Iron90 - M100 - Superstition 50K

Keeping up with this website is as hard as some of the runs I do.  So here's to catching up.

Iron90 Fitness Challenge

My work signed up for a fitness challenge a couple months ago called Iron90 (www.iron90.com) and about twenty people signed up. We all purchased a heart rate monitor, started tracking our calorie intake, exercising regularly and every month we have a fitness challenge between companies in this challenge.  Each company has to select a representative to face off and then they cannot go again in another company vs company event. The first event was a 1 mile run holding your average heart rate in Zone 3. Which for me was averaging 153 or under.  I ran a 7:19 minute mile averaging 153 to win the competition.  Yeah me.  

Everyone at work thought it was incredible. A major victory. A turn of the tides.  I guess.  Seems a little unfair though really when the people I went against were not regular runners and I barely beat another person by only 8 seconds. PLUS, the next challenge is a 1 mile hill climb up North Mountain. Fastest time to the top wins. I'm now unable to compete in it since I did the 1 mile run.  

Yet, it's still fun to go try.  I ran over to North Mountain and met some of my coworkers (they met at 8am and people didn't show up because it was "too early."  That's the spirit...)

I ran down North Mountain at a 4:18 pace the entire way.  I think had I finished the full 1.0 mile I could have kept it.  I made it to .71 miles where I saw my coworkers and it was 3:48 on my watch.  Whoa.  I almost went over the edge three times on corners, nearly killed a Hispanic grandmother coming around the corner who yelled something at me and in general was basically morphing down the mountain.  Usain Bolt can eat it. White Man Run Fast.  

Yes, I know Bolt isn't a Native American so the stereotype doesn't work.   We're moving on.  I should double check my Garmin and make sure I'm not crazy.  But pretty sure that's a legit time.  Don't believe me?  Race me down North Mountain.  Or I'll challenge on on the Matanuska Peak Challenge course in Alaska.  14 miles.  18,000 feet of up and down.  It's brutal.  Those crazy bastards run straight down this scree field.  Full speed.  Reckless abandon.  Let it happen.  

Matanuska Peak, Alaska. 14 miles. 9,000 feet of climbing. 18,000 up and down. Ouch.

MM100

True Story. Mogollon Monster Cave Entrance...wow.

Registration opened for the inaugural Mogollon Monster 100 on ultrasignup.com.  We had 9 people sign up the first day, four from Washington D.C.  It was a great start and since we've had a few more sign up.  Being right before Christmas I'm not sure everyone's stoked to drop a few hundred extra on running and once everyone figures out their race schedule I'm sure we'll have a lot more entrants and am confident we'll fill all 100 slots.  The last few times I've been out running the trails someone has stopped me and asked me if I was the race director for the Mogollon Monster 100.  Bizarre.  Actually, beyond bizarre.  Once I was wearing the shirt so that makes sense but not sure how it happened aside from that.  I'm sure TMZ has been scoping out my coffee shop.  That would explain everything.  

Anyway, it's nice to see that the race is drawing interest and people are talking about it.  Some people I think are hesitant with it being a first year race and I can understand that.  Given the amount of time and energy I'm putting into it I don't know if it's going to run as a first year ultra though.  Hopefully it runs like it's been done several times with the experienced crew we have and the knowledge of the area from past Zane Grey races and the numerous times we've all run up there.  We'll see, there is plenty of time for planning and I have a lot of great ideas, new ideas for a lot of areas that should make the event a great success.  If not, well, at least we know where the thing lives now with this picture of it's cave. Thank goodness we figured that out...

Superstition Wilderness 50K/25K

The Superstition Wilderness is just that: A Wilderness.  It's wild, it's rugged and it's incredible.  I spent a lot of time out there this year and it started with the Superstition Wilderness 50K which brought out a good group of about 10 for a very challenging 50K route that took several almost 8 hours to complete. The footing it always in question, trail can be difficult to follow but it is relentlessly breathtaking in scenery as the course completely encircles the Weaver's Needle before returning to the First Water Trailhead.  My wonderful wife will once again take anyone back from the Peralta Trailhead back to their vehicle if they choose to put in 18 miles versus heading back up the ridge for the final return.  The course is amazing, weather is perfect in January and if not, who cares?  I'm going regardless.  January 7th, 7am Start time from First Water Trail Head.  [email protected] if you want to join us.  We run as a group, or at least with a partner.  Everyone carries a map.  Only aid is at Peralta Trail head.  Mile 18.  Be prepared to get scratched up, probably fall, and fall in love with the area.