Return of the Purple Tights

On New Years eve Neil showed off his new purple tights....we'll see how many decades these survive. Seven runners headed up a very icy urban trail and did the Railroad Springs loop, about 5 miles in the warmest New Year's Eve in many, many years.

Christmas 2011

Randi, Bruce, Sabrina and David made their way to Buffalo Park and headed off onto the streets of Flagstaff. Fighting a cold, Neil took this photo of the team riding the Flagstaff to Grand Canyon Stage Coach....

An Easy New Way on a Quiet Christmas Eve

Five runners - Sabrina, Susan, David, Suzanne and Bruce - tried a new route that David suggested near Boynton Canyon, and what a great suggestion it is! A little over 5 miles of gentle running that began downhill into a chilly and dark ravine, soon rising out into the light and warmth. The second half is spectacular, on a ledge against a cliff for a good half-mile, before dropping back to the start. A prayer wheel lies on a ridge near the end of the run. (Thanks to Bruce for the post)

Help Support Racing the Rez!

Three Like Six: Fort Valley Trails.

Running on hardly-broken trails added a lot to the run today. Runners Jen, Mark, Sabrina, Mackenzie, Annika, David, Susan and Bruce tried several options. With the exception of Annika, who doesn't plan or worry about anything, all options were hard work. Only Mark was ready to continue the uphill slog toward the pipeline after getting about 1.6 miles into the jog. Coffee was at the Train on 180. (Thanks to Bruce for the post)

3rd Annual Beaver Creek Polar Bear Plunge

14 runners set out for the Beaver Creek pools on a brilliantly sunny December day. Surprisingly, snow from last weekend's cold storm clung to the south side of the canyon. There were no yeti or rampaging panda sightings in Beaver Creek, however, runners did catch a glimpse of a polar bear wading in the creek. We also noted that runners wore almost every variety of NATRA headgear and Neil and Diana wore the latest NATRA beanie and headband. Jen, Diana, and Elizabeth took a detour to Weir Crossing. See Jen's slideshow below.

Yetis and a Rogue Panda on Campbell Mesa

During this morning's blizzard, residents along Old Walnut Canyon Road reported sightings of at least 6 yetis and even a rogue panda on the rampage, this time in the vicinity of Campbell Mesa. Eyewitnesses say the panda appeared confused, following slightly behind the yetis as though he had been left behind. Game and Fish experts believe the panda may have rabies and they are currently warning residents of Mountainaire to be extremely careful as the panda may be hibernating there. Authorities are working quickly to capture the panda - they even sent a fake post on Facebook that NATRA was offering free beer at Uptown Billiards on Sunday afternoon, assuming that is all it will take to get the rogue panda out in the open.

Eyewitnesses also swear that the 6 unfashionable yetis had brightly colored clashing outfits (though none were wearing purple), and while they were smaller than normal (according to Sabrina, 3 standard of deviations below normal) they had heavy gaits similar to those reported elsewhere. Their speed was quite slow, lumbering along at perhaps 12 to 14 minutes per mile. Later, reporters found that their tracks went for approximately 6 miles, covering the outer loop of the Campbell Mesa trail system.

A second sighting reported that the Yetis and rogue panda walked into It's About Coffee at 11 AM. As rumors spread throughout Flagstaff, inquiring minds crowded outside the coffee shop, however, they were disappointed to only count 6 scrawny, exhausted local runners walking to their snow covered vehicles. When interviewed by NPR, Arizona Daily Sun reporters, and Phoenix news crews, NATRA runners David, Susan, Bret, Neil, Sabrina, Bruce and David refused to comment on the strange early morning occurrences on Campbell Mesa.