Flagstaff Trail Running

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Every Which Way on Oldham

A great turnout of 18 runners for today's Northern Arizona Trail Runners Association group run. We had a surprise visit from City Council's Celia Barotz who encouraged attendees to vote for her in the next election. Celia has supported the development of the Flagstaff Urban Trail System and championed preserving open spaces including Observatory Mesa, Picture Canyon, and Buffalo Park parcels. Thanks to Celia and her colleagues on City Council, runners and Flagstaff residents will continue to run and enjoy these special places.

Due to the Arizona Trail junction confusion with Lower Oldham, the group split into three divisions covering just about every section of trail between Mount Elden and Rocky Ridge! Neil and Ann wore matching shirts and hats, a subtle reminder that the April 1st Soulstice Mountain Trail Run is just around the corner, hint, hint. https://register.chronotrack.com/reg/form?eventID=6823 We even saw some wildlife when a very healthy coyote crossed the trail on our return. We rejuvenated at Flag Buzz with iced drinks all around.

Next run is the last Sedona trail run of the year, the Wet Beaver Creek and it should be warm enough to take the NATRA plunge! Meet at Fort Tuthill by Flagstaff Extreme at 8:15 AM Saturday March 29th.

— at Buffalo Park.

The charge out of Buffalo Park

The short downhill between the second and third infamous "Oldham Steps"

Neil and Ann's not so subtle message about March 31st deadline

A much deserved downhill return on Rocky Ridge

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Slap the Leprechaun 5K?

Runners greeted on the first lap

The March Madness of the second annual "Lap the Leprechaun" 5K group run was a surprising hit. I had guessed maybe 25 folks would show based on our Facebook event page and the blustery weather. By the time late comers arrived, we were closer to last year's 50 green clad runners.

At the last second, we had to scramble to find a Leprechaun because last year's master of ceremonies Marc Potter was too busy with clients at his downtown hair salon. At about 9:30 AM yesterday, my co-conspirator Mike and I voted 2-0 that our office mate Marcos would inherit the job. Marcos did not disappoint and had to work hard to avoid the runners who tried to pinch, lap or "slap" him.

To top it off, we had a much larger post run party turnout than last year and the bar staff allowed us to we take over the Zane Gray Ballroom!

I must admit my favorite part of these free running events is returning home and sharing photos that capture the essence of Flagstaff running; community based and fun for runners of all ages and levels. Whether it is the New Years Day run, Lap the Leprechaun, Four on the Fourth, War Dog, Turkey Predictor, the Mayan Apocolypse (now Winter Solstice,) or Christmas Day run, these FREE celebratory occasions are a great way to meet and find new running friends!

So far, we are working on next year's slogan..."Slap the Leprechaun 5K" is in the lead. Have an idea? Let us know and our friends at Ramble Brothers will design next years shirt!

Gang Green

Marcos the Leprechaun leads the way

Heading out on the first lap

Martos chases down Marcos

The co-conspirators surround their new recruit

The Leprechaun didn't stand a chance against Sara in the home stretch

I may have cheated, but purple tights can get away with that.

Ella Bohn's first Lap the Leprechaun

It took a while, but trendy purple tights are now the rage on Flagstaff trails!

Mike's hat told us what to do afterwards

We finished the race and packed Zane Gray Ballroom!

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Going Hog Wild on Chicken Point!

Pink Jeep Tour Driver captures the gang.

9 Northern Arizona Trail Runners Association runners and Tater left Flagstaff's chilly and windy morning behind to enjoy the warmth of Sedona. We beat the craziness of the Saint Patrick's Day Parade but knew we'd have to reroute our drive home to head south to I-17.

25 years ago I took the role of Woodsy Owl at the Sedona Saint Patrick's Day Parade! "Give a Hoot, Don't Pollute!" I got in trouble for speaking (Woodsy was just supposed to wave). This was easily the toughest Sedona workout ever....until today that is!

We ran across Marj's Draw to Chicken Point, and then we tested out the new death defying Hog Wash Trail. We no longer recognize it as Marg's Draw because there is only Marj in Sedona and we shall honor the "j" spelling from now on! This was a spectacular run and we felt that every step of the Hog Wash might be our last. We had fun taking a "detour" that left us scrambling to the trail's high point, with Bruce, David, and Neil using each other as human ladders to climb up t he slick rock. Afterwards the group enjoyed coffee in the Village of Oak Creek far from the March Madness of Sedona's Saint Patrick Day Parade!

Heading out towards MarG's Draw

Dan and Tater.

The back of Jared's shirt summed up the run for all of us!

Don amidst Sedona's slick rock splendor.

Runners and tourists converge on Chicken Point.

Waiting our turn on the point.

Susan enjoying some brief solitude.

Heading into the unknown.

Views most of us had never seen before.

Whoops...where is that trail?

Two of Sedona's newest trails.

Almost back to the trail head.

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Life's a Beach in Sandy Seep!

Ten intrepid runners took on Sandy Seep (aka Rhiannon Wood's favorite run) during today's Northern Arizona Trail Runners Association Saturday outing. This is the section of Arizona Trail NATRA are the stewards for so it was time to do a monitoring run.

Battling the north head wind on the way out, we figured it would be nice to have the tail wind on the end of the run. Most of us were stopped in our tracks by the time we turned up hill towards the Christmas Tree Trail junction. The head wind and steep sandy trail made walking more efficient than running!

Once we ran across the beach like Sandy Seep, we then encountered the remarkable effects of post-Schultz Fire flooding from last years epic flooding.

On the return trip, it seemed as though wind played a nasty trick and turned on us. Our much anticipated tail wind once again gone. We were aided by a nice downward pitch for the last 1/2 mile and the wind gave us a break. We recovered and warmed up at Flag Buzz wondering how all of our sand blasted friends might be doing out at the SP Crater races!

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Magical Mescal Mystery Tour

The charge out of the Boynton Canyon Trailhead

7 Northern Arizona Trail Runners Association runners circumnavigated 5.2 miles around Mescal Mountain. Despite the overnight heavy rains, the trail was slick in only a few places, and the light rain kept us from overheating! Bruce the botanical tour guide gave us lots of breaks and pointed out many of the fragrant flowering plants. The back side of Mescal Mountain gave us an appreciation for Sedona's "slick rock", with several runners nearly biting the red mud. Armed with her I-phone, Localeikki founder Tracy McMillan said she had never taken so many photographs on a run. If you haven't heard of Locoleikki, check it out at http://www.localeikki.com/destination/index and download the ap so you can find this and many other great NATRA runs! You can also check them out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/localeikki.