04JAN02 Wasson Peak Twenty-one runners gathered at the Sus Picnic Grounds in Saguaro National Monument West at 7am in order to run the Wasson Peak figure eight version of trail. Just before sunrise we ran north on the dirt road for about 2 miles and then made a right at the first T-intersection. Then run another 2 miles east to the Esperanza Trailhead. This trail meanders to the south towards the mountain range for about a mile and gradually increases in elevation until ascending switchbacks until topping out at the saddle junction. I ran fairly hard tot his point in an effort to complete this run listed at 15 miles near 2 hours. Just prior to the start, Ross Zimmerman claimed he had GPS’d the route and it showed 13.6. I personally feel the trail is 14 or 14.25 (I’ve since measured the route with a better GPS and agree with Chase; 14.2 mi.–Ross Z).
I reached the saddle in 38 minutes and descended the backside of the hill. The trail here is very rocky so I had earlier decided to wear brand new Montrail Wasatch II trail shoes. They felt great travelling down the loose, rocky trail. These shoes seem to have better traction than the Vitesse. I continued at a fast pace around to the southside of the mountain range in an effort to beat the sunrise from blinding as I eventually turned eastward.
The next portion of trail starts to gradually ascend as it gets closer to Wasson Peak. There are many steep switchbacks and sharp turns on the climb to Wasson. I finally reached the trail split and ran the dog leg out to the peak in 1 hour and 20 minutes and returned to the split again. It is close to 5 miles back to the finish so I swiftly descended on the Hugh Norris Trail. Eight minute miles from here would net me a two hour finish. The Hugh Norris Trail descends quickly with two or three minor uphills along the ridge. Upon reaching the hills I found it hard to change muscle groups on the fly so I came to a walk on the climbs. I seemed to be developing a blister on my right heel and only now noticed it on the uphill sections.
Continuing to push the pace I eventually came to the step portion of the trail and realize that I have only a half mile to the road and then a short distance to the finish. As I reached the road I felt weary and wanted to stop. I kept churning my legs as I only have a half mile to go. My finish time is 2:03. I feel good about the effort. Three years ago I ran 2:16 and two years before that ran my PR in 1:58. Since I am 10-12 pounds heavier now than five years ago I view this as a good sign that some of my trail times are getting back to times of the past. The winter Bear Canyon loop is in two weeks and I feel I have a good shot at breaking my 2:14 PR.
19JAN02 Winter Bear Canyon It is a 7am start on a clear, cool morning. 34 runners took off from the parking lot of Sabino Canyon Visitor’s Center for the January version of Bear Canyon Loop. I hit the first part of the run at a brisk pace in order to bank time before hitting the trailhead. I am thinking I can run a PR today but know that I have to reach certain points at predetermined times. I ran quickly through the lower seven stream crossings and worked the ascending switchbacks nicely. I began to push the pace after the switchbacks until I reached the creek crossing below the grinder in 49 minutes. This is a good sign because it normally takes 15 minutes or less to reach the top.
I topped out at 1:03:50. I have never run a negative time from here to the finish. My closest effort was one minute to the positive; today is the fastest time that I have ever topped out. According to my predetermined time goal I must reach the top of Sabino Road by 1:50 which means I would have to run a 5:20 mile pace for the 3.7 miles of road to the end which would be extremely difficult coming off of the trail. So, not to get ahead of myself, I flew down the backside of Bear until I got to Sabino Basin and the East-West Fork junction. From here to the road I just don’t want to crash on the various small uphills along the way.
So far, so good as I descend to the road. After finally coming off of the trail a glance at my watch says 1:48:45. With a minute and 15 second cushion over 3.7 miles I should have to run a 5:40 pace to the end. As I pass the big rock near the Tram station I am under 2:10 but I still have to reach the original starting point in the parking lot and end up with a 2:10:40. At first I felt disappointment that I didn’t break 2:10 but then quickly realized I just took 4 minutes off my PR from five years ago.
02FEB02 Fort Eustis, Virginia Tomorrow, the Tucson Trail Runners are running Cowhead Saddle from the east end of Speedway. I will miss this run because I am spending three weeks in Fort Eustis, Virginia for military training. I located a half-marathon in Hampton on Saturday, February 9th. The race is the RRCA National Half-marathon Championship for the Pomoco Running Crab Club.
It was a sunny but frigidly cold day with a starting temperature of just under 40 degrees and a windchill under 20 degrees. I wore my National Guard Marathon Team singlet and road training shoes. Since I didn’t anticipate racing when I packed for this trip I neglected to bring racing flats. High hopes said that I could break 1:15 but the wind and the shoes would not let that be reality.
I went out at 5:45 mile pace and then settled into a 5:50 pace feeling comfortable. The course had multiple turns and occasionally I ran straight into a chilling headwind for a lengthy distance. My pace suffered to near 6:00 pace. I managed to hold steady through the entire race even though my mind wanted to back off and take it easy. I sailed into the finish at 1:17:27 averaging 5:55 pace per mile. Considering the conditions and lack of training due to my plantar issue, I felt happy about my effort. I placed 2nd in my age group and 18th overall with one female placing ahead of me. The top eight finishers were awarded cash as well as the top three Masters.
09-10FEB02 Leesburg, Virginia As I am still in Virginia I decided to take a three hour drive to the north and visit my friend Sean Andrish who is living in Leesburg. Leesburg is about 50 miles northwest of Washington, D.C. and is near the Appalachian Trail.
Sean and I headed out for a difficult 22 mile out and back portion of the Appalachian Trail aptly named Roller Coaster. Over the length of 11 miles in one direction there are eight hills. I had lifted leg weights in the gym yesterday and paid for it early in the run on the long ascents. We reached the turnaround in two hours and refueled. We carried one water bottle each which proved to be not enough even though the trail was mostly shaded and cool. The trail also proved to much rockier than I had anticipated.
On the first climb after the turnaround I knew I was going to be in trouble. I was walking on the second hill and by the third hill I was walking the downhill. Ultimately, I bonked big time between miles 14 and 19. Sean decided to take it easy and hung with me through my hour long spell. We eventually reached a stream and filled out bottles and ate a gel. Within ten minutes I was feeling better and was able to run out the last 3.5 miles. We had spent 5 hours on trail. Runs like this have to make you stronger somewhere.
The next morning after a good dinner and lots of rehydration we headed over to a different portion of the A.T. and ran a 10 mile out and back. We were on a ridgeline in a cloud with ice crystals falling from the trees. Today’s route had gently rolling hills amongst large oak trees. My legs felt a little sore from the last two days but I found I could still extend my stride over the rocks better than yesterday. Sean and I ran briskly over most parts of the trail and ended up running 1:45 on a cold, moist morning.
17FEB02 Tanque Verde Loop Another clear morning with a forecasted high of 75 degrees greets us for the 28.5 mile Tanque Verde Loop. This is the 3rd time that I have run this trail. The trail starts at the east end of Speedway and ascends to Douglas Springs. I felt a little rough during this stretch mainly due to drinking six beers last night and running 13 miles two days ago on Blackett’s Ridge. My legs were tired on the climbs so I buckled down and shuffled up the hills and tried to make up time on the flats and descents. There are no flats and descents from Douglas Springs to Cowhead Saddle. This 2.4 mile section gains about 1500 feet in elevation. I walked a few portions of uphill nearing Cowhead and to my amazement reached the saddle in 1:34:30.
Without stopping I turned right on to the Tanque Verde Peak Trail and drank some water. I carried two bottles to get me to Javalina Picnic area around 20 miles into the run where Rick Kelly has an aid vehicle. The 2.5 mile section to Tanque Verde Peak is rough and rolling and hard to follow in some places. There is little or no snow on the trail this year. After the peak the trail drops 2.1 miles to Juniper Basin Campground which is nestled in amongst large Juniper trees. After reaching this point in 2:31 I took my first salt and ate a tiger bar. For some odd reason I neglected to use anything but water to this point just to see how I would be affected. I was feeling a little nauseated until I used the electrolytes.
I continued down the ridge, slowly at first since the trail seems disconnected in spots. At first the trail gradually drops in elevation and then climbs and dips like a rollercoaster. The sweat on my legs is stinging the scratches I incurred from the overgrown section from the peak to the basin. The Manzanita trees don’t budge even though they look like they should. The ridgeline from Juniper to Javalina is 6.9 miles and is relentlessly downhill at times and seems to take forever to be done. I said “Hi” to my beautiful wife who was coming up the trail from the picnic grounds. She has a slight knee problem after running Pemberton 50K last weekend and cannot go the distance today. Rick Kelly asked me at the start how long I would be to Javalina and I told him 3:30. I was 10 minutes off and arrived in 3:40.
At Rick’s aid station I drank a Pepsi, mixed a CLIP drink and talked with Rick. I left the parking lot at 3:43 and had a decent chance of finishing under 5 hours wit 8.5 miles to go. When I got to the visitor’s center of Saguaro Monument East Headquarters I used the cold drinking fountain to wet down my head and then headed north on the pavement of Freeman Road. The last 8.5 miles of the run are paved unless you opt for the slightly shorter trail alternative. Over the last 7 miles I employed a run 5 walk 1 minute strategy. I wasn’t really feeling bad; I just wanted to keep from feeling bad by pushing it too hard. Ultimately I reached the finish or the original start point in 4 hours and 56 minutes. I ended up running a 6 minute PR and actually felt pretty good.
With two trail PRs in a row I will next run Esperero Loop, 21.3 miles, on the 10th of March. I have never really put forth a good effort at Esperero so running a PR shouldn’t be too tough. I’m not sure what to expect so I will try for 3 and a half hours…
