The Desert is on a whole different calendar than the rest of the country. New England is typically defrosting in February with the first early season 50k rust-busters in March and April (Connecticut's Traprock 50k for instance) and longer focus-races not arriving till June or July. Arizona, with its mild winters and brutal summers, had its ultra season in full swing when I visited Tucson in the first week of March for the 23rd running of Old Pueblo 50 mile.
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| One of the few 50 milers to give a buckle... |
Old Pueblo (or 'OP' as all the locals called it) explores the single track and forest roads of the Santa Rita Mountains near Sonoita with 7500 feet of climbing that takes runners between 4000 and 6000 feet elevation in its 50 miles (closer to 51 as I was informed by many a runner, especially in the last part of the race).
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| White Thorn so big I thought it needed context to be believed... |
I was visiting good friend (and 2011 OP winner) Sarah Dasher, and while she ran I would hang with several members of her club, the Tucson Trail Runners. I can't say enough about how great these guys were. Not only were they manning the 25 mile aid station but they were also sweeping the last 25 miles of the course afterwards. As we drove to the remote aid station we crossed a section of fire road that served as mile 7 of the course. A few runners were struggling. The Tuscon Trail Runners not only knew every one of them by name, they stopped the car, and offered encouragement and help to every single one. I knew I was hanging with quality folks. If you're in Tucson you should look them up for a run.
When we talked about the men's race I heard the same thing all day "Catlow". One name, as if self-evident. "If Catlow runs he'll be very hard to beat." On the women's side it was 2 time OP winner (2010 Zane Grey Winner, 2010 San Diego 100 winner) and Tucson Trail runner Jane Larkindale. Variations of "She's tough as nails" echoed in the hills. We waited at the 25 mile aid station in cool, calm, frankly ideal conditions to see how the race played out.
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| Dallas Stevens (left) and Mike Duer (right) of the Tucson Trail Runners manning the 25 mile AS (and then swept the last 25 miles of the course till the early hours of the morning) |
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| The mountains are like Vegas for trail runners... |
The ideal conditions bore fruit as runners came in ahead of expectations and some, like Catlow Shipek, ahead of course record pace. Per predictions, Larkindale was in the women's lead with Brittney Orkney and Sarah Dasher in 2nd and 3rd.
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| Catlow Shipek coming through (as in literally not pausing) at AS25 at 3h 11min into the race over 20 minutes ahead of the next runner. |
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| Jane Larkindale, blood dripping down her leg, pausing at AS25. She would win, PR and take 6th overall. |
After the first half of the runners came through, the day began to warm up and the high desert UV began to make itself felt. I decided to see some of the race and ran 10 miles of the course and then shortcut to the finish and started running back towards leaders. The course is stark with scrub and cactus, barbed wire fences and cattle guards. It alternates on and off the
Arizona Trail and is very runnable if sometimes rocky. Spectacular views are constant, vast and almost agoraphobic for one coming from the tree-dense NorthEast. But tucked away are meadows and steams and gorgeous winding single track that relieve the feeling of constant exposure.
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| A meadow as respite from the high desert exposure... |
I almost immediately crossed paths with Catlow Shipek flying down steep single track a mile before he crossed the finish line in 7:21. His pace and expression were unchanged from 25 miles earlier and the predictions of his dominance did not disappoint. As I ran up course I didn't see another runner for miles and those I did pass were clearly feeling the long early season miles. Evan Riemondo held on for 2nd place in 8:07 and Ron Gutierrez took 3rd in 8:21.
I reached the 46 mile aid station in time to see Jane Larkindale pause, smile and cruise to the finish in a personal best 8:45, her third time winning the race. Britney Orkney and Sarah Dasher would maintain their positions for 2nd (9:07) and 3rd (9:32). By 46 miles most runners were torn between a long break and grim determination to "get this thing done" as more than one runner said. Fortunately the last 5 miles are some of the most forgiving on the course and achieving the finish line is a question of 'when' rather than 'if'.
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| Britney Orkney (2nd place) refueling at mile 46 (of 51). |
When I felt my 3rd layer of sunscreen wearing off I ran in the last few miles feeling less than spry myself. The finish in Kentucky Camp was a welcome place to lounge for finishers and family alike. I chatted with finishers and volunteers and, in spite of their exhaustion and White Thorn scratches, I was energized to get racing again.
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| Nothing beats shade, salty warm food, and permission to sit still after 10+ hours in the Arizona high desert. |
Old Pueblo 50, put on by RD Lynda Hendricks and the legions of enthusiastic and experienced volunteers, is a race that sells out in mere hours after registration opens. If you need an explanation for its popularity, look beyond the beauty of the scenery and weight of its finisher's buckle, and soak in the atmosphere of the experience. Capped at 175 runners (138 finishing this year) it has more energy than the super small boutique races but far from the near marathon-like frenzy a
Way Too Cool 50k (700 starters) or the corporate weight of a
North Face Challenge race (700 booths). It's a race where volunteers with HAM radios check off runners and know the distances so well they WORRY when you come in late to the next aid station (I saw this happen twice). It's a race where families camp the night before and bounce kids on their knee at the post race BBQ. It's a race with a memory long enough that it feels grounded. It's a race where you finish in front of a cabin, cross a chalk line in the dirt, and the assembled finishers and families give you a round of applause. And, as you plop down at a picnic table someone just might hand you a burger and a beer.
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| 2011 winner Dasher (left) and 2012 winner Larkindale (right) [both from the Tucson Trail Runners] trade stories at the post-race BBQ |
