The 2012 Pemberton Trail 50K
Typical Pemberton vegetation.
As the sun slowly rose over McDowell Mountain Regional Park, only minutes distant but worlds away from Phoenix, Arizona’s busy city central, the cold desert air slowly gave way to some of the warmest February temperatures found anywhere in the US.
This eighty-degree heat did little to slow 40-year old Kristina Pham as she sped to a new women’s course record at the fourteenth annual Pemberton Trail 50K. Pham crossed the finish line in 3:47:02 shattering Michelle Lindsey’s 2002 course record by almost 15 minutes. Heidi Schuette, Chrissy Parks and Petra McDowell also finished with times that placed them among the top ten fastest women in the history of the race.
On the men’s side ten-time finisher, Josh Brimhall, navigated the two 15.5-mile Sonoran Desert loops quickly and notched his sixth Pemberton victory with a time of 3:28:13. Montana’s Devin Cowan followed three minutes later and Chase Duarte took home the bronze and the men’s master’s title at this year’s event.
The Pemberton Trail 50 Kilometer continues to provide the ideal escape for runners who are experiencing the winter doldrums and looking for some fun in the sun. The course is perfect for anyone looking to set a 50-kilometer trail personal record or for those who wish to attempt their first ultra. The trail’s tread is smooth and fast and the few hills on the course are short and gradual. Congratulations to race director Brian Wieck for another successful year. 128 runners finished this year’s event.
I did my best to capture everyone on film. Follow these links to find yourself:
Here are a few of my favorite images from the day:
The start of the 14th annual Pemberton Trail 50K. Race director Brian Wieck, in red, rallies the runners for the start.
I had the opportunity to volunteer at the second aid station for the day. Here's our oasis in the desert:
Sending runners on their way.
Special thanks to aid station volunteers: Will LaFollette, Lindy Manwaring, Emily Harrison, Super Bee and Zoroaster.
Men's winner Josh Brimhall on his first loop.
Second place finisher Devin Cowan.
Kristina Pham: Women's winner and new course record holder
Las Vegas runner Shad Mickelberry
New Mexico's Petra McDowell
Pete Mehok and Meredith Terranova both in from Texas.
Flagstaff's Alexis Baca-Spry
Nor Cal's Andy Roth
So Cal's Jana Gustman
Fountain Hills local Justin Lutick
Flagstaff's Clarie Lears
Salt Lake City's Missy Berkel
Your Moment of Zen
A long day at the aid station resulted in some tried canines!
3 comments:
Thank you, Emily, and everyone else for volunteering at the race. Your aid station was a sight for sore eyes, especially on lap 2. Glad you took the pictures of us during the first lap!
thanks so much for volunteering! it was great to see you and to finally meet Zoroaster. i wished i could have hung out at the aid station a little longer! i would agree that aid station 2 was definitely well-needed on the second lap, and you guys gave me the boost i needed to get the last 5 miles done.
Thanks for the photos, and the volunteering!! :)
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