#ACI2021
  • Get Out. Get Lost.
  • ACI UPDATES
  • ACI - Acadia Cross Island
  • The Acadia Round
  • Past Races, Hikes & Adventures
    • Barnhardt Loop Trail 2008
    • Cascade Crest Classic 100 Mile Endurance Race
    • Copper Basin 50K 2010
    • Crow Pass Crossing 2010
    • Elephant Mountain 35K 2013
    • Flagstaff 50K 2010
    • Kahtoola Race Series 2010
    • Mazatzal Wilderness 18M 2010
    • Mesquite Canyon 50K 2010
    • Mesquite Canyon 50k 2011
    • Mesquite Canyon 50K - 2013
    • Mountain Mist 50K 2010
    • Mt. Lemmon 50M 2011
    • Pass Mountain 50k
    • Phoenix Summit Challenge 2009
    • Ragnar Relay del Sol 2010
    • R2R2R 2009
    • R2R2R October 2010
    • R2R2R June 2011 - Another Notch on the belt of Humility
    • San Tan Scramble 50K 2011
    • Superstition Wilderness 50 Mile Adventure Spring 2011
    • Tucson Marathon 2009
    • Tucson Marathon 2013
    • Zane Grey 50M 2010
    • Zane Grey 50M 2011
  • Bucket List
  • Contact Me
    • Contact Me

Get Out. Get Lost.

The Power of Strava 

1/17/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture



I've been using Strava.com as a training tool for my running for the second half of 2012 and will continue with is through 2013.  I wrote a piece for www.trailrunningclub.com on why.  Check it out here:  

http://www.trailrunningclub.com/blog/2013/01/17/the-power-of-strava/

0 Comments

Superstition Wilderness 50K 2013

1/8/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
Another year, another beautiful trip through the Superstition Wilderness to start the new year.  

This was the third year we've had this run, a Fat Ass the first weekend of January.  I've had a bit of an obsession with the Superstitions since my brother Noah and I started out here hiking up Siphon Draw trail up the Flatiron.  All those times I had always wondered what was out beyond those rocks and ridge lines, going on for seemingly forever.  

So one day I bought a map of the Superstitions and I started to find out.  

And what I found was incredible.  A world of side canyons, springs, trails, cactus, trees, thorns, and solitude.  We'd run the first year the same year I ran 50 miles in the Superstitions on a Jeff Jones designed route with Paul Rondeau.  That run showed me such a diverse range of mountains that held so little care for your wellbeing.  A ruthless system of trails hidden among abandoned dwellings, gold mines and little used trails.  One mistake and you're going to be found by the strike of a miracle, nothing else.

So with any self supported run having the right people is always key.  We had another hardy group join us this time with many making their first trips to the Superstitions on this run.  We had three of our Mogollon Monster's 9 finishers in Jerome Jourdon, Rudolph Palmer and Danny Speros.  Deva Lingemann (last woman standing at Mog100 with Heather Lightfoot), Jon Roig (3rd time for the Superstitions 50K), my brother Noah "I don't run from April to January and debut with this run" Dougherty, and Jon Nelson.  Jon joined me on the Gonzalez 24 hour run and is running Zane Grey for the first time this April.  This would be a great test for him, the Superstitions have arguably more rocks than the Highline trail...

I now only run once a week it seems and after running 16 miles in at South Mountain the previous Sunday I didn't run a step until the following Saturday.  I went out for an easy six miles in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve and ran into a couple friends.  I jumped in behind them for the next several miles and ran back to my car solo.  Getting back to my car I realized I was missing my car key.

Perfect.

Backtracking 3 miles to the last place I had it I didn't see it and gave up.  But not before I put in 13 miles.

Eight miles into the Superstitions the following day I knew it was going to be a long one.  Dead legs, no energy, gassed before we even got going.  So it took a good bit to push past that and keep a smile on my face.  Even the incredible descent off Miner's Needle couldn't get me going and coming into mile 18 at Peralta Trailhead I was seriously considering bailing at my own Fat Ass.  

Yet as usually happens and I've grown to know this about the sport, there are inevitable rebounds.  I always think to myself, no matter how shitty I feel during a long run, if I just keep moving long enough its bound to turn around.  It's just a matter of time.  

So we reached Peralta and I got to see my wife and our son Dean, grabbed some melons and recharged the battery, said goodbye to the Jon's and Noah and we headed up the biggest climb of the day.  

Climbing is my battery recharge for sure.  I can feel like stringing myself up to the next tree branch with my backpack straps one minute and then we could start up a several mile climb and I just click into gear and things start to turn around.  By the time we reach the top I felt much better and I was looking forward to the long ridge line running back down the valley.  


Picture
Deva at the top of Peralta overlooking the Weaver's Needle.
The five of us hammered out the remaining 13 miles with a great group downhill, everyone self sufficient, nobody outwardly struggling just pushing on.  We hit the Black Mesa Trail and knocked out the climb out, passed a group of horse back riders at the Second Water turnoff and finished off the remaining two miles to make it back in 7:30 on the dot.  A "slow" 50K for most but as a group a great time with plenty of time to enjoy the day.  

As with every year the park rangers are at the lots and always look on us with such inquisitive eyes, cowboy hats turned down when they ask the inevitable question, "Where did you all start?"

This year however we caught up with the Ranger at the Peralta Trailhead and he said he would meet us back at First Water later on.  

Sure enough, there he stood with his partner at the top of the hill by the trail signout.  These guys know the trails as well as anyone and they know how rough they are.  Even though these kinds of training runs never make it into the ranks of ultra signup the admiration of these old cagey cowboys makes it well worth the effort.  

Until next year...


0 Comments
    Picture

    Archives

    September 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    September 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    May 2017
    May 2016
    February 2016
    February 2014
    December 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    May 2010
    February 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009

    Categories

    All
    100 Mile Training Schedule
    #AcadiainWinter
    #acadianationalpark
    Acadia National Park
    Across The Years
    Adam Campbell
    Alaska Wilderness Challenge
    Andrew Heard
    Andrew Skurka
    Antelope
    Anthony Culpepper
    Apache County
    Aravaipa Running
    Aravaiparunning.com
    Arizona
    Arizona Road Racers
    Arizona Trail Running
    Arizona Ultrarunning
    Arizona Wilderness Trail Series
    Arr
    Art Bourque
    Asu Study
    Az 100
    Banff National Park
    Bar Harbor
    Barharbor365.com
    Bar Harbor Inn
    Bataan
    Bear Canyon
    Born To Run
    Boulder
    Cabin Loop
    Cadillac Mountain
    Calvary
    Camelback Mountain
    Camelback X-T-R-E-M-E
    Canyon De Chelly
    Cascade Crest
    Cascade Crest 100
    Castle Hot Springs
    Cave Creek Thriller
    Ccc100
    Chiricahua National Monument
    Chiricahua Wilderness
    Chirunning
    Christian Bale
    Christian Griffith
    Christian Griffiths
    Chugiak
    Coachwhip
    Colorado
    Copper Canyon
    Cougar
    Crow Pass Crossing
    Dallas Stevens
    Dave James
    Dave Matthews Band
    Death March
    Debbie Leftwich
    Diana Nyan
    Dominic Allen
    Double Crossing
    Dutchman
    Eagle River
    East End
    Eiger
    Escalante Trail
    Evan Honeyfield
    Fat Ox
    Fat Ox 50
    Florida
    Fred Willet
    Freedom
    Friends Of Acadia
    Fstpkr
    Gary Allen
    Geoff Roes
    #getoutgetlost
    Getoutgetlost.com
    #getoutside
    Gmr
    Gopro Hd Hero 2
    Grand Canyon
    Grandpa Jim 50k
    Grandpa Jim's 50K
    Great Enchantment Trail
    Green Mountain Relay
    Hal Koerner
    Harvard
    Highline Trail
    Honey Albrecht
    Hotel Explora
    I2p
    Imperial Dunes
    Impossible 2 Possible
    Injured
    Injury
    Inov-8
    Inov-8 Roclite290
    Iron90.com
    Jaguar In Arizona
    Jared Campbell
    Javalina Jundred
    Jay Danek
    Jeff Jones
    Jeffrey Bryant
    Jennifer Pharr Davis
    Jeremy Dougherty
    Jerry Armstrong
    Jf
    Jj10
    Jj100
    Jody Chase
    John Pearce
    Jon Roig
    Josh Meals
    Kahtoola
    Kalahari
    Karl Meltzer
    Karsten Solheim
    Keys 100
    Kilian
    Kilian Journet
    Kilian's Quest
    Kilian\'s Quest
    Kilians Quest
    Killian
    Killian Journet
    Killian\'s Quest
    Kofa Wilderness
    Kyle Maynard
    La Sportiva
    Leki Poles
    Liza Howard
    Liz Everly
    Macho B
    Maine
    Maine Life
    Maine Trail Running
    Maricopa County
    Maroon Bells
    Matanuska Peak Challenge
    Matt Hart
    Matthew Mcconaughey
    Matt Schmidt
    Matt Schmitt
    Mazatzal Wilderness
    Mcdowell Mountain
    Mcdowellmountainman
    Mcdowell Mountain Man
    Mcdowell Mountain Man 50k
    Mcdowell Mountain Park
    Mcdowell Mountains
    MDI
    MDI Marathon
    Mesquite Canyon 50k
    Michael Carson
    Michael Duer
    Michael Miller
    Mike Duer
    Millinocket Marathon
    Mission Kilimanjaro
    Mmm
    Mogollon Monster 100
    Mogollon Rim
    Monument Valley
    Motorcycle Diaries
    Mountain Lion
    Mount Desert Island
    Mount Desert Island Marathon
    Mount Olympus
    Mt. Lemmon
    Nadir Manor
    National Geographic
    Navajo Nation
    New Mexico
    Noah Dougherty
    North Mountain
    North Rim
    Norway
    Painted Desert
    Paria Canyon
    Pass Mountain 50k
    Patagonia
    Paulette Zillmer
    Paul Rondeau
    Pemberton
    Peralta
    Peter
    Petrified National Park
    Phantom Injury
    Phoenix Mountain Preserve
    Pvcc
    R2r2r
    Ragnar Relay
    Ray Zahab
    Reign Of Fire
    Renee Stevens
    Rim To Rim To Rim
    Run100miles
    RunMDI
    Running
    Running On The Moon 50k
    Run Toms Thumb
    Sabino Canyon
    Salomon Running
    Sand Beach
    San Tan 50k
    San Tan Scramble 50k
    Sarah Dasher
    Sean Cunnif
    Shaw Butte
    Shirts
    Siphon Draw Trail
    South Mountain
    South Mountain 20k
    South Rim
    Squaw Peak
    Steve Prefontaine
    Superstition Wilderness
    Superstition Wilderness 25k
    Superstition Wilderness 50k
    Superstition Wilderness 50m
    Sweden
    Tanner Trail
    Team Red White & Blue
    Team RWB
    The Arctic Light
    Thehikeguy.com
    Thompson Peak
    Timelapse
    Time Lapse Photography
    Tombstone
    Tom Gormley
    Tom St. Germain
    Toms Thumb
    Torres Del Paine
    Track
    Trail Running
    Trails
    Training
    Travel Alberta
    Tucson
    Tucson Marathon
    Tucson Trail Runners
    Two Men
    Ueli Steck
    Ultraladies Running Club
    Ultrarunning
    Usery Park
    Utmb
    Vermilion Cliffs
    Vermont
    Video
    Vimeo
    Visit Bar Harbor
    Visit Maine
    Warren Haynes
    Wednesday Morning Running Club
    West Slabs Of Olympus
    White Sands
    Wmrc
    Wyatt Earp
    Yasso 800\'s
    Yosemite
    Zane Grey
    Zane Grey 50
    Zane Grey 50 Mile Endurance Run
    ZG50

You're only tired because you think you're tired. Keep going.
  • Get Out. Get Lost.
  • ACI UPDATES
  • ACI - Acadia Cross Island
  • The Acadia Round
  • Past Races, Hikes & Adventures
    • Barnhardt Loop Trail 2008
    • Cascade Crest Classic 100 Mile Endurance Race
    • Copper Basin 50K 2010
    • Crow Pass Crossing 2010
    • Elephant Mountain 35K 2013
    • Flagstaff 50K 2010
    • Kahtoola Race Series 2010
    • Mazatzal Wilderness 18M 2010
    • Mesquite Canyon 50K 2010
    • Mesquite Canyon 50k 2011
    • Mesquite Canyon 50K - 2013
    • Mountain Mist 50K 2010
    • Mt. Lemmon 50M 2011
    • Pass Mountain 50k
    • Phoenix Summit Challenge 2009
    • Ragnar Relay del Sol 2010
    • R2R2R 2009
    • R2R2R October 2010
    • R2R2R June 2011 - Another Notch on the belt of Humility
    • San Tan Scramble 50K 2011
    • Superstition Wilderness 50 Mile Adventure Spring 2011
    • Tucson Marathon 2009
    • Tucson Marathon 2013
    • Zane Grey 50M 2010
    • Zane Grey 50M 2011
  • Bucket List
  • Contact Me
    • Contact Me