Beating The Heat, or: How to Run a Heat Race

Nick CouryRace Report, Uncategorized

On Saturday I ran the Scottsdale Beat The Heat 11.22k, a race touted to be the “hottest race on earth”.  As a tribute to the record-setting 122 degree record Phoenix heat on June 26, 1990, the race date is chosen to coincide with the corresponding weekend in 2013.  With a prize purse of over $8500 for the top 10 finishers, the field arrives hot and ready.  Standing at the start line with James Bonnett, we feel out of place among the ranks of Andrew Lemoncello (2008 Olympian, 27:57 10k), Nahom Mesfin (2008 Olympian, 13:29 5k), Fernando Cabada (2:11:53 Marathon), and many others. I am under no illusion I will place in the top 10.  When the …

Insomniac Night Series Welcomes Nathan Performance Gear

Nick CouryPress Release

Nathan Performance Gear is partnering with Aravaipa Running to provide hydration solutions and night running gear for the remainder of the Insomniac Night Trail Running series.  Nathan will supply over 80 pieces of gear to Vertigo, Hypnosis, and the Javelina Jangover to be awarded to the winners of each race and given out as raffle prizes.  This year’s lineup of Nathan gear focuses on night visibility including reflective gear, LED lights, and reflective accents to their hydration paks, belts, and handhelds.  These items can be critical safety items to be seen by motorists, bicyclists, and other people. What Nathan Products are specialized for night running? LightSpur – A lightweight, waterproof LED spur that attaches to the heel …

avalanche chute

Kendall Mountain Avalanche Chute

Jamil CouryUltra Thoughts

Wednesday morning I climbed to the summit of Kendall Mountain, a peak that rises to 13,066 feet, towering directly over the small mountain town of Silverton, Colorado. When sitting in most homes and shops in town, this mountain fills most of the entire view looking out the window. When looking at Kendall you can’t help but notice the unique “Y” shaped avalanche chute on the face of the mountain facing town. Being a runner and someone who enjoys climbing mountains, when looking at Kendall, I can’t help but wonder how fast I can get up to the top and furthermore how fast someone has EVER gotten to the top. I’m not the only one to …

Adrenaline Night Runs 2013

Nick CouryUncategorized

As the sun sunk over the Arizona skyline, the temperature hovered over 100 degrees.  In excess of 300 runners gathered on a moonless night for the inaugural Adrenaline Night Runs at McDowell Mountain Regional Park outside Fountain Hills.  From first time night runners to ultra veterans, a diverse group assembled to complete 13 km, 26 km, or the all-night 65 km on the Long Loop. Runners arrive as the sun sets. The Adrenaline Night Runs is the second race in the Insomniac Night Series, on a course more challenging than the mild-mannered Sinister only a month before.  Built for mountain biking, the trails feature quick dips and rises, banked curves, and rocky slopes.  Though none …

First Weekend in Silverton

Jamil CouryUltra Thoughts

My first weekend training in Silverton is now complete and I’ve got a full growler of beer from Avalanche Brewing ready to drink tonight to celebrate a solid 7 hours of running on the Hardrock course. I am constantly blown away by the beauty and ‘epic’ness of the San Juan Mountains. The vast mountains and valley’s make me feel quite insignificant in the larger sense. A lightning strike off in the distance while running along a ridge at 12,600 feet on my first training day sent a shot of adrenaline through my body. Running along a thin strip of “quarter” track trail above 11,000 feet on the Kamm Traverse with a ridiculous drop off to …

Run Steep, Get High

Jamil CouryUltra Thoughts

Ok, so I have a bit of an obsession with the San Juan mountains of Southwestern Colorado and The Hardrock 100. It all started innocent enough. I had run a couple of ultra marathon races in 2005 and I was excited to see how far I could run. Sometime in the summer of 2006 I stumbled across these photos taken by Klas Eklof of the 2006 Hardrock 100 Mile Endurance Run. As soon as I got through the second or third page I knew that I HAD to run Hardrock. It was if it was calling my name. High altitude, steep & unrelenting climbs and descents, unpredictable weather, wildlife and amazing scenery staged through some …

Scorched Runner – Training In The Heat

Jamil CouryUltra Thoughts

Triple digit temperatures have settled in for us in the “Valley of the Sun” for the foreseeable future. It will hit 110 on Friday and the expected low during this weekend’s Adrenaline Night Runs will be in the 80’s. With recent news stories of heat related deaths in our local mountain ranges, it’s time to think a bit about heat acclimation and safety when going out for our training runs. Just because it is hot out doesn’t mean we as endurance athletes need to hide in the gym and run on a treadmill, but understanding the effects on the body and how to prepare are important. I actually find running in the heat to be …

Flagstaff Trail Running – A Guide To Sucking Wind

Jamil CouryUltra Thoughts

It is an annual summer pilgrimage for us “desert rat ultra runners” living in Phoenix. A chance to escape the sweltering heat and enjoy a sweet respite of cooler weather . Some locals may call us the weekend warriors of altitude, but nonetheless we are happy to migrate north for some of the best trail running our state has to offer in the summertime. No, Arizona is not just desert. I was first initiated into the beauty and benefits of a weekend away on the trails north of Flagstaff could be while training for my first 100 mile race, Angeles Crest back in 2007. The “old guard” of Arizona ultra runners had been using the …