Updated 10/26/14
2014
Medal from the
Half Marathon
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The Flagstaff Half Marathon
Trail Run at the Nordic Center
September 20th , 2014
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The T shirt from
the Event
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A chilly frosty
morning greeted us as we arrived Saturday morning up at the Nordic
Center once again to do the trail racing events this year. While
the fall colors had not quite arrived yet at the 8000 foot altitude
of the Lodge, up near 9000 feet during the race, the aspens were
starting to turn golden. Recent monsoon rains had made the ground
wet, but not too mucky and actually I think it helped get grip
on the slopes on this grueling trail race which is one of the
hardest in the state to do well.
Once again, I did
the Half, and Dawn the 10k event. I tied my fastest ever time
of 2:06 set last year and back in 2008, and Dawn came in right
in the mid range of her times in 1:46 for her race walk. We both
had a great time, and the weather could not be better. Two deer
ran right in front of me across the trail during the race too.
Plenty of food and drinks at the finish line, and a nice medal
this year to boot.
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Images of the Event
Below: Before the race runners start to get in line
Last minute registration and packet pickup
Waiting for the star of the Events
Packet pickup inside the tent
The finish line after the Full marathoners left
Junction aid station
Junction sign to keep you on course
Here I am lining up for the Half (Center background in blue)
Start of the Half Marathon
Here I am heading up towards the steep up hill climbs ahead (circled dressed in medium blue)
After completing the fastest run of this race - ever! Im wearing my "PR Gaiters"
Dawn after her race walk
Both of us after the race
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Gaspin in the Aspens
Woods Run
August 23, 2014
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When we arrived
at the Flagstaff Nordic Center at around 6am, the skies were
clear, and it was around 50 degrees. This new month that the
race is run in August instead of June made for slightly warmer
temperatures, but a real chance for monsoon rains to interfere.
Fortunately, no monsoon was in sight and we were in a break from
the constant rains and clouds this year. The race was full, with
250 runners for all events total - It always fills up in the
last month before the race so you have to sign up early!
The 15k, which
is just over 9 miles started around 7:30 and 5k shortly after
that. You couldn't ask for better conditions this year! The trail
was not too mucky from recent rains and made for fast down hill
sprints. No big animal sightings this year, mostly squirrels
and birds but lots of elk and deer tracks along the race route
which winds on back trails in the deep woods. This high altitude
trail race is all about big rocks, roots and ruts in the trail.
This year no body fell near me, but there were a few injuries
as usual for this challenging of a run. We both did well, I tied
my fastest time ever tying last years run in 2:06, and Dawn came
in in great shape with here typical fast race walking pace in
53 minutes, faster than some runners in the 5k.
This is the first
of several trail races that get me in shape for the October Grand
Canyon Rim to Rims. Its a slow but fierce ramp up to the 50 mile
adventure that comes in a few months.
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Images of the Event
Below: Sunrise over the Peaks in Flagstaff
Below: At 6am, lines for late race sign up and packet pickup in tent behind lodge
Below: The Starting line before the race
Below: Neil - making sure the event goes smoothly.
Below: The Nordic Center Lodge before the race
Below: Here I am warming up before the race.
Below: Start of the 5k
Below: Waiting for 15k runners to come in
Below: Neil photographs incoming runners
Below: Coming in for the finish!
Below: The last 100 feet
Below: After the run
Below: Post race photo
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Above: GPS Data
from the Half
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The Dave MacKay Memorial
Big Brother Big Sister Half Marathon
Flagstaff, Az
August 9, 2014
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Finishers Shirt
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A big PR for this
race, fastest run of this event in 8 years. Nearly ideal weather
conditions, 50s at race start and a bit warm near 80 just after
I came in. Half way at mile 6 it rained lightly on us, cooling
us down enough to probably make us run faster mid race. Dawn
was not able to make it this year, however we are racing again
in two weeks at the 'Gaspin event at the Nordic Center. Fall
racing season has begun! I met David Bluestien and his wife Kristy
there, and many other friends from other northern Arizona races.
The first two miles
is a very challenging up hill trail, but after that my speed
picked up and I always seem to be best mid and late race in these
trail events. In the last few miles I was passing nearly everyone
in sight and it was an awesome down hill run to the finish. I
came in in 2:04 this year, a full minute faster than I have ever
done. I keep my goals for this one on an eventual sub 2h time.
Some images of
this event:
Shot at the starting line by David
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Last minute sign up tables
and packet pickup
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Gathering before the race
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Down the trail we go, uphill very steep
for the first 2.5 miles
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Back to steep up hills along the trail
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Such a cool shot - David Bluestien sent me this panorama of his wife Kristy on the trail during the race.
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GPS Data from the race
More or less one of the flattest Full
Marathons Ive run, the last mile is up hill
and is where I slowed down.
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Seattle Rock and Roll
Marathon Events
Seattle, Washington
June 21st, 2014
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Finishers Medals
Finishers Shirt
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We had not done
this event previously, and with the unfortunate changes they
made in the San Diego event last year, we thought we would try
this one, also in June. And after running this one, I can say
for certainty I liked it much better and we will be doing this
one again in the future! The route is for the most part flat
and fast. While there is in the beginning a run through parts
of the heart of the City, mostly the run was in rural and beach
side forested areas rich in lush vegitation and wild life. We
ran streets, trails and main thourough fares in the City, and
in parks, sea side paths, and along the shore lines. Even a long
bridge reminicent of San Fransisco to take in the summer views.
While I did the Full Marathon, Dawn race walked the Half Marathon
and we both did very well for the first time at this event.
Travel and the
Expo
We left on Thursday
morning and arrived in time to take in the large Expo at the
xxxxx to pick up our packets and bibs. The expo was huge, like
San Diegos, and had lots to see and buy. I came back with a new
pair of Sketchers Ultras, a mid foot strikers shoe for runners
like me with this uncommon gait. Dawn got some great shirts and
we left there ready for the race. later that day we decided not
to drive the busy rush hour race route, since much of it was
in areas you cant drive anyway. It would be a surprise on race
day! There are no really great museums in Seattle we were interested
in, so we went over and rode up in the space needle for some
great views of the city and most importantly the race starting
areas from high up.
Friday we drove
to the xxxxx mountains, where we ended up in the middle of some
glaciers and the town of Paradise for lunch. It was awesome up
there and we hiked on the snow packed hills and photographed
some of the small glacier lakes. The long drive there 2 hours
and back made for a long day, but the scenery and experiences
up there were priceless. The sky was totally clear, very unsusual
for Seattle which is the rainiest state. Weather predictions
for race day looked great, and we definitely lucked out again
on this race for that.
Saturday was race
day. There were like 42 corrals and I was in 11, not too far
from the front. I gave them a rather optomistic 4h time for completion
when I registered, and for a first time on a new course that
was certainly the case. The race started at 7:30 and in this
time zone the sun had been up for about half an hour at that
point. It was low 50s for temperature - perfect for racing. I
did very well on this run, mostly because of its fairly flat
- one of the flattest Ive run in a long time. I held my sub 9
pace till mile 25, and then lost it after that, but came in in
a spritely 4:10 time, great for a very first crack at this race.
Dawn did great and came in 3:45 on the half.
After the race
we walked a mile back to the hotel, and this was great not to
have to find parking and escape the mass confusion at the finishing
area. We had an awesome race!
Sunday we flew
back and were back in the Valley by lunch time, drove back home
and had the rest of the day to recover. We WILL do this one again!
Photo
Pictorial, day by day
The flight in and
going to the Expo - Thursday afternoon:
Coming in over
the clouds, the peak of Ranier with snow cap
Seattle from the
air just minutes before we landed. The Space Needle is on the
right side
The Expo Packet
Pickup location
Sign at enterance
to Expo
Me in center picking
up race packet and bib!
After the packet
pickup, we walked over to the Space Needle which was near by.
From the top (it
wasnt free) looking around the harbor
Dawn at the top
of the Space Needle viewing area
Friday - Up to
the glaciers at Mount Ranier
Quick over view
at a sign along the way:
Dawn in front of
a glacial lake up in the snow cap of mount Ranier - a 2 hour
drive from where we had our motel.
Me too.
Driving the road
had some excellent photo oppourtunities
Glacier pouring
into valley. The green aqua color of the ice is a signature of
the type of ice that forms up here in glaciers.
Examining a water
fall on the way back down the hill.
More vistas
Finally we arrived
in the small mountain lodge community of Paradise. Here we are
on the back balcony at the lodge
where we ate lunch.
From the lodge,
you could hike up to the top of this, the peak of the mountain
seen here in a hole in the clouds
Sign at the visitors
center
Inside the lodge
were stores and a small museum
Dawn sets here
half marathon gear out the night before!
Saturday Race Day:
Early morning empty
corrals near the starting line just up ahead. Mine was corall
11 for a 4h finish time.
Me at the starting
line. Temps were around 50 degrees.
Dawn at starting
line too.
Waiting for race
start in the mall. Every one here at this time of morning is
a runner!
Space needle near
starting line, Dawn seen here
Ready to race about
an hour before race start.
Photos from Dawns
Half Marathon Race Walk. Much of the route is the same for the
Full I ran - plus another 13.1 miles!
Along the Mono
Rail track
Moving through
Seattle inner City
The "Brooks
Man" in a rural area. Brooks is the shoe sponsor for this
race.
Along Lake Washington
with some memorial signs. The Full is on the right, the half
on the lef of the yellow tape.
Full plus half
Through one of
several long tunnels - I have never had this in any race before!
Onto the freeway
to cross the bridge over the bay
Towards the city
Waterfront vista
The Half finishing
chute finally! The finish line for the full would be another
story...
In the Half finishing
chute. The finish line is dead ahead!
Runners and thier
families gather and wait for the full runners in the nearby park
with a water fountain
Finishing area
Finally I come
in around 4:10 and seen here relaxing at the fountain in a post
race shot
Dawn at the fountain,
post race
One last look around
before we leave for the motel. Look at the full marathoner on
the right edge (yellow bib) engorging on post race bags of bagels!
Post Race - Later
that day
After cleaning
and showering up at the motel, we drove back out to the race
route and took some shots of the snow
capped mountain
over the lake. Most days we have been told are too cloudy or
hazy to even see the mountain.
Me examining the
awsome horsetails along the shore.
Parting shot -
flying back over the Grand Canyon to Arizona.
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Grand Canyon Trail Run:
Rim to Rim to Rim
GC, Arizona
May 22nd, 2014
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Our former bi-annual
trek to the Grand Canyon in northern Arizona has now resumed.
It has been at least five years since the last time, and my expectations
were tempered by #1: Im older now, and #2: I am a marathon and
trail running addict now. As it turned out, my performance this
time was unexpected - I recorded my fastest times ever in over
15 years of Canyon running for BOTH ways Rim to Rim!
The trip
to the Canyon
Wednesday we headed
up to the Canyon and arrived on a cold and windy day on the South
Rim at the Visitors center. After taking in a few overlooks and
photos of animals and birds, we dined at the Lodge dining room
for dinner. Then we went back to Tucsyon where our motel was
and I got my stuff ready for the big adventure the next morning.
Photos
on the South Rim on Wednesday:
(Chris
photos, Canon 10D)
Looking into Canyon from south rim, on left is Bright Angel Fault
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Part of the trail on the Kaibab near Skeleton Point
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Phantom Ranch with telephoto lens
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Visitors Center display at south rim
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(Dawns
Photos, Panasonic Lumix)
Tame Elk near visitors center
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Interpretive model of geology at visitors center
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This is now where most people go down into the canyon, I dont go this way
when doing R2R - its 2mi longer!
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4am sharp. Thats
the time Dawn dropped me off at the Kaibab trail head. It was
dark, mostly clear and around 40 degrees on the thermometer.
Ahead lie 23.5 miles of rocky, gravel dirt trail winding down
through 5000 feet in elevation to the river in 4 miles. Then
after the Colorado River, 20 more miles of constant up hill gaining
6500 feet mostly in the last 4 miles. It is without a doubt,
one of the most challenging and difficult trail runs in the country.
My fastest ever was many years ago, when I ran to the north rim
in 7 hours and 30 minutes - a lifetime goal was achieved on that
day! I told Dawn it would more than likely take me 8 - 9 hours
because it had been so long since I had done this challenge.
With a brilliant
27 LED flashlight in hand, I started the run to the bottom. Cedar
Ridge came in a fast 20 minutes, and then the morning twilight
began to make its appearance. In an hour and 35 minutes, I was
at the bottom - standing on the bridge over the center of the
raging Colorado River. So far so good, Ive gotten to the river
faster in past years, but that is dependent mostly on the conditions
of the trail more than anything else. Crossing the bridge, I
headed another mile to Phantom Ranch - the campground / community
at the bottom of the canyon in a stunning lush river setting.
In less than 2h, I was topping my water bottles off at Phantom
at the water station in front of the dining hall. Then blasting
onwards in the mad dash to the Pump House. Its a long rolling
hills run to get there, some times so steep you have to power
hike the nearly 30 degree uphill slopes, and hold yourself back
when careening down the gravel slippery grades. The beaver dam
is a great landmark along the way. In past years, you had to
hike through a trail in 8 foot tall cat tails in black squishy
muck for about 500 feet. My socks always got nailed by the muck!
Now, they put a bridge over the mess and its awesome to look
down at the swamp where beavers live.
Cotton wood Camp
is next, and its a nice sized hikers camp with running water
and facilities. No time for a break, had to keep going. Mile
after mile of rocky trails later, the sun finally comes up for
us deep inside the canyon. In 4 hours, I was at the Pump House,
the last stop before the horrific super steep climb to the very
top of the 8400 foot cliffs. Up hill I went, running as much
as possible on the flats, and few down hill slopes. Mostly its
power hiking up very steep rocky grades and a few precarious
cliff faces. The smooth green colored dirt trails of the Bright
Angel Shale leads to the worst part of the climb - going through
the Redwall Limestone. It is steep, has giant logs as stair steps
to traverse, and goes along some steep cliff faces that are a
bit un nerving - so I walk those.
Topping the Redwall
is a major accomplishment! The rest will not be so rugged and
steep. The Supai red beds are mostly sandstone and shale, and
make for fairly flat smooth trails, with a few giant steps of
sandstone in places. It is packed with Permian fossils too, nice
to look at when climbing through the layers. At the top of the
Supai - which is really thick on this side of the Canyon, you
finally reach the Tunnel. This 100 foot long carved tunnel in
the red rock allows access to the rest of the trail. When you
come out of the tunnel, you are in a water wonderland - Another
rest area with faucets, drinking fountains and bathrooms. It
in a awesome setting of maples and oaks. This time of year they
are just sprouting baby green leaves. A quick food bar and up
I go. The Coconino Sandstone which is yellow is not very thick
on this side, which is a good thing since the trail is full of
giant rock slabs all the way. The lookout point at the top of
the Coconino is a fabulous place to look over the canyon and
reflect on your journey. Then it is time to move upward and onward.
By now, the heat is not a problem. While it was getting hot in
the sun coming up thorough the Redwall, the elevation change
is so significant by the time you reach the Kaibab limestone,
you are over 7000 feet in elevation. White smooth trails now
will take you to the final set of switch backs - a set of zig
zag back and forth trails that take you up the final cliff face
to the top. I raced up the final stretch as fast as I could,
and in the last trail you can just see the parking lot at the
top as you get closer. I hit the stairs in that parking lot in
the fastest time I have ever ran across from South to North.
Dawn had driven around 250 miles from the South rim around the
east side of the Canyon and was there at the top to greet me.
There was no doubt, my heavy marathon training and numerous trail
races had done their work - a new PR was in hand!
(Chris
Photos - Kodak Pocket cam)
Crossing the river on the Kaibab trail takes you over this metal
bridge, this is now just barely light enough out to take photos
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Approaching Phantom Ranch. Some folks were already up at 6am
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After Phantom, the first bridge over the Bright Angel Creek
The top surface is paved with black asphalt!
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Along Bright Angel Creek - the trail along the bottom of the
Canyon is really smooth along here.
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Crossing over the Beaver Dam. A wonderful bridge, we used to
have to hike through black muck here for a hundred feet or more!
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Just ahead - Cotton Wood Camp. Very nice downhill smooth
trail here.
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Waterfall along creek
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The sight Ive been waiting for - the last bridge before the
Pump House!
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Pump House grounds. There is water, tables and seats.
Last stop for 3 miles...
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Gigantic bloom from century plant
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Many interpretive signs along north Kaibab. Ahead is the nasty Redwall
cliffs, then red beds from Supai, yellow sandstone near top is the Coconino
Sandstone, and finally the last bit at the top is the Toroweap/Kaibab limestones.
Thats where Im going.
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Nearing the top of the Redwall. The trail is quite steep
and treacherous here.
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Another long awaited sight - the Tunnel in the Supai
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Someone is IN the tunnel ahead!
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At the rest area JUST on the other side of the Tunnel. There is lots of water,
rest room, and places to sit.
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On the
North Rim
Dawn drove us to
the north Rim Lodge, and I hobbled over to the main desk and
got our rooms in the motel which we had reserved a year before.
You have to reserve the cabins at least a year and a half in
advance if you want to get one of those! That will be next October.
I cleaned up and we went to lunch at the lodge dining room, a
top rate restaraunt with outstanding food selections. We walked
around a bit seeing the area and gift shop and it was time for
our reserved dinner. (One year in advance too). I gorged on BBQ
ribs and Dawn had something awesome as well. We watched the sun
go down as the smoke from the Sedona fire started moving in to
the canyon, blocking the view of the other side.
The next morning
I could hardly walk! The quads were trashed and I think every
muscle in my body hurt. How was I going to run back across the
NEXT MORNING? Well, like every year Ive done this, I found that
by the end of that first full day up on the North Rim, I improve
so much I am almost dancing by sundown. We spent the day driving
around in the windy partly cloudy skies and photographed the
birds and animals. Fantastic scenery. The snow that had fallen
the day before was now gone and the wind was marking the end
of the cold front. At least it didnt rain on me coming over.
Then the day went as fast as it came, and it was time to get
to the motel and set all my gear back out. I wasnt exactly dancing
around at that point, more of a controlled death march. You have
to bring two sets of running clothes when you do this - one for
the trip over and one for the trip back. That evening it rained
and thundered and lightning all around us. It might be a muck
bog all the way to the bottom tomorrow!
(Chris
Photos - Canon 10d)
North
Rim
Parked on the North Rim overlooking the smoke at Imperial Point
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"Angels Window" (after Bright Angel creek and such)
The canyons depth can be seen through this giant hole in the rock
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View of the hole in the Kaibab Limestone from the first lookout
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Dawn photographs the side canyon
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(Dawns
Photos - Panasonic Lumix)
Close up of fossil glass sponge in Kaibab Limestone
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Crinoid stem parts from ancient sea bottom
280 million years ago
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Rain from the Lodge on North Rim
It snowed right after that.
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Dark clouds from the Lodge
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White tailed deer herd
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Now for a sequence of some flowers we found on the North rim
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Kaibab Squirrel
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Cloudy skies
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Angels Window
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Looking through hole in window
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This is me standing on walkway OVER the Angels Window!
You cant see it below you.
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Then later in the day, the sun started to come out
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Coyote stalking a rodent
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Lightning strike right after it happened when we were at breakfast
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Gray and Yellow bird
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Just after sunset, the appenglow illuminates the Canyon with a
blue glow
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Sunset on the night before I must go back
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Saturday Morning
- 4am.
So there I was
standing again - this time on the trail head on the North Rim
Kaibab Trail. 23.5 miles ahead. I could walk ok, but running
was going to be a challenge. Down I went, in the dark while watching
a crescent moon in the clear cloud free sky, and looking once
in a while for the supposed new meteor shower that was taking
place at that moment. (no meteors). Down through the most rugged
down hill trails I have ever run - slowly at first, but then
as I finally got to the smoother Supai red beds and Bright Angel
Shale trails my pace became faster. I found that running on my
toes was the only option and did that all the way to the bottom.
I passed through the Pump House in about 2 hours, and arrived
in Phantom Ranch in 3h 30 minutes. Thats about 13 miles of torturous
rocky trails. There were about 2 dozen trail runners like myself
going the other way - towards the North Rim along the way. We
usually waved and high five'd each other and went on. It was
great to see others like myself doing this. In under 4h, I was
at the river and crossing the bridge. I was at least 500 feet
over the bridge on the south side in exactly 4h. Now the climb
begins again, this time 4 miles to the top. Through the terrible
Redwall, long steep inclines one after another through the Supai.
Then you emerge at Cedar Ridge, the 1.5 mile down flat spot with
a rest area but no water. A fast gel and food bar and up I went,
power hiking upward as fast as I could. The switch backs on the
south side are wicked too. They never seem to end! The final
home stretch I knew I was going to do a new Personal Record (PR).
I finally crossed the threshold at the top of the the trail at
7:11 - The fastest Rim to Rim I had ever done in my life. In
an instant, all the long hours of running miles and miles week
after week, and all those excruciating up hill trail races seemed
now worth it. I knew I was in the best physical shape of my life.
It felt good.
(Chris
Shots - Kodak mini Cam)
Obligatory shot of the gear all set out the night before
the North to South crossing
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First light, I saw the crescent moon rising in the east
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Up ahead is still Cottonwood camp, but I can see the sun has
risen already on the South Rim - my destination.
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Really cool bridge over a dry part of the creek
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Phantom Ranch! This is the bridge I pass that would take you back
up the South Bright Angel trail, remember - the one that is
2 miles longer?
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Now HERE is my bridge - the one that takes you across the river to
the bottom of the South Kaibab trail
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The very bottom after the bridge crossing.
inside the tunnel in the Vishnu Schist
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At exactly 4h, I was here - coming up the south Kaibab looking down back at the river
see the tunnel to the right where it comes out from the bridge?
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Looking back to the switch backs in the Vishnu
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Coming up through the Hakati shale, hikers seen on lower trail below me.
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Now on the "Tonto Platform" in the Bright Angel Shale, it is green and
smooth and loaded with Cambrian trace fossils.
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Selfie at - you guessed it - Skeleton Point. Yes that is a black
spoon in my mouth.
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Cedar Ridge! This is in the bottom of the Supai red beds.
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After leaving Cedar Ridge, looking back. O'Neil butte is on the right side.
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Long torturous steps to the top in the
Supai formation
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The final view up ahead is your goal, the last switch backs to the top
in the Kaibab limestone.
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(Dawns
Shots - Traveling 250 miles around from N to S)
(Dawns
Shots - South Rim Again)
Last shot of the Canyon from the South Rim when Dawn was waiting
for me to come out
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After getting to the top, I have to catch a shuttle bus and go a mile down the
road to where Dawn is parked at a lookout. And here I am!
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For this side,
I have to take the next shuttle bus to an lookout site down the
road, where Dawn was parked, since the cars are not supposed
to be at the trail head at that time of day. I got off the bus,
and there she was - and we made our way back to out SUV and headed
off to lunch again! What a day. Next time will be October when
the fall colors are at their peak on the North Rim. I cant wait.
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| This
year was my comeback from last years mess - I got the flu last
year right at race start. This year, I was back to doing the
Marathon, and once again made the early start my goal. While
I may miss the western carnival like atmosphere of the normal
start an hour later, I get to run with only a dozen or so other
runners, and we have the trail to ourselves. We both had a great
time this year, and while the weather was a bit warm at the end,
nearly 80 degrees - we greatly enjoyed the social and cultural
atmophere of the event. My only complaint this year is that the
aid stations had nothing for us for at least the first 13 miles.
They did not know of the annual early start. So next year wear
your hydration vest. |
Images of before and during the Race
Below: Packet Pickup lines for all races at the YMCA gymnasium
Below: 10k race shirts pickup
Below: Marathon and half race shirts pickup
Below: Dawn in center (blue shirt) picking up packet for 10k
Race Morning
Below: Inside the Matts Saloon right outside of the starting line just before race start.
Below: Whiskey Row in Prescott at 6am is vacant for the race!
Below: The early start group I will be running with an hour before the main race start.
Below: Early start race line up. I am in yellow on the right side. See Matts Saloon on the left?
Below: Seconds before race start for the early group!
Below: Off we go, this is a fun group!
Below: Early start group tail end.
Below: Fire dept ladder truck holds the starting banner for the main start.
Below: Authorities keeping the crowds under control
Below: Marathon normal race starting lineup
Below: Start of Marathon! I am an hour ahead of them....
Below: The finishing area of the Courthouse Plaza.
Below: Here I come in after 26 miles. You can tell the half marathoners with the Pink bibs - they are smiling. They didnt have to run a wicked 26 miles!
Below: Coming over the finish line. I am in front of the girls now...
Below: The tired marathoner
Below: Dawn after her 10k
Above: GPS profile
The GPS data from the run
Click to Enlarge
This
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Finishers Medal
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The Brian Mickelsen
Half Marathon and 10k
Cottonwood, Arizona
April 12, 2014
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Finishers Shirt
from the Event
(Click to Enlarge)
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| Well,
you never know how a race will go until you've crossed the finish
line in one piece. This year while I did the Half Marathon, Dawn
race walked the 10k, and we both came over the line in one in
good shape. Unfortunately for me, I had a bad side stitch (its
a type of bad muscle cramp) between miles 8 and 11 and had to
slow down to barely running for that distance. When the problem
cleared up, I ran my best to make up the lost 5 minutes or so,
but was not able to. I came over the line in 4th place in my
age division, only 30 seconds from getting that bronze medal!
Maybe next year. Dawn finished a fast race and fared better than
I did. |
Images of before and during the Race
Below: Sunrise at the staging area park
Below: Setting up for pre race registration and packet pickup. We always pick up ours now.
Below: Registration set up
Below: Sun up - time for practice run!
Below: The starting/finish line before the start of all races
Below: nearing race start, all the runners are now showing up in the background..
Below: Like one huge party, all the runners and thier families before the race
Below: Im in orange in the center here at the starting line.
Below: RACE START. Im way in the middle back not seen yet here.
Below: Animated GIF movie should be playing as you see this. Made from
a bunch of still Dawn shot at the starting line.
Below: After we left, the 10k racers line up next. Dawn racewalked this race and did very well!
Below: Here I am coming in on the Half Marathon, a quarter mile to go!
Below: Look carefully at my foot strike on the leading leg - I run either on my toes or midfoot, most runners
hit heel first...
Below: On the final 100 feet to the finish line!
Running on my toes here...
Below: Crossing the finish line! 1:58 this year, 30 seconds from getting the Bronze for my age div.
Below: At the finsh line, final shot
Below: Dawn at the finish line
The GPS data from the run
Click to Enlarge
This shows the entire full
marathon route, which appears
mostly downhill.
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Finishers Medal
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The Phoenix Marathon
Mesa, Arizona
March 1, 2014
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Finishers Shirt
from the Event
(Click to Enlarge)
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The weather predictions
for this event were turning into a marathoners worst nightmare.
While all during the week we had sunny skies and 80 degree temperatures,
the BIG one was supposed to hit - a Pacific winter storm - with
its peak rains right on Saturday morning at race starting time.
With over an inch of rain predicted and the prospect of high
winds and hail, we both came prepared for the worst. Fortunately,
it wasn't bad until after I crossed the finish line, then the
skies fell.
We stayed Friday
night at the Best Western in Mesa after work, and were within
10 minutes of the bus pickup for the marathon. It just started
to cloud up at sunset, and we had no idea what the weather would
bring by morning.
When the alarm
went off at 2:45 am, we got up and looked outside - no rain yet,
but clouds. I got on one of the first buses to the starting line
at around 3:45 and after what seemed like forever, we arrived
at the marathon staging area in a big parking lot at a shooting
range. The wind was fierce - like 25mph and the flags were straight
out. A live band was playing some weird rap music again, and
making marathon related comments.
In the mean time,
Dawn had volunteered to help out at the finish line, and went
over there to help set up the tables and food. Everything was
blowing around in the wind, but it was not raining hard - yet.
Since I was the
first bus, the field was empty and there were no campfires like
last year (that nearly burned the desert trees down with fires)
but dozens of propane heaters, about half still lit. The wind
made them pretty worthless, so many of us found areas next to
the buildings to wait it out till start time to get out of the
wind.
Finally, the time
came around 6:30 and we stripped down to our running clothes.
I left a clear plastic bag with arm holes on over my shirt to
block the fierce wind and possible rains on the route. About
ten minutes before the race started, we were all in line and
the rain fell like crazy soaking us! The crowd was screaming!
Then they set fire works off - lighting the sky with big explosions.
When a actual gun went off at start time, we zipped over the
starting grids and were off in to the darkness, rain pouring.
The rain slowly
abated in the next five miles and we found ourselves running
in perfect cool temperatures and damp roads. The route is desert
scenic, and weaved through both housing developments, town buildings
and back roads. It is a very well run race! The wind was a problem,
but at least the rain was holding off.
At the finish line,
the wind approached gale force and the tents and tables were
blowing down the road like toothpicks in the wind. The big rains
were coming!
But it held off
on the route, and while mostly down hill, you never got the impression
that it was a downward slope. It always seems uphill to the finish
line in any race! I came over the line in 4:03 and beat my best
marathon time ever for any race by one minute, set two years
ago. I think with better conditions and less wind this could
be my fastest marathon every year.
When I found Dawn
in the finishing area, she was handing out "Magic"
Bagels to the tired runners, and was having a ball. When we left,
the wind was increasing and it wasn't long after the huge storm
hit. Mesa got over an inch of pounding rain, a F0 tornado hit
right near the marathon route, and massive flooding was everywhere.
On the drive home we hit massive rains and hail. I could have
been running in this! Id say we were very lucky again this year
- and looking forward to next years race.
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Images of before and during the Race
The outdoor Expo was pretty good for a race this size!
The scene at race start, in the dark and cold about 2h before the race started.
What looks like smoke on the right is a plastic bag blowing straight out from the winds!
Back at the finish line, the volunteers get instructions
Raining at the finish line hours before I came in
Setting up tables in the wind and on and off again rain.
Scene at the finishing area as I was running. In the sleet.
It started to let up as I approached the finish line, and the public started to show up along with runners families.
Dawn works the Bagel Booth
Dawn handing out Bagels to the marathoners!
Here I am, finally at the finish line. What a race!
Last look at the ceremony area for the winners
Driving home - still in Phoenix here. This is what came in after I did...
The GPS data from the run
Click to Enlarge
This to and back course is brutal
with an uphil race to the turn around
then a free fall to the finish!
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Finishers Medals
Left: All Races
Right: 3rd place
Bronze
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The Lost Dutchman 10k
Apache Junction, Az
February 16, 2014
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Finishers Shirt
from the Event
(Click to Enlarge)
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No matter which
race we do at the Lost Dutchman, it has always been a memorable
experience! I have now done the 10k, Half, and Full marathon
races and have great memories from each event. This year, we
both did the 10k race. While I ran my legs off in the front line,
Dawn race walked the event with her best efforts. I have to run
the Phoenix full marathon in two weeks, so I had to run a shorter
distance this year. We both did very well this year, and I won
a Bronze 3rd
place in my
age division for my fast time. The last three miles of the marathon
is the route for the 10k, both out and back 3 miles. This is
one of the most torturous finish miles in the marathon, and my
memories of running that last steep long hill during my 26 mile
trek is mostly one of pain and suffering! But this year, we started
by running it BACKWARDS then turned around at mile 23 and came
back up the hill again. While it was slow going up that hill
both ways, I had enough speed left in me on the 10k to zoom back
down the hill to the finish and average an 8.01 minutes per mile
pace for the entire distance, and came in at 49 minutes. This
really surprised me, since I am almost recovered now from a pulled
calf ligament and had to wear my soft squishy Pegasus 29 running
shoes instead of my usual fast Nike Zoom Elites which are much
faster. Maybe next year!
Next year:
- wear faster shoes
- more hill training
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Images of before and during the Race
Sunrise at the starting / finish line
Full moon set in the West
Last minute packet pickup
Finish Area before the race
10k Starting area
Before the Race
I started in the 7 - 8 min pace area
Seconds before the gun goes off!
Staring the 10k
Im in blue with yellow hat in center coming back on the
to and back course
Post race, giveing out the winning medals
Finish area shot
Finish shot
Third place Bronze!
At the finish line, both medals
Finish line shot!
The GPS data from the run
Click to Enlarge
A race that was not flat
making for slow going on
the outgoing trip, but
much faster in the
second half!
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Finishers Medals:
All Races
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The Sedona 10k
Sedona, Az
February , 2014
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Finishers Shirts
from the Event
(Click to Enlarge)
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| Plummeting
winter temperatures during the week yielded to completely clear
skies on the day of the race once again, and our annual trek
to do the Sedona marathon events was once again in the plans.
We left Payson on the morning of the race, around 5am and arrived
just before 7am. Once again, we parked at the top of the hill
and had a long walk to the starting area. Not a cloud in sight!
But it was cold, around 25 degrees out at sunup. Attendance this
year hit a new record, 2400 runners in all races were in attendance.
Both me and Dawn signed up for the 10 K event, we had both done
this in the past two years and it works out well with fitting
in with my intense marathon training for march. But it was only
two weeks after the PF chang half, and I was still not fully
recovered from a pulled muscle from that race, so did the best
I could this year. The marathon runners left around 9:10 am,
the half 5 minutes later and the 10k right after that. This is
a hard race! While it is up hill for a few miles, then down hill
some very steep hills, and on the 3 miles of return some very
difficult up hill running. This is never a very fast race, but
it is fun with the hills and stunning red rock scenery. By 11am
we were both finished, and off to lunch. Heavy clouds rolled
back in that evening. |
Images of before and during the Race
Packet pickup at the Expo!
The smallish Expo
Driving home from the Expo!
RACE DAY PHOTOS
Sunrise in Sedona
Walking down from the parking area to the event starting area
Walking around before the race start
Finshers medals ready to give out on rack
Getting ready for race start at the starting line
The starting line of the 10k - Dawns photos from here on out
Race Start! Heading for down town
super steep hills you got to come backup on the way back!
Chris - after the 10k
Dawn after the 10k
The GPS data from the run
The new route is tough! It
is all up hill and about
mile 8 - 10 you have to
negotiate some major hills
at the Papago Buttes.
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Finishers Medals:
Mini and Half
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The PF Chang Half
and Mini - Marathon
Phoenix, Az
January 19, 2014
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Finishers Shirts
from the Event
- Both Mini and Half
(Click to Enlarge)
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This year, the
race has a completely new route, and is a whole new adventure
again. Instead of running from down town Phoenix to Tempe Stadium,
which was more or less uphill all the way, the new route forms
a loop that leaves and comes back next to the Tempe Town Lake
in a big parking area. But did that make it faster? For me anyway
it was bout 5 mins slower at 1:50. The reason was primarily the
long steep uphills for several miles in the area of the Papago
buttes, which made it slow going in those areas. Dawn race walked
the "Mini Marathon" which is a 5 mile race taking part
of the Half Marathon route and back in 1h 29m.
This year we left
the house at 4:15 am and headed down to Tempe. After parking
we waked bout a mile to the starting line which was the same
for both of us. The marathon was a different starting line all
together, but ended in the same finish line. In the half, I started
in coral 2 again, and we got off the line right on time. I held
an 8 minute pace up until around mile 9, where the steep uphills
just before the Papago buttes slowed my pace a bit. After that
is was trying to finish as fast as I could to make up for those
wild hills. Dawn did well in the mini, and we both now have an
initial time to compare to in the coming years.
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Images of before and during the Race
Packet pickup at the Expo!
Race morning, mostly clear, stunning sunrise and palm trees.
THIS is my coral 2 at the starting line, right up front with the fastest runners. You can see
the starting banner directly ahead.
Looking back from the front! 40 corrals behind me the rest of the less speedy runners.
Starting line of the mini marathon / Half
The mini marathon and Half begins!
Race walking in the Mini Marathon
The last miles - the Tempe bridge over the River
Finishing area, after crossing the finish line, look at all the racks of medals at the finish line!
Finish line shot
Dawn at the finish line too!
HOME
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The Whiskey Row Marathon
Events - Full and 10k
Prescott, Arizona
May 3rd, 2014
