Monday, September 26, 2011
Flagstaff Marathon
Saturday was a picture perfect day for the Flagstaff Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K. Read Jacob May's Arizona Daily Sun Coverage. Results at VirtualRoster.com.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Ponderosa Hustle, Aspen Corner, Summer Series Picnic
Never a dull moment of trail running in Flagstaff. The inaugural Ponderosa Hustle was a smashing success. See photos above.
The NATRA group run had 9 folks including Maureen, Rob, Neil, Sabrina, Craig, David, Susan, Don and Bruce out for a jaunt on the Arizona Trail at Aspen Corner. With a thick overcast, runners were chilled to the bone. Before long David started chasing tornado trails (from what David says, 10 days in a row with at least one tornado in Northern Arizona). He found several trees uprooted from the latest event just off the Arizona Trail and reports that there was some tornado activity near the Humphrey's trail box. See David's official report. Most runners headed to Bismarck Lake and back.
Neil headed back to his car to clean off the residue of David M's latest prank. Sabrina reminded us of when the same Arizona Trail took a bit out of her leg last year. Ouch.
Finally to top off the day, Tim and the Flagstaff Nordic Center hosted the Flagstaff Summer Running Series picnic. With a small turnout of 30 folks, everyone took one or two Fratelli's pizza home and lots of NATRA swag.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
9/11
As I returned from my early morning run with Mark James, I am thinking back on a decade ago. Mark and I were in high gear training for a little known race - the Soulstice Mountain Trail Run to be held in early October, 2001. On 9/11/2001, I had a break in my training as I was helping lead a Passport in Time volunteer project for the Kaibab National Forest, with 16 volunteers camped at Hull Cabin. Hull Cabin is the oldest standing structure in the Grand Canyon area, built by Phillip and William Hull in 1884.
The plan was to survey around Hull Cabin to better understand the prehistoric settlement pattern along the Coconino Rim. As I crawled out of my tent on that fateful Tuesday, I could hear a colleague shouting that the World Trade Center was under attack. I had awoken earlier at 3 AM, to drain some beer out of my system, and I could hear Patrick listening to Art Bell in the Morning (An overnight talk show about conspiracy theories and UFOs). I told Patrick I was not amused as my Dad works a few blocks away. He then told me to listen to the NPR reports.
We continued making breakfast amid reports of the towers on fire and their potential imminent collapse. Thankfully one of our volunteers, Ed, a fire fighter from Los Angeles, had a sattelite phone. I reached my mom who lived in White Plains, about 20 minutes north of the city, and she knew dad was OK. It would be days before I heard his harrowing story from his office just 4 blocks away.
Eventually, PT Carter, a co-worker from Tusayan came out to check on us and make sure we knew about the current events. He told us the Forest Service would be shutting down and wondered if we would be sending volunteers home. We thought about it a bit, but since most had flown in from across the country, we had no choice but to go on with the show. We were then on our own. It was an unusual week near the south rim of the Grand Canyon, quite eerie with no overflights buzzing us all day long. Complete silence and not even hunters in the woods. For a brief period, the whole Forest seemed like wilderness.
As a kid, I never made it up to the twin towers, but on my first break from college in December 1982, my best friend Jimmy and I decided to play tourists in the town where I was born. We visited the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty and finally the Trade Center. (It is a bit like those that live in Flagstaff that haven't been to the Grand Canyon) Both avid photographers we took our cameras along to see who could take the artsiest photos (Jimmy always won that competition). I recently scanned these 35 mm photos that I took. (The Trade Center was only a decade old at that time). In today's New York Times there is an interesting panoramic reconstruction of the Trade Center.
My Grandfather who was born in the city in 1905 collected matches from different restaurants across the city. As a kid I always enjoyed the colorful array of books in his collection box that was the centerpiece of a coffee table in their Greenwich Village apartment. When Gramps died in 1995, I inherited that matchbook collection. A week after 9/11 I decided to take an inventory of the fine cuisine gramps had visited over the years. The first one I flipped over was a bit eerie. Windows on the World, the restaurant atop the Trade Center.
After 9/11, my Dad who had lived on the upper east side of Manhattan for more than 25 years, decided to move down to the abandoned Battery Park area. Within months I visited and got to see the destruction up close. The small room where I stayed looked right down onto the Ground Zero, just three blocks to the north, with my room lit up by the workers still clearing debris. Walking around the neighborhood there were scars all over buildings and many were still condemned. I spent every day walking/running the perimeter of Ground Zero. Dad has moved around the now vibrant rejuvenated tip of Manhattan and one of his apartments was next to Trinity Church which was amazingly spared during 9/11. He is now on West Street, right near where the first responder police and firefighter stations were located. I have visited many times since 9/11 and am amazed at the recovery that has taken place in the Battery Park area. An article in today's Times recounts this as well . The New York City Half Marathon now finishes on the tip of Battery Park.
In the days leading up to today's 10th anniversary of 9/11, I found myself back at Hull Cabin - this time working with the incident management team on the Lower Fire. The area around Hull Cabin had not seen a fire in over 100 years and managing the fire gave Forest managers the opportunity to reduce the chance of a catastrophic fire reducing the Cabin to ashes. Over the past decade, the Kaibab has restored Hull Cabin to where it is now in the Cabin rental program for the public to enjoy.
However, back to our run today - a 6 mile jaunt through NAU's campus - I remembered how Mark and I were training for Soulstice 10 years ago. I had already pledged to help with the organization of this little known event the following year thinking we should simply start an email list together of interested runners. Maybe even a web page. While those were just ideas, after 9/11, they really blossomed. There seemed to be a need for folks to reconnect, and the timing of social group trail runs had arrived - and trail running did seem to bring us closer together. I am thankful for all the friends who have lent a hand or joined in on a group run. And I'm looking forward to the next 10, minus any more 9/11s.
The plan was to survey around Hull Cabin to better understand the prehistoric settlement pattern along the Coconino Rim. As I crawled out of my tent on that fateful Tuesday, I could hear a colleague shouting that the World Trade Center was under attack. I had awoken earlier at 3 AM, to drain some beer out of my system, and I could hear Patrick listening to Art Bell in the Morning (An overnight talk show about conspiracy theories and UFOs). I told Patrick I was not amused as my Dad works a few blocks away. He then told me to listen to the NPR reports.
We continued making breakfast amid reports of the towers on fire and their potential imminent collapse. Thankfully one of our volunteers, Ed, a fire fighter from Los Angeles, had a sattelite phone. I reached my mom who lived in White Plains, about 20 minutes north of the city, and she knew dad was OK. It would be days before I heard his harrowing story from his office just 4 blocks away.
Eventually, PT Carter, a co-worker from Tusayan came out to check on us and make sure we knew about the current events. He told us the Forest Service would be shutting down and wondered if we would be sending volunteers home. We thought about it a bit, but since most had flown in from across the country, we had no choice but to go on with the show. We were then on our own. It was an unusual week near the south rim of the Grand Canyon, quite eerie with no overflights buzzing us all day long. Complete silence and not even hunters in the woods. For a brief period, the whole Forest seemed like wilderness.
As a kid, I never made it up to the twin towers, but on my first break from college in December 1982, my best friend Jimmy and I decided to play tourists in the town where I was born. We visited the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty and finally the Trade Center. (It is a bit like those that live in Flagstaff that haven't been to the Grand Canyon) Both avid photographers we took our cameras along to see who could take the artsiest photos (Jimmy always won that competition). I recently scanned these 35 mm photos that I took. (The Trade Center was only a decade old at that time). In today's New York Times there is an interesting panoramic reconstruction of the Trade Center.
My Grandfather who was born in the city in 1905 collected matches from different restaurants across the city. As a kid I always enjoyed the colorful array of books in his collection box that was the centerpiece of a coffee table in their Greenwich Village apartment. When Gramps died in 1995, I inherited that matchbook collection. A week after 9/11 I decided to take an inventory of the fine cuisine gramps had visited over the years. The first one I flipped over was a bit eerie. Windows on the World, the restaurant atop the Trade Center.
After 9/11, my Dad who had lived on the upper east side of Manhattan for more than 25 years, decided to move down to the abandoned Battery Park area. Within months I visited and got to see the destruction up close. The small room where I stayed looked right down onto the Ground Zero, just three blocks to the north, with my room lit up by the workers still clearing debris. Walking around the neighborhood there were scars all over buildings and many were still condemned. I spent every day walking/running the perimeter of Ground Zero. Dad has moved around the now vibrant rejuvenated tip of Manhattan and one of his apartments was next to Trinity Church which was amazingly spared during 9/11. He is now on West Street, right near where the first responder police and firefighter stations were located. I have visited many times since 9/11 and am amazed at the recovery that has taken place in the Battery Park area. An article in today's Times recounts this as well . The New York City Half Marathon now finishes on the tip of Battery Park.
In the days leading up to today's 10th anniversary of 9/11, I found myself back at Hull Cabin - this time working with the incident management team on the Lower Fire. The area around Hull Cabin had not seen a fire in over 100 years and managing the fire gave Forest managers the opportunity to reduce the chance of a catastrophic fire reducing the Cabin to ashes. Over the past decade, the Kaibab has restored Hull Cabin to where it is now in the Cabin rental program for the public to enjoy.
However, back to our run today - a 6 mile jaunt through NAU's campus - I remembered how Mark and I were training for Soulstice 10 years ago. I had already pledged to help with the organization of this little known event the following year thinking we should simply start an email list together of interested runners. Maybe even a web page. While those were just ideas, after 9/11, they really blossomed. There seemed to be a need for folks to reconnect, and the timing of social group trail runs had arrived - and trail running did seem to bring us closer together. I am thankful for all the friends who have lent a hand or joined in on a group run. And I'm looking forward to the next 10, minus any more 9/11s.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Arizona Trail Walnut Canyon towards Fisher Point
I began the day assuming that I might have the Arizona Trail all to myself. After all, it is Imogene Pass Run weekend and most Flagstaff trail runners abandoned the town for Ouray and Telluride (Congrats to Flagstaff's Mike Smith and Jenny McCarthy who took both the men's and women's titles at Imogene - this is the first time I can remember that happening). While I have done this epic race twice, I make the attempt only once every 10 years. It takes me that long to recover!
So, after a decade of NATRA group runs, I thought, would this be the first NATRA group run with only me? It was looking that way until Abe arrived on scene. Then three young women from Phoenix arrived looking for a good 18 miler. Impressive I thought, and I told them Fisher Point would make the perfect long run - but not quite the 18 miles (it is only 13.4). I was pretty sure they would feel like they ran a long one (If you gals read this, please submit a comment about how the run went!)
As Abe and I took off we wondered how well the gals would do with only a liter bottle of water - I warned them about the altitude, but off they went. Every time we would make a turn, they were on our heels, chit chatting way like it was just a walk in the park. Perhaps the bottle of water would be fine.
For me, the run was the first since Hood to Coast. I felt strong and for the first time in recent memory ran in and out of that monstrous side canyon of Walnut without stopping. A monumental achievement for me. I decided to do only 5 miles while Abe did 8. On my way back I ran into Jeff who came out for his first NATRA run. So all in all, not a bad turnout. 6 runners on a day I was for sure going to be alone.
Abe and I returned to the Campus Coffee Bean. I must have been dying of thirst as I questioned Abe on everything he knew about Northern Arizona ground water and springs. Water is always on my mind these days as monsoons are winding down, meaning Soulstice is just around the corner. Four weeks to go!
So, after a decade of NATRA group runs, I thought, would this be the first NATRA group run with only me? It was looking that way until Abe arrived on scene. Then three young women from Phoenix arrived looking for a good 18 miler. Impressive I thought, and I told them Fisher Point would make the perfect long run - but not quite the 18 miles (it is only 13.4). I was pretty sure they would feel like they ran a long one (If you gals read this, please submit a comment about how the run went!)
As Abe and I took off we wondered how well the gals would do with only a liter bottle of water - I warned them about the altitude, but off they went. Every time we would make a turn, they were on our heels, chit chatting way like it was just a walk in the park. Perhaps the bottle of water would be fine.
For me, the run was the first since Hood to Coast. I felt strong and for the first time in recent memory ran in and out of that monstrous side canyon of Walnut without stopping. A monumental achievement for me. I decided to do only 5 miles while Abe did 8. On my way back I ran into Jeff who came out for his first NATRA run. So all in all, not a bad turnout. 6 runners on a day I was for sure going to be alone.
Abe and I returned to the Campus Coffee Bean. I must have been dying of thirst as I questioned Abe on everything he knew about Northern Arizona ground water and springs. Water is always on my mind these days as monsoons are winding down, meaning Soulstice is just around the corner. Four weeks to go!
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Weather (ed) ford Trail
(Thanks to Bruce H for the following post)There is no truth to the rumor that our fearless leader was off sleeping in his back yard shed instead of running today or for that matter that there had been a hostile take over of NATRA by Diana who, for the first time met with Jen, Sabrina, Ludo, Don, Mackenzie and Shea at the agreed-upon time. Various routes starting up the Weather(ed)ford Trail were taken, with two folks actually mostly following the advertised route on this beautiful, early fall day.
Scott and Bruce arrived earlier for separate longer runs, but all met up at the end, except Ludo who ran to Doyle Saddle.
Almost everyone had horned toad encounters today. Must be something in the air! Coffee was at the Train, with David and Susan joining us.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Hood to Coast
The moment I eagerly awaited all year long had finally arrived. I had been wrought with a summer full of angst anticipating the Mother of All Relays - Hood to Coast. After injuring my calf in July, I decided no more running until race day. Power walking, mushroom hunting, surveying on wildfires, fine. I knew with the upcoming fire season I'd have plenty of opportunities to stay fit.
I was filled with excitement to visit Team Running Sucks Captain Rhiannon and Tim in Portland, Oregon, a city I have fallen in love with over the past 5 years. The flight to PDX was amusing as Kara, Heather and I carpooled to PHX at 3:30 AM. While this simplified travel, we all managed to take separate flights into PDX. Once we all regrouped a few hours later, Van 1,team Running Sucks picked up their rental. A gangsta black Chevy Tahoe. We knew we were going to be bad asses.
On Thursday night, we all packed into Rhi and Tim's apartment sleeping on every available inch of space - a good way to ease into the sleep deprivation we knew we would face over the next 30 hours. Most of us were used to the concept, heck we had all done epic relays before, but Hood to Coast is the original. NPR's Scott Simon covered this year's race!
As early Friday rolled around, it was time to carefully pack the Tahoe - one of the key elements of a successful relay. Just enough food, drink and sleeping bags to get you through the event. Organization is key, and Heather taught us a new trick to keeping track of your Bananas. Comfort just is not a part of this race and is the reason you feel more pain than after running a marathon. There is no room to stretch your legs in the cramped vehicle for 27 hours. But more on the Hood to Coast post race shuffle later.
Another tradition in the pre-race early morning hours is to decorate your transport vehicle. Within minutes we could barely contain our laughter with every statement having to do with "sucks". My contribution - "hot sucks.". The NATRA runner logo was even quoted saying "Humidity Sucks." But of course nothing funnier than our team name and our shirts "Running Sucks." As the race progressed into the night, runners clearly identified with our team name by smiling and saying "you got that right".
Running Sucks divided into 2 vans, Van 1 and Van 2. Relays are bizarre. You really don't get to know the other Van, you just hope they stay on track and meet at the major exchanges. On the other hand, within your van, you get to know your teammates very, very well. Our Van was a combination Rhi's Flagstaff NATRA friends mixed in with her colleagues from the Claremont Mudd Scripps College Cross Country team . And we had coach Carl who dutifully drove us throughout the night. A veteran of Hood to Coast, Carl was injured and could not run - he just wanted to be part of the Relay. By the end, I understood his passion and commitment for doing this for his friends.
Van 1's mix of runners complemented each other well. Greg and Neil's slower paces allowed the remaining speed demons plenty of time to recover. Greg and I well understood the significance of our roles!
The drive to Mount Hood was magnificent with the numerous snow chutes covering the mountain. When we arrived we saw the sea of madness and many of the colorful teams, including the Star Wars Storm Troopers in Speedos.
I was more infatuated with the Honey Badger team - one of my favorite YouTube Videos of the year! I also then ran into my pal David Bluestein who we married at the Big Brothers Big Sisters Half Marathon two years ago. We had just seen each other the week before!
I had other ideas on my mind at the starting area. I had been excited to see Timberline Lodge - the exterior which was used in the "Shining". I wondered if this race would end up as a horror story for me. Redrum! Of course as we stood in front taking photos, I heard a a familiar voice. I looked up and of course there was a Forest Service interpreter talking about the historic of Timberline Lodge. Ah, just can't get away from my job. Of course there was no time for a tour, Heather was about to start!
The race pretty much want according to plan. We all ran our expected paces and despite well above normal heat as we sped down Mount Hood. We would have broken 27 hours had it not been for that damn train in the middle of the night that held up Heather's run. Oh yeah, and then there were the few minutes that we lost when we had to rename Al, Al "Will dog it for Hottie".
For me, I thought I was broken after leg 2. While I felt fairly strong during my 2 AM run - my longest leg of 7 miles, I could feel an ancient injury flaring up. The old ITB issue I hadn't felt in 18 years. As we made our way to the Woodstock like van exchange area at 4 AM, my knee had cramped and when I stepped out onto the soft ground I felt a pain shoot up my back. Thankfully Kara, our team PT, forced me onto the foam roller and despite the even more excruciating pain that followed, it magically worked. I was back on track and managed to run my entire third leg of just under 6 miles.
Carl had brilliantly rented rooms in Astoria, a rustic historic town where the Columbia River empties into the Pacific. As we had time before the epic Seaside finish, Van 1 checked into our great rooms at the Comfort Inn, just about 50 yards from the Columbia River. Our room had panoramic views of bridges, Washington State and the river. Oh, and of course, the sea lions who despite their efforts, could not keep me awake with their barking. With just enough time to eat lunch, Carl yelped and we found the fantastic BowPickers Fish and Chips ship. Best post race meal ever.
The race ended at the massive beach resort of Seaside. Kara, Heather and I raced to the ocean's edge and soaked our weary legs. One problem - the Oregon ocean temperature is about 50 degrees and I damn nearly lost my breath. We arrived in Seaside in time to hook up with Van 2. However, with traffic, 15,000 runners and blazing heat, Astoria and cold beer in the river side rooms seemed far more divine. And of course sleep over the constant barking of the sea lions.
Our post-race day activities of walking around Portland, hitting MUU-MUUs for lunch, a beer at Mcmenamins and walking up and down the steps at Powell's Bookstore alleviated the pains of the Hood to Coast shuffle. We celebrated that night at the Bushwhacker's Cider House, Rhi and Tim's quaint neighborhood hangout. We sampled most of their delicious ciders, and Hood to Coast shuffled back to Rhi's thus finishing off the perfect weekend in Portland. Needless to say, I would do Hood to Coast again in a heartbeat.
Special thanks to Rhi who organized this amazing combination of teammates and to our driver Carl who stayed up all night safely getting us from point to point. And of course to all my Running Sucks teammates. You guys rock! But the biggest shout out has to go to Rhi's mom who along with friends served as our required 3 race volunteers. We could not have done this without you!
For many more photos, see below.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Kendrick Mountain
With many Flagstaff stalwarts off kicking a.. at Trans-Rockies and Hood-to-Coast, six of us took on the annual Kendrick Mountain trek. Sabrina, Ludo, Abe, and Bruce joined Sedona Running Company owners Alan and Lindsay on a beautiful morning climb 3000' up to the lookout. The raspberries at the top were ripe; 'nuff said!
On the way out and particularly on the return drive, we had lots of interaction with bike riders in the Barn Burner Mountain Bike Race around Kendrick. Fortunately, we were headed the same direction when our paths crossed!
Coffee was at Late for the Train.(Thanks to Bruce Higgins for the Post)
On the way out and particularly on the return drive, we had lots of interaction with bike riders in the Barn Burner Mountain Bike Race around Kendrick. Fortunately, we were headed the same direction when our paths crossed!
Coffee was at Late for the Train.(Thanks to Bruce Higgins for the Post)
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