2017 AZTR300/750 Race Discussion Thread

[dream4est]

Evan S. (Evdog) just finished his ITT of the 300. Cheers!! Nailed it on your first try.

[mtbcast]

#AZT17 - Overnight: El Freako Jeff Hemperley called in from Fitz Stop!

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/azt17/

[mtbcast]

#AZT17 - Derrick Perrin called in leaving Tucson!

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/azt17/

[mtbcast]

#AZT17 - Justin Smith called in from Jacob’s Crossing! And Evan Sollberger called in from Picket Post with his ITT finish call!

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/azt17/

[schillingsworth]

Congrats to Jeff Z for wrapping up the 300 portion of the 750!!

I have a few shots from Picketpost y'day of 750 riders coming through, I'll post them up when I get home. It was great to see Alexis & Curtis roll in. Such a cool sight watching their lights dance across the mountain over the final mile. The grunt every rider makes about 30 feet from the end, trying to get over that last step-up is rather amusing!! The AZT never wants to let go...ever.

[dream4est]

A few thoughts on the race:

1. The trail is improved. 300 course seems faster. There were a few ? trail builds that had me shaking me head (new switchbacks past Oracle were a joke for example). But overall the work that the ATA is doing is improving the route. The canelos flowed so well for me i had a record run through there (6:38 to patagonia but maybe quicker). It was obvious the first half had major improvement as I barely hiked compared to my five previous attempts. I know I was faster than before, but the trail is quicker too it seems. I attempted a backwards 300 starting 4/2 (was thinking yoyo) and although I didnt do as well as I did at my 300 ITT my avg moving speed was super high (6.0) and the trail flowed well until Oracle Ridge.

2. This was my first ITT since 2008 CTR. Back then I was just off an almost finish of the 2007 CTR and I wanted to just make it without the pressure of the race. I missed a short section but got a 9d15hr run to Durango and it gave me the confidence to go back and finish the race, which I did in 2009 and then five more times. This time it was similar. I had not raced since August 2015 after completing two triple crowns. I was not sure I even had the ability to finish a 300. My speed was up but motivation was low. I left around noon on Thursday with no expectations at all really. I dont know how to explain it really but I had a day one I will never forget. I was strong all day, rode till 330, slept 2 hrs and made La Sevilla spigot in 24 hrs. I think the ITT let me relax and really focus on myself.

3. The people of AZ are great. I got a hitch from Ty (2013 TD finisher Tucson resident) from Oracle to Globe after bailing on the yoyo attempt. And I was in a low state in my 300 ITT when I ran into Max Morris. I had been going hard for a 1.25 days to stay ahead of Pete Basinger when he showed up behind me out of nowhere after Oracle Ridge. I rode deep into the night to Freeman. By the time Pete caught me I knew I had nothing left at all at the overlook in Gila canyons. I was gonna have a sweet new personal best, but I couldnt even walk and the 2nd to final descent I lost all hand/eye coordination. Then I see Max coming up fast his headlights blazing. He had no spot. I had seen him once before in hills after Oracle (headlamp behind me) but didnt know it was him until Pete caught me and was worried about Max knowing he has amazing speed and power. I yelled out "Is that you Max?" and he replies super loud "Fu** Yeah!!!!". He was so fired up I was instantly happy again. We talked as he blew me away real quick and I bam I was able to crawl down the final hill for a my best bikepack finish ever. And of course Scott and Eszter. I had never met her, but they just made me feel really peaceful and ready to ride at the start.

4. The other ITT people. There were a few others out there I ran into who were great to be around. Rhino, Sol and Martin were all having a good time out there like me.


Thanks to everyone who helped me out. Evan saved the day for me I got to the start without trouble thanks man.

Mark Caminiti

[Gdewey]

Ran into Jason Shearer at First Water trailhead as he was exiting the Jacobs Crosscut trail at base of Superstition Mtn at 12:04. Was not looking forward to a long stretch of pavement.



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[schillingsworth]

Way to go Mark!! Sorry I didn't get to see you out on the trail.

Looks like we have the first taker of the dirt bypass route of Hewitt Station rd. I hope she gets through ok, there are tons of spider 2-track offshoots out there. I left a stack of maps at Picketpost showing the route change, but they aren't super detailed.

[Gdewey]

Caught up with Jeff Hemperley at Canyon Lake this morning at 10:20 am with his one speed speedster.


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[Gdewey]

Passed by Mike Debernardo on Apache Trail just north of First Water trailhead at 11:23



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[mtbcast]

#AZT17 - Joe Paluch called in with his finish call!
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/azt17/

[Gdewey]

Dan Holmes came zooming by at Canyon Lake at 10:27am hot on the trail of Jeff Hemperley.  He had more gears than Jeff so I would guess it didn't take long to catch him in the mtns.


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[aarond]

Nice work dream4est!  Even if the trail is better, it seems like people are moving quite a bit slower than in previous years, so it must be a tough year, at least weather wise.  Wind gusts up to 40mph on tap for Mormon lake on thurs....good job to all the finishers, and to all those still on course, keep up the good work.  The eye in the sky is watching so we know when you are slacking!

[mtbcast]

#AZT17 - Garrett Alexander called in from Superior to say he's stopping at the 300!

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/azt17/

[mtbcast]

#AZT17 - Mike DeBernardo called in from the Butcher Hook!

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/azt17/

[mtbcast]

#AZT17 - Justin Smith called in from near Oxbow Estates headed to Payson!

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/azt17/

[hanyo66]

Looks like Justin Smith is closing in on Rhino!

[Ahaughey]

Well, AZTR300 number two under my belt.  I thought it would be easier second time around, but this trail has a way of giving you a swift kick in the gonads all along the way and not least of which in the last 20 miles.  Really enjoyed some sections and felt strong most of the race.  Canelos were harsh due to heat.  Oracle ridge is just one swift kick after another and i think I wore out my upper body lifting the bike.  Felt like a bit of a pincushion with three different cactus incidents.  After a really good Gila river run (about 4 hours), I hit the wall going over to PP.  Took about 3 hours longer than it should have.  No matter, I didn't ride off a cliff and rolled into PP at 5:45am with about a 5 hour improvement over last year.  Ran into Adam M there who I had been leapfrogging throughout the race.  He had a super strong finish.  Congratulations Adam!  Saw Mark C there as well an sounds like he had a really good ITT.  Unfortunately my buddy Todd D had to scratch due to lung issues.  Considering the quantity of scratches, I feel fortunate.

Much thanks to Scott M and the ATA volunteers.  This is such a unique event.  Not sure if I'll do it again (memory is too fresh), but it has been a good ride. Good job to all those done and good luck to those still going.

[mikepro]

Looks like Justin Smith is closing in on Rhino!

And now enjoying a lovely evening climbing CrackerJack road North of Payson approaching midnight ... at 2mph!  It's a steep one!  Miles don't come easy btwn Payson and Pine.

[Galexander]

With arm continuing to bother me looks like I'm out of the 750. Now I need to figure out how I'm getting home. I'm in superior. Anybody heading towards Moab,UT Durango or carbondale, CO?