Ramble On - JJ100, Cyborgs, & Dragons

Javalina Jundred countdown continues...

Ed pretty much sums up the race...hilarious.

We are down to less than a week before the Javalina Jundred starts.  This year there are almost 400 runners are taking their costumes out to the Pemberton trail looking for their first, second or who knows how many finishers. Last year I spent the entire race out there volunteering, crewing, and pacing and it was one of my favorite ultrarunning experiences I had last year.  I loved being out there at the aid station helping people, cheering people on, meeting new people. The energy at JJ is different than other ultras, less serious but still with that driven attitude as runners are still put to task trying to run 100 miles.  But when you have people dressed as Spiderman, Jester, and Naked Woman it's hard to take it all too seriously.  Charlie Nickell did a great write up in Runner's World after last years race.  


http://trailheads.runnersworld.com/2010/10/javelina-jundred.html

This year I will be at Jackass Junction Aid Station again for the first 8 hours of the race then marking the course for the night time and finally pacing one of Arizona's hopefuls, Michael Carson, in his first bid for a 100 mile finish.  I've met so many more people in the ultra community that are running or volunteering at this race it's almost like a giant family reunion. From the Tucson Trail Runners Dallas Stevens, Michael Duer and Renee Stevens to the WMRC runners like Jay, Deron, Grandpa Jim among so many others.  I can't wait to see Michael Miller out there shirtless (that sounds weird...) on his last lap, yet again cheering other runners on despite how he may be feeling.  Javalina is a very unique ultra, the costumes, the trail, the RD's Jamil & Nick Coury, it's just something you can't find anywhere else.  So while it is a "loop course" that may turn off some of the mountain runners, it's not easy, it's not flat and it IS beautiful. Fountain Hills has some of the best desert views in the area, it's a great place to see the Arizona desert and sets the bar extremely high for any ultra with it's organization, design and how much damn fun it is. I'm excited and I'm not even racing it!

Dragon's & 

If any Dragon's show up I know who to call. We're Facebook friends.

If you are interested Jay Danek asked me to put together who I thought would be the Top 5 Winners for both the Men's field and Women's field.  
Picking ultra winner's is tough as it's not like you have Baseball Reference or some large data bank to reference.  Running is filled with dark horses, people that have been training their ass's off and you've never heard of them.  It's part of the beauty of it so if someone was left off the list, please don't get offended, it's just for fun and hopefully sparks some conversation.

Here's the link:  http://www.mcdowellmountainman.com/

Elizabeth Howard gets my humor. Let's hope there are no dragons. I don't think the Coury's liability insurance for the race covers dragon attacks.  http://www.lizahoward.com/2011/11/dragons/

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Cyborg Running

I have a point to this.  But first, Google "Cyborg" and take a look at the f'd up world out there (look at the images).  Holy shitballs. What the hell is that???  Whoa.  I just have to take a step back for a minute...

The point is I have since decided after Cascade Crest to run the Mogollon Monster 100 course in December, self supported, in winter.  It's a challenge that I'm looking forward to in both to see the course as I'm expecting others to see it but also for the sake of running an extremely tough course and moving forward with this project once and for all.  With the pace the National Forest staff works I expect the permits to be approved sometime around 2019.  Just kidding, hopefully this month but it's quite a process and not one steeped in examples of a lot of efficiency.  I'm pretty sure I'm bottom of the pile for them.  Luckily I'm extremely persistent and it WILL happen.  Until then I'm training hard to survive that contest in self will with no buckle, no fans, no "grand finale" to the run.  I know already it's going to be one of the toughest challenges yet.  I'm ready for it.  

www.mogollonmonster100.com 

In between then I've signed on to pace my friend Michael Carson at the JJ100.  Mike's wicked fast, like 7:30 50 mile time at Leona Divide.  It's a little out of my realm but I know I can keep up with him for 15-30 miles (when he's been running for 60 miles...)  My fear has been not being able to keep up  with him so I'm been actively trying to hammer out some fast runs on the trails and last night I put in such a great run I was left sprinting down the mountain, at dark, full speed wondering if somehow my Mom lied to me and she conceived me with a night on the town with Chuck Norris (sorry Dad...).  There's no other way to really explain how I was running so fast without being the lifeblood of a Legend like Norris, up every hill full speed as if there was no incline at all with no fatigue and did so for over 2 hours.  I felt incredible, like my feet were barely touching the ground, smooth, fast, even steps up and down and in every which way.  For those two brief hours I felt like a Cyborg.  A machine.  One of those "fast guys."  Whether or not I could maintain it for a full 50K i'm not sure but I'm not sure I'm ready to say I couldn't have last night.  It was one of those runs that wipes out the last ten disappointing runs and instills that sense of confidence for all the future ones.  I dare Michael to try and drop me out there.  I'm so excited to help him push harder on the course, help him through some rough spots, help him stay on target and just encourage him along the way.  The multiple facets of running never seem to be confined to just running down the road.  The more I run, the more I engage in the ultra community I realize that the physical aspects of running are really just a small part of it all.  The mental aspect takes hold of so much more, and the person to person interaction holds a lot more meaning than expected, so much that in the end I find myself forgetting about   physical pain and only thinking about the personal relationships I made out on the trail.  

Running is something I am very passionate about but helping someone reach their goal is something that cannot be compared with anything. Last year pacing my friend Matt, closing out the last full lap, watching Matt dig so deep, push so hard with so much passion and then finish, inside his goal, was really incredible.  You can't help but respect that drive, that passion and to be surrounded by it with SO many like minded people all concentrated in a 15 mile loop, is an incredible experience I wish more people would expose themselves to.  I'm excited to be a small part in Michael's experience and everyone else on the trail.  If you are running JJ100 let me know and I'll be sure to cheer you on!  Either way, I'll be the guy cheering you on even if I don't know you...

..Most likely hopped up on Mountain Dew.  A LOT of it.