Elephant Mountain: Run to the shade

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I’m at a lost. My body slowly recovering from the beat down received during the Aravaipa Running Elephant Mountain Trail Run yesterday.

The valley of the sun has been shattering heat records this winter, dating back to the first historical data on file. In short, it has been a hot winter.

However, you didn’t come here to read about the heat in the valley. You’re here to read about another well-organized Aravaipa Running event. Right!? Well, it was!

Staged starts of 30 minute increments between the 50, 35, 22, and 12 Kilometer runs beginning at the rise of the sun over the distant mountains at 7:00am. Starting out the shoot from the pavilion near the nature center within Cave Creek Regional Park, runners get a quick synopsis of what’s to come. A lot of single track technical trails with steep challenging inclines, quick decents, and a brief jaunt in the wash.

But that first climb out of the gate on Go John Trail!!! WTF! I see you Aravaipa. I see you.
Go John trail takes you back down the mountain. QUICKLY! Just to shred those quads before you spend a “little” time in the wash. But don’t pass that aid station at mile 2 without making sure you have hydration on deck, because that sun is about to crest the mountains to your east and reintroduce you to UV radiation.

You play hop scotch in the wash until you find relief on E Bentley Mine Fire Road. As you hit your first 5K, you jump onto the Maricopa Trail (almost literally) which will take you up towards Elephant Mountain. The climb up the Maricopa Trail you’re treated to a change in the environment, the prevalence of cacti fall away and you find yourself in a grassy meadow (crazy - I know). The air is a little cooler here despite the increasing heat on the valley floor below.

35K and 50K runners will continue on up to Elephant Mountain as the 22K folks have reached their turn around at the aid station strategically placed near mile six. Warning! The desert floor is hotter than this plateau retreat you’ve found yourself, better stock up.

During my decent back to the fire road is where my feet began their protest of the kick (shoe) selection I had chosen for the day.

This is a technical route with jagged rocks throughout. The constant poking through my shoes without a rock plate or a sizable outsole had taken their toll. I found myself switching to a heel strike to provide some additional comfort to the dismay of my knees.

At mile 9 you’re back at that aid station, where you’re faced with a near vertical climb out the wash that will continue for the next 1.25 miles. This near 500’ climb attempts to destroy your mental will to continue. Not because your body or muscles can't have this BS.  NOPE! Remember that white ball in the sky? Yeah, you’re starting to overheat. So the more you exert to finish the back route of the Go John trail loop the more heat you generate. The more your body screams this is "fvck*#^9 BS!"

It is during this portion of the trail my Garmin reported a 93 degree reading.

You crest the climb and you feel relief as you’re lured into a false hope that maybe it’s all downhill from here and you can begin “paying the bills” (as I like to say) and pick up some speed. So you put in work. Hopefully not too much as there’s one final short 200’ climb hidden from view at mile 11.

Don’t forget, you’re in the desert and the cacti and pokey plants are all around on this single track course to draw blood should you not respect the environment.

In the wash of the final leg (for the 22K folks) traffic began to pick up from casual hikers that had finally decided to come out and enjoy the park. You find motivation to push despite the suffocating heat, as you see the Aravaipa Flags blow in a gentle breeze signifying the finish or turn around is near. You know you’ll find water here. You’ll find familiar faces. You’ll find the true reason you come out here and test your mind, body, and soul. Friendly faces. Nice People. With FRUIT! 

Plus there's shade from the sun!

Video will go up at the Tube soon. Be good. Do you. Strive to be the better you you know today.

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