Upcoming Runs:
July 12
- Huff & Puff 8 mile in Payson
Aug 9 -
BBBS Half marathon, Flagstaff
Sept 27
- Flagstaff Half Marathon, Flagstaff
Oct 1 - Rim to Rim to Rim Grand Canyon
- (Bisbee 1000 Stair Climb)
Nov 16
- San Antonio Marathon
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Running Page
Intro
When I was in my
teens, 20's, and early 30's, I spent nearly all of my spare time
learning mathematics, engineering and physics, and despite occasional
hiking of mountains and forest trails, I still could not even
run for a few hundred feet without being totally exhausted. When
I reached 36 and my waist line started to exceed my age, I made
the lifetime change for fitness, and started running.
It took several years before I could even run 5 miles, and eventually
beyond. In 2005 I decided I was fit enough to start racing in
half marathons, and my life has never been the same since! Now
I enjoy extreme fitness, a size 32 waist, and my Grand Canyon
Rim to Rim crossing time has been cut in less than half, and
I continue to get faster and faster - and now am running full
marathons. As time permits, I will be adding past adventures
to this page, so lets start with the most recent first!
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Please
click on thumbnails for larger view!
2008
Gaspin in the Aspens 2008
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This very tough
trail run up at the Flagstaff Nordic center takes you up from
8000 feet on upward, through cross country ski trails and steep
slopes, rough rocky trails, meadows, and dense stands of aspens
in which the trail cuts directly through like narrow tunnels.
The combination of an extreme endurance run and the fabulous
scenery makes this run a favorite for a mid summer challenge.
The registration is limited to 250 runners, so I signed up early
for this one, and this well organized event is always so much
fun. Temperatures this year were mid 50s at race start at 8am,
and warmed up considerably to low 80s on the way back. While
only 9 miles (15k), the grueling hills really slow you down to
a crawl at some points as you race toward the fast downhill finish.
Trail runs such as this are particularly hazardous if your not
prepared or unaccustomed to trail running. Large rocks, logs,
pine cones and huge ruts in the sometimes hard to see trail take
their compliment of casualties each year. I saw at least two
runners with sprained ankles, half a dozen with knees wrapped
in ice packs, and cut an bruised legs coming over the finish
line. But thats endurance trail running and how it can go if
your not properly trained. Nearly all of us however came out
unscathed and had a great time. I bettered my time of 100 minutes
last year by 6 minutes, to 94 minutes. Next year - maybe 90?....
Before the Run
Sign at the Nordic Center
for the Event
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Runners gather in the
cool morning, low 40's
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The Start Line for the
15k (9 miles) Event
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The view behind the
Nordic Center as the
sun came up
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Warming up on a side
trail before the run
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Getting directions and
rules before the start
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I'm in blue in the center
of this telephoto shot
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Running the Event
And were off and running!
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250 runners thunder
off the start line
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Passing Dawn about a thousand
feet down the trail in a huge
thundering cloud of dust!
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Heading off into the forest
like a giant heard of
gazelles.
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Follow that dust cloud
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The reception committee
at the finish line awaits the
first runners
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And here I come - breaking
away from the pack for a
fast finish! ~
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Official clock time over the
line.
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Stealth Cam Photos
During the Run
A few moments before
the race started
right after sun up
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The start line marked
"15K" in chalk
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And were running!
Heading out toward the
deep pine and aspen forest
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Running into a grove
of aspens (they look
like birch trees)
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Now into the Ponderosa
Pines
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The first water/aid station
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The trail through the
Aspens - see runner
up ahead?
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Another aid station just
before we get into a big
meadow
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San Fransisco Peaks
to the left as we cross
the meadow
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Tiny aspens to the left
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Passing the final aid
station on the way to
the fast downhill finish
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A common sight at the
finish - feet packed in
ice.
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The runners gather after
they finish for the
door prizes!
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Finish Line and After the Run
Runners and families
relax, waiting for the
rest of the runners to
come in
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The results are updated real
time from your bib tag.
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After the run, with the
finish line in the background -
over 2/3rds of the runners had
not come in yet.
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Tim hands of the awards
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2008
Runs Page
Includes
the following:
Rim to Rim Grand Canyon Run
May 18, 2008
The San Diego Marathon
San Diego, CA
June 1, 2008
The Half Whiskey Row Half Marathon
Prescott, Az
May 3rd, 2008
The Lost Dutchman Half Marathon
February 17th, 2008
The Sedona Half Marathon
February 9th, 2008
2007 Runs Page
Includes the following:
Rails to Trails Run, Prescott Az.
November 17, 2007
Bisbee 1000 Stair Climb, Bisbee Arizona
October 20, 2007
Rim Challenge Half Marathon
October 13th, 2007 Payson Arizona
Rim to Rim to Rim Grand Canyon Run
October 4 - 6, 2007
The Flagstaff Half Marathon, Flagstaff - Nordic Center
September 22nd, 2007
White Mountains Half Marathon, Eager
September 15th, 2007
Big Brothers and Big Sisters Half Marathon in Flagstaff
August 11th, 2007
Gaspin in the Aspens Trail Run 15K
June 16, 2007
Rim to Rim to Rim Grand Canyon
May 18, 2007
Miami Copper Crawl
April 22, 2007
Sedona Half Marathon
February 10, 2007
2006
Payson Rim Challenge Half Marathon November 3rd
Grand Canyon - South Rim Kaibab trail to Phantom Ranch and up Bright Angel trail
HOME
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Updated 7/11/08
Crossing the line at the
Sandiego Marathon !
(in blue: 4:54 GPS)
