The Inaugural Mt. Taylor 50K

Stratovolcanoes are lumbering hulks; steep-sided cones made of lava, ash, and cinder that jut from the surrounding landscape.  Depending from where you come they are objects of myth, threatening giants, and the most charismatic of mountains.  The more popular that come to mind are Mount Fuji, Mount Shasta, Mount St. Helens, Mount Rainier,  Mount Cotopaxi, and Mount Kilimanjaro.  The stratovolcanoes of the Four Corners region have their own style.  Though they still rise defiantly from the surrounding deserts, they have already blown their tops, spent the last of their fiery breath, and have relented to pine forests, aspen stands, and wide open grassy expanses.  12,637' Humphreys Peak (which watches over my hometown of Flagstaff, AZ) is a classic example of this.  Western New Mexico's 11,305' Mt. Taylor is another stratovolcano I've admired from afar on trips across the west on Interstate 40.  It sits close enough to see from the car window, but just a tad too far off the beaten path for an exploration detour.  When I saw the inaugural Mt. Taylor 50K "pop" up I thought this would be an excellent excuse to bag a peak, explore new trails, and get in some solid miles with some friends.  

Mount Taylor's high ground with La Mosca Lookout on the right.

Quite simply the race was a blast.  It was a race born by ultrarunners for ultrarunners.  You could see this in the race's energy, course markings, the aid stations, and the finish line buffet and awards.  The race course wasn't a joke either:  The lowest elevation of race sat at 9,000', the high point at Mt. Taylor's summit (~11,300'), and there was more than 6,500' of elevation gain.  The course threw the gamut at the runners:  Technical single track, both smooth and rocky dirt Forest Service roads, and steep climbs and descents.  The scenery was worth the trip alone.  Here are some of my favorite shots taken by Danny Messex and Paul Gordon.  If you're an ultrarunner add this one to your "to do list."

The pre-dawn start.

The first 1,500' climb to La Mosca Lookout.

Nearing the top of the steep climb (near mile 2.5).

Finding my groove while churning through Spud Patch near mile 10.

Arches of aspen.

Cloud formations and hundreds of miles of New Mexico vistas.

The slopes of gold.

The author ascending, at a snail's pace, Mt. Taylor near mile 23.

Single track & switchbacks.

Looking back down along the course.

The summit and high point of the course.

Looking down into Water Canyon and the old caldera of Mt. Taylor.

Sweeping, steep grasslands on the mountain's slopes.

Katie Arnold from Santa Fe, NM won the women's race in 5:22:43.

Shaun Martin, of Chinle, AZ, won the men's race in 4:17:26.  Read an excellent story about him in Trailrunner Magazine here.

Your Moment of Zen

The Mt Taylor 50K benefitted the Nideiltihi Native Elite Runners, a volunteer-driven nonprofit organization, whose mission is to foster Native American Indian distance runners, in the Four Corners states, to represent the USA in national road and track competitions.  I had the privilege of working closely with this group while directing the 2012 adidas-McMillanElite High School Running Camp so it was special to be involved again, even on a small level, while running on the shoulders of Mt. Taylor.

Your Ultra-Training Bag of Tricks: Recovery

Another iRunFar.com column, this time I cover recovery after those tough workouts, races, and blocks of training.  Read about it here.  Cheers!  Ian

Moab's Alpine to Slickrock 50 Mile

After a two year hiatus race director and good friend Chris Martinez (who also brings you the Moab Red Hot 33K and 55K in February) brought back his Alpine to Slickrock 50 Mile.  When asked to describe the course ultrarunner extraordinaire Roch Horton quipped, "It's like a baby Hardrock."  With 12,000' of total gain, a net loss, two passes over 11,000', and trail pitches that leave you gasping for breath and your hands on your knees you'll be thankful that 50 miles is the order of the day instead of a full 100.  Starting fields are low for this event (31 starters this year), but once the word gets out the registration list is bound to grow.  It's a race not to be missed...a classic for sure!

The setting for the newly revived Moab Alpine to Slickrock (MAS) 50 Mile.  12,000' peaks, golden aspen, alpine lakes, and Moab's crimson slickrock.

The La Sal Mountains as seen from Arches National Park (photo courtesy of SummitPost.com).  The MAS 50 Mile course wraps around these peaks and then finishes among the sandstone on the outskirts of Moab, Utah.

The race's first climb on the Pack Creek Trail (~ mile 5).  (photo by Chris Gerber)

Melissa Beaury (the women's winner) on the Squaw Springs Trail (~mile 12).

Aspen along Geyser Pass Road (~ mile 13).

The author on the single track through Moonlight Meadows at 10,000' and mile 20.

The steep climb to Burro Pass (11,000') near mile 23.

The welcoming waters of Warner Lake; the half-way point. (photo by Guy Schmickle)

The descent towards Moab on the Porcupine Rim Trail with the La Sals in the background, near mile 34.  (photo by Nathan Telschow)

Rock hoodoos along the Sand Flats Road, still descending towards Moab (~ mile 37).

On the Sand Flats Road a few miles from the finish line.  One can now get an excellent sense of just how far we have travelled.  Alpine to slickrock...

The finish line setting.

Win number 51 and Leadville redemption.  Not gonna lie...it felt good!

Torrence and Beaury chat about the day's race at the finish line.  Full race results can be found here.

Here's a link to an excellent race article by Julia Buckwalter in the Moab Sun News.

Your Moment of Zen

It's a common jest among ultrarunners that after having a bad race or workout we vow to give up our running shoes for greener pastures, like speed Jenga, co-ed naked badminton, or beer pong.  I definitely gave this some thought after Leadville.  I experimented with HAHHA (High Altitude Hula Hooping Association).  Here I am with Angela Gavelli and Brian Tinder and soon found that, yes, my hips still do gyrate, but it wasn't easy.  Gonna stick to running for a while longer.

Running with Jureker

Keep Doing the Hard Things

Scott Jurek and the author at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Here's a fun and heartfelt read on RunningTimes.com; part of RT's Running Buddies series.  Go here to read my full story about sharing trail time with Scott.  Enjoy!

Your Ultra-Training Bag of Tricks: The Difficult Art of Peaking

For most, it's the most difficult part of training.  The final weeks before your event, depending on what you do, can either drive you mad or ruin your race.  Take it from me, it doesn't have to be so bad.  Learn of some helpful tips in my column over here on irunfar.com.

2012 Leadville Trail 100 Mile - Remembering the Lessons

A DNF

On July 22, 1995, I DNF'ed (Did Not Finish) the Vermont 100 Mile Endurance Run (my second 100 mile race and first DNF).  I made some critical errors on both the days leading up to that event and on race day.  I returned home after an abysmal race dejected and upset.  I wrote down what I felt I needed to do differently the next time I toed the line of a 100 mile.

I've held onto the list.  Though the page on which it is written handles more like parchment now the words are still legible.

1)  Drink more water the week before an ultra.

2)  Relax while traveling to the race.

3)  Eat regularly and eat foods with which I'm familiar.

4)  Don't show up before I have to.  Don't think about the race too much.

5)  Don't set myself up for disappointment.  Take it easy, relax, and have fun.  Don't race them.  Don't ever be disappointed of where I am in the field.

6)  Stick to my training foods and fluids.  Don't use things I'm not used to during an ultra.

7)  Don't eat too much or drink too much early on - moderate.

8)  Don't let what others tell me influence my mind set, strategy, and plans.

9)  If I do DNF - look ahead, learn from it, and move forward - don't lament, don't sulk.

10)  The run will be there next year!

Quite frankly, I lost sight of many of these points at this year's Leadville Trail 100 Mile.  I allowed one thing after another frustrate me and control my race.  I lost sight of why I was there and why I enjoy these events so much.

With that said, I won't bore you of the why's and how's of a day that went south, but, instead, will keep this old piece of scratch paper closer at hand.  Let's look at some cool photos while you anxiously await the next blog post which will regal you with successes of an ultra gone right.  Cheers!

A definite race day highlight was sharing trail time with fellow Flagstaffian and close friend Brian Tinder.  He'd go on to finish in 21 hours!

Atop Sugarloaf in the early morning.  Unfortunately I wouldn't see it again as I would drop at mile 73.

Leaving Fish Hatchery (mile 24).

Running on the new section of single-track trail carved out above Winfield.  I liked it!

I was so looking forward to seeing these familiar faces at Winfield.  Here Derek Schultz, my pacer for the Hope Pass section, plays photo op with Zoroaster.

I felt as if I had a dump truck on my back!  Nearing the crest of Hope Pass at 12,600'.

Crossing Hope Pass (mile 55).

Derek paces me through Twin Lakes (mile 61).

Crew member Craig Bushong helps Emily Harrison prepare to pace me through the Colorado Trail section of the course.

Your Moment of Zen

DNF:  Dog's Never Forget.  It's okay Dad, I still love you!  Lick!

Don't be afraid to get strong!  It's time to tackle those sprint, uphill & downhill workouts!  Also, try the new McMillan Running Calculator and predict the time of your next ultra in this month's new column:

Your Ultra-Training Bag of Tricks: Sprint-Based, Hill, and Predictor Workouts