running, life and living the dream

raw AND UNCUT    I FOUND THIS. Wish I had finished it. It was an incredible journey Ideally less then a month before I take my shot at her. It was talk, adults, nah dreamers; men thirsting to suck the very narrow out of an ambitious challenge.  The idea, the race, the draw, was the Mogollon Monster.  Chris said “I know it can be done.”  I smiled, knowing how much effort it took me to finish my first Zane Grey, and yes Mogollon is on my bucket list; but this race is so intimidating to me.  Mogollon is like Zane Grey on steroids.  But Chris’s argument was that it really is all mental. Well less than a year after these words flooded my brain, and about 3 months prior to the race, Chris sent me a text with a picture. His Ultra Signup screen shot.  Holy Shit!  He signed up for the monster. FUCK, 107 miles and 22,000 feet of climbing.  I had promised to crew and pace, if and or when he did this race. I never doubted he would do it, I...

The run/race took place, literally, in the Race directors backyard on a 238 meter hand made course. Trail work at its finest. The event was labeled as an 8 Hour Ultra Marathon where you could go as you please. It was also a bring your aid event. Besides your own aid we were all encouraged, of course if its your thing, to bring beer and or any other adult beverages of your choice. I knew this was going to be fun. The moment I saw this run advertised I had to sign up. I had missed out on the Black Friday Backyard Ultra in November 2018. Which was in the same backyard but a shorter loop. As that run progressed, so did the length of the course, which gave birth to the April Fools Backyard Ultra . Big Shout out to JAM JAM AKA Jamil Coury for hosting such a great event. Muchos Gracias Image from Jamil Coury Instagram page. This was the whole course  OK time for the Juicy stuff. vid of a loop on the course My dad and I pulled into a neighborhood near the Pho...

Roll 'N' Rock nah man Rock 'N” Roll. I have been asked every year since I made it known I was a runner, 2011, if I was going to Run the Arizona Rock 'n' Roll (RNR) Marathon. I have always had interesting excuses. Some legit. Like its always the weekend before the Coldwater Rumble , an ultra race at Estrella Mountain Regional Park, put on by Aravaipa . Its basically my back yard so how could I miss it. But also i stayed away because it seemed like it was a huge corporate race with too many people.  But my opinion has changed.  Yes it has.  IT WAS FUN! the wife and I race morning I singed up for the RNR Marathon close to a year in advance. The price was just to good to pass up. I was also in a bit of a fog mentally, and needed to change things up. I love trail ultras, but I was in a rut, I thought a road marathon and Boston Qualifier race would get me moving. That was until I was inspired to go for a big ultra. I paced my buddy and Chris at t...

It is crazy to me how time can fly by and yet stand still at moments. Circles. Running 1.05 mile circles is how I decided to end 2016. It’s also how I started 2017. Almost 4 days removed from my 24-hour timed race    Across the Years , I am still on cloud 9. What A Rush. No cliff hangers here. I met my goal of running my 1 st sub 24 hour 100-mile race! My cheeks are a bit sore from smiling. I’m hobbling around a bit, but it does hurt oh so good.  My 2nd 100 mile buckle. 1st sub 24 hour The day before the race, I meditated and envisioned myself on the run. I repeated “I will not stop moving, I will not stop moving. No Pain no rain will stop me.” I knew ATY would be cold, but in checking the weather, I was bummed to find out that rain was in the forecast. Being under prepared for weather cost me dearly while attempting my first Zane Grey 50 miler. I have vowed to never let weather stop me again. I over packed, two rain coats, pretty much all my...

Running into the fish hatchery, My wife directing me to my gear.  Or was she telling me to finish my laundry? Normally I'm dying with anticipation to get a blog out soon as a race or big run is over, but I have been so mentally and physically exhausted; finishing the Zane Grey 50 miler this year was a dream come true.   I had obsessed about this race since 2012 the first time I witnessed it first hand while crewing for my good friends, Tim and Giles.   I registered for 2013 race as soon as registration opened.  Unfortunately a few weekends before the race, tragedy hit my family, as my father-in-law suffered a massive heart attack.  He was taking off life support and was buried on the day of the 2013 race.  I vowed to run the 2014 race in his honor.  I DNF'd that race, I made a huge mistake of underestimating warnings of a huge storm, causing the race to be cut short at mile 33. That day my race ended at mile 18, Washington Park. ...

This had to be the most epic Ultra-Marathon I have ever been involved in; the elite participant field was stacked, scenery to die for, not to mention the hype and excitement surrounding The Montrail Ultra Cup  .   I had no shot finishing in the top two, a guaranteed ticket to Western States.   The BC100k is a point to point race starting in Spring Valley, AZ and finishes near New River. I kept my race week nerves on ice until Thursday, packet pick up, and the screening of the Hal Koerner and Mike Wolfes fastest know time (fkt) on the John Muir Trail.   From the moment I woke up on Friday, I was bouncing off the walls.   I was trying hard to not be overly annoying to my wife, who was days away from her first ever half marathon.   The weekend was set. When we arrived to Mayer High school, in Spring Valley Arizona, Tim, Giles, Cristain, Brian and I sat in the car silent for a few minutes.   Finally the silence was broken and we beg...