BPR Summer Trail Series Race #2

The Step Workout.

The second race in the Blue Pants Racing Summer Trail Series was held in the Tortolita Mountains on the Wild Burro Trail, which is pretty tame, and the Alamo Springs Trail, which is one step after another going up through the range and then the same thing back down. We did a 'reverse the course' on this one from the Winter Trail Series race held on the same trails.

My friend Andrea, who I met at the BPR Winter Trail Series in January, was at the race as a volunteer today. She is always smiling and just so beautiful. It was good to see her.I ran with David, Mary, Laura and Patricia for a while. They left me in the dust about a mile or so from the finish line. However, I was baffled at the finish line when I realized that David still wasn't in. We all waited for quite a while and then Lazslo and Lauren went to look for him. We thought he must have gotten lost; he did say he got lost easily. When I checked the results, it was noted that he did the loop twice (maybe he was trying to catch his significant other, Cat, who was hiking the course?) Anyway, that guy is a character, and I had fun running with him and the other gals.

BPR did a great job marking the course, so there really weren't any spots that I felt were really questionable as to where to go (they used yellow ribbons and biodegradable chalk to mark.) The trail was in pretty good shape; it is just a lot of big, rocky, step ups for quite a bit of the trail, mixed in with some nice, runnable spots. However, there were some thorny bushes that were growing into the trail on many sections. Here some of us trail runners are proudly showing off our bloody wounds after the race:

I finished in 1:35 - the distance was about 7 miles. It was slow going, but what a beautiful place to run. Of course, I always take time at the top to enjoy the view. My friend Steve was there as well, and he was his usual speedy self, finishing at the head of the pack.

I love getting out there on the trail. Makes me feel like I'm really living. Some people sit on the couch, afraid to get out there (hey, it can be scary meeting new people all the time - even scarier letting them get to know you!) but it is so worth it. I know so many unbelievably amazing people as a result of walking through the fear.

"A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are for." ~ quote disputed as coming from several authors

Winter Trail Series - Race #3

Final race in the Blue Pants Racing Winter Trail Series - Race #3 was a resounding success! The distance was about 7 miles. We went on the Alamo Springs Trail out (short route) and came back on the Wild Burro Trail.

The scenery in the Tortolita Mountains is just breathtaking. The race today had an extremely steep climb which forced most runners to fast hike, but what an excellent workout!

I won 1st place in my age group for all three races and received a lovely cactus as my award (you had to do all 3 races to be eligible for awards). I wasn't particularly fast, because I was running more distance after each race, but I still got an award (because I was the only one in my age group?) Who cares - I was excited to get that little cactus!

Laszlo, the RD, did an amazing job. I think he is planning on doing it again next year, because I noticed that his Blue Pants Racing website already had the 2009 dates. Right on! I think the food he had at his races was better than a lot of other races I go to! Thanks Laszlo!

Laurie and I went on to run more after the race. Laurie ran about 4.5 more and I did 9 more for a total of 16 miles. I lost all my energy at about mile 14 (it was really getting hot out there today) but suddenly my energy returned and I felt great! I am experimenting with Hammer products for proper fueling and I think it helped.

I met a lot of new people and got to know a few I already knew a little better at this trail series. Here is my friend Steve - he is a great guy and super fast. Runners are nice people and trail runners are no exception.

I love trail running! I have gone on more trail runs in the last month than I ever have and I am completely hooked.

Next up: The Arizona Trail Race on February 3rd - 8 miles.

Winter Trail Series - Race #1

What a great trail race! This is race #1 in a series of 3 in January. Originally, this one was supposed to be 7 miles, but when we arrived at the Wild Burro Trailhead in the Tortolita Mountains, which is NW of Tucson, Laszlo, our RD (Blue Pants Racing) informed us that it would be around 9 miles. At the end of the race, one of the participants said it was actually 9.7, according to his GPS, which was great! I added some running on after the race for a total of 3 hours running today (no, I'm not crazy, I'm training for a marathon - well, okay, I am crazy).

Not a great picture (a little blurry), but here we all are at the start - about 20 of us. PF Chang's Rock 'n Roll Marathon/Half Marathon in Phoenix conflicted for a lot of people, so we had a small turnout. They expect bigger crowds for the next two trail races in the series.

The course was tough - lots of steep, rocky climbs. We took the Wild Mustang Trail out and looped around to the Wild Burro Trail back. It was an unsupported race (no aid stations), so participants carried their own water (It was only $25 for all 3 races, so what do you expect? At least we got t-shirts and breakfast!) We were rewarded at the end by a fairly flat trail through a wash and some gently rolling hills for the last 3 miles. I ran pretty much the whole way with some people I had just met - Andrea, Glenn (he has done the Western States 100 mile race - amazing!) and David. They were great and we all took turns leading and staying on the trail (we almost got lost a few times!)
It was an absolutely beautiful day out there today. It was around 40 at the start, but warmed up to 55-60 by the time we finished. I love Tucson in the winter. :)

There is a stone house out on this trail just like the Yetman Trail in Tucson Mountain Park. We stopped for a photo op.
I absolutely had a blast today! My only regret is that my friend Laurie, who was going to do the race with me, came down with a bug, and was unable to come. Otherwise, great opportunity to meet new trail runners and experience a new trail. God sure has graced me with such an abundantly wonderful life.


'We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit.' ~ Aristotle

Update:

Here is a picture from the race, right at the finish line (coming in with Glenn, Mr. Western States)