About NATRA Blog

This page is meant for folks to post their thoughts on the Saturday group run. I (Neil) will post a blurb about who showed up and where it was held. From there, I hope that other runners will share their thoughts since we often have different experiences on the same run. Enjoy!

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Flagstaff Loopy Trail

While I advertised running part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flagstaff Half Marathon course, 11 runners unanimously agreed to run the Flagstaff Loop Trail. None were disappointed.


Neil proudly dons his new Boston Stand as One Tee!


I posted live on Facebook if anyone could guess who wears this tattoo. We had such guesses as Robert Plant and Rob Zombie. Well, at least one Facebook follower got it right (yes, you will have to go check for yourself!)

As we headed up the urban trail, I posted a shot on Facebook of everyone's least favorite hill going up Observatory Mesa. This is the hill runners face at the beginning of both the Sacred Mountain Prayer Run 10K and the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flagstaff Half Marathon. I am hoping to hear creative names for this hill and not the many expletives that I've called it over the 28 years that I've been trying to reduce the grade.

What do you call this hill?

Once at the well hidden loop trail turn off, we caught our breath and re-grouped. It was then onto the fabulous single track that criss-crosses observatory mesa. Once we descended back to the Karen Cooper Trail, Neil proved that he still had some game left in his legs. His dead sprint of course was to take the NATRA money/pin up shots of the week.

 
 

As we returned to Thorpe Park everyone's motors slowed. We then hit the kickstand for refreshments and stories of future adventures, such as Bruce's trip to Nepal. What a day! Meet at 7:45 AM next Saturday at Mountainaire Tavern and bring a brunch potluck item. We will run Kelly Canyon and drive back to David McKees for post-run brunch!

Monday, April 29, 2013

An Elevationally Challenged Chuck Wagon

Six runners (Tzeidle, Marcy, Garret, John, Bruce, and David) and one dog traveled down the mountain for the final Sedona run of the season on the Chuckwagon-Gunslinger loop.ChuckWagonGunslingerLoop On the map, it appears that there is little elevation change on this trail -- but that is misleading. The hills are many -- just not big enough to show up on a topo map! There is only a difference of about 200 feet in elevation from the high point to the low point but there is over 800 feet of total elevation gain/loss along this trail.

Afterwards, we went to Indian Gardens Cafe/Garlands in Oak Creek Canyon to enjoy breakfast, coffee, cider, and other goodies.  (Thanks to David Blanchard for the post)