Arizona Trail Race 2014 in progress

[ScottM]

As promised, some images of this year's field.





Sam Newbury had an innovative way to keep the sun away.  Aaron Denberg on the right.





JayP, full of stoke.





Eliot Dumont, going with the purist approach, carrying his poles and shoes for the canyon carry.  





Aaron Johnson, in the mix for the full AZT.





Mike P. also lining up for the 750.





Jill H at Parker Lake.  Having experienced stomach shutdown and complete lack of energy in the Canelos, I can sympathize.





Mark Caminiti, in for his 4th year, posing with Tanman1337.





Caroline Soong is at the front of the 750 field for the ladies.  Go Caroline!





Sam Newbury, pushing up the Molino trail towards Prison Camp, all smiles.





Tony Diede and Brian Brothers also practicing their hike-a-bike.





Brian was heard to utter, "next time I'll bring a suspension fork."  He was determined to wrap up a 300 finish on the fatty, though.  Just a minor sidewall slice so far.





El Freako from Rico (Jeff Hemperly) was full of energy.  If he used half the energy he spent talking to us pedaling, he'd be flying.  Oh wait, he was flying, catching a number of riders on the Lemmon road grind.  Go Freako!





The Koko team (Dan Holmes in back) pushing on up Frog Mountain (Lemmon).





Mike B was looking good, moving fast.





He explains that his tires were disintegrating, forcing a detour into Tucson for a new one.

He motored up Lemmon, passing just about everyone that was even near the mountain.  He's on into Oracle now!





Josh Van Jura, asking if Oracle Ridge was really 3000' of walking downhill.  I told him many sections are likely more rideable, or at least more confidence inspiring with a rigid fork.





Aaron Johnson in the 750, saying he enjoyed the Molino hike-a-bike for the 'break' from riding demanding trail.





Eliot Dumont, looking good, and hoping to push on to Oracle.





Eliot pedals off to start the Molino hike-a-bike.





Paul Spencer, still smiling!

[cjdunn]

It's easy to say from here/now but I really wish I could be there.  Maybe next year.

[schillingsworth]

Great pictures Scott!!

Here's a quick update from our day out on the Boulders/Ripsey segments (Freeman rd to Kelvin). Dropped 20 gallons of water at Freeman rd Sat. morning, someone else dropped another 30 there by the time we returned!! So, there's about 65 gallons of water @Freeman rd.!! There's also another 20 or so at the Kelvin cache. Should be plenty for all users.

We were getting set to head back to the car on Boulders when Kurt came rippin' through!! It was about 7:15p and he proclaimed the 'trail is fast this year!!' He was barely breaking a sweat, looking relaxed per Kurt standards. He thought he could finish in 9 hours from the Ripsey Ranch area. He also mentioned he saw 3 Gila Monsters on Friday, cool stuff.

Later I ran into Neil, spirits still high, but feeling the lack of sleep kicking in. He was determined to keep pushing, breaking out all the tricks to stave off the sleep monster!!

Met up with Aaron at the Freeman cache, he thought I was a photographer, nah, just saying 'hey'. He said he felt a bit out-of-it, but otherwise ok. Hoping to push through to the finish.

Sorry, no pics, I would've snapped a few if it was daylight.

As of 1a.m. Kurt's about 7 miles from making the turn away from the Gila (21 miles to the finish from there), Neil may be taking a siesta at the Kelvin trailhead, Aaron is closing in, only a mile away.....

[tanman1337]

I had to wake up early to see this finish! Way to go Kurt! I cannot believe it... Sub two days...I think this one will stand for a very very long time

[cjdunn]

If my addition is right when I add Kurt's moving time and stopped time he finished in 44:44.  That's a nice number.

[mtbcast]

AZT14: Mark Caminiti called in late last night. Looks like he was at the start of Redington Road.
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/azt14/

[mb]

Good to see Jill H on the move again this morning. She should make Kentucky Camp within an hour.
Go everyone!!!
We love listening to the MTBCasts, so hope some more start coming through.

[yz129]

awesome time for kurt,way to crush it. guess the new salsa is really THAT GOOD!!!!!

[ScottM]

When I started the AZT300 nine years ago, I never, ever imagined that the course could be run in less than 48 hours. To be honest, I wasn't even sure it could be successfully raced at all! Huge congratulations to Kurt Refsnider for a mind blowing ride: ~45 hours on course and in one push.

We have a race for 2nd and 3rd going.  Neil has more recent points, but if you check the race flow chart, Aaron was ahead of Neil at last report.  They are both close to each other, most likely.  No sub-48 300 for them, but they still have a shot at breaking the old course record.

It's great to see Jill H moving again after her stomach woes.  Perseverance!

We have Dan Hensley as a yellow dot now, starting his ITT this morning from Parker Lake.

Also be sure to head up north and check in on Brad Mattingly, ITT'ing the 750 southbound.  He finished what is (IMO) the hardest part of the 750 -- the canyon crossing, and is making his way to Flagstaff now.

Day 2 had many change-ups of ordering in the main pack.  I think Day 1's heat took its toll on some more than others, and some were able to recover from it and fire back up the diesel engine.

Day 3 is shaping up to be full on sunny, but seasonable (reasonable?!) temperatures.  After 2 days on the AZT, at the effort level these riders are pushing, the temps feel +5 or +10 degrees warmer than reality, so regardless it's going to feel HOT out there.  Especially as the main pack moves out into the last 100 miles towards the Gila this afternoon.

I love this race and this trail!

[29singlespeed]

  mindblowing performances out there with the crazy early season heat these guys endured. Top 3 just crushing it.

[cjdunn]

I'm guessing Aaron's Spot quit?

[boatmana]

Is there a Kelvin water cache?

[schillingsworth]

Is there a Kelvin water cache?

Yes, metal box just as you roll into the trailhead. There were 20 gallons as of y'day afternoon. Good luck out there!!

[Couloirman]

Great job everyone! wish I couldve been there this year.

[ScottM]

Right, the Kelvin cache box is only a few miles before the route goes through Kelvin, so it's somewhat redundant given that you can get water in Kelvin.  But if you're burning for a 48 hour finish, every minute counts!   I'm sure our leaders filled up there.

Just heard that Aaron Gulley came in at 48 hours on the nose, suffering 3 flats on the final Gila climb. YEAH! Super solid.  Can't believe his luck with flats!

Neil is in, about an hour and a half after Gulley.  Superb riding by all three of them.

[mtbcast]

#AZT14: Aaron Johnson called in from Oracle.
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/azt14/

[ScottM]

It's great to hear from some racers on the phone, thanks Joe!  I love how excited Alexis is about the geology she is seeing out there.

Hope more people call in.  Especially 750 riders, give MTBcast a call!

[mtbcast]

It's great to hear from some racers on the phone, thanks Joe!  I love how excited Alexis is about the geology she is seeing out there.

Hope more people call in.  Especially 750 riders, give MTBcast a call!

Sounds like she's taking it all in as she goes. Good stuff!

[Eszter]

That's what riding with Alexis is like all the time. It's awesome!

[mtbcast]

#AZT14: Justin Nelson called in from Summer Haven. Jeff Palmer is with him. http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/azt14/

Justin can be tracked here: https://share.delorme.com/JustinNelson