsome dinner at the Los Hermanos in Superior. One other thing, as I was getting ready to leave for my adventure, Max comes up and says "I dont want you break your leg when you crash" WoW I was a little worried the whole trip after that. Every steep section his words would cross my mind. Totally mind F&^%$# by a 5 year old!

OH NO SINGLE SPEED

I found a deal on craigslist that I couldn't pass up.

I have been looking for a single speed for a while but couldn't get a really nice custom bike like I wanted. So I got this ride and its pretty cool. I need to shrink the gearing but other than thats its ready to go.

Running through AJ

Well that went relativly well. The Lost Dutchman Maraton was a blast. The weather was some what nice, it stayed around 45 deg. the whole time. The start of the race was awsome, sitting around 20 campfires with a bunch of runners shooting the the shit for a couple of hours was pretty cool. It was super low key and relaxed event the starting gun took its time. The first 7 miles through a hilly and winding road in the Arizona desert made the time really fly by. It was a little muddy due to the rains the night before but not to bad. The crowd of people at the race was the best part, everyone was friendly and willing to talk and most had left their ipod at home. The course goes from the Peralta trail head to the US 60 then to Gold Canyon wanders around for a while dropping you back off ant he US 60 at mile 15 ish. From there you head into the mighty town of Apache Junction. I never realized just how hilly this area really is. I guess im always in a car. Well once you hit AJ you start the log gradual up hills to the base of the Superstion mountains they seem to go on for miles. Once the road comes to a dead end you turn around and head to the finish. The last 5 miles seem to have about 4 miles of up hill and one measley mile of going down. The final 2 miles the weather really started getting bad. One of Az's famous wind storms was ripping up right into my face. All in all I finished just before the torrent of rain fell. The real cool thing was Becky and the kids suprised me along the way. They would just pop up out of no where. Similar to the 2 chubby guys at the PF changs last month. I was happier to see Beck and the kids though.

Lost Dutchman

Tomorrow Im going to run the Lost Dutchman Marathon it should be a pretty cool run. Rain and cooler temps are in the forcast. SO we went out and drove the course before hand Its going to be a tough one I think. The first 7 miles are going to be a muddy and a nasty hilly mess. The rain was really coming down. Then there was the herd of long horn cattle holding their ground in the middle of the trail I'm talking 5-6 foot horns. I dont know about you but anything that is willing to stand toe to toe with a full size truck and not move off the road is not going to think twice about tearing up a runner. Along with all of that jazz all of the washes look like they are going to be running. All in the first 7 miles. I AM SO STOKED FOR THE ADVENTURE!!!!!!!!!!  Nothing says running like steers and flash floods. The rest of the course is hilly and your typical marathon( there are quite a few washes to cross). Becky is bringing the kids out to meet me at the finish they were going to meet me in multiple places but the weather really sucks so they are just coming to see me at the end. Its going to be  a wild time!