Crown King Scramble 50K
A Virtual Climb from the Spines to the Pines
I put on an old t-shirt Saturday morning, you know the kind; it’s soft from multiple wears and washes, maybe even a little threadbare in spots, but it means something special to you so it has yet to be turned into a rag or donated to the local clothes closet. My t-shirt is green. It has the old Crown King Scramble 50K logo on the front, and the elevation profile of the race on the back. I’ve had it for a few years, and I wore it all day last year as the Race Director for the 2019 event.
I woke up feeling a bit disoriented on Saturday, it was 4:47 a.m. and I wasn’t at Lake Pleasant. I hadn’t spent the past week running around making sure all the last-minute details had been attended to. I hadn’t ridden up the course with Becky Barcon in her toy placing course markers for runners to find their way. I hadn’t left the hammer and staple gun at the last marker causing us to backtrack. 
The playlist I put together for the race start, and the secondary playlist for ushering runners across the finish line didn’t get any airtime. I didn’t get to thank all the extraordinary volunteers and staff for showing up and helping to make this race a reality. I didn’t get to call out each and every runner, by name, as they crossed the finish line. I gave no high fives, no hugs, no ‘heck yeahs,’ no exclamations of ‘I knew you could do it!!” We didn’t get to hang out in the saloon once all was said and done, runners with tired legs but proud hearts, and me ecstatic but sleep deprived and taking in each and every story of personal triumph.
It was a pretty quiet day, all in all. I got outside for a short run as the sun was rising. I washed my hands. I baked some bread, fed my sourdough starter, washed my hands again. I did a HIIT workout and washed my hands. I started to get e-mails from the runners who chose to do the virtual run option of Crown King, and I sent them my virtual congratulations, high fives, hugs, and ‘heck yeahs!’ I washed my hands.
We’re all adjusting to this new way of moving about our day, in response to the COVID_19 pandemic. We didn’t hold the 2020 Crown King Scramble as planned, because in the grand scheme of things it is a small sacrifice we are all willing to make right now to ensure that it is sooner, rather than later, that we are back to those “in real life” finish line hugs and high fives. It is bittersweet, to say the least.
Nick Coury getting his virtual run on in his backyard trails, finding 4,925ft of gain!
Stefanie Bradley making her own 50K route in South Mountain
Robert Burgett getting after it with the gorgeous backdrop of Cottonwood and the Hidden Wilderness
Victor Garcia out for his epic effort in California
John Maroushek finding his own Fort Misery at mile 23 of his run
Lynette Bridges getting her 50K done in the desert
Amidst it all, I can assure you of one thing; the first finish line that I am able to cheer any and all of you across, I will yell myself hoarse. I will cheer like there are people on the other side of the country who need to hear us celebrating your accomplishment. While the responsible response to this pandemic has found many of us socially distanced and more isolated, I think many of us have re-discovered countless little things in life we have taken for granted. How funny is it to think that we may find ourselves standing in line for a port-a-john in the future and find ourselves grateful? Grateful to be sharing an experience, to be surrounded by the nervous and anticipatory energy of friends and strangers alike. I have always been impressed with the community that is our trail-running family, and I can’t wait for our first reunion. Until then, stay safe out there.
Results are being recorded as runners submit them, so keep an eye on this list to see who comes out on top!