Arizona Trail Race 2014 in progress

[Scatman]

Does anyone know if the wild fires around Flagstaff are going to cause racers any issues? Will they have to re-route?

[ScottM]

Earlier in the thread I posted about detouring around the Fischer Fire.  That's the only one I'm aware of, and everyone has successfully avoided the closure area.

[ImAFred]

Looks like Jill has made the rim

[B_Bock]

Alright Mark! Keep pushing.

[Scatman]

Thanks Scott, much appreciated for the update and thanks for looking into the tracking issue.  You do an amazing job on here!

[Rooster Cogburn]

Arno, one of the nicest guys on two wheels and pedals, is within striking distance of the Jacob Lake store.  Will he make it before closing?  Two Blue Bunny ice cream sandwiches and four homemade peanut butter cookies says he will.

[mtbcast]

AZT14: Mike Prochaska called in with his finish call!
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/azt14/

[mtbcast]

AZT14: AZT14 – Day 9 True Up!
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/podcasts/

[mikepro]

Congrats Mike! Great ride.

Thanks Lynda! Although one of the things I learned from finishing the 750 is that "ride" is a relative term.

[mikepro]

... flushing those red-glowing-eyed birds off the trail [what are they?], stopping [after seeing hundreds during three evening rides] to finally inspect the source of the blue-green blinking lights [the Spiders from Mars?]...

Barry (and anyone else curious to know)-
The birds with red glowing eyes (some had Amber-orange for me) are called Night Swifts. So told to me by fellow 750 racer and Tucson native, Elliot D.  I was fascinated by these birds that came out in the dark and sat in the middle of the trail. The different color spider eyes were wild, too.

[mikepro]

Arno has finished!  Way to go, you German single-speed stud! 

[Yogi the Barry]

MikePro - Yes, your description of the eye color is probably more accurate. Eyes did have a bit of orange in them. Definitely a unique color. To me [basically knowing very little about birds] birds looked like a cross between an owl and a ptarmigan. I searched Wiki for night swift, but came up zero. I can only imagine what happens to these birds after we blind them and cause them to flush. They take off and fly blind for a while, unable to see, navigate, avoid mid-air collisions, until their vision returns? Re: Spiders from Mars - During my final evening ride to finish the 300, I finally stopped [after seeing hundreds of these lights over three evenings], pulled out my iPhone [I promise to post a photo later] and stalked one of the spiders to document what was making that pulsing blue-green light. Weird thing about the spider is the light pulses rhythmically, like it's a beacon. It's not a light either, just a reflection off the eye(s), but why does it pulse? Body/head movement or spider rhythmic heart beat? Fun and pain distracting thing to ponder in a dazed and dead-tired state during the middle of a night ride... or HAB... or CAB...

Barry (and anyone else curious to know)-
The birds with red glowing eyes (some had Amber-orange for me) are called Night Swifts. So told to me by fellow 750 racer and Tucson native, Elliot D.  I was fascinated by these birds that came out in the dark and sat in the middle of the trail. The different color spider eyes were wild, too.

[schillingsworth]

I wonder how many times Aaron checked for his cassette while hiking the canyon. Hopefully all his parts made it through. Cool to see 3 riders finish the canyon so close to each other.

[the tortoise]

If my calculations are right (hardly ever!) won't Aaron D have the fastest time this year??

[markphx]

If my calculations are right (hardly ever!) won't Aaron D have the fastest time this year??

As of this moment, looking at his first recorded point on trackleaders, it puts his total time around 8:06:45, so I'm doubting he'll be able to beat Jay Petervary's time of 8:08:57. Still one hell of a fast run though.

[the tortoise]

Ya, my bad! I thought today was the 21st!

[markphx]

Ya, my bad! I thought today was the 21st!

He is gunning for the third fastest time on this route though which is pretty rad.

[mikepro]

Sweet!  Go Aaron D, Elliot D, Mark C and the rest!  Finish it!  Hope AD and ED are having something good to eat at Jacob Lake.  I wouldn't know ...

[Eszter]

Jacob Lake has the best cookies on route.

[schillingsworth]

Any word from Jill?? She's had a bunch of points in close proximity over the last few hours.