Arizona Trail Race 2014 in progress

[markphx]

Thanks for the updates Scott and mtbcast. This blue dot tracking stuff is addicting as hell and it's severely impeding my efficiency. Work and school will have to wait until the last rider crosses the finish line...

[mtbcast]

AZT14: Day 4 True Up!
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/podcasts/

[fastmtnbiker33w]

Guess I better update the women's portion of the 300 since I'm responsible for this year's winner.  

Dr. (Maj.) Alison Kinsler..US Army Orthopedic Surgeon... came in at 2:15:03 in her rookie debut bikepack race.  I'm currently uploading a video of her bike and some of her gear and provide some facts of her ride.  She finished with some great pics of various animals....a fox and a gila monster (I've yet to see one of those).  She put down before Rincon and slept 4 hours.  Hit Rincon later than she planned and then roosted up Reddington to suffer through the switchbacks out of Molina.  She then found herself at the top of Lemmon looking at some ski lifts wondering if they ever carried skiers and where the pie was to be found since she saw the sign indicating "Pie".  She dropped back down for some chili at the restaurant which was closing much earlier than last year (she relied on my beta from last year....minimal research on her part and the evening before was hand writing mileages for water/food off my hand written cue sheet).  She passed through Tiger Mine trail head just before midnight where I bivy'd just minutes after.  I bailed on Reddington and took Hwy 77 to Oracle hoping to catch some riders coming through but only saw Mike, Neil's buddy from Crested Butte.  I slept like a stone until dawn, so I'm not sure if anyone else came through while I was there.  

Alison put down about 1:30 am before Bee Hive and slept another 3 hours, then pushed out to the finish.  She cut her tire on the rocky road under the power lines before Ripsey, stitched it but it didn't hold, so she tubed it.  She passed JP coming out of the Gila and told him he had about 4 miles to go when it was closer to 10 or 15.  She said he disappeared behind her pretty quick.  She quietly rolled in to my family's RV under an amazing moon and temps warm enough for her to shower outside.

Neither of us were on Trackleaders (we are a "black ops" program).  I sent her gps files to Scott.  I had to give her a gps review the morning of the event.  I'll save some other small details for the video which I'll probably post in the morning since it has another 40 minutes to load and I need to get to bed.  

This year's weather was the most perfect ever!  Tailwinds everywhere for the people at the front, perfect temps (though a bit too hot for me on day 1), and the moon was BIG.  Kurt smashed it, Neil blew everyone's mind, and hopefully Aaron is content with an amazing performance.  We think JP came through an took the piece of pizza we left out.  We had way more water than we needed, so hopefully he stocked up and got hydrated during his short stay near the trailhead.  What an exciting weekend!

[fastmtnbiker33w]

I lack discipline.  Here's the link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUPcH4Y7FNc&feature=youtu.be

[Woodland]

Bikepacking under a Blood Moon.

...someone should write a song.

It's about to get weird out there for anyone still moving 

[schillingsworth]

Alexis is only a couple of miles from her first view of Picketpost Mtn (roughly 10 miles from the finish). I'm sure it'll be a welcomed sight in the early morning glow!! Way to go girl, knock it out.

[mtbcast]

AZT14: Mark Caminiti called in from above Tecolote Rd. And Jay Petervary called in from the route north of Payson.
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/azt14/

[jktwice]

Lost debit card!!!! Elliot D. Needs to contact Rick Miller @ 3038450060

[MikeB]

JH is moving again!!

[dream4est]

Staring up at ripesy
Hoping for late finish to 300 tonight
Living large out here
The best times

[osborne.s.99]

Yes;


She has more perseverance than almost anyone I've ever met.  Definately no quit in her!

[ScottM]

Go Mark!  Keep the riding and the call-ins coming.

Speaking of call ins, there have been some good ones.  Sounds like JayP had his eyes opened by the 300.  His eyes are about to get opened even wider on Highline.  He mentioned his shoes are disintegrating.  I see he went to Walmart last night, likely for the tape and shoe goo he mentions in the call.  He jokes that he might be finishing this thing barefoot.  The shoes aren't going to get any better on Highline, that's for sure.

Stoked to see JH moving again!

We have our second pink dot to finish!  Alexis came in under 4 days.  Huge congrats Alexis!  In her call-ins she mentions cursing my name on Oracle Ridge, then loving the Cody Trail descent, then cursing me again as the course wound around aimlessly east of Oracle.  Classic.

Paul Spencer has an old point, and on FK highway.  Wondering if he had to bail.

Will try to get in touch with Elliot.  Old point from him, and lost debit card!

Aaron Denberg is riding right at JayP's pace so far.  He'll be up Lemmon by the afternoon if all goes well.

Boatman is out of the start gate!

[tanman1337]

I got to ride through Payson with Jay P late last night during the blood moon. He is looking strong and should be plowing through the highline this afternoon. It was nice to be able to pick his brain about the Tour Divide for a bit while he resupplied at the Maverick. Man it sure is cold still up North. It was in the 30's last night.  Jay P had every bit of warmies he had on rolling into town. Got to talk to Mark C. on the phone yesterday. He is feeling really strong and definitely has an opportunity to have a sub 5 day finish for the 300 and then continuing on for his 4th 750... what a beast!

[tanman1337]

I saw those shoes last night...they do not look good at all...

[Jeff Z]

In her call-ins she mentions cursing my name on Oracle Ridge, then loving the Cody Trail descent, then cursing me again as the course wound around aimlessly east of Oracle.  Classic.

I'm pretty sure just about everyone has been there. Sounds exactly like my reaction to that section. Good times...

[ScottM]

I'm pretty sure just about everyone has been there. Sounds exactly like my reaction to that section. Good times...

Good times indeed.  It can be a little infuriating how the ATA avoided many of the resupply towns with the trail... such as Oracle.

Elliot is in Apache Junction, still rolling along.  He's happy to hear someone found his card and that it isn't getting charged up.  He's going to find new SPOT batts and move on!

[markphx]

I'm predicting two AZTR 750 titans will clash at 3:30 p.m. Arizona time somewhere below the Mogollon Rim. If you're in AZ, keep an ear out for the thunder around that time...

[schillingsworth]

I'll go with 4:15p in honor of tax day....

First AZTR 750 golden spike, no?

[Briansong]

I'll go with 4:15p in honor of tax day....

First AZTR 750 golden spike, no?

Looks like their less than a mile apart at 3:53 PM

[Rooster Cogburn]

Arno Minner bested his 2012 time to Picketpost by over a day and a half and is now making a tidy pace northward.  Does anyone know if he is riding single-speed this year?  He was a bit cryptic in his profile ("two wheels and pedals").