Bryan Adams

Here are some pictures from my latest jaunt up to Flagstaff and Sedona.

I have started a new blog over at myangrychair.wordpress.com so if you want to keep up head over there!  I am too lazy to redirect this page to that one, but I will soon.

Now I can say that I experienced the Soulstice Mountain Run, and I will be back.  Not knowing what to expect (8000+ foot elevation, cold, real mountain trails, I dehydrate easily at altitude) I took it very conservatively and am glad that I did as I was able to enjoy the scenery, weather and good vibes that the race puts out.

I almost blew a gasket Friday night when we were eating at Pita Jungle and got a call from my daughter saying that the bag we left at my in-laws with my sons clothes for the weekend really contained our items including some of my running stuff (Race Caps Supreme!).  After the beer helped me to relax and my OCD mellowed out I was able to enjoy the rest of the night. The packet pick up at Pay N Take was a nice gathering of folks collecting their bags and shirts (both of which are nice-I really like the bag idea), drinking beer and watching the Diamondbacks loose game 5 in 10 innings.  Here is a picture of the shirt and bag.

There was a nice gathering prior to the race where I met a few of the locals and was able to see some of the new footwear and bags from Salomon running, and some of the offerings from Aspen Sports. There were lots of obstacles that being from the desert (1500 feet elevation) were new to me.  Obstacles like frozen mud (think black ice), large puddles with a thin ice layer on top, fallen trees over the trail, in other words common trail race stuff.

Here are some of the pictures I took along the way.

North Campus at NAU taken from our room at the Drury Hotel.  If you stay here each guest gets a ticket good for 3 free beers or drinks and a happy hour and breakfast buffet.  Pretty nice.

Here is a video I took, the title will explain all of it to you.

You have never seen a recovery mojito?

is what I will say to this storm front as soon as I make it up the hill this afternoon. I don’t see any white on the mountains though, interesting.

I hope that McGaughs and Pay ‘N Take are well stocked up on some new and interesting post race brews as I will need several.

Here is my race beverage of choice. Since no one down here sells it, I will be picking some up at the world foods or whatever it is east of NAU. And Go D-Backs!!! I will listen to the game as I am driving.

And I cant forget to rep my sponsor, Wheaties Fuel. If you are up there and see me I will have ample samples (of cereal) to hand out. Hit me up!

that I have seen in along time. filmed in Northern Arizona and parts of Utah this video captures the reason why so many people love these areas. Unspoiled, breathtaking views of the best mother nature has to offer. I personally like the Sedona and Flagstaff shots the best. Painted Desert is nice too!

Watch it in HD with the volume turned up.

And Salomon makes some great ones.  Here is a short about the Leadville Trail 100 mile race.

And another about the Table Mountain run in South Africa.

http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=24063&cm_mmc=Twitter-_-RT-_-Content-Masters-_-RaceRecovery

Dear past, thanks for all of the lessons. 
Dear future, I’m ready…

I think this race has changed the course more times than any race I have ever seen.  It seems like every other year it is a NEW AND IMPROVED ROUTE!  In other words, yes we are aware that last years route sucked, was boring and lame.  So try this one.  So this years version is now out and while  I like the full and half having different starting points, the out and back section for the full will not be a thrilling part for any runner who plans on finishing over 3 hours.  There are few things as discouraging while trudging through the mid to late section of a marathon than to see all of the faster runners going by you in the other direction on their way to finishing 15-40 minutes faster than you.  Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I think the city of Snottsdale got their panties in a bunch as they felt that more of the race needed to be held on their streets of gold.  Well you have the out and back.  Be loud, be proud, Snottsdale.

I understand that I can sound anti-RNR races, which isn’t always true.  I plan to do the New Years event in Palm Springs this year.  i just get annoyed with the hype and fake excitement that is created by silly things like a new route, a different color race shirt this year, the next rehashed rock band that hasn’t been mainstream in at least 10 years doing the post race concert, etc.  Be happy about your race but don’t act like you cured AIDS by doing some minor adjustment to your race.  And while you are at it, stop acting like every runner who is running for the “Official charity” (TNT) is the greatest person you have ever met and the other runners are lame for not being a part of the purple pride.

With tons of fanfare, here is the new Arizona RNR route.

As for me and my training, I hit up Deems Hill today with visions of doing at least 2 loops of the complete trail, instead I got through 1.5 and called it quits.  My legs were toast from the start and I was huffing and puffing like a hobo and his can of spray paint. Here are a few pictures that I snapped while trying get my legs and lungs about me.

This is not the sign you want to see when starting off on a multi hour trail run.

When I finally reached the top, for some reason I felt like taking in the fact that I made it up here in uder 30 minutes.  To do what any self respecting trail runner would do, I took a video of where I stood.  Douchey, I know.  Here it is.

I ordered Hammer Nutrition’s Race Caps Supreme.  They should be here from Tri-Sports this afternoon, and I will give them a full try out this weekend with a few half-marathon distance runs.  Hopefully they work as well as advertised.  I will let you know.  EDIT:  They just arrived!  Scary post run with no shower picture to follow:

Might be my last post for a while so until then…