AZTR - 300 and 750 Race Discussion Thread - 2015

[samh]

Just a hunch, but thinkin JP should almost to the north rim, or still taking a marathon nap on the south rim.

Yeah, what gives - does the SPOT not work down in the big hole or something?  Did he start hiking last night?  (*Edit - I see Scott clarified this in the previous post - thank you *) There's no way he's been hanging out at the trailhead since 11pm unless he's planning to start hiking late morning with the assumption that all he's going to have in him physically for the whole day is just the hike section.  I've been very intrigued on this for the past 12 hours I must say!  

Subsequently curious what timing Dylan will opt for as well since he's been at it for 18 or so hours straight.  A 24 mile hike is a big deal even when you DON'T have a bike strapped to your back!  

[schillingsworth]

I have a feeling JayP is going stealth mode through the canyon, check out his track from last year:
JayP 2013 AZTR

**EDIT: I just saw JayP tracked a point near Cottonwood CG about an hour ago!!**

As for the canyon not posting points, well, I guess that depends on the SPOT unit, location of device, etc.
Check out Aaron Johnson's track through the ditch last year too:
Aaron Johnson 2013 AZTR

We'll know soon enough!!

[mtbcast]

Arizona Trail Race ’15 – Norb DeKerchove called in to say he is OUT! He needs to recover from food poisoning!
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/calls/

[samh]

I expect we're going to see JP exit the Canyon just about the same time we see Dylan enter it.  And stoked to see Aaron, Josiah, and Robert all North of Flagstaff now. 

[soride]

Sorry to hear about Norb - hope he feels better soon! Logistical question for folks who have been to the finish line - is there any basic cell/text service at the border? I'm in Phoenix and Dylan's pickup ride. Don't yet know if he'll push through or camp en route so I'm looking at all contingencies. He said his thermometer hit 16˚ last night so he's in for a toasty warm hike with a bike!

[bmattingly]

How about that Dylan Taylor?  Looks like a strong ride to canyon and an all nighter.  Wow.  I'm sure JP is solid.  Two days ago he looked in good shape and very focused.  Home stretch.  The final 25 miles is beautiful and lots of downhill.  Glad to see Denberg cruising again.  More rest and food looks like it did him well.

I was struck last night about the beautiful solitude cruising along the route at night under the stars.  I think a persons spirit goes to beautiful places when pushing to the max, alone, suffering, under a beautiful canvas on brilliant stars.  Success on events like this opens the mind to other possible adventures or achievable goals.

I think all of you 750 racers are heroic is the galliant effort it takes to complete this ride.  You all inspire me!

Keep moving forward, enjoy the adventure!!

[samh]

The suspense has been killing me, but Dylan has entered the Canyon!  And I truly thought that JP would be out by now.  That hike up Bright Angel has got to be absolutely brutal but he's had 5.5 hours to travel 6.25 miles so perhaps he's just enjoying the scenery down there.  It's probably quite nice at the bottom of the Grand Canyon at this time of year. 

[ScottM]

The suspense has been killing me, but Dylan has entered the Canyon!  And I truly thought that JP would be out by now.  That hike up Bright Angel has got to be absolutely brutal but he's had 5.5 hours to travel 6.25 miles so perhaps he's just enjoying the scenery down there.  It's probably quite nice at the bottom of the Grand Canyon at this time of year. 

I can't help but think his SPOT Trace would transmit at some point in his re-assembling of the bike, so I do expect to get a point on the rim from him.  It does seem like it's about or beyond time, though.

My own experience of hiking the canyon with a bike became a VERY slow one.  Your legs are just out of power to push up, having ridden 600+ miles to get there, and I was reduced to baby steps at times.  Having said that, others are far better hikers/runners than me, and I think JayP is one of them.  I don't know what the fastest canyon split is for the course of the race, but it's going to be *a lot* slower than it can be hiked or backpacked under normal conditions.

Dylan is killing it out there!  Soride -- there is verizon signal at Jacob Lake but I think it's pretty much nil at the actual stateline (anyone correct me if I'm wrong?).  I would not expect Dylan to finish until midday tomorrow.  It's a ~6 hour ride from the rim to the finish.

Gotta give a shout out to Alice Drobna, still out there slaying it on the women's side.  She is poised to maybe sneak under 10 days (?), taking a huge chunk out of Jill H's record.  Of course, it ain't over til it's over.

Great to see such a large field of dedicated 750ers out there this year.  We still have 19 riders on course -- only a few scratches so far!

[samh]

...I do expect to get a point on the rim from him.  It does seem like it's about or beyond time, though.

Thanks for your thoughts on that, Scott. 

[schillingsworth]

And there he goes!! JayP is cruising northbound on AZ67!!

How about Josiah!! The OK kid is killing it right now.

[raybum]

yep, mighty impressive run by flatlander boy Josiah.  I guess doing all those roadie miles against the wind came in handy.  He's moved into 3rd place; hopefully he can keep the momentum.

[samh]

Looks like we'll have a winner in the very near future.

[swami29]

I know the canyon nearly finished us last year. I echo Scotts analysis. Actually took us  5 nights to get thru that  mess. Stayed on the trail the whole way. Next time I`m doing it Brads way N to S; get that part over with early! Super human Jay P and the  pack in the canyon. Walk on

[Shirey]

Just woke up and watched Jay P's dot cross the finish. Huge congrats on the victory.

Looks like Dylan has made the North Rim, but I'm amazed and impressed with the finishing  kick that Josiah is putting down. Doesn't look like he has slept since Flagstaff and only spent about an hour disassembling his bike and resting before charging right down into the Canyon.

Rooting hard for a big finish! Keep charging! 

[mtbcast]

Episode April 7, 2015 – We true up your calls from the Arizona Trail Race ‘15 as we wish speedy recoveries for Tanner Morgan and Norb DeKerchove and give huge congrats to Jay Petervary for his 750mi finish!
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/podcasts/

[Adam Alphabet]

Hey guys,

I finally got home after spending the rest of the week relaxing and recovering in Chandler after the 300. What an amazing event. It's been a long time dream/goal of mine to participate in one of the major bikepacking races and this far exceeded my expectations.
The route was incredible, I got to meet and spend time with amazing people and I got to challenge myself in a way that I have wanted to for a very long time.

I made a rule about not taking pictures on the route as I knew it could become a huge time suck. But I had to snap this one....
This was sunrise on Oracle at the beginning of a 30hour push to the finish.

And I've always wanted one of these trail head finishing pics.....
My friend was there to pick me up at the end of it all with a cooler full of water and gatorade.

Huge thanks to all the people I got to ride with and meet along the way and a huge thanks to Scott and Eszter.
Can't wait until next year, I'm bringing 2 GPS's!!

Adam.

[schillingsworth]

A huge Congrats to JayP for reaching Utah first!! Another steady, fast, strong ride we've all come to expect from you, simply awesome!! I'll be curious to hear how this year compared to last year's trek.

Meanwhile, the #2 slot is tightening up. Josiah is making an incredible push, but Dylan is resting at the North Rim. Amazing efforts by both.

**EDIT: Dylan's SPOT just popped up in Jacob Lake!! Only 30 miles of sweet trail left!!

Adam, good to meet you at Scott's & run into you on route - I should've snapped a pic of you before you headed up Redington rd!! Congrats on a strong finish!!

[lotomojo]

Whoa! Looks like Dylan wasn't resting on the north rim after all. SPOT drama.

[mtbcast]

Arizona Trail Race ’15 – John Fairbairn called in earlier today from Payson! And Mark Caminiti called in from Flagstaff!
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/calls/

[schillingsworth]

I see a bouncing JM dot!! Holy moly Josiah, you did it!! Congrats man, I'm sure Mark brought you plenty of goodies for the finish. Can't wait to hear about it.