Its probably safe to say that there is not a flat area to do a training run within 40 miles of Payson. Located in one of the most mountainous areas of the state, I have to travel about 45 minutes south to Roosevelt lake to find an area that even approaches flat. The area I finally settled on for this winter/spring long training runs is along the road to the lake starting at the Market store in the small town of Tonto Basin. This photo pictorial which I am sharing with you shows the route during the maximum time of desert blooming of wildflowers. It is simply one of the most fabulous and scenic runs I have ever done!

This is the second of three training runs of 20 miles at this location before the early June San Diego marathon. I think that the challenge of the long up hills from the lake will really help me get ready for this event. My pace for this run was my San Diego marathon race pace down to the lake, then turning around running back up at my projected San Antonio race pace which is a bit slower.

This is my starting point - the Tonto Basin
Market.  I'm parked behind the brown truck

At the Market, looking south - toward
the lake

Off and running, left side of the
road.  Tonto Basin is a very open community

This is the BIG hill at mile 3.5, up hill for
at least half a mile

Halfway up the hill, crossing the river

Looking left at the half way point up
the hill at the river which always flows

Now at the top of the hill,
 its level for a while

The snow on 4 Peaks Mountain behind two
Saguaro cactuses

This is what I came for - a rich yellow
bloom under a Saguaro!

The bridge, the first view in the distance
of Roosevelt Lake

Saguaros in front of the snowy peaks

The Lake boundary sign

This area at the shallow side of the
lake is a rich area for water birds,
many are nesting now.

Along the swampy shallows

The first view of open water - some
fishing boats are seen here

The yellow flowers along the roadway
increase as I go downhill to lower
elevations.

At the 10 mile turn around point.  Looking
back the way I came along the shore

Fishing boat at the 10 mile point

And now - Up hill all the way to the Market

A desert wash looking toward 4 peaks

Massive yellow flowers in bloom.

The long up hill trek

This hill side is yellow from flowers

Heading back toward the swampy area

This was a cool Saguaro along the route

The reds from Indian Paintbrush flowers
along a road cut

Purple Lupines, and yellow flowers

This hill is a multicolor rainbow of flowers!

This was a totally cool scene, a sea of yellow
tiny flowers with a prickly pear cactus

The other side of the Tonto Challenge Hill.
(Thats what I call it anyway)

At the top of the hill again, looking over 
some fantastic geology in the Payson Basin
formation.

Coming down the long hill, left side, tons
of Lupines!

Finally, up ahead about half a mile is the
Tonto Market.  I'm feeling GREAT at this 
point, about 19.5 miles.

I'm BACK.  Oh man, what a run!