A bit higher on the mountain...

This morning I got in a really nice 14ish mile run up a bit higher on the mountain. I explored some trails that I had not been on since last Fall and once I got above the dry lake hills and onto the trails on the San Francisco Peaks it was all bliss.

My legs felt great and I just never seemed to get tired. I wasn't pushing it too hard because of the Zion run a few days ago but I still kept a steady pace and didn't seem to feel the effects of the Zion run at all. Very encouraging!

Also, it was a special feeling, running the tight single track that weaves it's ways through the meadows, pine, alpine fir and aspen of the upper elevations. Kind of like coming home, if that makes sense.

It's the same feeling I get when I drop into the Grand Canyon for the first time in the spring. Like visiting an old friend that I haven't seen for a while and knowing that we will get to hang out, catch up and see what's changed since our time apart. Good stuff.

Man, I love running in the mountains of Flagstaff. I'm going to really enjoy another summer of running up here.

All around good morning!

(Schultz Tank)

(Wilderness boundary on the Weatherford Trail)

A few thoughts on how I communicate to people about the fact that I am a 'runner'...

Susan and I were talking, last night, about how I communicate about my running to people and how I seem to struggle with how to communicate and not seem elitist about trail running and/or ultra running.

The conversation usually starts with someone saying to me that they 'heard I run a lot'...

I usually respond in two ways:

1) I tell them that I do run a lot these days and leave it at that unless they seem to show more interest and we have a continued conversation about it lead by their curiosity.

-or-

2)I tell them that I don't really road run and that I prefer trail running and ultra running and then go on to control the conversation with my opinions about running.

Response #1 is how I would like to respond. I respond this way with climbing conversations. It is a response that is, for me, built on a certain level of comfort with the sport I am active in. I don't have anything to prove in my climbing and don't need to spray about how hard I climb or in what style. I did that a fair bit when I was young but then I grew out of it and realized I really didn't care about what other people thought of how hard I climbed or in what style. I just wanted to climb and have fun doing it.

Response #2 is how I more often respond with my running lately. I find it kind of interesting that I am now going through a bit of the same growing pains with running that I went through with climbing. I seem to feel the need at times to assert my level of running and in what style I do it. Like it matters or something... Maybe it is the competitive side in me, but I definitely feel a need (however silly it is) to be recognized in my running. Almost as if I feel that the form of running I do is so under the radar or different than the norm that I feel like I need to blabber on about it to people that ask me so that I can be sure they understand what I am doing and how 'extreme' it is or something silly like that.

Moving forward toward a consistent #1 response is how I want communicate about my running, I would like to accelerate toward that point where I truly recognize that, just as in my climbing, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks of what I do. I should continue to run for the pure joy of it. If that takes me onto a track, road, urban trail or single track so be it and what ever achievements I accumulate a long the way are memories for me to cherish not to flaunt in front of others to get their approval.

In the end, I need to remember that running is just running, just like climbing is just climbing. I do it because I love it. That's all...

Running Log

Last Week Total: 61.5 miles with 12,500 ft of elevation gain

Yesterday: 6.5 miles (4.5 miles on Observatory Mesa+2 miles running to work and home)

Today: 16 miles (14 miles on Dry Lake Hills and on San Francisco Peaks+2 miles running to work and home)

Trans Zion (a.k.a. Zion Traverse) Run: April 23, 2011

...it almost didn't happen.

In the weeks leading up to the run I got a little obsessed with checking for trip and weather reports for Zion National Park and the trails of the Zion Traverse. I was most interested in what the West Rim Trail and Wildcat Canyon Trail were like on the West Rim as these trails are notorious for holding deep snow late into April.

If they had too much snow when I went there to run, the warm temperatures of spring would make the deep snow too soft to move through quickly and potentially impassible due to extreme post holing and fast moving creeks, not to mention that I may not be able to find the trail with potentially 10+ miles of deep snow (...worse case scenario).

There were a few conversations on forums about people wanting to hike the traverse in April but not much to go on for actual conditions of the trails. The Zion National Park website has a page that shows supposed 'current conditions' of the trails but their most current report was from April 8. I left for Zion on April 22, they still had the same report posted and it was wasn't really to be trusted in my mind because the way they wrote it. It sounded like it was regurgitated from prior years of the same time in April and wasn't detailed at all...really not much help. The one thing that was consistent from all the reports was that there was most definitely snow up on the West Rim Trail and Wildcat Canyon Trail...just not how much.

Then I got the call...

I had talked to a canyoneering friend, a few days before I was to leave to go to Zion, about if he knew of any reports about snow levels from canyoneering folks that had tried to access the Subway (popular canyoneering route in Zion) from Wildcat Canyon Trail yet this spring. He said that he hadn't heard anything yet but he would let me know if he did.

Well... the day before I was to leave to go to Zion he called me and said that a report came in of someone doing the Subway from Wildcat Canyon Trail a few day prior and they reported waist deep snow on the trail. He also got a report that there was snow on the West Rim Trail all the way down to campsite #8 in Potato Hollow. With these two snow reports it would mean that I would be in potentially 2-4 feet of deep and super soft snow with raging creeks for 8-10 miles!

To say the least, I was stunned and a bit depressed. It seemed too dangerous to me to push through those kind of conditions in the speed I was hoping to travel and with so little gear. Maybe if I wanted to do an overnight trip and get really wet and miserable it would be a go, but to run with just water, food, a few extra layers of cloths and no more to protect myself from the elements and having a potential overnighter... that just didn't seem very smart to me or fun.

After some more frantic scanning the web for more recent trip reports and coming up empty, I started the downward slide into accepting that it would not be a good idea for me to 'force' doing the Zion Traverse on this trip. I mean, the real goal of the run was to go fast and light and not only get a rad 48 mile and 10,000+ elevation gain training run in an incredible place but also try and get a fast PR on the Zion Traverse. I wasn't going to accomplish either of these goals by pushing a borderline overnighter epic because of horrible conditions.

That night I went to bed a bit shocked, depressed and trying to be o.k. with giving up on the run (something I have a hard time doing...).

The next morning and the day we were to leave for Zion, Susan and I discussed our options in more detail. We were on a climbing trip around my run so I always had that to fall back on and I was getting adjusted to that being all it was. Then, Susan surprised me and started talking out the options of if I still wanted to try and do the Zion Traverse.

At first I thought it a bad idea to even bring it up in light of the reports I just got the day before, but I entertained Susan with a discussion about it anyway. There was a part of me that was really bothered by the fact that I hadn't seen the trail conditions for myself and it was making me still hold on to the hope that maybe the reports were over exaggerated and the trails would be o.k. I wanted to still hold on to some hope...

After some good discussion, Susan and I agreed that there was no reason not to at least do part of the run. We were already going to be there, I was itching for a good long run and we figured out a plan that would work even if there was too much snow. Plan was as followed...

I start at the East Entrance (as planned) and run the 20 some miles down into Zion Canyon and then up onto the West Rim and the potential deep snow. Then, if I can't push forward because of conditions then I would have time to turn around and run the 10+ miles back to the bottom of Zion Canyon (which I will have already run through earlier in the morning) and catch a shuttle to the Visitor's Center and call Susan. As long as I made this call before 3:30 pm, she would still be in the area to pick me up.

If I continued on because of some miracle of good conditions, then Susan won't get a call from me before 3:30 pm and she will drive the hour or more around to the Kolob Canyon Entrance on the Northwest end of the park (no cell service..) to pick me up upon my completion of the last 20 some miles of the traverse.

A great plan...as long as I am smart and give my self plenty of time to make it back down to cell service at the Visitor's Center before 3:30 pm if faced with bad conditions. I planned to MAKE SURE under any circumstances to either make it through the potentially bad snow sections in reasonable time or bail early if things weren't good. I (and Susan) didn't need to push this and have an epic. I needed to be smart.

So, it was settled. The run was still on and at least there was still hope to complete this thing with some smarts and safety built in.

On to the run...

At 3:15 am, Saturday, April 25, Susan and I woke to light rain, camped just out side of the East Entrance to Zion National Park. We then drove the 15 minutes to the East Rim Trailhead, parked and discussed the bad turn in the weather. Today's forecast was to be partly cloudy and warm but this was anything but that. Instead, it was raining (a bit harder now than when we woke up) and it only added to the worries we already had with the snow. Could there be flash flood dangers too now? What next?

As I got prepared to start the run we decided to add one more thing to the plan. Susan would wait and sleep in a bit at the West Rim Trailhead and not leave for at least a couple hours in case I couldn't make a stream crossing on my way down into the bottom of Zion Canyon because of flooding danger and had to come back to the trailhead.

So, with a fair bit of worry and fear of the unknown (but, with at least a good plan in place for escape) I started my run in the dark, with 40 degree temps and rain, at 4:30 am.

Often, when I start really long runs like this the first hour or two is filled with fear and excitement for what will come. This morning, as I ran along the sandy trail in the rainy dark I mostly had a fear brewing in side of me. I felt from the start of this run that my survival instincts were in full effect.

I usually don't have these kinds of feelings until most the way through a long run when I am beaten down and everything is raw. At that point my body is beaten down enough to go into survival mode. This time I felt that my mind was already prepared for the 'potential' for some serious survival mode action so it decided to just kicked into the mode right away for good measure. Good thing...as I felt I needed to be really sharp on this run so that I didn't make any bad decisions with all the crazy conditions.

The first few miles went really well. It was raining pretty good but I was running on a sandy trail and it actually helped to keep the sand a bit firmer and easier to run on. It wasn't until after I crossed my first stream (it was low which was a good sign) that the trail turned a bit messier.

For the few miles leading up to and after Stave Spring on the East Rim Trail the trail was a muddy mess. I was either dragging a 1/2 inch of mud stuck to the bottom of my feet or running down creek filled troughs (the high running creeks would love to channel into the trail and flow down it in many sections...).

Once I reached the East Rim of Zion Canyon things got better. The slick rock nature of the trail in this section made for easier travel. With the added bonus of the first hints of daylight and the rain stopping, things started looking up for the moment.

I made it all the way down through the awesome Echo Canyon to Weeping Rock and the floor of Zion Canyon still in good time and growing good spirits. I even saw a runner headed out of the Weeping Rock parking area and up into Echo Canyon, lifting my spirits more. I didn't feel quite so alone in my effort after seeing some one else out running on a day like this.

In the canyon bottom, the weather conditions were pretty good. Drying ground, cloudy skies but no rain and the temps felt like they were in the 50's. Also, looking up at the West Rim, I couldn't see any snow. Hopefully, that was a good sign and there wasn't a ton of snow just out of view...

I quickly make my way down the road that links Weeping Rock to the start of the West Rim Trail, gathered water, saw my first tourists of the day and then headed up the West Rim Trail.

It didn't take long to start my first section of walking on the West Rim Trail. I had run pretty much everything up to this point but, as anyone who has hiked or ran up to Angel's Landing can tell you, this trail is simply ridiculously steep and I have no problem power hiking it as opposed to destroying myself trying to run it. Too many miles to cover still anyway...hopefully...

Not long after passing a bunch of tourists on the trail and the turn off for Angel's Landing, things got quiet again and no more people...except for a couple guys hiking with packs. When I saw them ahead, my first thought was to ask them if they were going up onto the West Rim to camp and if they knew the conditions.

When I caught up to them and asked if they were hikers, I not only found out they weren't hikers but I found out that I knew one of them. It was Nik Berry, a super strong climber that I used to know in Flagstaff that now lives in Utah. We had a short conversation where I found out that he was going to drop in to climb on a route on Moonlight Buttress. I told him of my intentions to try to make it to Lee's Pass near the Kolob Entrance if the snow wasn't to bad. I would have loved to talk to him more but felt a lot of internal pressure to keep moving, so I did.

After getting back from Zion, I found out that he did the First Free Ascent of an aid route on that wall called Lunar X (now a free climb at 5.13) that weekend! Awesome! Here is his report. Congratulations, Nik!

The rest of the climb to the West Rim of Zion Canyon I mixed power hiking with running and made descent time, feeling good. I made it to the West Rim (Cabin) Spring feeling a bit thrashed from the climb but in better spirits about what lay ahead.

I had only seen tiny patches of snow in a few shady spots so far and the rain was still holding off. My cloths had all dried from the earlier rain and I was feeling warm and good.

I filled up on water at the spring and continued up the West Rim toward what ever may lie ahead; deep impassible snow, smooth sailing or something in between. I was going to find out sooner than later...

It only took another mile of travel before I started to run into difficulties on the trail. Because of all the rain and melting snow, the trail was a muddy mess and flowing creek in many sections. Most of the 5-6 miles from the West Rim Spring to a bit after Potato Hollow was mud and water with the random patch of snow. Every once in a while the trail would dry up and be incredibly wonderful running but that was often short lived. I noticed for the first time on the traverse that I wasn't making quite as good of time as I would like. Negotiating the water, mud and bits of post holing through snow was definitely slowing me down.

The bright side was that I was starting to get grand views of the high country as the clouds started to lift. I noticed that I could barely see any snow on the West Rim for as far as the eye could see. Things were looking up. Maybe, just maybe, things were going to work out and I would be able to snake my way through this thing. Even better, a mile or so past Potato Hollow, I got a couple mile section of smooth sailing with a super dry trail and even a bit of sun shine. I really savored this section.

Also, a bit after Potato Hollow, I got my first good view of Lava Point (above where the West Rim Trail and Wildcat Canyon Trail meet) and it looked like the snow up there wasn't deep. In fact, where I knew the wildcat Canyon Trail went away from Lava Point looked mostly free of snow. After seeing this, I had one of those HOLY CRAP moments where I realized that I was going to be able to work through what ever lie ahead. Even if it was a mess, I would be able to make it work as it was the deep snow that was my biggest worry coming into this.

A short while after this realization, I came across a couple guys hiking the Zion Traverse and they confirmed my suspicion that the rest of the West Rim Trail and all of the Wildcat Canyon Trail are passable. They said that there was a fair bit of mud, running water and snow but it was all workable. I WAS PSYCHED! We all wished each other a good trip and I continued on knowing that I was not turning around.

The next many miles of West Rim Trail and Wildcat Canyon Trail DID prove to be pretty bad though. Not impassable by any means, just bad.

It was super sloppy in many sections, a lot of it was flowing water and there was some pretty deep snow to move through at times. Luckily, all the snow sections went pretty well (considering how deep some of it was) because a few hikers had already been on the trail and kicked steps through it. As long as I stayed in their steps everything went pretty well.

Not to say it was easy. Pretty much the whole section of Wildcat Canyon Trail went pretty slow. I pretty much hiked/ran it because of all of the snow, mud and water. But, at least I made it though! I was just glad to not have had to turn around and head back. I was continuing forward.

While trudging along Wildcat Canyon Trail, I ran into some more runners that were doing the Zion Traverse in the opposite direction. We discussed trail conditions and said our hello's and then continued on.

This interaction was probably the most mood improving 'run in' with people on the whole traverse as not only did I see hikers earlier that said the whole distance was doable but other people had just run it today moving quickly! If it was already run today then I knew for sure that I could do it too. It was just that bit more confidence that started to feed on it's self to help get me to the end.

Once I reached the 4 mile Connector Trail that leads to the final 13 or so miles I was in super good spirits. I was below snow level and the trail quality was great again. There is a lot of sand to deal with on the remaining miles to Lee's Pass and the end but it was going to be heaven compared to what I had just been through. I was just loving the the novelty of dry trails.

After some colder and cloudy sections earlier on Wildcat Canyon Trail, the sun was poking it's head out a bit more often now too. I was really enjoying myself on the Connector Trail.

Then I got off trail...

Arg...I was half way across the Connector Trail and then it just ended. I saw some surveyor tape in a bush about 50 yards out in a field but couldn't find the trail again beyond that. Maybe this section got washed out by spring run off, I don't know, but I didn't remember it being hard to find where to go on this section of trail last year...

I went just about every direction looking for where the trail continued and then ended up following a faint trail with foot steps down stream near a creek for a little while until that vanished too.

Luckily, I knew where the trail ended a few miles away and connected with Hop Valley Trail so I crossed the creek where I was and bush whacked my way toward the far away point.

After 10 minutes or so off trail, after crossing the creek, I ran back into the Connector Trail and, very relieved and a bit frustrated, continued.

I was pretty frustrated with myself for not finding the correct way and going so far off trail. I wasted at least 20 minutes wandering around off trail trying to figure out where it went. What a dork.

Once back on trail, I put my focus on finishing strong and when I hit the Hop Valley Trail I knew I had about 13 miles left and I felt pretty good. All of Hop Valley Trail is runnable and I did my best to run it.

I would say that the Hop Valley section is one of my favorites of this trail. There isn't much of a trail through most of it...you just follow the creek through a beautiful and peaceful, cliff rimmed valley. Crossing the creek many times is mandatory but almost hoped for as the water just trickles along over a sandy bed and makes for easy crossing and the rest of the travel is along the grassy banks with wild flowers in bloom. Really cool place to be.

I started seeing people again once I made it down to the popular La Verkin Creek Trail and campsites. I filled up on water here quickly and tried to push as hard as I could muster to finish out strong. I only had about 7 miles left to Lee's Pass and the end and I was at 9 hours and 15 minutes on the watch. I really wanted to finish under 10 hours before this whole thing started (under normal, good trail conditions) and was pretty excited to still have a chance to finish strong after all the traverse had thrown at me.

I was able to run most of the finish except for the very last steep bit to the end and ended up having one of those sections that running these things is all about... I had about a 4 mile section where I was running everything; flats, hills, creek crossing...everything and I felt great doing it.

I was just running along, having fun, feeling no pain, taking in the surroundings and what I was accomplishing...BIG TIME runners high. It was really a cool feeling to have near the end of a huge run like this (I usually don't feel like this until I stop moving...or only earlier in a long run where my body isn't broken down too much yet...).

Well, I enjoyed that fantastic feeling for as long as I could and then to my surprise I was power hiking the last steep section to Lee's Pass and I was done, standing in the parking lot. When I looked at my watch it was 3:16 pm. I had done the Zion Traverse in 10 hours and 46 minutes.

Very satisfying after all the doubt I had of if it was even going to happen at all, the mud, creeks and snow difficulties and then also getting off trail. A lot working against me on this one but some how I found myself, here, in the Lees' Pass parking lot, finished. I had done it.

What a great adventure!

A bit thank you to Susan, for her calm problem solving leading up to the run and for believing in me and trusting that I would make good decisions during the run. I am very lucky to have her in my life. With out her, I don't think that I would have even taken one step onto the trail for this one.

The rest of our Zion trip...

The rest of the trip was spend relaxing for me and climbing for Susan. We went to one of our favorite crags, Black and Tan, near St. George and she got a bunch of pitches in and I even climbed a 100 ft. 5.10 in my flip flops (I couldn't wear my climbing shoes because me feet hurt too much...). It was a great day to finish the trip with but Susan and I both agreed that we had a hard time coming back... now that's a great trip.

Back home...

I got inspired again to run hard in the wilderness the moment I got home from our trip and opened my computer to find that Darcy Africa smashed the Women's R2R2R record only a few days after it was just broken by Krissy and Devon. Awesome!

Oh yeah... I should have brought the camera on the Zion Traverse! Sorry for the lack of photos...I could have gotten some good ones.

The season is on for FKT's in Arizona!

New Female FKT on R2R2R yesterday

"I had a report that Krissy & Devon ran the R2R2R yesterday (4/19/11) in 9h12m, for a new female FKT. Hopefully they will report details." -Peter Bakwin of Fastest Known Times

I hope they report details too...congratulations!!!

Good time put in on the Tonto Trail

"On April 15-16, 2011 I ran a solo, self-supported Traverse of the Tonto Trail from South Bass Canyon to Cottonwood Creek in 27:56:51, about 77 miles. I think the complete traverse of the Tonto should be South Bass to Red Canyon (Hance Rapids). That can be debated because trails continue on either end, but on the east it is no longer called the Tonto and on the west it requires an out-and-back. I didn't quite make it all the way to Red Canyon, ten miles short. Scott Jurek and Joe Grant ran it April 2011 in 32 hours. That time may have been trailhead to trailhead (South Bass to New Hance)." -Davy Crockett on Fastest Known Times

Read his report of the run here. Man, I wish everyone posted trip reports like Davy. Great detail! Thanks for the report...makes me really, really want to do the full Tonto now! Thanks for the inspiration!

Adam Bradley is currently going for the record on the AZ Trail

According to his blog, he started this morning at 6:45 am from the Mexico/Arizona border. This will be a fun one to follow.

All these inspiring efforts are getting me psyched to go have an adventure of my own and reminds me that the prime season is on!!! Only a couple more days until Zion! I may not be pushing for a FKT on the Zion Traverse but I am really excited to put in a good PR effort and have a good wilderness adventure. Can't wait...the nervous jitters just hit me this morning.

(One of my favorite sections from last year on the Zion Traverse...)

AZ Trail FKT Squabbling...kind of silly to me

It looks like there's some (in my opinion) silly squabbling over the current AZ Trail FKT going on over at Fastest Known Times. The focus seems to be on which routes were used and if they were valid. You can read all about it here.

After spending some time on the sections of the Arizona Trail in the north part of the state, the idea of splitting hairs on the official FKT seems silly to me. I have found the trail to be all over the place and some sections aren't finished and lead no where while other sections haven't even been built yet. It may be said that there is an AZ Trail from Mexico to Utah but in my opinion it isn't all there yet.

It seems true (to me) to say that there will be no 'official' FKT on the AZ Trail until the entire trail is finished and old routes/roads followed made 'unofficial.' Until then, all FKT's set are (in my mind) only the FKT's of a partially finished trail that seems to be changing every year.

Don't get me wrong... I am extremely impressed by the effort it has taken these guys to set new FKT's, but... then afterward to squabble about who did what route for how ever many miles in what ever direction when they are all taking different routes at some point any way because of the nature of the trail. I mean, there is no way with the current condition of the route that they all traveled the same steps from Mexico to Utah. Most of the trail...probably, but not all, unless they all hiked on the same day, together.

...and, I'm not disagreeing with them about the route taken that is in question. It seems that to say you did the whole AZ Trail that you should follow all 'known routes' which didn't happen in one section by the person in question because of deep snow. I'm just saying that if you want to get on his back about his route then you should also question how valid your following of the trail is too when the trail isn't even truly completed and future record attempts will follow a different trail than you did.

It all just seems a bit silly to me...

On a more inspirational note:

Today, Devon Crosby-Helms and Krissy Moehl are going to try and break the R2R2R women's speed record in the Grand Canyon. In fact, they are probably already done... hope they got it!

As quoted on Fastest Known Times:

"To make it official we are excited to state our intention to run the womens FKT on the R2R2R. Devon Crosby-Helms and Krissy Moehl intend to start at 6am on Tuesday April 19, 2011 on the S. Kaibab trail and do a complete out and back. (S. Kaibab & N. Kaibab). We will time ourselves, take photos and have witnesses at start and finish. Finally we will post our results here after the run. Wish us a speedy and safe journey!" -Krissy and Devon

Also, I just listened to a really interesting ultra running podcast. Listen here. Thanks Leo!

Running Log

Yesterday: 9 miles (Schultz Creek, Little Gnarly, Brookbank, Rocky Ridge Loop. AWESOME!)

Today: 4.5 miles (Observatory Mesa)

-looking to rest up the next few days before running the Zion Traverse on Saturday. Can't wait! ...still worried a bit about snow though...

Funky week of running...

Got sick early in the week and thought that I wouldn't run much at all and then pulled it together a bit at the end of the week to come in close to what my taper goal was for the week. I was thinking of running 40-45 miles this last week to get recovered and ready for running the Zion Traverse this coming Saturday and I ended up with 38 miles. I would have liked to get a bit more elevation in to keep the body in climb mode but recovering from being sick was a bit more important this week.

Zion is just around the corner...snow seems to be melting well (although it is almost impossible to get good info on what the conditions are like on the trails right now...) and I think that it is still a go to do the run. Susan and I are not 100% sure we are going there this next weekend but pretty darn sure...

Running Log

Last week-

Friday: 4.5 miles (observatory mesa...feeling a little better) + 2 miles (to work and home)

Saturday: 8.5 miles (observatory mesa...feeling way better, followed it up with a great day of climbing at The Pit)

Last weeks total: 38 miles and 5,000 feet elevation gain

This week-

Sunday: 5 miles (observatory mesa...feeling goooood)

New Arizona Trail FKT Set... and another attempt!

The Arizona Trail is one monster of a trail that I think would be a great trail to do in one push and fast.

It seems that there are a few guys that are making that a reality as this spring, just this month in fact, a new record was set by Kirk Barrett... and a new record attempt by Adam Bradley (who had previously held the record in 2007) will be starting April 20. Amazing job to Kirk for breaking the record and to Adam for going for it again!

Man, just to find the time to do the whole trail between work and responsibilities... I'm not sure I could ever pull off the free time to make an attempt on the full AZ Trail but I am psyched to follow these guys efforts and live vicariously through them! Awesome.

Below is what Kirk Barrett had to say about his speed record on FKT.

"Set the new Arizona National Scenic Trail speed record yesterday, started on Monday, March 14th at 6:30 am in Mexico and walked every step reaching Utah on Monday April 11th at 7:00pm, I'm gonna round the half hour up for a nice even time of 28 days 13 hours. My real name is Kirk Barrett, I live in Zion National Park, gonna post some pictures from the hike on my FB page it's set to private but ill friend anyone that mentions the AZT. It was a wonderful hike that went incredibly smooth. I set my sights on getting just below Matt Singnore's record, not on pushing hard every day to beat it by days. My pace felt fairly relaxed, night hiked at least a couple hours most nights though. Took one rest day with my lovely girlfriend in Flagstaff. So any way this record will not be too hard to beat, somebody out there go get it next spring, it's a beautiful, diverse, and challenging trail. Had to do some snowshoeing across the San Francisco Peaks the South Rim and the North Rim." -Kirk Barrett

And...here is what Adam Bradley had to say on his blog about his upcoming attempt starting April 20. He is going to do some mobile blogging along the way...that should be cool. Can't wait to follow his attempt.

Running Log

Yesterday: 4 miles (Work errands. Feeling a bit better but still some lingering sick feelings.)

Today: 5 miles (...on Observatory Mesa. Again, still feeling some sick in me but it's barely there now.) + 2 miles (to work and back home)

Snow melt in the desert

There is something special to me about having accidental 'rich and intimate moments' with nature while running. Things like running through a herd of elk in a winter blizzard on Elden, hundreds of red birds on the Tonto Trail in the Grand Canyon, or running in between a black bear and her cubs on the John Muir Trail (well...that one may be too rich and intimate...) to name a few.

Sunday, Susan and I went down to Sedona to get some sun and a run after the wild storm that left a foot of snow in Flagstaff on Saturday. It was pretty amazing to have so much snow fall on Saturday and then drive the 45 minutes down to Sedona on Sunday and have warm sunny and dry conditions.

We had one of those 'rich and intimate moments' on our run. The air was surprisingly warm, the trails amazingly dry, grass was all around in thick clumps fighting with prickly pear cactus for space, purple flowers were blooming contrasting the bright red rocks and dirt and blue jays and hawks were making sweet sounds and frolicking in the trees and air. It was one of those very amazing spring days in the desert.

Then...to top off a memorable day, after a few miles into the run we ran near a wash that was dry and thought nothing of it... until up higher along the wash we heard rushing water and went over to investigate. We peered over the edge of the bank into the wash and realized that we were seeing the front edge of the snow melt from yesterdays storm in Flagstaff. We were literally seeing the snow melt reach this point in the wash for the first time. Like a small, albeit harmless, flash flood.

There was something fun and curious about walking along seeing where the flow was going to go next in the wash. The water flowed slowly but with obvious building volume as it worked it's way between rocks, around sand bars and at one point around an old wrecked car half covered in sand and logs.

Susan and I agreed that following this surprise running stream and 'witnessing' it's virgin path down the wash was something special for us, we felt a connection between each other and with the action of the creek that is hard to describe. It was really, really cool.

I'm sure this sounds pretty cheese ball, like something you would expect to hear from Sedona vortex hippies, but I don't care. It was just one of those days of accidental 'rich and intimate moments' with nature that was so special that it was worth reflecting on and savoring. What a great day.

Running Log

Sunday: 3 miles (perfect day in Sedona, running and exploring with Susan)

Monday: 9 miles (run up Elden Lookout Road to saddle and back from the gate in deep snow while getting sick finishing with a time of 2:05... quite the struggle, felt a bit dizzy up on top and most definitely got a bit sick)

Tuesday: 0 miles (...feeling sick but then feeling a bit better by the end of the day...cross my fingers)

Plodding along in the snow

Yeah, believe it or not it is snowing today in Flagstaff. Pretty much every year we get one of these snow storms in April and it never ceases to surprise me.

Well, I was pretty psyched to run in the fluffy stuff this morning but my legs barely held together for the run and my psych left quickly. I STRUGGLED this morning...ouch. I guess the last three weeks in a row of 70 or more miles has finally taken it's toll. Time to taper back and prepare for a good effort on a long run in a couple weeks.

It looks like Susan and I are going to squeeze our trip to southern Utah into two days instead of three and I will get my chance to run the Zion Traverse on April 23. Let's just hope the snow keeps melting up there and these current storms don't lay too much snow down. The snow thing could be the only killer of this run right now. I heard there is still substantial snow up on the Wildcat Canyon and West Rim Trails. Melt, melt, melt...

Oh, by the way, for anyone that's interested, the gate for Schultz Pass Road is open.

I just got some awesome news! Glenn Beck's show is getting cancelled this year on Fox! There is good in the world...

Check out Jon Stewart do one last hilarious Glenn Beck bit on the Daily Show, April 7, 2011.

Running Log

Yesterday: 6 miles (Urban Trail to Schultz Pass Road and back in 46:33 (7:45 average) + 4 miles (to work and back twice)

Today: 11 miles (Urban Trail, Schultz Pass Road, Rocky Ridge Trail and back. Jogged easy and finished in 2 hours. Worked. Probably enjoyed about ten minutes of the run. Felt like walking the rest of the time.)

This Week: 70 miles with 6,500 feet of total elevation gain

Inspired

Today, my mom posted on her blog about her effort to 'get fit and loose 80 pounds in 3 years.' I was really moved by her post and VERY INSPIRED by her effort toward reaching her goal. She has told me before that I help inspire her to be active and live 'alive' but I would say after reading her post and witnessing her transformation over the last few years that SHE is who inspires me to keep being active and live 'alive.' Read her post here.

On a running note... this morning I decided to bring the camera along on my run. I have been neglecting posting photos on this blog lately so here ya go...

I have felt a bit tired in my running this week but still wanted to get in some elevation so this morning I parked at the gate on Mt. Elden Road and ran up to the top of Mt. Elden (well, the saddle because the winds at the top were CRAZY and I didn't feel like crawling...) and back down to the Brookbank Trail via a detour on a mountain bike trail I had not been on before. Then I ran up Brookbank, to Little Gnarly (almost completely free of snow now!), down Schultz Pass Road a couple miles and then linked into Schultz Creek Trail (lower half free of snow!) for a couple miles and then back across Rocky Ridge to my car. Great run as it was awesome to get on the higher trails again of Mt. Elden and the Dry Lake Hills.

(Looking back at Mt. Humphreys from near the top of Mt. Elden. I love this view and make sure to slow a bit and check it out every time I run up there.)

(Storm brewing!)

(Really, really difficult mountain bike trail I ran down. I should have done a post just about this trail with photos just to show how crazy it is. This section in the photo was the only part that I think I could ride (but I suck at mountain biking, so...). Seemed silly to me to take a mountain bike down it with it's big drops, chossy and steep switchbacks, way to narrow gaps between boulders and trees...just silly.)

(Lake is in full force at top of Little Gnarly Trail! Beautiful. It snowed on me a little right before this photo. Pretty cool.)

(Peaks from Sunset Trailhead)

(Schultz Creek Trail in sweet shape except for the top half. Snow is melting quickly though and Schultz Creek is flowing about as strong as it can.)

(Near the end of Rocky Ridge I was treated to some warm sunshine to finish the run. Wild.)

Running Log

Today: 17 miles with about 4,000 feet of elevation gain in 3:12. A bit tired throughout so I never pushed to hard and stopped a few times to soak it in and take photos which my finishing time reflects. Great morning despite or maybe because of the slower pace.

Zane Grey, Zion, and what it's all about

I am really chomping at the bit to get committed to a rad longer run in the next couple weeks. I have had a bit tougher time with dialing one in this spring then in past springs.

I had been toying with R2R2R and the Zion Traverse mostly and throwing around the idea of maybe running the Highline Trail down by Payson too. I was a bit too late on entering Zane Grey so it seemed like fun to maybe do a self supported run of this course (it follows the 50 mile Highline Trail). I'd have to pick one or two of these great runs to do this April and May as all of them will get too hot by summer so I've been under the gun a bit.

Last week, I got my hopes up for Zane Grey again when I was approached with the opportunity to take someone's entry in to Zane Grey if the Event Director gave us the o.k. I thought this would be a great opportunity to get used to a 'race' setting leading up to Leadville as I haven't been in an 'organized' ultra before and I thought it would be easy to get the entry, a simple switch. Well...my hopes were dashed as the Event Director informed me that due to event policy I wasn't able to enter because they don't do entry trades and I didn't have any 'organized' ultra experience anyway.

I was kinda bummed about this as I felt that I wouldn't have been a worry for them because of my experienced 'unorganized' ultra background but I know rules are rules and they are there for a reason... it was just tough because I was getting excited and nervous about the prospect of running in my first ultra event. I knew I would do well and have fun. It was a new challenge to get excited about in running. Oh well. It wasn't meant to be. I'll get over it.

So, something that Susan and I were throwing around just before I got the opportunity to try and get into Zane Grey again was going to southwest Utah to do a weekend trip at the end of April to climb and her shuttling the car for me on the first day of the trip so that I could run the Zion Traverse. Yeah!

Well, it looks like the Zion and southern Utah thing is what we are trying to commit to right now. I just have to organize my work schedule to make it happen and then it is for sure. Finally, I may be committing to a classic long run this month! We will see in a few days if my work can be switched. Fingers crossed...

On another note... I just read a great post by the amazing ultra runner, Anton Krupicka, about why he runs trails and it hit home as I find striking similarities with much of what he writes about for my own life. Check it out here.

Running Log

Sunday: 7 miles (Observatory Mesa from home)

Monday: 11 miles (Urban Trail and Rocky Ridge from home)

Tuesday: 9 miles (Observatory Mesa from home) + 2 miles (running to work and home) + 3 miles (Observatory Mesa with Susan)

Any way I can...

Some times you do what you gotta do to get the miles in. I really wanted to get in another week of 70 miles this last week and I knew I wouldn't be running on Saturday, so I did a free for all, any way I can get it, Friday to make up for it. I needed about 10 miles (not to much normally but I was going to have a busy Friday without even running) and I got it by running in the morning, running to work, running in the afternoon and then running again in the evening with Susan. Pretty much, if I wasn't working, I was running. Not the easiest effort either as I was a bit wiped out from the day before running in the canyon and all the faster miles leading up to it during the week. Made it happen though. Good finish for a strong week of running for me. Good one to build on.

Plenty worked on Saturday and didn't run at all. I could tell I was worked because I wasn't psyched to go do anything on Saturday and I ALWAYS want to go do something if I have the day off. Susan and I just stayed home and did a bunch of spring cleaning around the house and then went to Buffalo Park to boulder for a few hours in the evening. Biggest indicator for me being worked was that I couldn't do this one V4 there that I think I have not fallen off of in like 10 years and I do it almost every time I go there. I don't remember it ever feeling all that hard but it seemed almost impossible to me yesterday. Seems I need to get in better shape! Ha.

Running Log

Friday: 4.5 miles am (urban trail onto Observatory Mesa) + 2 miles mid day(work and back home) + 3 miles afternoon(urban trail half way to Schultz Pass Road and back) + 3 miles evening (urban trail onto Observatory Mesa)

Last Week Total: 71.5 miles with 9,900 feet total elevation gain.