Five Questions with Desma Degraw - Interviews from the Flagstaff to Grand Canyon Stagecoach Line 100 Mile, 55K and Relays

Desma Degraw putting in the miles at the Stagecoach 100 Mile.

Sometimes you meet a person that makes finishing a 100-mile foot race look easy.  Not because they finish the race in course record time or win the event outright, but because of the journey they endured to get to the starting line.  Flagstaff resident Desma Degraw is one of these individuals.  Desma finished the 2015 Stagecoach, her first 100 mile, in 27:42:18.  I saw, firsthand, how determined she was to make her way to the finish.  However, her battle with cancer is the more inspiring story.  She shares:

"I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 when I was 29 years old. I underwent neoadjuvant chemo, a double mastectomy with reconstruction and seven weeks of radiation. I had been a runner before my diagnosis (5K-1/2 marathon distance) but during my treatment I started marathon training. With Art's (her husband) help, running allowed me to take back my life and regain control. Even though, in the beginning, all I could do was jog/walk between light poles, every run I went on was a step toward health, a way of giving cancer the finger and kicking it out of my life. Besides, being bald meant I was more aerodynamic.

I'm now the front office manager for Arizona Oncology here in Flagstaff. It's a career that enables me to help others and pass along the kindness that I have experienced."

You can read, in detail, about Desma's Stagecoach adventures on her blog, here. She's also registered for the 2016 Stagecoach event.  We look forward to seeing her out there again as, perhaps, our first two-time finisher! We asked Desma to answer our five questions and this is what she said.

Art helps Desma get organized at Kelly Tank aid station.

1. Why did you choose Stagecoach?

"A few years ago, the Grand Canyon was the first stop on a trip to the West that my husband and I took to celebrate the culmination of my cancer treatments. Being able to run from our new home in Flagstaff to the Canyon was a way for me to reaffirm my continued good health and the commitment I've made to my running life as a way to show those who are currently facing cancer that things can be so much better when treatment is done. And, on a lighter note, it's so close to home that I didn't have to get up early." 

Sunset on Babbitt Ranch.

2. What was your favorite part of the course?

"My favorite part of the course was the wide open area between Tub Ranch (mile 38) and Oil Line (mile 45). I hit it just about sunset. Looking to the East, I could see the Peaks. Looking to the West, the world seemed to stretch away into the sunset. I was alone in that beautiful expanse. It was incredible." 

Typical Kaibab National Forest double track.

3. What was the biggest challenge Stagecoach presented?

"The biggest challenge was the race itself. It was my first 100 miler, and I was more than a little nervous in general. The part that gave me the hardest time was the stretch between Watson Tank (mile 88) and Reed Tank (mile 98). Fatigue and crankiness had set in along with some stomach issues. My sister sang to me and demonstrated her dance moves; both were very helpful. Then the kind young man at Reed gave us M&Ms which made everything better!"

Desma and Dara (Desma's sister and pacer) sharing quality trail time between dances.

4. What was your favorite aid station?

"My favorite aid station was Russell Tank (mile 68). There was some awesome thumping music and strobes lights guiding me in through the dark cold of the night. It was fantastic! And it helped that I got to pick up my pacer there, too!"

100 feet to go!

5. Three tips you can offer a Stagecoach first timer.

"Three tips I can offer are simple. Do your night runs. It became a little disconcerting in the wee hours of the morning. Put in the miles ahead of time. I was not as well-prepared as I though I was. Lastly, go into it planning to have fun! It is an incredible course, with phenomenal volunteers, cheerful fellow runners and a race director like no other." 

Savoring a job well done!

Bonus Question: Mt Humphreys or the Grand Canyon and why?

"I would have to choose the Grand Canyon. There is such a variety of trails. I love that I can run to the river, downhill, uphill and across the plateau. And I can get ice cream at the top!"

From here to there, as Desma's story shows us, "It's much more than just one foot in front of the other."

Five Questions with Michelle Hawk - Interviews from the Flagstaff to Grand Canyon Stagecoach Line 100 Mile, 55K and Relays

As mentioned in our last interview with Mark Hammond, the 2015 women's Flagstaff to Grand Canyon Stagecoach Line 100 Mile winner not only set a course record but she also placed second overall.  Michelle Hawk, from Tucson, Arizona, finished in a time of 19:08:39.  This is the fourth fastest time on the Stagecoach course and it also was the 26th fastest 100-mile time by a woman in North America in 2015. With successes in the 50K (wins at Elephant Mountain and the Hypnosis, Vertigo and Sinister Night Runs) and 50 mile (3rd at Old Pueblo) distances, Michelle picked Stagecoach as her 100-mile debut.  In preparation, she held her own Stagecoach training camp by covering the first and final 20 miles of the course in one weekend and attended the Flagstaff-based McMillan Running Trail/Ultra Training Camp. Like Mark and Suzanna Bon, Michelle was happy to share her race day experiences with us.

Michelle Hawk, #16, listens to last minute race day instructions.

Question #1: Why did I choose Stagecoach?

"I decided to run Stagecoach primarily because it was an easy travel distance from Tucson and I might be able to convince some friends to come up to crew and pace me."  

Michelle heading into Hart Prairie Preserve.

Question #2: What was your favorite part of the course?

"I actually have to pick two sections of the course as my favorite.  The section from Hart Prairie to Kelly Tank that took you through meadows and aspen groves were awesome.  That was some sweet single track.  Moqui Stage Station to Russell Tank provided me with an experience I will not soon forget.  The sun was setting and darkness came quickly.  Out of this darkness came the sounds of bugling elk." 

Michelle minutes outside of Cedar Ranch Aid Station.

Question #3: What was the biggest challenge Stagecoach presented?

"Having never run 100 miles before (58 being my longest day ever), the biggest challenge for me was mental, believing that I could run 100 miles.  The early miles seemed so easy and I kept worrying that the wheels were going to come off somewhere along the way."  

Michelle, post-race, with race director Ian Torrence (left) and race volunteers Scott Bajer and Ludo Pierson.

Question #4: What was your favorite aid station?

"Wow!  Favorite aid station?  Do I have to pick one?  Russell Tank, where disco lights, blaring music and pacers awaited.  Watson Tank, where I found the race director ladling out chicken noodle soup in the middle of the night.   Oil Line, cold grapes in middle of nowhere, boy did they hit the spot.  Awesome aid stations throughout the race!"

Michelle shows off her "Champion" belt buckle.

Question #5: Three tips you can offer a Stagecoach first timer.

"1.  Take it easy on all those easy downhill miles early in the race.  

 2.  Look around and revel in the awesome beauty all around you.  It changes again and again throughout the day.  

 3.  Chicken noodle soup is the 'BOMB' late in the race."  

Michelle, after her winning performance, at the finish line in Tusayan, AZ, with her crew and pacers.

Bonus Question: Mt. Humphrey's or Grand Canyon?

"Mt. Humphrey's only because I have never tackled it before."  

Bonus Question x 2: Would I pick Stagecoach again?

"FOR SURE!  Beautiful scenery!  Well marked course!  Awesome aid stations!  A FIRST CLASS event all the way around!" 

Thank you for sharing your story and photos with us Michelle!  Be sure to join us on September 24, 2016 at 8:00AM for the fourth annual Flagstaff to Grand Canyon Stagecoach Line 100 Mile, 55K and Relays.

Five Questions with Mark Hammond - Interviews from the Flagstaff to Grand Canyon Stagecoach Line 100 Mile, 55K and Relays

Mark Hammond, Stagecoach's 2015 men's winner and course record holder, cross-training like the champ he is.

In 2015, the Flagstaff to Grand Canyon Stagecoach Line 100 Mile saw course records in both the women's and men's race.  Mark Hammond, from Salt Lake City, Utah, became the fastest person to traverse the 100 mile point-to-point course in 17:37:25 (We'll meet the women's record setter in the next episode).  Incidentally, Mark's performance was also the 99th fastest 100 mile time in North America in 2015.  Mark came to Stagecoach just two weeks after his awesome third place 21:25:07 Wasatch Front 100 Mile finish.  Before that, Mark was fresh off wins at Squaw Peak 50 Mile, Skyline Mountain 50 Mile and the Tushar 93K Trail Run.  We caught up with Mark last week and he indulged us with his answers to five quick questions.

Enjoying the fruits of his labor.

Question #1: Why did you choose Stagecoach?

"I chose to run Stagecoach 100 just two weeks after running Wasatch 100 because I wanted to see how my body and mind would respond to another big effort with so little recovery time. I also wanted to explore the terrain around the San Francisco Peaks."

Mark, shirtless, at the start of last year's Stagecoach.

Question #2: What was your favorite part of the course?

"My favorite part of the couse was around mile 70 where I heard elk bugling all around me in the forest."

Mark nears the Hart Prarie aid station.

Question #3: What was the biggest challenge Stagecoach presented?

"The biggest challenge of Stagecoach was how flat the course is. I mostly race in steep terrain so my legs could have been better prepared for so much flat terrain."

Mark making strides on race day.

Question #4: What was your favorite aid station?

"My favorite aid station was the last one (Reed Tank) because I could see McDonalds from there."

Mark, post-race, talking with race director Ian Torrence.

Question #5: Three tips you can offer a Stagecoach first timer.

"My tips for a Stagecoach newbie are to do do lots of training on flat terrain, be ready for heat and bring an elk bugling tube to see if you can call an elk to you while running."

No need for a hotel room or tent.  A bag was all Mark needed after he crossed the finish line.

Bonus Question: Mt Humphreys or the Grand Canyon and why?

"Grand Canyon trumps Humphreys any day.  Because I can buy lemonade at the bottom of the Grand Canyon but not at the top of Humphreys."

Thank you Mark for taking the time to chat with us about your Stagecoach experience. If you haven't read our last interview with 2013 winner Suzanna Bon you can do that here. Be sure to join us on September 24th, 2016 at 8:00AM for the fourth annual Stagecoach Line 100 Mile, 55K and Relays.

Five Questions with Suzanna Bon - Interviews from the Flagstaff to Grand Canyon Stagecoach Line 100 Mile, 55K and Relays

The inaugural Flagstaff to Grand Canyon Stagecoach Line race took place on October 19th, 2013.  We started the race at 2:00PM to take advantage of the full moon over the open lands of the Babbitt Ranches (miles 30 to 55).  Our first year had a small but stellar field, including one of the toughest ultrarunners from northern California, Suzanna Bon.  Suzanna came to Arizona sporting wins at the San Diego, Cascade Crest, HURT, Angeles Crest and Chimera 100 mile races, a top-10 finish at Western States, as victor of both the Lake Sonoma 50 Mile and Quad Dipsea and a 5th place at the 2012 World 24-Hour World Championships.  It wasn't surprising that she won the women's race and placed 4th overall in 21:01 at Stagecoach.  We recently reconnected with Suzanna and reminisced about her experience in northern Arizona.

Suzanna Bon (in yellow shirt, sunglasses and headband) listens to last minute pre-race instructions.

Question #1: Why did you choose Stagecoach?

"First, the timing worked well for me and my family. I was drawn to the historical nature of the course, I like a trail with a story. And last but not least - FLAGSTAFF!"

Suzanna with friend Tamara Buckley-Johnson minutes before the start.

Question #2: What was your favorite part of the course?

"I can’t choose just one section - I particularly enjoyed the sections from Kelly Tank all the way to Oil Line. The sun was setting, the colors and views were glorious with a full moon rising…a trail runner's delight. I also loved the forest section from Russell Tank to Hull Cabin - the dead of night, under the trees and a hanging full moon, running alone watching out for the Blair Witch!"

Suzanna approaching the first aid station at Hart Prarie.

Question #3: What was the biggest challenge Stagecoach presented?

"The cold night time temps - I was freezing and it was tough to leave the aid stations with their roaring fires. It was the first race I have ever run bundled in down, beanie, gloves, leggings etc- clearly, I simply wasn’t running fast enough."

Moqui Stage Station in day light hours.

Question #4: What was your favorite aid station?

"Moqui Stage Station, a very cool historical setting- I felt like a time traveller. This aid station had ambience! With the twinkling lights, hot food, roaring fire and supportive volunteers Moqui was a stand out."

 Suzanna collects her winnings: A congratulatory handshake from race director Ian Torrence, the Stagecoach "Champion" buckle and a Babbitt Ranches Pendleton blanket.

Question #5: Three tips you can offer a Stagecoach first timer.

"Warm clothes in drop bags. Bandana or buff to cover mouth/nose for dust protection. Don’t linger too long by the fire!"

Bonus Question: Mt. Humphreys or the Grand Canyon and why?

"Mt Humpherys. I know and love the canyon so would choose Humphreys for a new and unknown adventure."

Thank you, Suzanna, for coming to our little race and taking the time to answer our questions.  Join us this year on September 24th, 2016 at 8:00AM for the fourth annual Stagecoach Line 100 Mile, 55K and Relays.