AZTR - 300 and 750 Race Discussion Thread - 2015

[mtbcast]

Arizona Trail Race ’15 – John Fairbairn called in from Tusayan!

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

[geekonabike]

Oh Man Tanner. That kind of puts our goals in perspective. I once told a reporter 'You can't win the race if you finish in the ER' so I'm sure the morgue wouldn't work either. Lets take Tanners hard earned lesson to heart & in the words of sarge on Hill St Blues 'let's be careful out there'.

[Cas]

Hey all. It's Cas (Cassi) aka Red Lantern lol

I had no clue this discussion was going on or rather forgot about this forum until my friend, Wendi, mentioned it tonight. I would have tried to update on here too and what's this mtbpodcast thing? You call in? I'll have to check that out for next time

Thanks so much for the cheering me on. Haha I like the term red lantern. I got a bit sick from days 3-5...you can kind of see on my tracker didn't get too far those days but my goal was to just finish and by god, that's what I was gonna do. Spent way too much $ on gear not to ahahaha. Felt better after that 5th day and pushed on in. Sooo hot that last push in on Gila and PP. Never done something like this/been bikepacking alone. Super green at this. This was crazy hard in all aspects, but what a life changing, humbling experience. I'm so in awe of all those who can do this in under 4 days WOW, and those pushing on for 750 miles crazy. I hope I can someday. It was a bucket list item that has now sparked new bucket list items including to improve my time by a couple days next year. Guess I'm addicted now.

A verbose blog, or rather novel it's turning out to be, to be posted soon.

Thanks so much Scott for hosting these events. Sorry didn't get to chat w/you much. Someday. Chatted w/Ezster. Very nice too meet her. Thank so much to John Shilling and my Mom for meeting me at the trailhead for my finish! That Gatorade and pizza you gave me, John, was heaven. Oh also a 750 rider, John, I think too was there? Meant a lot for the cheering. I could see the dang lights about 1.5 miles out, knew I was close, but talk about the longest last 1.5 miles ever. I'd see the lights then I didn't, curve around, even go backwards somewhat, then back around a ridge, see the lights again, rinse and repeat. I mean can't we just get a straight, preferably downhill, line from A to B for for one dang mile at the finish? geesh That's all I ask. ha jk.

Good luck to those still pushing on in the 750. You can do it! Congrats to everyone that finished!

-Cas

[Adam Alphabet]

Speedy recovery Tanner and congrats on your tremendous effort. Even more commendable though was your composure and understanding of yourself to know when it was time to let your ego take a back seat to self preservation. I won't speak for all but I think at times it can be easy to downplay or simply forget the inherent risks of mountain biking by oneself in remote environments. On occasion though unfortunate things happen and we can all learn and be reminded from an experience such as yours. You did the right thing when it mattered most, Good for you and thank you for sharing in such detail.

[Cas]

Just read Tanner's reply and incident. Holy crap! Glad you're ok. Get well soon!

[mountainjah]

I won't speak for all but I think at times it can be easy to downplay or simply forget the inherent risks of mountain biking by oneself in remote environments.

Wise words Addy Marx. Not much to add here except YOU ALL FUCKING ROCK!

Solid field of racers this year. Smart kids. Many good looking.

I'm in awe of everyone's efforts- the athleticism and perseverance I witnessed out there continues to move me.
I honor and appreciate all of you for being so amazingly inspirational.

I wish my brain would un-frazzle quicker after these races. Thanks to the bp.net community for their contributions to the BPM race report:
http://bikepackersmagazine.com/2015-arizona-trail-race-2/
Also thanks to cut and paste and the Topofusion server-without you, we'd have nothing.
Some visionary folks in this lot.

 Scott, Eszter, J-Schill, Joe Polk, the bike shops, ShuttleSteve, Mr. Dumont, Chrissy et al, your efforts related to this year's throw down are appreciated.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! 

This Arizona thing is pretty cool. I can't wait for the next one. Bless Up.

http://mountainjah.blogspot.com/2015/04/thank-you-sir-may-i-have-another-2015.html

[mtbcast]

Episode April 18, 2015 – A quick true up of the call-ins for the Arizona Trail Race ‘15 up to April 17th!

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

[mtbcast]

Arizona Trail Race ’15 – John Fairbairn called in after taking some down time in Tusayan. He’s getting read to head out for the canyon!

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

[JosiahM]

All,
it took me a week to get this written up between naps, but here's my trail write up.
http://josiahmorgan.blogspot.com/2015/04/josiahs-arizona-trail-journey.html

Tanner,
It was great meeting you out there.
Don't let the injuries get you down.  Sometimes it's good to have something force us to reflect on what really matters in our lives.
Get well soon so we can cheer you on next year!

[Rorr]

Hey Josiah great account loved riding with you, Robert

[JosiahM]

Hey Josiah great account loved riding with you, Robert

Likewise, Robert.  I was stoked to see you left flagstaff so early after you were talking like you were going to waste half a day there shopping.
I'm really scratching my head trying to figure out how I didn't see you on the trail though because it looks like you left flag before I did.

[Rorr]

Back in Clark Colorado thinking fondly about Arizona. LOL

[swami29]

Congrats to Ron Thomson. An epic ride and a new personal best time for the 750.  Very inspirational.

[mtbcast]

Arizona Trail Race ’15 – John Fairbairn called in from Jacob Lake with a triple!

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

[tanman1337]

Hey Mike,

Just wanted to let you know that my bags held up amazingly! They were built by Greg Wheelwright out of Boulder, Colorado. You can get in contact with him on here, he does great work! His username on bikepacking.net is 12wheels. Hope that helps!

-Tanner

[blurltd]

Congrats to John Fairbairn for finishing! Good work man!

[schillingsworth]

Way to go John!! You did it!! Payback complete. Thanks for all the call-ins, it was great to hear your trail accounts practically as they happened.

Ron, I'm really looking forward to your final thoughts, that was one crazy ride you put together!! Congrats on besting last year's time by a longshot.

[schillingsworth]

Go Rich GO!!!

I had a planned hike up north this past weekend, barely missing John Fairbairn as I dropped down the S.Kaibab trail a few hours beforehand. I was getting ready to leave for home on Sunday morning when I noticed Rich getting close to the south rim. He knocked out the short AZT section from Tusayan to the S.Kaibab TH that morning so he wouldn't have to do it Monday after the post office opened. We chatted for a bit on the rim before I made my way back down to the land of the cacti. It was great meeting him and I'm glad to see his dot moving northbound towards Jacob Lake.


May I order a large pizza for delivery? Stateline Campground in a few days, please.

[osborne.s.99]

John;

Great pics as always.  It seems like a lifetime since I gave Rich a ride to the border.  Him and his family are great folks. I'm sure they are ready for this to be over also.  It had to be especially tough to deal with the smoke, the extremely cold temps in Flagstaff etc, not to mention being dogged tired. Everyone has done an outstanding job!

[schillingsworth]

Congrats Rich on getting it done!! Way to finish strong too, what an incredible journey you had. Rest up & I hope the recovery doesn't take too long!