Course Preview: Moab's Red Hot 33K & 55K Trail Races

This weekend's Moab Red Hot 33 and 55 Kilometer course preview provided several runners the opportunity to scout the race's terrain.  As it's name implies, the southern Utah slickrock spires and petrified sand dunes took the shape and glow of red hot embers hiding beneath white caps of snow.  Barring any snow storms between now and race day, the course should be in excellent shape come mid-February.  Race director Chris Martinez took the lead as we explored Moab's backcountry.

Here's a photo tour from this weekend's jaunt:

Special thanks to Sara Wagner and Rob Krar for spicing up the photos herein.

A Moab Scene (Photo by Rob Krar)

Christina Bauer and Sara Wagner enjoy the first climb...mile 1.

Slickrock running...

Race Director Chris Martinez points out to Mike Smith the surrounding scenery.

Yes, the course goes this way...

Flagstaffian's Sara Wagner, Christina Bauer and Mike Smith take a break.

Headed into a slickrock wilderness (photo by Sara Wagner)

Typical course terrain (photo by Sara Wagner)

Dwarfed by the huge petrified sand dunes (photo by Sara Wagner)

The author on Metal Masher, mile 10 (photo by Rob Krar)

A course rarity:  soft tread (photo by Rob Krar)

The final miles have some flatter terrain...

Two miles to go! (photo by Sara Wagner)

The finish:  Poison Spider Trailhead

A day's end:  Clouds and Slickrock (photo by Rob Krar)

Your Moment of Zen...

Would you kill for a glass when the sand fills up your throat?

Water, water!

See ya'll in a month!

Running Times Online- A Group Effort: Pros and Cons of Crewing and Pacing

New article posted on Running Times Online:  A Group Effort:  The Pros and Cons of Crewing and Pacing for Ultras.  Tips and best practices for both runners and support members.  Enjoy the read!

Red Rock Canyon Fat Ass Trail Marathon Wrap-Up

Typical Red Rock Canyon Scenery (photo by Robert Baker)

The Class of 2011!  The start of the Red Rock Canyon Fat Ass Trail Marathon (photo by Robert Baker)

Red Rock Canyon Trail Marathon Results

January 8th, 2011

Las Vegas, Nevada

41 starters

Place	Name	Age	Time
1	Josh Brimhall	35	3:08
2	Shane Peterson	32	3:25
3	Justin Nelson	33	3:30
4	Shad Mickelberry	34	3:32
5	Leland Elmer	53	3:37
6	Matt Conners	33	3:39
7	Eric Swenson	30	3:49
8	Scott Guild	39	4:01
9	Bob Redwanc	54	4:17
10	Stacy Bracken	47	4:28
11	Ron Hammett	40	4:28
12	Matt Query	34	4:30
13	Cory Johnson	46	4:31
14	Robin Smith	47	4:31
15	Greg Hewitt	54	4:32
16	Mark Ford	48	4:32
17	Bradon Gauden	33	4:32
18	Adam Wymore	33	4:36
19	Peggy Paas	39	4:40
20	Alek Ohlhausen	33	4:49
21	John Wojciechowski	37	5:05
22	James Rapp	53	5:26
23	Matt Zinkgraf	32	5:30
24	James Guiry	33	5:32
25	Dennis Jensen	62	5:33
26	Keith Rhoades	44	5:39
27	Eric Starr	30	6:20
28	Matthew Stroupe	39	6:37
29	Tami Stefanatos	44	7:32
30	Barbara Graham	45	7:32
31	Amy O'donnell	26	7:32
32	Dana Clark	43	7:32
33	Paula Raimondi	42	7:32

Heading up Rocky Gap Four-Wheel Drive Road (mile 5'ish) 

Looking up the Rocky Gap 4x4 Road

Red Rock Canyon Fat Ass Trail Marathon:  Descending from Red Rock Summit from Ian Torrence on Vimeo.
The trail at the top of Red Rock Summit (mile 15).

Aid Station Fare.

Britta Rottschy, Karen Weston Vollan & Casey Flanigan volunteer at the one and only aid station (miles 5 and 15).

Drop Bag Central

Josh Brimhall on his way to a 3:08 finish (photo Robert Baker).

Red Rock Canyon Trail Marathon:  Trail under Calico Cliffs from Ian Torrence on Vimeo.
The Trail Below Calico Cliffs (the final miles of the course).

Eric Starr running in with family.

Matthew Stroupe with course sweep, Casey Harney, in tow (Photo R. Baker). 

Brian Tinder always the ham (photo R. Baker).

Utah's Robin Smith (photo R. Baker)

Utah's Stacy Bracken leads the women in 4:28 (photo R. Baker).

Flagstaff's Adam Wymore (photo R. Baker).

Red Rock Canyon Trail Marathon:  Tinder is lost! from Ian Torrence on Vimeo.
This is what happens when you get lost at a trail race.  Brian Tinder curses the race director.

The local ladies stick together for a great time (photo R. Baker).

The Flagstaff contingent:  Wymore, Torrence, Conners & Tinder

A slideshow of all of Robert Baker's photos can be found here.

Special thanks to our volunteers:  Karen Weston Vollan, Britta Rottschy, Casey Flanigan, Casey Harney, Robert Baker, Josh Brimhall and Brian Tinder.

Special thanks to the Red Rock Canyon NCA Bureau of Land Management for allowing this event to go forward and Red Rock Running Company for the use of equipment.

We look forward to next year's event.  Stay tuned for details.  Thanks for participating everyone!

Best of the Year in Photos

Best of..."Races of 2010"

May - Sky Mesa Marathon (CO)

 February - Pemberton Trail 50K (AZ)

 June - Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run (CA)

 April - Zane Grey Highline 50 Mile (AZ)

 February - Volunteering at the Sedona Marathon (AZ)

September - the Inaugural Pine to Palm 100 Mile Endurance Run (OR)

August - Pine to Palm course scouting with the race director Hal Koerner and eventual winner Tim Olson

September - A Southern Oregon Beer Mile

August - Leadville Trail 100 Mile, pacing Hal Koerner (CO)

February - Pemberton Trail 50K, Josh Brimhall and Hal Koerner do battle for top honors.

September - Run on the Sly 50K (CA)

Best of..."Faces of 2010"

Halloween - Eric Bohn, Torrence and Brian Tinder (or is that Torrence again?)

Mesquite Canyon 50K - Tinder, Torrence, Bohn and Bret Sarnquist

A 21-mile loop in Sedona, AZ - Scott Jurek, Joe Grant, James Willis, Trent Briney, Tinder

Zane Grey Road Trip - Scott Mason, Larry O'Neil, Karl Meltzer, Torrence

Backyard BBQ

New Assistant Coaching Responsibilities - Tracy and Greg McMillan, Torrence

A Winter Grand Canyon Trip with Nick and Jamil Coury

The Langoliers Return, JFK 50 Mile - Front: Tinder and Bohn.  Rear:  Eric Clifton and Torrence

The morning of Western States: Torrence, Tinder and Olson

Best of..."Scenes of 2010"

Colton Crater and the Peaks

The La Sals and Moab Slickrock

A morning run on the Kachina Trail

On top of California:  White Mountain Peak

The trails outside of Kirkland, CA with my brother-in-law, Duane Miller

The Grand Canyon - The Bright Angel Trail in January

Flagstaff's Blizzard of 2010

Best of..."2010 Team USA Arizona"

Paige Higgins and Coach Greg McMillan

Andrew Middleton drafts Trent Briney on Lake Mary Road

Coming and Going:  The Men & Women of Team USA Arizona

Sedona Track: Andrew Lemoncello, Brett Gotcher, Martin Fagan & Andrew Carlson

Lemoncello & Higgins

Coach McMillan records splits.

Mr. Sub-4:  Jordan Horn

Carlson enjoys post US National 25K victory beverages.

Working in Buffalo Park:  Lemoncello, Fasil Bizuneh, Fagan

Emily Harrison and Natasha LaBeaud on the Mountain Shadows Loop

Fasil and James Carney on the Mtn. Shadows Loop

Coach McMillan films the athletes.

Men of Team USA Arizona on a Long Run on FS Road 222.

Women of McMillanElite.

The start of a Lake Mary Road Tempo Run.

Fagan and Gotcher are off!

Another stunning day in Sedona.

Best of..."Your Moment of Zen 2010"

 Caged Furry Fury

 Monument Valley at Dusk

 I'd rather have chicken, but this will do.

Andrew Lemoncello properly demonstrates Nintendo's new game "Guitar Puppy".