Desert Solstice: AR and WR!!!

Mile three of 100…”I’m actually here. I’m at the Desert Solstice taking a swing at the North American 100 mile record.” I remember this thought passing through my mind during the early stages of the race. Everything seemed somewhat surreal after my shaky start to 2013: a last-minute race change to the Ice Age 50 Mile in the spring left me just outside of qualifying for Western States 100, and my summer ended with a DQ at mile 93 of the Burning River 100 after missing an aid station. This all left me wondering where I should go with the remainder of 2013. I knew I would be returning to the Tussey Mountainback 50 Mile, but I had completely intended on calling it a year if Tussey went badly. Fortunately, a second place finish at Tussey left me feeling confident, and a quick recovery left me wanting more. A last-minute sign-up for the Chicago Lakefront 50 Mile put me on the start line of the pancake flat, four-out-and-back-style, paved course less than two weeks later. Exceeding my own expectations with a 5 hr, 12 min, 36 sec performance at the Lakefront 50 Mile rekindled my early 2013 aspirations of a 100 mile track race in Phoenix. Still not entirely sure if this was a wise move, I hesitated for a week. Ironically, Nick Coury of Aravaipa Running contacted me, offering me a spot at the Desert Solstice Track Meet. This was enough convincing for me.

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