AZTR 2013 Discussion Thread

[ScottM]

Alright, time to close the planning thread and open the race discussion / following thread.

Start: Friday, April 19th, 6:30 for the 750, 9:00 for the 300.
Race info: http://topofusion.com/azt/race.php
Tracker: http://trackleaders.com/aztr13
Call ins: http://mtbcast.com
Race Preview: http://halfpastdone.com/2013/04/17/arizona-trail-race-begins-friday/

Weather: Deceptively cool today and tonight.  Strong warming trend on tap, with 90* predicted in Tucson on Sunday.  The first two days should be beautiful, then it'll be hot.

The field: We have ~50 SPOTs in play.  Several people are sharing SPOTs, and I know of a couple that will not be carrying a tracker.  See the "race preview" link for a few thoughts on some favorites.

I will be at the start and will have photos to post tomorrow afternoon, and hopefully a little more commentary.  Then I'll be suiting up for my own ITT of the 750 the following day.

Discuss!

Finishers list:

Aaron Gulley - 2:03:59
Pete Basinger - 2:12:18
Eszter Horanyi - 2:13:15
Aaron Boatman - 2:17:31
Dave Wilson - 2:21:23
Neil Beltchenko - 2:21:49
Ross Cairns - 2:22:08
Max Morris - 3:02:20
Luke Jay - 3:03:23
Aaron Denberg - 3:06:13
Cjell Money - 3:07:17
Blake Bockius - 3:09:38
Forest Baker - 3:16:24
Eric Foster - 3:16:51
Holt Harlan - 3:17:32
Mark Allen - 3:17:43
Scott Jones - 4:00:05
John Schilling - 4:01:56
Sharon Sell / Michael Braun - 4:05:00
Nancy Gray / Jeff Ziemski - 4:05:15

DNF: Fred Wilkinson, Taylor Lideen, Jon Petit, Zach Keller, Talon Powers.

[wookieone]

To all the Brave Folks heading out for the AZT 300 and 750 tomorrow, be smart, be strong, have faith in your ability to do anything you try hard enough to do. Enjoy the sunrises, the sunsets, the cactus, the flowers, the birds. Ride the trail with your heart and soul and not just your bike. Forget about everything you are leaving behind, live in the moment, do it for no one else, amaze yourself with what you can do.

Peace and love, Jefe

[mtbcast]

Good luck to everyone who's riding tomorrow! Feel free to call in to MTBCast. Scott has some stickers with the call in number. Given that the 300 is shorter, calls along the way might not be as feasible but feel free to call your finish and give shout outs!

Programming note, the calls will hit a separate feed and I will try to do a roll-up on the iTunes feed. You can see the page I setup on MTBCast here. You can get calls via a RSS feed here on the page.

Though I will be out of town I will try to get audio posted as timely as feasible. Be safe!

[joeydurango]

Best wishes everyone!  Wish I were starting with you.  Enjoy the ride!

[tanman1337]

Same Here! Have a blast!

[shey]

To all the brave starters, enjoy the ride and be safe.  Huge shout out to my Jason Murrell, have a great journey my friend, we will be watching. 

Shey Lindner

[tanman1337]

Looks like a ton of people didn't want to wait for the mass start?

[borderlander]

It's a beautiful morning in Patagonia.  At 1030 it's 68 degrees with no wind to speak of.  Most cyclists should catch the afternoon breeze as a tailwind pushing them from Patagonia to Sonoita.

[mikepro]

Looks like a ton of people didn't want to wait for the mass start?

Yeah, it looks quite strung out for supposedly only 1hr 20mins into the ride.  It's a little confusing with the mix of 750 and 300 racers, but I'm guessing the 750 riders came through Parker Lake before the scheduled 300 mass start at 9.30a, and that got the 300 racers all antsy?  Or maybe, there are enough 300 riders this year that they agreed on the ground at the start to go in waves?

[mikepro]

Hall ass people!

[AZTtripper]

Just back from the border and Parker Canyon. It was a cold and windy start to the 750. I somehow managed to forget my camera, guess I really need a new better one.

15 riders left the border right at 6:30 most were in and out of PC before 8:00. We counted about 35 riders for the mass start of the 300 right at 9.

I know the Sun and Spoke guys got pics at the start of the 750. Hopefully they can get some posted up at some point.

[mikepro]

It was a cold and windy start to the 750.

Yeah, would be nice to have images.  What's "cold" mean for down there?

[AZTtripper]

Yeah, would be nice to have images.  What's "cold" mean for down there?

Only in the mid 40's would be my guess it was more the wind this morning.

I shot an email to the Sun and Spoke guys so hopefully something will come from them.

[tanman1337]

Nice. Looks like there is going to be a ton of people pushing past K camp today

[AZTtripper]

Nice. Looks like there is going to be a ton of people pushing past K camp today

Yep, and lots of folks wishing you the best heal up Tanner looking to see out there soon.

[tanman1337]

Thanks Tim. I'm so bummed I'm not out there right now. I just started walking a few days ago though and went on a 20 mile bike ride today. I'll be back in no time. I'm shooting for Sean Allen's 400 mile race I think it is called the CSTR on August 31st. Thanks for the nice thoughts though!

[AZTtripper]

That's great news Tanner, a friend of mine broke his leg just about 5 weeks ago, glad to hear things are coming along.

Now back the the race!

[ScottM]

AG with a big lead.  He's hungry for a fast time and a completion on this course.

I have a bunch of photos, but only posted on Facebook right now.  I will try to get them in a gallery here later tonight.

So awesome to meet so many bikepackers and see so many people rolling down the Canelo ridges, set for a big adventure on the AZT.

Rhino and Judd left before the 9am start.  As did Jeff and Nancy.  Taylor Lideen, Jon Petit and Zach Keller left ~45 min late, riding together under Jon's SPOT dot.

Otherwise, the Cyan dots are people in the 750, most of which rolled through the start before 8, as Tim said.

Max is leading the 750 and the triple crown -- setting a pretty fast pace.  I expect to see him catch some solid Z's tonight, while other riders behind him may try to go with less.

Special shout to my girl Ez -- she is moving up the ranks of the boys already.  This is going to be an exciting one to watch.  The only thing better than stalking blue/pink dots is *being* a dot.  So I think I'll do that tomorrow...

[tanman1337]

Haha well put. Good luck

[mb]

I'm amazed how many have pushed well past K Camp. Go Ez!  Looking forward to see you dot show tomorrow morning Scott.