The 2012 Moab Red Hot 55K and 33K

A view from the Moab Red Hot course from around mile 22. (courtesy of Chris Hunter Imagery)

Bryon Powell does an excellent job of wrapping up the sixth annual Moab Red Hot 55K and 33K here.  The 33K acted as the second La Sportiva Mountain Cup Race of the season.  In all, 338 runners finished both races.  Numbers were up from last year, but the ideal running conditions may have had a lot to do with this.  A good day was had by all!  As usual, a photo recap of the event follows.

Sneaking up on the start line hoping it doesn't see me.  (courtesy of Erin Strout)

The start of the 55K.  (courtesy of Erin Strout)

Runners head off into the southeast Utah slickrock. (courtesy of Erin Strout)

Flagstaff 33K runners before their start (courtesy of Erin Strout)

Race Director Chris Martinez caught amidst the chaos of pre-race check-in.

Happy to be descending the final switchbacks to the finish.

The finish line oasis.

Robert Kunz (of First Endurance) and Karl Melter (coach and luge extraordinare)

Roch Horton (of Black Diamond) glad to be done.

Joel Axler's longest run ever!

Chris Purslow experienced, first hand, the ups and downs of an ultra, and held on for a great finish.

Robert Hall ready to take on 100 miles!?

Randi (33K'er) and Joel Axler (55K'er) share their day's toils.

Janel Lanphere happy after her 33K finish.

Jason Wolfe and Erin Strout support the Flagstaff crew.

DJ John Geiger spins the tunes at the finish line.

Jeremy Frehner (33K'er) is interviewed under the Ultraspire tent.

Krissy Moehl (Chuckanut 50K's race director) and Aric Manning (of Smith Optics)

Exchanging race day stories. (courtesy of Erin Strout)

Happy about a good run. (courtesy of Erin Strout)

Final finishers pass through the human tunnel.

The Flagstaff crowd at Eddie McStiffs.

Bernie Boettcher (men's master's 33K winner) and Kevin Koch (overall winner of the 55K) collect their hardware.

Hometown Awards

Full Moab Red Hot race results can be found here.

Rob Krar (overall winner and new 33K men's record holder) and Christina Bauer (second place in the women's 33K). (courtesy of Erin Strout)

Eric Bohn (second overall in the 55K) (courtesy of Erin Strout)

Sara Wagner (second in the women's master's 55K race) (courtesy of Erin Strout)

Jared Scott (second in the 33K) hugged by Director Martinez. (courtesy of Erin Strout)

Congratulations Everyone!

2012 Pemberton Trail 50K

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.

Find 2012 Race Results Here.

I did my best to capture everyone on film. Follow these links to find yourself:

Photos Part One

Photos Part Two

Photos Part Three

Photos Part Four

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!

The 2012 Sedona Marathon: The Year of the Zombie

The story goes that a ghoulish tribe was to descend unto Sedona during the day of its namesake marathon...  

...however, all was quiet on race day morning...not a zombie in sight.

The polka band did play merrily and quelled all worries of possible zombie terror.

But something was amiss...

Aghast!  The legend held true!  The Zombies and their hell hounds did pillage Sedona.

Zombies of all shapes and sizes...

...awaited each hapless runner.  Would you like some brains with your water and gel?

The NATRA (Northern Arizona Trail Runners Association) Zombies did win Sedona Marathon's Best Aid Station Award!

Neil and David put on their frightening faces.

The Polka Katzen Band wasn't safe from Zombie demise...

...nor were the Arizona Rangers!

All ghoulishness aside:  Hats off to Flagstaff's Brian Tinder for his convincing Sedona Marathon victory.

Full race results can be found here.

Your Moment of Zen

Only when she awakens will she know it was all a bad dream.