5th Annual Wet Beaver Creek Polar Plunge

To celebrate our return to running trails every other weekend in Sedona during the winter months, 6 NATRA runners ran the Wet Beaver Creek trail. Only Veteran Susan and newbie Joe took the leap of faith in the icy dark waters of the "Crack". 

 The Blanchard Clan

 Susan enjoys an icy soak

Running on the Edge of Glory

The Fog!

Returning to Flagstaff we could see the odd phenomena of the fog that enveloped town. David Blanchard shared the satellite image below. 

Turkey Predictor Run 2013

 
11 NATRA runners made room for Thanksgiving dinner by running a couple of warm up loops in Buffalo Park and then joined in on the 32nd Annual Free Flagstaff Road and Track Club Turkey Predictor 2 Mile Fun Run. The two mile fun run has been a great local tradition for family and friends and as word has clearly spread, this year's run had far more participants than ever!

Nat White discusses the history of the event in the above video made in 2011.
The run consists of one loop around the outside perimeter of Flagstaff's premier running venue, Buffalo Park. Runners/walkers predict how long it will take to make one lap, and winners are determined by those that are closest to their predicted time. Winners then choose from a variety of tasty treats, including a turkey, and NATRA head wear!

Runners sign their names and predicted times on the Under 20 minutes, 20-30 minutes, and over 30 minute sheets.

Nat White asks runners to have a moment of silence for all we have to be thankful for, including Buffalo Park, which, if not for a handful of concerned citizens would have been lost to a highway development in 1985. 

Runners young and old excited for the start of the race!

Nat White shouts "Only one rule, NO WATCHES!

A record crowd stretches for nearly 1/2 mile across the park! Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Snowy Campbell Mesa, No Yeti Sightings

Ten NATRA runners braved the elements and ran through 6 inches of heavy snow on Campbell Mesa. While there was only a skiff of snow on the west side, the east side got hit a lot harder. For all you snow lovers, take note, when we call Campbell Mesa in late fall, expect a good storm!  Again, we went in search of Yetis, but no sightings. 

 With a little coaxing from Bruce Higgins, Kara hosted a wonderful impromptu coffee, blueberry pancake and waffle breakfast while we streamed the NCAA Cross Country Championships live. Congrats to NAU for their second place finish! Next week, the infamous Wet Beaver Creek Polar Plunge.