2016 AZTR300/750 Race Discussion Thread

[goyo]

Congrats to all who have finished so far.
Had to bail on the 300 in Tucson with my buddy last week.
Heading out tomorrow morning on an ITT by myself. I feel fit, I have the time, and there's a window of cooler weather...
No spot tracker though, so I'll post when I'm done, hopefully sometime Wednesday.

P.S. I was at Picketpost Sunday, picking up a car, when Alex and Calvin came in. They were both pretty beat; Calvin was bailing on the 750. I was amazed at how little Alex had for the 300, he looked like he was just out for a day ride. My buddy gave them both a ride to the city on his way back to Flag.

[Woodland]

Had this really nasty blister/zit on my foot that cropped up a couple days after the 300...was hurting even to walk on it. I tried popping it once, but it just got worse.

Finally this morning, I opened it up with a safety pin, and pulled out a half inch long piece of a cactus spine. Life post-AZTR 

[geekonabike]

Damn Mike, sorry to hear you had to pull the plug but understandable. Was really pulling for you this year, it was a pleasure to watch your SPOT. Wish I could have been out there on the 750 again with you this year.. it's been driving me batty watching this from the armchair! Can't wait for my move to Alaska in a couple of weeks so I can get settled and strap on the bags.

I'd ask Rob to run my ideal by you about a "Legendary BPG" trophy to be passed along to the most Chronologically Challenged finisher as new records are set. I can message you more detail if your unsure what I'm typing about.
 If you are game I'll get on it as soon as I'm a Little more mobile.

[mikepro]

Its snowing/hailing in Tusayan right now, so ruders in the area (john schilling, sara jensen) might have some interesting stories to tell when its over.  Im not sure what the weather is like right now at the North Rim.

[Gimmearaise]

Its snowing/hailing in Tusayan right now, so riders in the area (john schilling, sara jensen) might have some interesting stories to tell when its over.  Im not sure what the weather is like right now at the North Rim.

Oh my, no bueno. Looks like their best bet is to drop into the canyon, looks to be much warmer down there. I was actually really surprised how warm it was down there. Did not know inversion plays no effect.
http://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=AZZ006&warncounty=AZC005&firewxzone=AZZ106&local_place1=Phantom%20Ranch%20AZ&product1=Hazardous+Weather+Outlook&lat=36.1052&lon=-112.0954#.Vx5TsRMrJE4

[wolfmansbro]

Crazy to hear about the weather. North Rim was 25 degrees yesterday morning, so I would imagine it would be even colder in that area with the weather moving in?

Still processing what just happened. I knew the 750 was challenging, but I didn't realize just how much the trail would chew you up. Every single day had its own unique challenge. Roller coaster of emotions for sure.



I was really surprised at how many people I ran into that new about the "race" and the amount of encouragement from people while walking through the ditch. Mike & Mike must have prep talked every person on that trail ahead of me. because by theBtime I got to them, it seemed most people knew why I was there. Even had a small group of people cheering as I went through Phantom Ranch.

[Adam Alphabet]

Get it Rod! Taprider rolling into the finish..  A bunch should be rolling in throughout the day. Awesome work everyone, super inspiring.

[Jalene]

Speaking of inspiring ~ Jack rolled into Picket Post last night just as spry and energetic as the day this adventure started!  Recharging in Superior, and then he's eager to get back on the trail.

[ECEGatorTuro]

That is amazing!!   

[ScottM]

Sounds like it is nuking on the North Rim as well.  "Beardog" Goldberg is dropping in Jacob Lake and getting the hell out of there, apparently!

John Schilling posted that he's going to wait it out and drop into the canyon tomorrow. It is amazing how fast the weather can turn up there this time of year.

[Rooster Cogburn]

Paul may want to consider going back to the Ranch and drinking coffee.

"Snow showers likely. Some thunder is also possible. Cloudy, with a high near 42. Windy, with a southwest wind around 31 mph, with gusts as high as 49 mph."

[mikepro]

Crazy to hear about the weather. North Rim was 25 degrees yesterday morning, so I would imagine it would be even colder in that area with the weather moving in?

I was really surprised at how many people I ran into that new about the "race" and the amount of encouragement from people while walking through the ditch. Mike & Mike must have prep talked every person on that trail ahead of me. because by theBtime I got to them, it seemed most people knew why I was there. Even had a small group of people cheering as I went through Phantom Ranch.

Solid ride Jason!  Nicely done. Was thinking of you and hoped to stick around Stateline CG to see you finish.  If we prepped anyone in the ditch, it was by default only cuz it was a Sat and there were tons of peeps in the canyon that day, and I felt like I was answering q's every 5mins. Crazy.

[jzskoorb]

 Windy, with a southwest wind around 31 mph, with gusts as high as 49 mph.
[/quote]
I think that's how hard it was blowing trying to make into the Kentucky Camp on Day 1.

Good to see Brett made it the North Rim. Last time I saw him was up on Oracle Ridge laying next to the trail with a tummy ache. Good thing his wife packed some pepto in his FA kit. Looks Riley is right on his 6.

Go Brett and Riley!

[mtbcast]

‪#‎AZT16‬ - John Schilling called in from South Rim!

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/azt16/

[ECEGatorTuro]

John is about to drop into the big ditch! You're almost there buddy!! Enjoy the views.

[Woodland]

Anyone ever spend a night in the handicap accessible porta-potty at the Gabe Zimmerman trailhead? I did 

And it got me out of that wind event on the first night of the race - which was a godsend. My kids still ask me how I slept in a toilet...they just don't get it!

[Yogi the Barry]

Grabbed an orphaned Dale's Pale Ale water bottle just north of KY camp on the first day. I confess that I sampled about half the full contents and was shocked it wasn't Dale's Pale Ale!  
I sacrificed only one item to the course - a banana going up Redington, while stopping a half-dozen times to try and get a decent photo of the top blooming crown of a saguaro.
Only other items that I acquired along the way, a half-dozen cactus spines embedded in my body, have mostly festered out.

[mtbcast]

#‎AZT16‬ - Rod Dagneau called in with some thoughts on his finish!

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/azt16/

[Woodland]

Anybody know what kind of bird it is that I saw at night up on Oracle Ridge? Others must have seen them. They would sit motionless until the last minute, and then fly off a little ways down the trail and land, and then sit there until I practically ran them over, and then fly off again...jet black eyes, and very similar coloring to the rocks.

[Rooster Cogburn]

Nightjars.
https://www.desertmuseum.org/books/nhsd_nightjars.php