Ring in the new year with this running festival and celebration!
December 28, 2024 - January 3, 2025
Starting December 28th, we celebrate the traditions of pedestrianism and fixed-time racing with a festival of running that lasts 6 days!
Across the Years is the original fixed-time multi-day running event celebrating the New Year! The event will feature the traditional 6-day race along with the 24 hour, 48 hour, and 72 hour races plus multiple fixed distances, and the ever popular Last Person Standing event!
Join us at Camelback Ranch as we run into 2025 with a community of familiar faces and welcome new friends.
Choose your event and celebrate with us December 28 through January 3!
Volunteer
Explore the tabs below and find the race that best fits YOU at this year end festival and celebration!
Multi-Day Races
Tried and true, this pedestrian tradition is back! Any record breakers this year?
The 6-Day race starts December 28th and ends January 3rd. Runners have 6 days to accumulate as many miles as they can using a 'go as you please' model.
The 72-hour race event begins for runners starting on their elected 'start date' at 9:00 AM and ending 72 hours later.
Example: Race starts December 29th and ends January 1.
Runners may elect to start December 28, December 29, December 30, or December 31.
Results from all starts will be combined in the final standings, and awards will be given out based upon standings on January 3.
All 72 hour fixed-time races begin at 9:00 AM on your elected date.
The 48-hour race event begins for runners starting on their elected 'start date' at 9:00 AM and ending 48 hours later.
Example: Race starts December 30th and ends January 1.
Runners may elect to start December 28, December 29, December 30, December 31, or January 1.
Results from all starts will be combined in the final standings, and awards will be given out based upon standings on January 3.
All 48 hour fixed-time races begin at 9:00 AM on your elected date.
Fixed-Time Races
The 24-hour race event begins for runners starting on their elected 'start date' at 9:00 AM and ending 24 hours later.
Example: Race starts December 31st and ends January 1.
Runners may elect to start December 28, December 29, December 30, December 31, January 1, or January 2.
Results from all starts will be combined in the final standings, and awards will be given out based upon standings on January 3.
All 24 hour fixed-time races begin at 9:00 AM on your elected date.
Want to kick off your new year with your first ultra or 100K? Dip your toe into the fixed-time world with the 12 hour!
Runners signing up for the 12-hour race event will have the choice to begin on December 30th, December 31st, or January 1st at 9:00 AM. All 12-hour races end at 9:00 PM the same day.
Grab a friend, join your family, or just satisfy your curiosity about this whole 'fixed-time' hoopla once and for all!
Runners selecting the 6-hour race event will have the option to sign up to begin on December 30th, December 31st, or January 1st at 9:00 AM & all 6-hour races end at 3:00 PM the same day.
Fixed-Distance Races
Celebrate Across the Years with a 200 Mile challenge that starts in 2024 and ends in 2025! 200 Miles Across the Years will have multiple dates this year chosen at registration: December 28th, December 29th, or December 30th all beginning at 9:00 AM.
Looking to challenge yourself? Runners who select December 30th as their start date will have 96 hours to complete the mileage and earn their 200 mile buckle!
Celebrate Across the Years with a 100 Mile challenge that starts in 2024 and ends in 2025! 100 Miles Across the Years will have multiple dates this year chosen at registration: December 28th, December 29th, December 30th, December 31st, and January 1st all beginning at 9:00 AM. Runners who have registered to start December 28th-December 31st will have 72 hours to complete the mileage and earn their 100 mile buckle!
Looking to challenge yourself? Runners who select January 1st as their start date will have only 48 hours to complete the mileage and earn their 100 mile buckle!
Marathons will start every day at 9 am (no early starts) and runners will exit the course upon completion of 26.2 miles (please note that the USATF Certified Course actual mileage recorded is 26.193). Cutoff for the Marathon distance is 24-hours.
Runners who are looking to run qualifying marathons for Mega Marathon List and Marathon Maniacs please note that the event must have at least 15 marathon starters and 14 marathon finishers each day allowing room for only 1 DNF.
*If you are participating in these marathon running clubs, it is your responsibility to review the rules for submitting marathons.
RUNNERS/DAY |
DEC 28 |
DEC 29 |
DEC 30 |
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RUNNERS/DAY |
DEC 31 |
JAN 1 |
JAN 2 |
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Last Person Standing
Starting at Noon on New Year's Eve, December 31st, race Across the Years and don't stop until you drop!
How far will you go?
COURSE INFORMATION
Location
Camelback Ranch - Glendale
10710 West Camelback Rd.
Phoenix, AZ 85037
Camelback Ranch is a state-of-the-art spring training facility for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago White Sox. It opened in March 2009, and features lush greenery, a lake with waterfall, and smooth dirt and gravel walking paths. The race route is a USATF certified loop measuring 2.2669 kilometers and consisting of 68% dirt paths and 32% asphalt/concrete. The track averages 10-20 feet in width, with a minimum width of 8 feet. Gaiters are recommended. The facility is only a few miles away from the Westgate City Center, home of the University of Phoenix stadium, shopping, and other attractions.
Surface and Terrain
The course is on the ‘flatter’ end of looped courses, but don’t come expecting a quarter mile track.
The surface is not completely smooth as much of the route is gravel and/or dirt. There are natural waves and bumps along the way. The outer road section slopes only a few feet over a half mile, while the inner paths contain more variation. The most significant hill is on the north side of the lake and rises approximately 5 feet over the course of a few hundred feet. Early on, the course will seem flat and fast. However, the 6 day and 72 hour runners will readily recall their many battles with “Camelback Mountain” late in the race.
Photos of the course can be viewed HERE.
The course will be lit with a combination of permanent and temporary lights. No light will be needed to navigate the course at night although you may want a light or lantern for accessing items in your tent or at your table.
Driving to Camelback Ranch from Sky Harbor Airport
Exit the airport going west on the I-10 freeway. Continue on the freeway for approximately 15 miles, then head north on the Loop-101 freeway. Head north three miles and take the Camelback Road exit, then head west for approximately 1.5 miles. Turn north at the light onto Ball Park Blvd. The entrance to Camelback Ranch will be half a mile up the road. Follow the parking lot around to the east side of the complex to the grassy field that is the runner area. Drive takes approximately 30-40 minutes.
RACE INFORMATION
There will be EMT or Paramedic available throughout the event in the first aid tent located next to the aid station. In addition to providing basic life support services, they will be handling blister care during the event if you should need some assistance.
Even in Arizona, winter nights can get cold, sometimes below freezing! We will have a 20 foot by 30 foot warming tent available for runners in the main staging area to get out of the cold. It’s a great place for runners to sit and rest a while, chat with their fellow runners, drink a hot cup of coffee, eat a meal, and charge their phones or music devices. It will be situated across from the main aid station. There will be chairs and tables in this shared community space. Cots, sleeping bags, camping tents and camping gear are not allowed in the main heating tent. Race officials reserve the right to remove these items if found unattended. Please NO sleeping in the main community warming tent.
Adjacent to the community warming tent will be another 20 foot by 20 foot warmed napping area with cots. This is another shared community space and will serve runners on a first come first serve basis. The napping area will have a limited number of cots available for runners to get out of the cold and lay down to sleep for a few hours as needed. Please observe the three hour maximum nap time so others may utilize the space. We ask that runners refrain from bringing any personal items inside the tent including luggage, camp gear, tents, and bedding. Runners may be allowed to utilize their sleeping bag or rent a sleeping bag from the store but we ask once the runner vacates their cot to remove their sleeping bag. Race officials reserve the right to remove any personal items left behind. We ask also that runners please refrain from using the space as a changing area.
The race staging area is a 170,000 square foot grassy field, where runners can set up tables, tents, and personal items for the race. It is a perfect area to sleep during the race. An additional dirt lot on the south side of the course is available for runners to park their cars, trucks, campers, or RV’s along the course for quick access during the race.
Camping during the event is permitted in both the grassy race staging area as well as the dirt lots on the south and east side of the course. Neither of these areas are covered, and runners are encouraged to bring their own tents, canopies or RV’s (for the south lot). There is no additional charge for camping when you bring your own tent, but runners flying in from out of state may rent tents, cots and sleeping bags with registration See the Hotels and Restaurants tab for information about accommodations and other facilities in the area.
Participants may begin setting up on December 27 and may sleep overnight before the December 28 start. Please be aware that the facilities will not be open and no permanent restrooms or showers will be available (we will have portable restrooms). Camelback Ranch has been kind enough to grant us these uses, but anything set up before the race will not be supervised and will be the responsibility of the runner.
Races begin each day promptly at 9:00 AM MST unless otherwise scheduled. If you arrive late for the start of your race you may still compete, but the time you’ve missed is lost and cannot be made up. A pre-race meeting will take place each day 15 minutes before your start time. At the start, you will begin circling the course. Thereafter, you will change direction every four hours (at 1:00 PM, 5:00 PM, etc.). Many runners find this helps minimize overuse injuries as weight is shifted a bit differently on the curves. You may leave the track at any time. When you return, resume travel at the same place you left and continue in the direction you were traveling before, even if others are traveling the opposite direction. When you pass the main timing point at the start line, continue in the same direction as the rest of the competitors. In this way, you will always complete laps of the correct distance. Please do not leave the track near the start line, to avoid the timing system picking up a false lap.
Remember, there are no DNFs in a fixed-time track race. The objective is only to go as far as you can (or desire) in the allotted time. Of course, the more time you spend moving forward on the track, the more distance you will accumulate. If you wish to stop completely well before the official end of your race, inform the race director, or whoever is in the timing booth at the time, that you are quitting or leaving early. The event ends at exactly 9:00:00 A.M. on the day your particular fixed time event ends unless otherwise scheduled.
The layout of the course of Camelback Ranch is such that the course is not always the shortest path, and the shortest path is not always the inside border. The course will be marked along the borders with cones, flags, and other markers, and all runners must stay within the race course at all times when traveling along the course. If you cut the curves, you will be disqualified. It is your responsibility to know the rules. They exist to provide a good experience for all runners. If you are caught cheating you will be asked to leave and will not be allowed at future ATY events. Track etiquette does not require lone runners to yield the inside lane to runners wanting to pass, regardless of whether the one being passed is running or walking at the time. It is assumed that each participant is there to do their best, and has an equal right to pursue personal goals. In a race of this type, it is to be expected that even the best will walk for periods of time, particularly those in the longer races. Always pass others on the outside if they are on the inside lane. An exception to this policy is the case of two or more persons running or walking together. Persons traveling around the track in groups should always leave an inside channel open so faster runners do not have to travel far to the outside to get around them. In all cases, remember to show common courtesy, and that most of us run for the enjoyment and thrill of the experience. In addition to this general rule, we ask that you please travel single file through the section of gravel path along the lake on the inside of the facility and make sure there is ample room for runners to pass here.
Pets or dogs are not allowed on course, nor the interior of Camelback Ranch or near Main Street ATY. You may have an on leash dog in the South lot, but please keep away from the actual running course.
Some runners use their effort to raise money for charities. The race director would like to be aware of charity fund-raising, as it helps with public relations and allows us to feature runners on social media to help in their efforts.
Shower facilities are available on-site in the visitors locker rooms, and will be open from 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM each morning of the races.
There will be quiet hours in place from 10 pm each evening until 8 am the following morning. Meaning, no loud music from our speaker systems and we ask all runners/crew to be conscious that others are attempting to sleep. Exception: We will absolutely party and celebrate the New Year at midnight December 31 – January 1.
At Across The Years, we host a fully stocked aid station 24 hours a day. We will prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day in addition to having many of the traditional staple items available at all our events. Staple items include peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, bean roll-ups, cookies, candies, coffee, soda and sports drinks. We also have snack items offered on different days at various times in between our traditional meals like M & M pancakes, French toast sticks, quesadillas, grilled cheese sandwiches, fruit smoothies, sushi and late-night spring rolls. Breakfast is served in two stages, early in the morning (pre-dawn) with pancakes or French toast sticks, then again around 10 am with some type of an egg or tofu item (except for the first day). Lunch is usually a type of sandwich or wrap or chili or hot dog. Dinners have consisted of items like lasagna, tamales, pizza or burritos.
A “tentative” menu will be posted in December. We reserve the right to adjust the menu even after it is posted. We will notify you accordingly at the race. In previous years we have made adjustments to our menu to accommodate our runner needs as the race ensued.
An additional water only station will be located at the south gate and second timing point on the course (at the half way point of the loop).
It is impossible to supply food that caters to every individual taste, but we will do our best to meet the general needs of our runners. We typically work at providing meals with meat and vegan or vegetarian options. We are familiar with many special food needs and philosophies including gluten free, vegetarian, vegan and meat needs.
If you have a specific food allergy, please make us aware of it and we will try to provide options for you.
If you desire specific types of food and drink to meet your individual needs, please bring them along with your normal race gear.
Our aid station follows all Maricopa County Environmental Health Department regulations and has a valid food permit.
Current Forecast for Phoenix, Arizona
The Phoenix metropolitan area is blessed with mild winter temperatures. Nevertheless, daytime temperatures have been known to reach the 70’s and 80’s during previous stagings of Across The Years. Fluid replacement is critical during the day.
Although there will be little chance of snow, it’s not impossible, and nighttime temperatures can still dip below freezing. You will need some warm clothes — tights, gloves, hat, etc.
Note: Temperatures have spanned from 20 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit in past events. Some years we have had torrential rain for up to 24 hours straight. Plan ahead and prepare for the unexpected!
Trekking poles are only allowed for runners age 70+ or with special permission by race management.
Across The Years encourages family and friends to be a part of the race and support all runners. However, due to the policies of Camelback Ranch, limited track space/width, and respect for the participants, pacers are not allowed in the traditional sense common to fixed distance ultra running events. Yet, family and friends are an important part of the race, and are often eager to see the course and do a lap with their runner. In this spirit, the following arrangements have been made:
1. A total of 10 (ten) guest bibs will be available at the race (located near the timing tent). Family and friends wishing to do a lap with their runner may check out one of the bibs and accompany their runner for a lap, then check the bib back in. One guest may accompany a runner at a time, and must yield to all race participants. Any person inside the Camelback Ranch complex must be wearing a bib. The purpose of the guest bib is to allow family and friends a chance to see the entire course at Camelback Ranch, not to provide a means for “pacing” a runner.
2. Runners with guests accompanying them for multiple laps or multiple times a day will be asked to stop, as this is not in the spirit of the fixed time format at Across The Years. If someone wishes to spend extended periods on the course, they are encouraged to sign up themselves!
The only exception to this policy will be the implementation of the “night bib”. We will have up to 30 (thirty) of these available from Midnight to 6:00 AM each night. Family and friends may check out a night bib and accompany their runner for more than one lap at a time during this “slow” period when there aren’t very many other runners on the track. We understand it can get lonely out there in the early hours of the morning! If all 30 bibs are checked out at some point and there are guests waiting, we will ask guests to take turns in the order in which they checked out bibs. Race directors reserve the right to limit the number of “night bibs” available at any point in time and to ask guests who have checked out the bibs to leave the course at any time.
3. Any runner seeking a record must never have a non-participant accompany them, per USATF and IAU rules. Any runner seeking a record is encouraged to be familiar with rules regarding these matters.
FUN STUFF
Race Perks
- Gender specific cut race shirt
- Chip timed race results
- USATF Certified Course
- Well stocked aid station
- Finisher Award (Finisher Glass & Custom race buckle for 100 Mile +)
- Optional Goody Bag
- Award Ceremony
- New Year's Celebration & Champagne toast
NEW YEAR'S CELEBRATION
TIMING &RECORDS
Awards & Ceremony
We share our story.
An awards ceremony will be held shortly after the conclusion of the 6-day celebrating runner achievements, top finishers, and individual triumph. We share our stories and our personal wins and revelations with each other. Be there; we welcome everyone.
The ceremony will be held at 11AM on January 3rd
The ceremony will be held in the main stadium grandstands (west of the runner area) by the North dugout with a catered meal for runners and crews. There is no fee and everyone is welcome! Runners finishing on days prior to the awards ceremony may pick up their finisher glass and buckle when they finish their races. All runners are encouraged to attend the awards ceremonies for the overall awards and recognition of each runner.
All runners will receive a glass mug finisher award (even if you leave your event early!). Runners achieving distance standards will additionally receive the following:
- If you complete 100 miles you will receive an antique bronze/copper buckle.
- If you complete 200 miles you will receive a larger antique silver buckle.
- If you complete 300 miles you will receive a larger antique gold buckle.
- If you complete 400, 500 or 600 miles you will now also receive a buckle with your mileage tier.
If you are the overall male or female winner you will receive an attractive piece of art sculpted by ATY runner Burke Painter. The 2nd & 3rd place overall male & female in each race (24, 48, 72 hour, and 6 day) will also receive an award.
You may enter any race to qualify for any buckle offered.
As we have since 2004, ATY will continue to present progressive achievement awards to runners who have accumulated 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4,000 (+) miles total over all the ATY races in which they have participated.
Around the Clock
Want to kick off your New Year with more of a challenge? The "Around the Clock" challenge gives participants entered in the fixed time-event another opportunity to earn a unique award along with all the bragging rights! We challenge any participant to record at least one full lap per hour for the duration of their event. For example, a runner in the 24-hour event would run or walk minimum of one lap for each hour in the 24 hours they are competing. Laps must be started and finished within the hour.
Complete this challenge and earn a custom token of achievement! Runner’s be weary, this challenge is more difficult than you may think!
The same principle applies to all fixed time events at ATY including the 6 day race (one lap per hour for 144 hours). Just ask John Geesler-it's possible!
PR Bell
We celebrate every victory at ATY including your own personal best. If you come to Across the Years and set your own personal record (first marathon, first ultra, first 100 mile, most miles ever run) we want to hear about it! Ring our PR BELL at the finish line and let us cheer your accomplishment!
Timing
Your time and distance for each completed lap will be recorded automatically using an electronic chip based timing system. It is the runners’ responsibility to have their chipped bib on their person at all times! Laps done without a bib are not counted by the timing system. There are no exceptions! A secondary timing system will be placed halfway around the track to verify laps completed. Up-to-date lap totals will be displayed instantaneously when runners cross the start line. Additionally, updates will be broadcast to the live tracking website every few seconds during the race. Invite your friends to watch your progress online during your run! If you believe that you might set a state, national or international record, we ask that you please inform race management prior to the race and when you are nearing your mark.
Switching Directions
We will switch directions on course every 4 hours. We will start each day at 9:00am in the counter clockwise direction. at 1:00pm we will switch to the clockwise direction and change every 4 hours after that.
Setting Records
Across The Years is run on a certified course. Record setting performances will be recognized as official by record-keeping institutions if their guidelines are followed. Race results will be forwarded to the Arizona state record keeper who will then forward them to the national record keeper. The state record keeper will update or establish official state records for each of the three events. In order to be eligible for a certified record, you must do three things:
- Inform the race director of your intent to pursue a record. There is a place on the registration form to do this, but you may decide any time before the race begins.
- Start and finish the race at the designated times, though you need not be on the track when the race ends.
- Do not use a pacer at any time. If you have questions, please ask a race official beforehand.
Lifetime Mileage
Lifetime ATY Mileages
RESULTS
Historical results can be viewed here.
REGISTRATION
Cost
Race entry fees include an Across The Years shirt, bib & bib belt, all food and meals (including vegetarian/vegan options) at the aid station for the duration of your race distance, basic medical support, finisher mug, and buckle for reaching at least 100 miles.
MORE INFORMATION
The best way to prepare for an event such as Across The Years is to talk to someone who has done it. We recommend you follow the Across The Years Page on Facebook where you may talk about the race among participants both experienced and new. In addition, we have accumulated a treasure trove of stories and pictures from previous ATY events. Supplementary information for your enlightenment and edification has been provided in the FAQ. We invite you to explore, and if you are an ultra runner looking for a unique experience, to mark your calendars and make plans to be with us at one of the greatest parties for runners in the United States. If you can’t be here to run, then join us during the race for the webcast.
Tent, Sleeping Bag & Table Rental
In order to make your stay at Across The Year’s easy and enjoyable, we are proud to again offer tent and cot rentals! We will do everything from setup to break down, just show up and choose your tent! We will also offer sleeping bags for rent and 6 foot tables that you can use for your personal gear during the race. *Tax not included in price listed below.
RENTAL ITEM | COST |
---|---|
Large Tent (12’x 8′) Rental | $65.00 |
Large Tent (12’x 8′) Rental With 1 Cot | $85.00 |
Large Tent (12’x 8′) Rental With 2 Cots | $105.00 |
Sleeping Bag Rental | $30.00 |
Personal 6′ Table Rental | $25.00 |
Kid’s Discount
We encourage the whole family to be a part of Across The Years. It is a perfect environment for kids with parents in the race, as they can run together and take breaks whenever they’d like, and sleep at night before getting up for a few extra laps. We would like to extend a discount to any entrants 18 years or younger. This discount can be obtained by sending in the mail-in form or emailing info@aravaiparunning.com for an online discount code.
EXTRA
Click below to find even more information, runner advice, and frequently asked questions asked and answered by runners with years of experience at ATY.
About This Page
For several years we have been honored and delighted by the participation of Dr. Andy Lovy, who has run many multiday races himself, and is one of the best sports physicians in the world. Over the years he has written up numerous tips for ultrarunners, also summaries of research he has done, and has sent them to us to be used as we see fit.
What we saw fit to do with it was to consolidate it all into a special page of its own, which you see here. There is no special order to this material, other than it is roughly in chronological order.
ATY Advice
I relearned a few things at the recent World Championship 24-hour race I would like to share with the runners who are running ATY.
- If you really want to do your best, not just play with the race, it makes sense to go with the day a mile suggestion. Calculate the miles you hope to do at ATY, then do not race hard that many days before the race. Full recovery is not really possible otherwise. (Hey, I did not make the rule; I’m merely quoting it and I have seen so many who do not do it crash sometimes unexpectedly in the middle of the race because they had raced hard within that period of time. A person can train and can push, but a full race will only hurt your performance.
- It makes sense to let the medical staff know at the first sign of distress, rather than wait hours and then hope to fix it. We really do better with prevention than “cure.” The first sign of nausea, diarrhea, blisters, or anything else wrong, probably could be more easily addressed and get yo back on your way, than to try to fix when it may be too late.
- Finally, like last time, I am willing to put on a workshop for the runners’ crews the day before the race, and help them with showing them the best ways to stretch their runners during the race.
Running With a Recent Injury
I’ve noticed over the last four races at ATY, that a high percentage of runners I treated at the race had a pre-existing injury. (I have no actual statistics, but it’s over 50%, not counting blisters.) Therefore, what I treated at the race was more a result of that injury than the race they were in. Many would tell me that one to four weeks earlier, they did a race, pushed themselves, got an injury, and then thought they could “tough it out at the race.” That strategy usually doesn’t work that way. One really needs from a half to one full day of recovery for each mile run, and if there was an injury at the previous event, that takes time to fully heal. Running a marathon, 24-, 48-, or 72-hour race is pretty much a maximum effort, even if you take it easy. If you really want to do your best, you need to go into it reasonably fresh and uninjured for at least a month beforehand. A race such as ATY requires a major effort in terms of time, commitment, and energy; contribute anything less, and you short-change yourself. Once you know you have been accepted into the race, it is reasonable to do nothing that can cause an injury for at least a month beforehand. It is reasonable still to train hard, taper the way you nurmally do, but any injury in that final month before the event will cut into your performance.
Major Issues:
- Blisters;
- Gastrointestinal issues;
- Musculoskeletal issues; and
- Post-race issues
Blisters
It is necessary to differentiate between blister control and blistermanagement.
Blister control begins five or six months prior to an event. This is when one tries any and all combinations of socks, ointments and combinations to insure that blisters should not form during the event. It is also useful to simulate the actual race conditions. The track at ATY has a fairly hard dirt surface, with several turns; training on a like surface is an advantage. The turns put a lot of lateral strain on the feet , resulting in pressure points that eventually become blister areas. The surface itself can cause one to push the foot further and further forward in the shoe, resulting in toenail problems. Feet sometimes fatigue, resulting in a different footfall later in the race. It is an advantage to have different pairs of shoes, built on different lasts, even by different manufacturers, so when one develops a hot spot or discomfort area, a change in shoes can frequently alleviate the problem. It is also useful to have one pair of shoes larger than your routine size, as your feet swell, they hit pressure points, and a larger shoe is useful. During the race, if there is time set aside for rest, it is useful to take the shoes off, massage the feet, and look at them closely for hot spots and pressure points. It’s far easier to take time to do that, than to have to deal with the blisters that will form later. We also know that as one tires, one’s feet hit the ground differently: harder, softer, or at a different angle, so careful attention to those hot spots is worth the time. It’s far better to take a few seconds to adjust, than the time needed to treat the blister once it is formed.
Blister management is a separate problem. With Chris and the medical team on site, they are about the best there is for taking care of blisters that have already formed, and they are available for consultation and actual taping and other foot hygienic issues prior to the race. I encourage you to avail yourselves of that. An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.
Gastrointestinal Issues
This is one of the most common problems that plague runners during a long race. The diet one uses for their normal every day activities is clearly not sufficient to fuel a body for those very long periods. It once was estimated that about 20,000 calories are required for a 24 hour race; that figure is for a well-trained individual. Here again, many different approaches need to be tried prior to the race itself so that fuel intake and expenditure are enough to get one through the race.
A balance between fat, carbohydrate, and protein is needed. One cannot run on carbohydrates alone. The muscles consist mainly of protein; therefore protein needs to be provided to prevent deterioration at too fast a rate. The body also needs a certain amount of fat. The normal ratio of 40/30/30 usually needs to be modified to 45% carbohydrate, 40% protein, and 15% fat, but again, it differs amongst people and even from race to race. Have various foods available in each category, since the taste buds go stale and a change can sometimes revive a runner.
There is much research available regarding the use of vitamin D, Omega 3s, and glucosamine/chondroitin. I would suggest adding them to your mix prior to the race to see if they will be absorbed and helpful. Have alternatives when your main menu no longer seems to be working.
The most important thing, of course, is the maintenance of hydration. Dehydration is the most common cause of nausea, emesis, and weakness, so a balance between water and electrolytes is important. Each individual needs to work out the proportions that work for oneself.
Once nausea sets in, rehydration is the first line of defense. A simple guideline is that one should be urinating a nearly clear stream every one to two hours. If the urine seems concentrated, a golden yellow, or you do not urinate for several hours, that is a sign that dehydration is, severe and needs to be a priority concern. Alternating electrolytes with water is usually useful, but you have to go with what has worked for you in the past. Too much water with no electrolyte is dangerous because it can trigger a condition known as hypervolemic hyponatremia. With too much water, there is not a sufficient concentration of sodium in the bloodstream and that can lead to confusion, and in some cases even death. Pretzels, bananas or a potassium supplement usually helps here. Frequently, ginger in the form of capsules or ginger ale helps settle the stomach. Pepto Bismol usually also helps. If you are on a medication for any internal or abdominal problems, check with your doctor before the race to make sure that you are taking the appropriate dose of your medication for the event.
For any multiday event, expect that there will be highs and lows. Do not give up because you are in a low. Try different things, different foods, drinks, or even take a longer break to allow your body to process some healing before going on. The more simple carbohydrates you ingest early, the greater the need is to continue them. The natural response to simple carbohydrates is for the body to create and mobilize more insulin, until there is more insulin than required, causing a fatigue factor, otherwise known as crashing or bonking. It is better to save simple carbohydrates until the final stages of the race, when you need or want the extra energy boost. Let the crash occur after the race is over!
Musculoskeletal Issues
Your muscles will be under unusual stress as the race continues, and will deplete themselves of nutrients and build up waste products; therefore attention to their needs is important. It is reasonable to train for the type of race you are entering. If it is a trail race, training on trails will yield the best results. For ATY, it is a flat course with several turns, so training should include a preponderance of that sort of terrain. Stretching, both before and during the event, is beneficial, and may prevent injuries caused by fatigue. Appropriately fitting shoes and foot hygiene are also important, and at every break, attention to your feet in terms of blister control and all the large muscles being stretched out is useful. In the event of a sprain or strain, again, stretching, icing and sometimes appropriate wrapping will help.
If you want to use an anti-inflammatory, one Naproxen (Aleve) every twelve to sixteen hours is useful, since it is long acting. If you want to use Ibuprophen (Advil), take 200—400 Mg every four to eight hours, not to exceed 2400 Mg in a 24-hour period. Make sure that you check with your personal physician before using any medications.
I have found that the use of cranberries, either dried or in the form of capsules, to be very useful in acidifying the urine and burning off lactic acid. Usually one pill is useful for 24 hours. Carbonated drinks are also beneficial for burning off lactic acid, but make sure your stomach is not sensitive to it. All these things should be tried out in training runs to determine the most effective use and dosages. Never attempt to experiment during a major race.
Post-Race Issues
Although the race is over, the body is still adjusting. Here are some thoughts on how to make the recovery more efficient and with less pain.
Your muscles will continue to be working. It is important to go for a short run, walk, or jog the day following the race. If one does not, it is the second day after the race that the lactic acid and deterioration will have its maximum build-up, creating a lot of pain and difficulty even walking, let alone running. There is a general guideline that full recovery takes approximately a day per mile, so if one has run 50 miles at hard race pace, it will take about that long (50 days) to fully recover. Don’t get discouraged if after a few weeks you are still unable to get back up to your full speed. Tissues need time to heal!
Paying attention to hydration and food intake is key. Also, proteins to build the muscles back up, and carbohydrates to re-load them with fuel is important, as is the judicious use of fats, to help the body metabolize. I have found that the use of support hose or pantyhose to be highly useful. The movement of the muscles while wearing the hose helps mobilize the lymphatic system, and helps move excess fluids from the muscles back into the blood stream, making recovery much more efficient. It is not unusual for urinary output to go down during competitions, so expect that there will be a buildup and more frequent stops for a while afterward. As long as the urine is clear, or slightly yellow, it is okay, if there appears to be any darkening, thickening or blood, then this may be a normal part of recovery, but I would have your doctor make sure by having that checked out.
There is more, of course, but I hope these point will give you some guidelines— and again, remember these are guidelines. Many do quite well by following their own routine.
Good luck.
Andrew Lovy, D.O.
Fighting Lactic Acid
- What are the main sources of lactic acid? Does consumption of animal protein cause it?
There is so much yet to learn about the body under stress, etc. Much of I say here is from the literature in many fields, plus a lot of clinical work at races with runners. Anything I say can (and should) be challenged. sometimes I find something that works really well, but the reason it works has nothing to do with why I think it works.
First, lactic acid is a byproduct of muscle work. The more and harder you work, the more the muscles create lactic acid. There is a fund of literature that is saying that the original work on lactic acid was flawed, and the real culprit in terms of pain, fatigue etc., is not lactic acid, but damage to the muscles themselves. The muscles get inflamed and break down (called myositis), and on biopsies, they look terribly disorganized and damaged, as if a disease process has destroyed them. Of course a month or so later, they reconstitute, usually stronger and with better alignment than before. So, rather than either or, at any given moment it could be both, Once myositis is the primary problem, there is little one can do besides rest.
I am not aware of any research indicating that pain, soreness, etc., is related to the source of protein i.e., vegetarian, vegan, or omnivore. Once in the system, the body turns it into what it needs regardless of the source, the issue is: What other products — good or bad — are the result of the source of the nutrient. That too would be an interesting project. I am aware that at the top end of elite runners, there are vegetarians, vegans and total omnivores. It’s hard to do research at that level since there are so many variables. But a thought: Sometimes in medicine, we try to look at either/or scenarios. It is either myositis, or lactic acid, etc. In real life though, it is much more complicated. Could be both or neither, with another factor causing the soreness and pain, but we have not isolated it. I like to think, based on the clinical work I do, that it is probably both. Deplete a muscle enough and it will inflame and cause myositis. Work it hard enough and there will be a lactic acid increase that you can actually feel. Myositis takes time to heal. Massage and manipulation does very little other than to increase circulation to the area, promoting healing. However, massage, etc., have been shown to work the lactic acid out of the muscle and into the lymphatics resulting in some relief.
Also, I may have the theory wrong etc. but over the years have found that, by acidifying the matrix (with cranberries, etc.) one can actually burn off some lactic acid, giving relief. This has worked for so many years with runners from world class to novice, that I do it, and one day, if I get rich enough and have the resources, would love to do more research on it. There was a rush on Tart Cherry’s, etc., etc., and I am sure they all have a place.
A few other comments: There are indications that lactic acid itself can be converted to fuel. We all know that the glycogen stores are not responsible for muscle performance nearly as much as free fatty acids. And lactic acid is part of a breakdown process that can be recycled, although not reversed. One way has been to do interval training. Run hard, build up the lactic acid, then run or walk slower to move it around, and repeat, until the body (muscles) and chemical cycles get readjusted, Then some of the lactic acid is reconverted to fuel and stops being the enemy.
There is much evidence that muscles do not degenerate or deteriorate as rapidly when they are full of glycogen, so one really important “secret” is to keep them full, do not let them get so depleted that they then begin to destroy themselves.
Tom Glonek, at Midwestern University has done work on free chained fatty acids and soft cheeses. One part of the chemical is easily assimilated protein and the other is fatty acid, so liberal use of those cheeses stalls the build-up of lactic acid. It’s the same with other food stuff. According to some literature on peanut butter, peanut butter has a lot of lineic, and linoleic acid, major in replenishment of muscles and preventing breakdowns.
So, take home message, train with intervals as part of it, keep the muscles full and supple to slow down myositis, and do what is needed to allay the development of lactic acid in the muscles. (Massage, acidification, etc. ) Hope this helps, if not answers, at least stimulate you to think of the nearly infinite variables that exist in a human body in motion.
Andy’s Multiday Tips
This summary came to us following the 2004 race. Until now it has been found in the ATY FAQ.
- How about some tips from a medical professional?
- The Across the Years race offers some unique opportunities for runners. It is held at Nardini Manor, an estate that has been modified by the owners to be as user and running friendly as possible. There are almost no restrictions or limitations beyond which the staff, the aid station, and others will not go to see that the runner’s needs are satisfied. This does not, however, preclude the need for participants to arrive prepared for the event in which they will be participating.
- Ultimately, I may write a booklet on some of the cautions and medical aspects of ultrarunning. This is not it. What I would like to do is give both potential participants and anyone who has already participated in such events some tips that may be of some use to them. These are suggestions, guidelines, and guards.
- Of course every runner has to listen to his own body and coach. Before I ran my first twenty-four hour races, I contacted Myra Linden, one of our great ultrarunners of the eighties. She sent me approximately fifteen pages of preparation, almost including the type of shoe lace that does not come undone.
- I read through this avidly, making mental and physical notes. Her last paragraph said: ‘When the race starts, you can throw all this out!’ I guess her point was without preparation there is no performance, but even with the best of preparation things happen that will modify your game plan.
- Prepare for the event you will be participating in. The seventy-two-hour event is the only one of its kind in the United States and possibly in the world, so it gives a unique opportunity to test out your capabilities. Preparation for any endurance event requires a certain amount of speed and mileage. I leave it up to you and your coach/trainer to assist you in that endeavor. Be advised a twenty-four-hour race is not a series of marathons back to back. A seventy-two-hour race is not three twenty-four-hour races. The time and distance at twenty-four hours may be irrelevant in terms of the total distance. Plan for the entire event and not just for segments.
- An important race is not the time to do major experimentation and expect to succeed. What works best for you should be figured out well in advance of the race. If there are shoes, socks, food supplements, other equipment, etc., that work best for you, those are the items you should bring to the event. I have seen too many runners try something, or wear something new only to have that new item cause disaster. It is wise to bring several changes of clothes and to be prepared for any weather eventuality. It is also wise to put additional layers of warmth on when needed. Conservation of body heat leads to increased efficiency of the muscles. I have seen many runners cramp up and have major spasms because they ran cold. Better to be a bit warm and open layers than to chill.
- Preparation truly is from the ground up. Foot care is essential. Prevention of blisters is vastly preferable to attempting to treat them during the event. Work out a blister management plan prior to the race. Many use a thin nylon sock under a thin polypropylene or cotton sock. The two socks rub up against each other, which will frequently dissipate heat. Use whatever ointment works best for you, apply it liberally to likely problem areas, perhaps the night before the race, so it is already on the skin, and then another layer prior to the race. When you put your socks on be certain that every crease has been smoothed out. A tiny crease over time can lead to a blister that can either slow your performance or completely stop it.
- I will give you my ointment mix which I have found to be effective. I had been involved in ultrarunning approximately ten years and sustained my share of blisters, rashes, and irritations, to the point of almost having to pull out of races. After experimenting with various combinations this one seems to work best for me, with very few complications. To date no one has reported an allergic or hypersensitivity reaction. All the ingredients can be obtained at any drug store, and most can be obtained at the Dollar Store. Shelf life is almost indefinite.
I mix up large batches and put them in jars and still have some in the refrigerator from years ago. Every so often it is a good idea to stir, in case any of the ingredients have separated out.One part Vaseline. One part Desitin Ointment, one part A & D ointment (yellow compound, because there are other things on the market now calling themselves A & D but actually are other ingredients). Mix these three to a paste, then add Aloe Vera ointment (not cream) and vitamin E ointment (not cream). The amounts of these will be approximately one third of the Vaseline. Again, mix thoroughly. If you are going to be running in gritty, sandy, dusty, dirty conditions, increase the amount of Vitamin E and Aloe Vera. They have healing properties and as you run will heal some of the minor abrasions. If you are going to run in wet conditions, increase slightly the Desitin ointment. It forms an effective barrier. Apply a very thin coat on all friction rub areas, making sure especially to get between the toes, on the forefoot, and on the heel, since that is where many blisters develop.This usually stays on for the entire race. I have utilized one application which has lasted for a six-day race. If there is too much grit and you take your socks off, then it is wise to remove with rubbing alcohol or any of the sanitizers, and then re-apply.My ointment really works well for friction areas. between toes, foot, axilla (arm pits, groin etc.), but does not work well for pressure areas, such as poor fitting shoes, etc. Nothing works better than good fitting shoes and socks to take pressure off. - If you have any medical or structural conditions prior to the race, have them understood and addressed, and share that with the medical personnel prior to the race. The medical people are there to help with race related issues and will not be able to give you definitive answers to problems you have had for years which now how become accentuated by the stress and strain of the race itself.
- If you are prone to nausea, sometimes the first line of defense is Pepto Bismol or ginger ale. Bring some with you if needed.
- Diarrhea is a likely occurrence in some because of the differences in the way and the frequency one eats. This can frequently again be managed by Pepto Bismol, ginger capsules, ginger ale or the generic equivalent of Imodium. However, I would caution to not use more than one Imodium tablet every four hours, and not to exceed three in any 24 hour period. The object of this race is to challenge you, and to have a good time, not to create additional medical problems that will be difficult for you to deal with later. Butter milk or yogurt frequently helps if taken early when one has diarrhea.
- Hydration is one of the most important issues. All issues begin and end with appropriate hydration. The tissues need both water and electrolytes. There are many compounds available that address the appropriate electrolyte replacement as one runs. Again one should have this routine worked out well in advance of the event itself.
- If there is an irritation spot or a stone or anything out of the ordinary such as a shoe that is not fitting appropriately, etc., it is wise to address that as soon as possible. The time taken to remove a stone or to smooth a crease or to put on a shoe that fits better is well worth it.
- Many runners bring along at least one pair of shoes that are one half to one full size larger than their usual size. Under normal circumstances it is not unusual for hands and feet to swell. This may sometimes be due to the pounding and gravity, sometimes due to the electrolyte, as fluids shift around the body. A larger shoe can frequently make the difference. Otherwise, learn to lace a shoe differently so that it can expand later in the race.
- I have found that tights later in the race frequently can assist keeping leg and foot swelling down. They not only provide warmth but the material itself acts as a pump. As you run it can pump the fluid from your legs into the lymphatic and then out.
- It is reasonable to need to urinate every hour. Some of my best performances have been when I was going to the bathroom every twenty-five to thirty minutes. If you go more than three hours without urinating or you notice that the urine is dark and murky, is harder to initiate, or is painful, then I suggest more hydration—even a cup of water or electrolyte every loop until the problem is resolved.
- I have found over the years that carbonation frequently helps, and so do cranberries and cranberry juice or cranberry pills, to acetify the urine, sooth the urinary tract and bladder, and I believe these help in mobilizing some of the lactic acid out of the muscles.
- Fuel, too, is a matter of individual taste. However, some general concepts do exist. If you take in simple sugars early, that is causes the pancreas to generate more insulin. Frequently the amount of insulin is more than the body needs at the time since it is not regulated as well as when you are not exercising. So once simple sugars are utilized, it is necessary to continue for the balance for the race, so it may not be the best idea to eat sugar early. Complex carbohydrates such as pasta, bread, and other products, although they do not appear to have much influence on performance early, get into the muscles and the blood stream, and over time help maintain your pace. We have found that an exception to this is honey which does not kick in the insulin quite as radically, so crashing is less likely to occur. If you are feeling strange, unusual, uncomfortable, or hallucinating, the best solutions frequently are rest to recharge your muscles and your brain, and bring nutrients and circulation back to the brain. Frequently the brain tells the muscles to stop firing although there is quite enough fuel in the muscles to continue the performance.
- It is also wise to tend to business prior to going down for any length of time. This is a good time to go to the bathroom, hydrate, eat, and then go to sleep. When you wake up all the positive products will be in your system and the negative one will have been flushed out.
- If one uses an anti-inflammatory or pain killers, be advised that although your metabolism is increasing and it will leave the system more quickly, it still has to go through the normal body processes through the liver and kidneys. My general thought is that if one takes Ibuprofen one should not take more than twenty four-hundred milligrams in any twenty four-hour period. It may be safe to go beyond that but as a benchmark this is conservative and usually does not lead to kidney problems during the race or after. If one uses any of the other anti-inflammatory or muscle relaxants, don’t exceed your doctor’s recommendations. Masking pain beyond a certain point can lead to pushing beyond your capability, resulting in injuries that need not occur.
- Listen to the medical personnel there and the race directors. They have many years of cumulative experience in working with runners and running performance. Their goal is the same as yours, except they may have a clearer head about medical issues than you do at the time you are having a problem. Even world records are not worth damaging the body permanently.
- There are no real rules on mileage. However, there are guidelines. There have been many individuals who have never run further than ten kilometers and are successful at running twenty-four hours because they run at a reasonable pace, address potential injuries before they become severe, take rest, and are able to finish. However, if your longest race is a 10K and you try to run at your 10K pace the likelihood of finishing approaches zero. If the longest race you have done is a marathon or even a twenty-four hour race, a forty-eight will create new situations and challenges for you physically and psychologically. So be prepared to modify your mileage goals since they are less important than continued participation in the event and learning more about what works for your body at the longer distances.
Why Some Ultrarunners Develop a Lean
It has been noticed that some ultrarunners, including your friendly webmaster, sometimes develop a significant tilt during the running of Across the Years, one that never goes away for the duration of the race. We asked Andy what he knows about this. It is caused by exhausted iliopsoas muscles.
- On Iliopsoas Exhaustion
- There is a lot of theory, a lot of hypotheses, some factual data, etc., and I can only go with what I know and results.
- Muscles can only contract. In order to do so, many things need to be in place, like glycogen, electrolytes, etc. When one is missing or not sufficient, the muscle reacts differently. When a muscles is fatigued or does not get sodium or potassium or a host of other chemicals, it stops firing. When that happens, it no longer contracts. The opposite muscle if in the back or spine is still firing, so the body will lean in the direction of the muscles that are still working.
- We know it is a local issue, not a global one, since when that happens in any given individual, the lean will always be in the same direction regardless of the type of race or the direction of the turns. A blood test may not pick it up since the global amount of potassium may be normal, but the particular muscles that are fatigued and out of potassium are not.
- Potassium is most implicated since it is the electrolyte needed to make muscles fire. Giving someone potassium may help, but the potassium goes throughout the body, not only to the affected area, so there needs to be an attempt at finding out just why that muscle or muscle group stopped working. It is usually due to inherent muscle imbalances, short leg, spinal issues, gait issues, etc., and if those issues are addressed, then the muscles can regain firing and the lean stops, or at least slows down.
- There is a firing order of muscles that needs to occur in order to stay upright, or to move, walk, run, turn, and one has not only to work with the muscles that no longer fire, but the other muscles and bones and joints as well, that may be causing the imbalance. What I do is a complete structural evaluation and try to fix the problem as well as I can, not just the symptom, which is the lean. If I find the origin and can temporarily fix it, the lean will minimize or maybe go away.
- There needs to be follow-up after the race since the full treatment may take a long time and many things need to happen.
Medical Observations for Across the Years
- Lots more good suggestions on staying healthy
- The race conditions at Across the Years offers some unique challenges medically that I feel every runner and crew person should be aware of to plan for their best performance. The race director Paul Bonnett made it clear at the outset that dehydration and blisters are the most common reasons why individuals drop out or have less than optimal performance.
- Having said that at the outset the predictions were still quite accurate. The track itself is crushed gravel. This makes for a rather soft surface initially but as the runners trample the gravel down it becomes slightly harder. However, recovery is much quicker than when running on concrete or asphalt or even artificial turf. There will nonetheless always be micro variations in the surface, since each footfall can be on a peak or a valley of the hard surface causing the foot to land ever so slightly differently each time. This can create more hot spots and problems for the runner as the race goes on.
- My first suggestion for the runners is to bring at least two pairs of shoes that have slightly different lasts, so that when the foot tires in one and the hot spots develop another shoe either of a different make or a different model will result in slight footfall differences and help compensate somewhat for this.
- My second suggestion is that aside from some elite runners training is essential for maximum performance as is entering the race relatively injury free for the past two to three months. Even the slightest injury at a different race may result in a cumulative effect of stress or strain on various body parts, again leading to musculoskeletal problems.
- There are many blister formulas out there now and I would suggest trying several until you find at least one or maybe two that work best for you under these conditions. Most blisters can be prevented if the shoe fits properly and blister control elements are utilized. I have a formula that I have used for over ten years that has been of great benefit for friction points resulting in far fewer blisters in most individuals who use it. All the ingredients can be purchased in a dollar store so literally a lifetime supply can be had for fewer than ten to twelve dollars. (The recipe, reiterated here, is also discussed above.)
- The basic ingredient is petroleum jelly (e.g., Vaseline), any manufacturer. Generic works well. Desitin ointment (not cream) is another major ingredient. It can also be found generically as Zinc Oxide ointment. The third major ingredient is A&D ointment. Be careful when you shop since A&D is a trade name and is on many tubes that actually are Zinc Oxide. What you want is the vitamin A and vitamin D ointment, which usually comes in tubes or tubs and is yellow and this is the only somewhat costly element.
- Mix equal parts of these three to a smooth consistency. Then add aloe vera ointment or cream vitamin E ointment or cream to this mix using less than a third of these two ingredients than the original two. Again, mix these to a consistent paste. If you expect rainy conditions, slightly more Desitin and A&D will help make your foot more waterproof. If there are lots of rocks and the opportunity for many scratches, abrasions due to a surface add slightly more aloe vera and vitamin E.
- Vaseline is an excellent lubricant that does wear out quickly. Desitin is healing and a water block as well as a lubricant as is A&D. The other two ingredients promote healing as one runs.
- My third suggestion is to run with a double sock. These are commercially available. I would try different brands. What I use is a nylon socklet, which is very inexpensive, and a thin cotton sock. Lubricate the foot, the heel, between the toes and anywhere there may be friction and put the nylon sock on removing all wrinkles and then the cotton sock again, being careful to remove all of the wrinkles. The two socks rub against each other dissipating the heat and friction into the shoe and not into the foot.
- Also, if conditions are wet, such as running through puddles or in the rain, the combination sock acts as a wick and pulls the moisture away from the foot and into the shoe. The shoe may feel soaked but the feet remain dry. I have used one application of this, which was sufficient for six days; however, if grit, sand, dirt gets between the socks or on the foot it is wise to wipe that off and then reapply.
- It is also advisable to have at least one pair of shoes that is a half to one size larger for later in the race since feet have a tendency to swell in time. Loosening the shoe with different lacing has always worked for me but sometimes half way through the race another larger shoe with a different last may feel more comfortable for the second part of the race.
- Conditions in Arizona are quite dry. Dehydration occurs much more rapidly and with greater devastation than with moderate or high humidity. I usually drink every mile and a half to two miles but at ATY frequently it is every second or third loop. Water is a mainstay, but, it is necessary to include electrolytes to keep the mineral content up and the sodium and potassium levels adequate. With a decrease in sodium, potassium, and water, the muscles do not respond as well and the likelihood of injury to the muscles and/or dehydration is great.
- It is almost impossible to over-hydrate during a twenty-four to seventy-two hour race. A standard and reasonable guideline is urinating clear. If one does not urinate within five to six hours it may be necessary to super-hydrate every loop until one not only urinates but also urinates clear.
- There is a product out called E-Caps which has been found to be very useful to maintain sodium, potassium balance and I would suggest using them as directed unless you are going faster than anticipated, in which case I would increase the dosage moderately.
- The race has potassium pills, which are also very useful for muscle fatigue and do not adequately “twitch”.
- There may be a drastic temperature change at night. Do not be fooled into thinking that because it is cooler and you are not sweating as much and that you do not need as much hydration. If anything you may need more in order to keep the core body temperature at its optimal level. It really doesn’t matter whether it is cold or hot liquids since the core body temperature will neutralize. Warm liquids, such as hot chocolate, coffee, soups, etc., may taste better warm so you will hydrate more, but you can survive on cooler drinks as well.
- It is also necessary to maintain sufficient levels of carbohydrates to fuel the muscles as well as some protein to prevent tissue breakdown. I would suggest experimenting on long distance training runs or other races as to what feels optimal for you. It is not unusual for runners to do quite well for a period of time and then apparently completely crash. Re-establishing carbohydrates — simple such as honey, fructose as found in fruits, and complex carbohydrates such as found in breads, pastas, etc., are best.
- It is also advisable to have a certain amount of fat since that helps to metabolize the carbohydrates. Peanut butter seems to be an almost ideal fuel for this as are any of the soft cheeses with a high fat content. The high fat content cheeses are not really advisable at all times under all conditions, but as part of a race regimen can be very helpful.
- Another danger at night is the muscles will cool. Some people run well under those circumstances but once you stop and you feel chilled it is better to stay slightly warmer and compensate with increased hydration than to chill and have a muscle spasm. When one takes a break of more than a few minutes it is reasonable to attempt to stretch the muscles using any system available with repeated contractions. Going around the track the muscles will tend to shorten and want to stay short; stretching them out can revive them considerably.
- Once again, it is much easier to prevent any form of depletion type injury than to attempt to treat it once the damage has been done. Blisters are not fatal — they are the body’s defense against friction. However, if not appropriately treated they can cause a runner to shift his or her balance, utilizing muscles differently to compensate so that there is no pain, ultimately leading to more tissue breakdown in other muscles.
- It is best to address hot spots as quickly as possible. After all, a three to five minute break to prevent an injury is time well spent. ATY nurse Chris McLaughlin is one of the best blister treatment people I know. Once he has worked on a blister early they seldom return to cause further damage.
- There are also massage individuals available at times during the race; if you feel fatigued and your muscles don’t appear to be functioning as well as you would like, these individuals can do quite a bit to work the lactic acid out, stretch you, and bring those muscles back to full function. A massage therapist can do a considerable amount of damage if not done appropriately during an event;, the massage therapists at ATY are specifically and specially trained and sensitive to the needs of ultrarunners, and can change your thinking from “there is no way to go on, I can never again get into a decent stride’ to “I am feeling pretty good and then can go on.”
- For runners who are newbies to the longer distances keep in mind that your marathon times are not indicative of how well you can do in a 24-hour or 48-hour. If you attempt a 48- or 72-hour race be forewarned that it is not X number of marathons or three twenty-four hour races, but one continuous race and one needs to go at a speed that will ensure the ability to complete the race unless one has entered with a more limited goal in mind such as one hundred miles, fifty miles, a PR at a distance, etc. A beauty of a 24-hour race is that one can set a pace, finish, rest and come back and put on more miles, or choose not to.
- It is also an advantage that one is never more than two hundred and fifty meters from assistance. The medical team can work with you and assist you in many ways during the race but are quite limited in scope when you enter the race with an existing injury. Again for the less experienced ultrarunners it is not unusual to feel tired, suffer pain, or discomfort. A good general rule is to listen to your body and then attempt to compensate if the pain, discomfort, and drive cannot come back to the level you want. Keep in mind this is a race, it is a test of your capabilities and potential and there is no shame in either slowing down or stopping altogether to re-evaluate the situation and possibly even terminate your participation in the race.
Andy’s 2005 Race Report
- How Things Went at ATY 2005
- I had just recently completed the six-day in Colac and there was no way to tell how well I was recovered, if at all. I had a few really decent training days going as much as one to two hours with no pain or depletion, but I am well aware that two hours is certainly not a reliable test of ten, twenty and up to seventy-two.
- When I got to Nardini Manor and set up I found out that Chris O’Laughlin would also be there. I worked with him last year and it was one of the really good team experiences, so that delighted me, and in fact I spent maybe three times as much time on medical as I did the previous year while Chris spent at least three times as much plus took ten hours off to go to see his doctor for a major disease problem that would have told the average man to not even try to participate.
- I found out very early that my mathematics was grossly in error, and I did not need seventy-two miles for the coveted jacket but eighty-three. I found this out at the sixty mile mark — there were a few brief moments of discomfort and panic but decided that since I am going for the belt buckle at one hundred anyway this was doable.
- I don’t believe I saw as many blisters in my life as I did at this race. There were three groups of 24-hour runners and each at the appointed time would come in with blisters after having either run too long, too hard, or dehydrated or whatever. I also did manage to slide one fibula back into place and once again was able to affirm that the concepts on palpation of muscles for glycogen, lactic acid, potassium and sodium was pretty accurate and utilizing that capability was able to get many runners back onto the track. The value of muscle energy, myofascial release and even some high velocity kept many runners going, and I am pleased that I can at this point still manage to utilize a degree of skill at the track side to help individuals.
- As an aside, being aware of this, no matter how hard I pushed or went I would always leave something in reserve so that I would be able to diagnose and treat if and when the occasion came up. Running this way however does have its challenges. One cannot go for the maximum performance because you never know when your medical skills will be needed. I could take ten to twenty-five minutes off, rest, but just as I walked out the door one or two runners would come in needing assistance. So it was a challenge from that perspective, however one that I gladly accepted and still do accept.
- There was one time I think on day three when I had gone past the chip counter and I heard my name called. I had gone approximately two hundred yards down the course and I was told that somebody went down in the tent and they were concerned if it was a heart attack. I jokingly mentioned after that I might have broken the course record, the two hundred yard dash, getting there, although a few moments earlier I was reduced to my “Bataan death march” speed. We did our medical, took the blood pressure, etc., waited for the ambulances to come, saw that the runner was transported safely to the hospital, and then I went back out and continued that loop.
- There was one other incident right at the end of the race where one of the runners who had not eaten or drank for the last hour pushed past the finish line just behind me although he was many miles ahead of me, and then collapsed. I am not sure if this was Roger Bannister’s neurogenic shock syndrome but we were able to transport him inside, his blood pressure was 118/70, and his pulse thready. It turned out that he was several quarts low on fluids and it took fifteen to twenty minutes for him to recover, but apparently he did and when the ambulances came he refused to go to the hospital, preferring to be rehydrated at track side. I got in my eighty-four miles and then went down for approximately two hours.
- When I got up the quest for the hundred seemed to be endless. I am convinced at this point that the track was lengthened with each lap until I finally did reach my one hundred, went back in, came out for the 101 and then toyed until the last hour when I tried to get to one fifteen which is what I did last year but fell short even though I ran the last half hour almost full bore.
- I had a chance to work on many manipulative skills, enhance those that I had already done, and worked with some new ones. We even had a young lady who had a panic attack and was able to abort this with talk therapy and eventually an antihistamine. Many runners would come in, get repaired, go out and do wonderfully, some would come in several times until the end of the race, and some were smart enough to know that when something was wrong it was perfectly all right to come in and let Chris or me work on them to help their performance.
- I also witnessed some very remarkable competent performances and I don’t wish to hurt anyone by forgetting to mention names of some people, but sometimes those memory traces aren’t all there. Yiannis Korous was there; he had completed the six-day, had done a fifty-mile race at Sun Mart and was now at ATY. I gained a considerable amount of respect for Yiannis at Colac, which was doubly reinforced at ATY. I knew of the myth of the man but not really the man himself.
- Turns out he is not a supergod or a superman as one would be led to believe. He is a human who has perfected the skill and art form of running and is able to utilize it week after week, month after month. He faces the same issues that we all face: blisters, problems with gait, problems with shoes, problems with nosebleeds, everything that could possibly happen. He has it repaired as quickly and as well as possible and presses on, always going beyond his limits. He broke the world record for forty-eight hours, but continued on competently for seventy-two.
- Yiannis also has a very good sense of humor when he is not intensely competing. As intense as he was when I would go by and yell: “Way to go Yiannis,” he would wave, smile or have some gesture of acknowledgment. Here is a man who at three hundred miles slowed his pace, and stopped to congratulate me on getting my thousand-mile jacket.
- For the New Years party I waited for him and serenaded him with “Never on a Sunday” on my mandolin, which brought a smile to his face and his comment was that made him very happy, and we chatted a little bit.
- His team was also under considerable pressure since this man is quite a perfectionist in order to get maximum performance, but they had hula skirts, funny hats, anything to break up the monotony. He is truly a remarkable athlete.
- Michelle Santilhano – Originally entered the forty-eight then switched to the seventy-two when there was a cancellation. She ran magnificently and I believe during the course of the three days spent at least some time circling the track with every single runner making nothing but positive thoughts, feelings, vibes and comments about them. A truly joyous person who should be one of the poster girls for this board of ultrarunning.
- Harold Sieglaff, Founder of the race, owner of the only two thousand mile jacket, was not having a great performance in terms of miles. However, his presence on the track was always noted and welcome. He would be literally limping around the track and then I would go by him we would run one, two, three, four laps together discussing lap counting, the state of the planet, the state of terrorism, concepts in teaching; a truly wonderful cultured man who at his worst was still enjoying himself and the scene. In addition to that, for the New Year’s party he entertained everyone by playing the standard medley of songs on the clarinet. Truly what the spirit of ultra running is all about.
- John Geesler once again proved why he is one of our best runners. Not only because of his capacity for performance but his humanism. He started strong and ran into some difficulties and fell way off pace. We had a bet in that if I could accomplish one half of his distance he would owe me dinner and it was touch and go for a while. On the last day however, one of the new twenty-four hour runners needed some encouragement and he raced for approximately five to six hours circling the track at a pace faster than his first twenty-four hours to assist this person, never hesitating to call out to me, encourage me, ask how many more laps for my buckle or my jacket. Truly championship attitude and once he gets a few things solved in terms of his diet I think his best performances are yet to come although he has already won many championships. (By the way, I owe him dinner)
- Sunny – ran terrific, ran into problems, came in for muscle balance, myofascial release, went out and ran beautifully, got blisters. In short he came into the aid station, eight, ten, twelve times, each time going out and running like a champion and finished very high in the standings. Again, it is the spirit of the thing.
- There is one time where he was discouraged, said he asked to walk the last twenty hours, being incapable of running. I said I did not think that was true, we worked on it, we worked on his diet and approximately one half hour later he whizzed by me like a Porsche going by a stalled truck and saying: “Look at it now, really wonderful!”
- Martina Hausmann ran better than I had ever seen her. She was steady, had her issues and problems with nausea, dizziness, inability to perform, followed all of my advice and eventually wore the track down to do her bidding and again won the women’s race.
- Tracy she entered the three-day and ran the first twenty-four hours like a twenty-four hour runner, doing magnificently. When she finally came in day two she had blisters that would make the average individual not be able to walk let alone run but once they were lanced she went back out there and gave a sterling performance until her stomach finally told her that maybe it is better to come back and try this again.
- Jerry Schuster I had worked with before. Each run he gets stronger and smarter. This time he asked me a question or two almost every time he passed me for hours, questions relevant to his performance. He ran a steady paced, very competent race, but stopped when his stomach again reached the point that he could no longer keep anything down. Once he puts it all together he is also capable of two hundred fifty to three hundred miles.
- Lynn Newton, on his way to a thousand-mile jacket. He got the jacket and the buckle within loops of each other, sat down relaxed, came out put on many many more loops and had a wonderful attitude.
- There were so many other runners whose form was near perfection as they raced by; it was beautiful to watch. An advantage of the race is that twenty-four hour runners can start on any of the three days, so while the seventy-two and forty-eight hour runners are partially through a new batch of fresh legs and bodies show up and go whipping by us with grace and capability. Very encouraging and inspirational.
- The aid station too was quite remarkable. Most aid stations will have an electrolyte drink and one or two commercial drinks. This aid station had seven or eight different kinds of power drinks and the “You name it, we will get it for you!” attitude on the drinks and the food. Whatever they did not have they had by the next loop. They were always positive, cheerful and helpful; I found them to be a terrific asset medically.
- We had reached the point where since Chris or I would be on the track, if anyone needed help they would tell them to go in to our medical section and then as we went by tell us that someone was waiting for us, which saved a lot of time. They also got us ice, bandages and other equipment, anything to make it compatible and positive for the runners.
- The weather was a bit cool at night, moderate during the daytime, and we saw a lot of dehydration. Until I reached my one-hundred miles I could not stay down for more than twenty to thirty minutes and then of course it was a struggle to get up and do that first loop before the circulation returned to my legs.
- I have to mention the Coury brothers: three brothers ranging from fifteen to twenty who ran the last twenty-four hours. They ran separately, together, chattered, had a terrific time, and as a matter of fact the youngest, Nathan, put in the fastest single lap recorded at this race.
- Marty Kennedy ran a beautiful paced race and helped me tremendously, reminding me that my form had deteriorated at a point when she could no longer see my head when she was coming up behind me. This helped immensely and I tried very hard to straighten out.
- In short everyone appeared to be watching everyone else and doing what he or she could to help all of the other runners reach their maximum performance. My medical compatriot Chris spent hours repairing blisters more as an art form than as an emergency procedure. He also did a considerable amount of massage, manipulation and healing touch, and when he came out to run, he ran as fast as anyone I had ever seen.
- Ron Vertrees, always a smile on his face ran beautifully, confidently, put in a terrific race. Don Winkley did the three-day last year as an experiment. This year he came out, did the two-day, joked with everybody, walked around the track, encouraged everybody and put in some really really good, powerful mileage. He put in a third more mileage in two days than I was able to achieve in two.
- The Bonnett brothers were terrific. They worked the aide station, they assisted us with medical, and even did a few loops; James did a loop with me when I got my thousand-mile jacket. Very encouraging, very positive, lots and lots of good vibes at the race.
- There was one father-daughter team. The daughter was eleven years old, was out there and did the three-day race. She actually did not race at all, she jogged, sauntered, ran and smiled around the track, appeared to have a terrific time, sat down, ate, acted like the typical eleven-year-old that you would want as your daughter. Always had a smile on her face was always encouraging to other. If this is the future of the human race we are in good hands indeed.
- There was another young lady, a sixteen-year-old who just ran a beautifully paced race and made an interesting comment after she had completed the run. She walked up to me and said: “Is there anything you can do to make me feel better?” so we went into the tent and I did some muscle energy myofascial release and was able to release some tension in her lower back that had built up over days. She got up and said, “Oh, that is wonderful, you are my hero”; actually just good application of osteopathic techniques.
- Another young lady at the end of the race said she is prone to pneumonia after these races. Lung congestion is not unusual for days after a race, so I did some lymphatic pump on her, which helped her tremendously. An interesting side note is while applying pressure in order to do the pump my right thumb locked, I had not realized it but although I was alert, awake and felt pretty good I too was several quarts low and had ran out of potassium. It took a few minutes for someone else to massage my thumb so I could continue the treatment.
- When I see the results I might be able to link up other names with people. But there were so many out there encouraging each other I was a drone walking most of the laps, moving over to allow the inside lane for the faster runners. Was going very slow but was always encouraged by people saying, “Way to go, keep it up, you’re amazing”, etc., just the thing you like to hear even though you know that you are a bottom feeder in a race of greyhounds.
- That evening I had a lot of help putting things back into my vehicle, went back to the motel I stayed in before since each room had a jacuzzi, repacked all of my gear, went out to dinner with one of the other runners who is quite an accomplished athlete but this whole field was new to him in terms of ultrarunning and we talked about training and running, had a good steak dinner, I got back to the motel, had two more soaks and then spent a very peaceful evening literally waking up every twenty minutes to go to the bathroom, but fortunately not having to do anymore loops.
- I started back the following morning and although I felt competent and refreshed I could only drive an hour and a half to two at a time before I had to stop at rest areas and sleep from fifteen minutes to as much as an hour and a half that first day.
- At the awards ceremony I got my jacket, which is a very proud moment since this is one of those things that one has to earn. I also got my belt buckle for completing one hundred miles. I asked Chris to come up with me and mentioned that his work and effort on all of the runners precluded him from getting his and it was his ability to work hard that allowed me to get mine so I was going to share my buckle with him, he could have it on the even years and I will take it on the odd years. Then we decided we could get another buckle and have them engraved on the back Chris and Andy medical team 2005 which I think would make a very nice memento for both of us for this race.
- I also have to mention that Jordan Ross showed up, was able to find me, and we spent several laps together joking, talking about our plans and our futures, and he brightened me up considerably. He brought chocolate malt, which was, reviving and went to the medical tent and expertly assisted several runners with his high level of medical skills.
- Lynn Newton’s wife and her friend Adria who is an LPN: When we were at the aid station they manned for us. Adria, as an RN was absolutely wonderful in working with the runners as they came in. Positive attitude, always smiling, very reassuring to the runners. Lynn’s wife on the other hand, although she stated she didn’t have skills in nursing, helped tremendously by making sure we had all of the equipment needed and talking to the runners and finding out how they were. Early in the race when it got dark we were having some problems with sufficient light for the blisters, she just calmly left, spoke to the race director and within minutes we had almost had a surgical suite type lighting.
- Those that manned the aid station included some adults but a high percentage of the children of the race committee and even some of the runners, and they were sensational, getting any and everything that you could possibly want and need and with a very positive attitude, cheering everyone on. One reads and hears about all the negatives and problems of teenagers. I would like to think that those are the exceptions and what we saw in terms of these youngsters and their spirit and capabilities is more the norm.
More About Blister Control
- Andy’s Plan Reiterated
- In my estimation, very few things are more aggravating than to put in the time and effort to train, work hard, pay the race fee, and travel to a distant place, only to have the entire race effort and result hinge on a blister. Over the years I have seen world class athletes, superbly prepared, humbled by a blister at a key moment or at a crucial location, resulting in a finish far below what could have been accomplished. So let’s go over some of the issues that you can control.
- This is not a definitive text on the subject, just some guidelines. There are good books out devoted to just foot and blister control. They are worth referring to. This article is really aimed at any runner plagued with blister problems, and more of a review of concepts and techniques rather than the definitive dissertation.
- The base of course is foot hygiene and attention prior to a race. Look at any potential friction area, nail situation, foot, socks, shoes, anything at all that over time can cause friction resulting in a blister.
- A decent guideline is to make sure that the shoes you will wear are proven and have been worn before so there are no surprises. If budget allows, it is reasonable to have shoes for specific tasks, such as trail runs, where there is lots of lateral motion, track runs where there are constant and continual turns, or road races with variations in terrain. It is useful to take long a few pair, usually of different makes with different lasts and slightly different fit. That way, if one seems to develop hot spots, sometimes the easiest solution is to put on another pair that fits slightly differently, and the hot spot is no longer there.
- Any friction area or potential rubbing spot should be addressed well in advance of a race. I have seen many shoes where there is an internal defect: a shoe turns inward, or a seam is doubled and the thread is exposed, or the toe box or heel area is slightly loose, resulting in friction and blisters over time. It may not be a fashion statement, but it is possible, and even likely, that the right shoe fits differently than the left, in a pair of shoes. I have run many races quite comfortably with shoes of different makes and styles on each foot, making sure of course that the weights are comparable.
- Sock issues need to be addressed. There are literally hundreds of socks out there of various compositions, thicknesses, wicking potential, etc., and it is important here too, to have worked out which are the most effective for you, and in what type of event.
- There are many double socks that are effective in blister management. The theory is that the layers rub against each other, dissipating heat, thus resulting in less potential for blisters. My solution has been one given to me by trail runners, where the terrain is different with almost every footfall. Nylon sockettes, under a thin cotton over sock usually works, and is inexpensive. Running through water or during a rain storm can result in folds and pressure points. The double sock seems to act as a wick. Transferring water from the foot into the cotton, and then into the nylon, and out into the shoe, I have taken shoes off after water crossings and hours later, to find the shoe wet, the nylon wet, and my foot dry.
- One brand of sock, Injinji, has separate compartments for each toe, much like a glove. If you get each toe into its appropriate position, the skin surfaces do not rub and I have found many runners who have solved their blister problems with this sock.
Ointments, Creams, and Salves
- Lubricants can play a major role in blister or rash prevention. There are many out there and it is worth trying many of them out before settling on one that works for you. Each person’s body has slightly different chemistries and what works for one person may not work for another.
- I have worked on a formulation that, over the years has been very successful for most people, and it is one that you might want to try. Its advantages are: it is very inexpensive, one can almost make up a 20-year supply for just a few dollars, and you can adjust the ingredients for your own body, as well as for specific needs, such as dust, rain, trail, etc. Most of the ingredients can be purchased at Dollar stores and shelf life is almost indefinite.
- Begin with Vaseline ointment, Desitin Ointment, and A and D Ointment. Desitin is Zinc Oxide, so it can be purchased generically. A and D ointment is the only pricey ingredient. The company (A and D) has many items out with that on the jar, or tube, but it is usually a variant of Zinc Oxide. What you need is the bright yellow ointment. Mix these three in equal proportions until you have a paste. Then add aloe vera cream and vitamin E cream, or lotions to the mix at about a quarter of the amounts used for the first three ingredients until the paste is firm, not runny.
- I store surplus in the refrigerator or freezer. It just requires an occasional stirring if in the refrigerator and it is ready to go. A very thin coat on all friction areas is all that is needed. Usually one application is good for about as long as needed, (I have put on one application and not needed more for a 6 day race.)
- If there is grit on the track, it may be a good idea to remove it with liquid gel alcohol and then replace it. If you know that you will be in quite a bit of water or a rainy event, more Desitin and Vaseline is useful. It forms a really good water seal. If you know it will be dusty, small gravel and rocks etc., then adding additional aloe vera and vitamin E is useful. They actually help the tissues heal as you run, suppressing infections and further irritation.
- It should be a given that, if there is a hot spot or blister forming, to address it early, before it becomes fully formed. Prevention is always a lot easier and more therapeutic than treating it once it has started. There are many ways to take care of blisters. I merely clean the areas, drain it with a sterile needle, put on the ointment and a very light covering, and get back on the road.
Frequently Asked Questions
Preface
The information on this page is not a traditional style FAQ, but a loosely assembled collection of tidbits about Across the Years, with supplementary information about 24-hour and multiday racing in general.
Across the Years History and Background
- How old is Across the Years?
- The 2014 edition will be the 31st running of Across the Years. The first was in 1983. In that year founder Harold Sieglaff presented an Easter 24-hour run in the spring, and followed that in December with the first year-end run which has always been called Across the Years, with various descriptive words added to the title. There was no race in 2009.
- How did Across the Years get started?
- ATY’s founder is Harold Sieglaff, who was age 72 on his most recent visit to the race in 2006. Harold accumulated over 2400 lifetime miles at the race. Originally Harold directed the race, but he delegated that job to others several years ago.
- Harold participated in almost every race until 2006. The last few years he ran he walked it wearing street clothes. Because of his knee problems, Harold did not return to the race after 2006. Harold passed away in 2015 and at the 2015-2016 Across the Years runners ran laps in his honor (foregoing getting credit for the lap on their own results) and accumulated over 100 miles. A 100-mile buckle was presented to Harold’s wife.
- For several years, and through 2003, the race was put on by Arizona Road Racers. In 2004, the event once again became an independent operation. Starting in 2010, the race is put on by Aravaipa Running, with many of the long-time volunteers and organizers acting as helpers and advisers.
- The race’s format has not always been as it is today. The first year there was a 6-hour race (with one runner), and also 12-hour and 24-hour races on December 31. The 6-hour and 12-hour events were dropped. Until 1993 the race was held at Washington High School in Phoenix, after which it was moved to different locations, most recently Nardini Manor from 2003 until 2010. In 2004 it took off in popularity, no doubt in large part because of the world’s new-found ability to get the word out on the Internet. The race was moved in 2011 to its current home at Camelback Ranch – Glendale, a state-of-the-art spring training facility for the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers.
- The 6-day race made its return in 2013 and has continued since.
- Where does the name Across the Years come from?
- The origin of the name should be obvious, given the traditional date of the race. All races include the last day of the calendar year and continue through midnight on New Year’s Eve, thus “across the years,” and also across whatever other time markers happen to apply. In 1999 there was a six-day race to celebrate the coming of the new millennium. Needless to say, we won’t be having another race across the millennia for quite a while, but for several years after 1999 the full name of the race was given as Across the Years, Decades, Centuries, and Millennia 72-, 48-, and 24-Hour Run, Walk, Eat and Nap.
- The current full name of the race is Across the Years Multi-day Footrace, but it’s usually referred to simply as Across the Years,and by netizens as ATY.
Miscellany and Tips
- Has the course distance been certified?
- Yes. The course is USATF certified at 1689.5 meters, certification number AZ11005GAN.
- Note that the path is certified as a road, not a track, because of its construction, which means that any records set will be road records, not track records.
- How was the certification done?
- The method used to calibrate the Camelback Ranch loop and achieve certification is set forth in the USAT&F Road Race Course Measurement And Certification Procedure booklet.
- Should a national record be set on the course, the course may be independently validated by the USAT&F.
- How will I know how far I have run?
- Please don’t bug our hard-working timers for readings of your mileage! Check the display monitors after any lap to see your total laps, miles, kilometers and race position.
- What is the winter desert weather like?
- During the days expect anything from downright chilly (low fifties or even upper forties) to too warm (mid to upper seventies, rarely even low eighties). At night it has been known to get below freezing, but lows in the upper forties are more common.
- From December through January is the rainiest season in the Phoenix area. It is often overcast.
- Will I be able to set up a tent on the site?
- Yes. You will be able to set up on the large grass field outside the aid station or on the back side of the course by parking your vehicle in the dirt.
- Will there be any other type of shelter available?
- Yes. A large heating tent will be positioned near the aid station and runner area for keeping warm in the chilly nights. Runners are invited to socialize with each other in the tent and warm up before returning to the course.
- Will there be adequate bathroom facilities at Camelback Ranch?
- We could hardly hold a six-day race there if there weren’t. In addition to a permanent facility next to the course, there will be numerous portable restroom units at several points along the course. These restrooms will be lighted at night and cleaned out several times during the event. Showers will be available for a short period after each race, a short walk from the runner area.
- Will the running path be lit up at night, or will I need to bring a headlamp and/or flashlight?
- The track will be lit with a combination of permanent and portable lighting units. You are free to bring supplementary lighting if you wish, but it is not required. We recommend a personal light for use at your personal area.
- Will runners be able to set up personal aid stations?
- There will be adequate places in the grassy runner area to set up tables and chairs to put out items they can grab as they run by. The dirt lot on the south side of the course is also available for backing a vehicle up to the race course. Runners are not permitted to place personal tables and items anywhere else on the course.
- What will be supplied at the aid stations?
- There will be no shortage of food to eat at Across the Years. In addition to the usual race fare, there will be delicious meals served for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Previous years’ meals have included M&M pancakes, french toast, grilled cheese, quesadillas, spring rolls, sushi, lasagna, pizza, and chicken cordon bleu. A kitchen just behind the aid station will be operational, and if you ask the volunteers nicely, they will no doubt be glad to heat things for you, including items you bring for yourself, if there are particular foods you prefer. Vegetarian, vegan & gluten free options will be available, please ask!
- Will I be able to invite my non-competing relatives or friends to do laps with me for a while?
- Please see the Pacing & Guest Laps section on the Race Information page.
- Do you recommend using gaiters on this course?
- Whether to wear gaiters to help keep dirt and debris out of shoes is a matter of personal choice. The path at Camelback Ranch is primarily a dirt road, providing plenty of reason to consider wearing them.
General Information on 24-Hour and Multiday Races
- Why run fixed-time events?
- People have wondered what point there is to running around a track all day. Most runners who have tried it, even those who remain primarily fixed-distance and trail runners, admit that fixed-time running has a specialized appeal that is unlike other types of running. To quote one well-known director of trail races:
- I see a lot of advantages to fixed time events, and especially ATY. It’s a great confidence run for people just getting into ultras to see how far they can go. It’s good for older and slower runners who have a problem meeting cut-offs. It’s something a young runner can enter. It’s a highly social event. It’s a good way to find out how fast you can run a certain distance. If folks can’t see the benefits, if they dismiss fixed time events as “boring,” they’re missing out.—Geri Kilgariff
- What sort of person does these races?
- Ultrarunners differ in character as much as any other cross-section of humanity. The sport does not appeal to many young toughs from the backward-hat, tattoos, and muscle shirt crowd of extreme sport lovers. (Many of those people find they can’t do it!)
- Generally, persons who take up ultrarunning and stick with it tend to be highly self-motivated, willing to challenge themselves, and disciplined. There seems to be an inordinate number of persons from scientific and professional backgrounds in the sport. In addition, ultrarunning appeals more to older runners than to younger ones. I am not aware of any reputable research that has been done to verify that either of these claims is true, and if so, why.
- Isn’t age a disadvantage in distance running?
- Intuitively it would seem to be so, but the reality is quite different. At this writing Yiannis Kouros is 50, is still breaking records in almost every event he enters including a world record for 48 hours at Across the Years in 2005, and wins almost every race he runs by astonishing margins of hours or tens of miles over whoever finishes next. In 2001 Sue Ellen Trapp became, at age 55, the most elderly person to win a national championship running event at the Olander 24-hour race, winning it for the sixth time. (“Elderly” is the word chosen by the one giving out the awards.) At age 81, ultrarunning legend Helen Klein was still breaking world age group records by large margins, and running better than many competitors 30 and 40 years younger.
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Kouros, Trapp, and Klein may be exceptional, but it is also statistically verifiable that the median age of runners who participate in ultras is quite a bit higher than those who participate in shorter races. Participant ages in the 2001 edition of Across the Years broke down as follows:
- Ages of those who ran the 72-hour in ascending order: 28, 35, 40, 41, 43, 46, 47, 48, 49, 54, 55, 57, 58, 62, 63, 63, 64, 67
- Average: 51.1
Median: 49/54 - Ages of those who ran the 48-hour in ascending order: 38, 41, 43, 50, 50, 51, 53, 57, 71
- Average: 50.4
Median: 50 - Ages of those who ran the 24-hour in ascending order: 15, 17, 24, 28, 31, 32, 32, 33, 33, 33, 34, 34, 35, 37, 39, 39, 39, 40, 40, 41, 41, 42, 43, 43, 43, 43, 43, 44, 44, 44, 47, 47, 50, 50, 51, 51, 52, 52, 53, 54, 55, 55, 56, 60, 61, 62, 64, 65, 65, 69
- Average: 44.1
Median: 43
- Interesting, huh?
- Do people run the whole time, or are they allowed to walk sometimes?
- The ability of ultrarunners varies dramatically. A few world-class runners are able to run pretty much the whole time for 24 hours and even up to 48 hours. People in that category are few and far between, but they do tend to show up at races like Across the Years.
- Although these events are called running races, the traditional term for the technique employed is “go as you please,” meaning competitors are free to run, walk, sleep or do whatever they want, but the clock never stops. The reality is that almost everyone walks at least part of the time, and some people for most of it. When such events were held in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, they were often referred to as pedestrian races, which seems quaintly archaic, but is probably a more accurate term to describe them than running. It is even possible for diligent racewalkers to win the 48-hour and 72-hour events.
- Do the runners get to have rest periods?
- Across the Years is not a staged race where time is accumulated over several periods of activity. The clock runs continuously. It’s a true race in that whoever gets the farthest in the time allotted is the winner. What competitors do to keep themselves moving is up to them. Some just keep on going, even if very slowly.
- How far do they go?
- The world record for 24 hours, held by Yiannis Kouros, is 188.59 miles. But it may be a very long time before anyone breaks many of his records.
- Giving the ladies equal time, the world record for 24 hours is 158.63 miles, held by Mami Kudo, and Sumie Inagaki holds the 48-hour record at a remarkable 246.74 miles
- In case you were wondering, no world records are kept for 72 hour races, only course records. Therefore, anyone who enters the 72-hour race is running for fun rather than glory. As a consequence, until 2004, the course records were probably a bit softer than they would be if world-class runners showed up regularly in hopes of setting records. As the race’s reputation increases, this is changing.
- It is often a goal of middle ability runners to get 100 miles in a 24-hour race. Doing so is a substantial accomplishment.
- Do runners sleep, and if so, how much?
- Well-trained and motivated runners sometimes find it surprising how little sleep they need. After all, it’s hard to fall asleep when you’re exercising. Many 24-hour runners will go the whole night without sleep, in the realization that they are in a race, and when they are not moving forward they are not logging distance. Some will nap for a couple of hours. Others demand more sleep.
- A very few 48-hour runners are able to go the whole time without sleep, but those this writer has seen who do have been zombies when they finished. In 2003 Jan Ryerse won the 72-hour race without sleeping at all, and Geesler’s 300-mile run was accomplished with about an hour’s sleep, by his estimate—not counting time he may have been sleeping while running!
- Almost anyone planning to go longer than 48 hours must consider sleep periods as a part of his or her strategy. Some 72-hour runners have even been known to leave and go to a motel or home to get a few hours sound sleep before returning refreshed. Others will nap a couple of hours at a time in tents.
- What pace do most people run?
- Paces vary from swift to barely moving. Most people slow down as they get tired. It seems to be a universal phenomenon for runners to slow down significantly during the late night hours, even though the temperatures are cooler, no matter how determined they are not to. Our body clocks are built to shut down that time of day. Then amazingly, when the sunlight returns, everyone comes to life once again. Experienced runners find that they sometimes return to nearly the energy levels they had on the first day during the daylight hours of the second and third days.
- It’s not hard to do the math. If the average distance accumulated in 24 hours is 70.79 miles, they have to travel at an overall 20:20 pace. That’s a slow walk, but it does not allow for potty stops, gear changes, and tending to other necessary matters. Any time a person is not moving at all, the average pace per mile tends to rise quite rapidly.
- What about eating and going to the bathroom?
- Ultrarunners are human beings with normal bodily functions that must be attended to. In order to sustain energy, they must eat more-or-less constantly, as much as 300 calories or more an hour, perhaps three or four times as much in a day as they would normally consume.
- It’s inefficient from a racing standpoint to sit down to eat. Therefore, most runners will eat foods such as energy bars and high-carbohydrate snack foods while on the run, and often can be seen eating a full meal on a paper plate while walking around the track in order to avoid wasting time.
- In shorter races, runners tend to concentrate entirely on carbohydrates because they convert to energy quickly. Most ultrarunners also take in plenty of fats and protein. They need to eat normal food as much as possible during a race, and lots of it, including soups, yogurt, sandwiches, pizza, and various hot dishes.
- How do you train for one of these races?
- This question is the subject of books. Techniques vary greatly, and personal opinions are widely available for free. Advanced information is dispensed by professional coaches at great cost to consumers.
- Some runners will tell you the only way to train for a race like Across the Years is to run it once. You will learn a lot that you can apply to the next time you do it.
- One does not simply go out and start running 100 miles a week or doing 16-hour training runs every couple of weeks. Most people who run track ultras have been running consistently for years at fairly high mileage, and have competed in shorter races first. A balanced training program that includes at least one weekly long run, some mileage base building, and a modest amount of speed work for strength, will suffice for most runners. One of the most surprising things runners learn as they branch into ultrarunning is that the amount of extra training necessary to do it is not much more than they need to run shorter distances. Some runners have been known to do reasonably well with a mileage base as little as 30 miles per week. Runners cannot expect to win the race with that little training, but may find themselves running tens of miles further than they have ever run before on race day.
- Ultrarunning is a highly scientific sport. It’s not about gritting your teeth and gutting it out. A well-trained ultrarunner will read the literature available and get information from other runners. Over time he will find himself becoming knowledgeable about the science of running—physiology, nutrition and fueling, fluid and electrolyte replacement, caring for the endocrine system, muscles, knees, quads, hamstrings, lower back, the need for weight training and heart/cardio fitness, preventing muscular overbalances, skeletal problems, watching for signs of injury to joints and ligaments, such as in and around the Achilles tendons and ankles, being alert to potential medical problems with kidneys, pulmonary emboli, heart arrhythmia, caring for feet, preventing blisters, breathing, sleep, and many other details. Being ignorant of these matters is a good way to get hurt and have a short career (and possibly a short life) as an ultrarunner.
- How do you prepare for sleeplessness?
- The answer to this question is good news. The only way to prepare for sleeplessness is to get as much rest before the race as possible, including nine or ten hours the night before the race. It is neither possible nor necessary to train for sleeplessness by practicing staying up all night. Doing so merely depletes one’s vital energy, and brings no training benefits in return.
- Some ultrarunners disagree with this advice, and maintain that having the experience of going through the night a couple of times provides valuable psychological training, teaching runners how to cope with it.
- How do they measure the distance run in a fixed-time race?
- Imagine the problem that would exist if everyone started in one place, then headed down a road or trail for 24 hours. How would you signal the time to stop? How would you measure the distance when some runners go 150 miles and others only 20? Because of these problems, the only reasonable way to measure a fixed-time event is to have everyone run laps on a short course where the distance of a single lap has been accurately measured, preferably certified, and to count the laps each runner has traveled. In some races, partial final laps may be measured to within a few centimeters, at the runners’ option. Final partial laps are not counted at Across the Years, but the lap count is recorded using a chip system, so is quite accurate.
- What differences are there between running 24 hours and multiday?
- Different runners will say different things. Some 72-hour runners will tell you they get to have three times the fun.
- The longer a person goes, the more incumbent it becomes upon him to include walking and sleeping in his race strategy. It also becomes more necessary for him to eat normal foods. A few runners may be able to get by on typical race food for as long as 24 hours, but before long a person is going to need and want soup and sandwiches and chili and stick-to-your-ribs chow.
- It also takes more gear to run a multiday. How long can you stand to live in the same sweat and filth saturated clothing? Some people also change shoes, and a few even take time out to take showers during the race.
- Pacing is much different in a multiday race. Statistically it has been shown that even elite 48-hour runners cover about 65—70% of the distance they will go the first day, then hang on for dear life until the end. Some runners walk most of the time in the later stages of the race, particularly late at night, and even plan it that way. The elites, of course, just keep on running, but even Yiannis Kouros eventually slows down at least a little.
- What about recovery and additional sleep afterward?
- This writer’s personal experience has been that as little as four hours of deep sleep in a real bed after a hot shower following a race is sufficient to get through the rest of the day following a 72-hour race, and that thereafter no more than eight hours (a normal night) is necessary, even right after the race.
- Total recovery is quite another matter. A well-trained runner may be able to run an easy two or three miles the day after a multiday. Getting out the door to walk a mile or so is better for some persons than total rest, and helps speed recovery, because it helps to stretch out sore muscles and keeps one from getting too stiff.
- Sore muscles are not all that need recovering following a long ultra. A person may be back to running easily in a few days, and training normally within a week or so. In contrast, the endocrine system gets taxed to the limit during an ultra, and takes three weeks or longer to recover adequately. During that period, a runner may find himself far more susceptible to illnesses than normal. Unless you enjoy being sick, make a special effort following an ultra to consume vitamins, get enough sleep regularly, and avoid stress, drafts, germs and contact with sick people, or anything else that tends to make you ill.
- What happens to your feet?
- They get tired. Sometimes they get blisters. Learning the techniques of foot care and blister prevention is a large part of the science of ultrarunning.
- Don’t you get tired running for so long?
- No, never.
- Just kidding, folks! Of course we get tired. These are endurance races. Battling against tiredness is the whole point. There is the physical ache and tiredness of muscles, joints, and bones, being tired of endless heavy breathing and pounding heart, there is the mental tiredness from doing the same thing for hour after hour, and there is tiredness from lack of sleep. Add them together and you have one huge case of utter exhaustion. Doing well in a multiday is largely about learning to cope with the problems as they occur, and to get beyond them. The tiredness is a kind that can at the same time be exhilarating, when accompanied by the great satisfaction returned from rising to face challenges, overcome obstacles, and make goals. Some runners believe the happiness that comes from this ranks among life’s greatest moments.
- Isn’t it still true that the faster runners win?
- Looking at the big picture, that is a true statement, because the winner is the one who goes the farthest in the time given. To beat all the others he or she has run faster than all of them, at least overall.
- Don’t forget that 24-hour and multiday races are essentially endurance contests. Many runners who excel at short distances cannot handle the longer runs, and drop out. Those who are able to keep on trudging along may be able to accumulate the mileage necessary to beat someone faster because of having greater endurance. It is in long fixed-time races that the old tortoise and hare principle reigns supreme, with the result that many intrinsically slower runners with stamina and grit are able to surpass the speedsters.
- At ATY in 2001, the great and gracious ultrarunner Ann Trason thrilled us with her presence at the 24-hour race. In the course of the day she set five world and national masters records, then went down in flames and quit the race by early evening, with an accumulated mileage of just over 80 miles, a total that made her a better-than-average mid-packer. By comparison, this writer is one of the slowest of the slow, but 80 miles was less mileage than I acquired in my very first 24-hour race. There is a lesson to be learned there: RFP (Relentless Forward Progress) pays off big time.
- Don’t people get bored running endlessly?
- No doubt some do. If it’s not fun, don’t do it. All the ultrarunners I know do it because they enjoy it.
- This writer has long believed that boredom comes from within. If a person is unhappy with himself or has little of interest to offer to others as a person, then he is likely as bored with himself as others probably are with him, but are too polite to say. There can hardly be a better opportunity to meditate on life’s problems, commune with one’s Creator, and generally get one’s head in good working order than in those hours spent running. Perhaps to persons for whom these activites are not important, spending time running is boring.
- In addition, at a race such as Across the Years one is never alone for very long. In a short time everyone present recognizes everyone else and people get to know one another. Bonds are formed. With 75 or so runners running around a short loop one is rarely more than a few feet from a new friend to be made or an old one whose acquaintance can be cultivated and renewed.
- Does it help to use a portable music player?
- Some people run multiday races while wired to an MP3 player. It’s certainly not against race rules to do so. Others have no use for them, and regard them as simply another thing to have to lug around. As Sheryl Crow sings: “If it makes you happy, it can’t be that bad!”
- Can anyone run a race of this sort?
- Across the Years is an all-comers family of races. No minimum distances are set to qualify as a finisher. Technically, anyone can enter a three or six-day race, run, walk, or crawl one lap, and be able to say he competed in and “completed” a 72-hour or 144-hour footrace. Persons who take up precious race slots to fulfill frivolous fantasy goals are not likely to earn the respect or admiration of other runners, and it’s doubtful that those who do it get much personal satisfaction either.
- Any person who hopes to make a serious effort at racing for 24 hours or longer is well advised to do so after at least a few years of consistent running and completing races, preferably including one or more shorter ultramarathons, and following a period of extended training specific for the event. Running an ultra is not simply a matter of showing up, gutting it out to the finish, and then getting a few days rest at the end. The price one pays in damage to one’s body, including his or her endocrine system, can be significant. It must be frankly acknowledged that there is danger in running ultramarathons. We cannot recommend that you accept the risk lightly.
- If you are considering running such an event and have never done so before, train well, read the literature available on the subject, and seek the advice of knowledgeable runners who have done it before you. There is no glory in foolishly engaging in self-destructive activity.
Words from our runners...
During this race, my kidneys were working overtime, producing urine at a faster rate and in larger quantities than I had ever experienced in the past. I attributed this to the release of water from fat metabolism, and I was looking forward to the weight loss I would see on my scale when I returned home. When I stepped on the scale, I was dismayed to discover that I had gained a pound. How could that be? Was it the burritos, the lasagna, pizza, nutella rolls, or grilled cheese sandwiches? Surely, it was not the chicken cordon bleu. Could it possibly have been the pumpkin pie available throughout the 72 hours and even after the race ended and the volunteers were dismantling the aid (food) station, bring out half of a large (12” diameter?) pie? There was even cold milk available. I had to have one more piece of pie. It would be a sacrilege to have pumpkin pie go to waste. I choose to believe that the pound gained was the result of fat being lost and replaced by new muscle.
-Dan Baglione
Thanks to all for making my first ATY so special. God bless Dr. Andy for salvaging my sore ankle Wednesday night. Sorry to those who saw me vomiting so much. My stomach was just not a happy camper for the second half of the event. May you have a blessed 2011!
-Joan Hellman
The Coury family and all of the volunteers were outstanding once again! I had a blast. It was great to see friends and make new ones. You can’t explain the magic of this race until you’ve experienced it first hand.
-Jamie Huneycutt
I would like to thank everyone who is involved in making ATY a great success! I am not a runner… but all of you made me feel like family and I really appreciate it! It was such an amazing experience to complete 100 miles for the first time in my life at this awesome event. The new friends I made, the friends who sent messages of encouragement, the aid station workers, the timing, the track maintenance, the heated restroom…
-Maryann Ramirez
Thank you! Thank you! I’d heard great things about this race but had no idea it would be as Awesome as it was. Kudos to the Courys and all the wonderful volunteers! And of course all the fellow competitors were superb. A true family event that I hope I can experience again!
-Sarah Duncan
Just want to say Thank you so much for a fantastic race! What a great way to celebrate New Years. I’ll be back!
-Peter Gustavsson
To all that made ATY so incredible thank you so very much. Your hard work enable me to have an incredible memory (big miles is not always the most important thing). Top notch race!
-Jeffrey Bott
There are ultras and then there is Across the Years!
— Gillian Robinson (ZombieRunner)
Love the race so much that I moved to Arizona from Pittsburgh just to be closer to it.
— Robert Webster
I ran the 24-hour run at Across the Years, and felt lucky to have a chance to talk with Yiannis Kouros. It was the third day of his run, so he was moving more slowly than in his record-setting first two days. Glen Turner, one of his handlers, suggested that I do a lap with Yiannis to raise his spirits. So I just fell into step with him and asked how it was going. His English is quite fluent, and we chatted for a couple laps. He told me he preferred roads to this surface, and that he was walking because the running was too jarring for him. I got to share in a small Greek treat — baklava — and then I continued on my running pace. From then on we said hey (or some other acknowledgement) on most laps. Later in the night I walked with him again. He held my hand and said some very nice things. I even paced him for a little while (when he started running again) by having him chase me for a few laps. And, I got a kiss at midnight =) After the race, I was done with 87 miles, and he congratulated me on my distance, joking that I had lost weight. He spoke with other people a little bit and lots of people took his picture.I am in awe of the man. His accomplishments are amazing, but yes, he’s human like the rest of us. He had highs and lows during the race, got cranky with his handlers sometimes, and was polite to me and friendly (maybe over-friendly). Meeting Yiannis was a highlight for me, and a story I get to tell for a while. I’m glad I made him smile a little and he sure made me smile. His handlers made me smile too.And while I’m at it, I’ll also say that Across the Years is an amazing experience, which seems to improve each time. (How can it get any better?) I love having the chance to talk to so many different people during an event. I did also talk to John Geesler, which was fun too. This event is certainly a combination of great volunteers and great runners, which makes an experience that is unforgettable. I have great admiration for everyone out there who participates.
— Gillian Robinson
I can’t rave enough about Across the Years, and I didn’t even run it. I was just a lowly slave and I still had a blast.The only complaint I have is that runners at this race are spoiled rotten. And every year they get even more spoiled. Probably next year slippers and bath robes will be included in runner packets along with mints placed on pillows every morning.Across the Years doesn’t raise the bar for race directors — it goes way above the bar. Anyone who tries to compete with this event will go broke trying even to match it. And it all comes from the heart — some very BIG hearts.
— Geri Kilgariff
I couldn’t have said it better, Geri! I still feel as though I was in a dream on another planet. Some of that is from NO sleep in all those days, but mostly because of the unbelievable treatment and spoiling that we runners received from all the volunteers and race committee members. I don’t know how you all did it. Everyone was just so nice the whole time and NO ONE had any sleep, yet no one was grumpy.
I learned so very much at this race. I did most EVERYTHING wrong and had to stop with 12 hours to go, but I still keep raving about the race and all the people. I think most of the reason I felt like a failure when I quit was because after all that everyone had done for me, I wanted to finish strong and do them proud. Apparently that will have to happen next year because I am definitely going back. Time to go back and sit in the ice water again to try to get my legs and feet back to normal size!
— Tracy Y. Thomas
It was terrific to watch the ebb and flow of all the runners’ progress at the Across The Years this weekend with the web site’s hourly bulletins. Performance of the event might be accorded to 73-year-old Aaron Goldman.
Big thanks to Lynn David Newton for the state of the art program and design, and all the volunteers (including our List’s Dave) who manned the scoring table that allowed us wannabees a seat in the peanut gallery.
In a personal aside, heart felt congratulations, Mr. Nattu Natraj, for completing 100 miles! This is the kind gentleman (who I still have never met) who sent me some photos he took of my finish at Leadville this year. Yep, even the one that made the UR magazine. Otherwise, I’d still be thinking I must’ve imagined it … and wouldn’t now have the evidence on my very own bedroom wall.
— Pete Stringer
I miss you all tons already. Thank you will never be enough for such a magnificent gift of an experience. I am still struggling to digest and comprehend the slendour and specialness of what I experienced. Thank you kindly and very sincerely once again.
— Michele Santilhano
To Rodger: Just wanted to say you and your family are on my list of most admired people — you give soooooo much. ATY is totally awesome. I just loved all the runners. I will always help you.
— Don Meyer
Once again, we might be the littlest bit spoiled these days, I was planning on waiting for Nick Marshall’s annual ultradistance summary for the complete results anyway. Let’s see, would it be in the 2005 edition out in a couple of months, or maybe not until March or so of 2007? Actually, maybe I could pick up a lot of word of mouth results if I can get to 8 or 10 ultras this year.
Seriously, the coverage was great, and improving all the time, I expect lap by lap results, complete with pictures, piped directly into my brain in a couple of years.
— Marv Skagerberg
From a runner’s perspective — yes, we loved the projector! Being able to see the lap splits and distances for yourself and everyone near you every time you crossed the mat was terrific. I can hardly imagine doing a timed race without all that instantaneous info now.
The whole event was wonderfully run, and I highly recommend it to anyone who can stand the pain of running that long on a perfectly flat surface. (Personally, I think I’ll be going back to trails for awhile.)
Thanks to Paul for directing, Rodger and his family for hosting, Lynn for the web stuff, and Dave and so many other terrific volunteers. Across the Years is really a full service event!
— Jasper Halekas
Paul Bonnet is a class act who understands ultrarunning like few others do.
— Andy Jones-Wilkins
Thank you so much, Rodger, to you and your fabulous family for all that you did to make this past weekend an unforgettable experience for our whole family. We were all practically giddy when we arrived on Friday to see your spectacular place, all lit up, with both world famous and novice runners moving around the track. And it just got better from there. Seeing you and Dave right away, checking out the beautiful and warm bathrooms, wandering around your gigantic tent, seeing not only the aid station but the kitchen set-up, setting up our own tent right near the start/finish – as Wendell said, it was like an ultra-fest! And what can we say about your timing arrangements — incredible!! Jasper was worried that he’d be so engrossed in the display of technology after each loop that he would stand, dumbstruck, just across the mat!! But he was able to run, and run well, as you saw, as was Wendell. As were so many people! And so many of those successes were helped, in large part, by you, your family, Paul, and all the other people who help make ATY the fine race that it is.
It was a blast to be out there with the other Aaron, Yiannis, Don, Gillian, Lynn — some old friends, some people we’d only heard of. And seeing the smiling faces of you, Dave, Jimmy, and all the others made crossing the mat each time and even better experience.
And thanks, too, for giving our Aaron the freedom to play all day long, chat with runners and crew, and man the fire in your most-cool fire pit. He had a great time all weekend, and is really looking forward to next year when he’ll have one day to play and one to run.
— Sarah Spelt
I just want to thank you again for hosting ATY. What a wonderful venue! It was great seeing you and James out there, and sometimes I probably didn’t respond much either due to the MP3 player on or just too tired to care, but rest assured I was very appreciative of your help in allowing this race to be held on a wonderful track. Really outstanding!
I really liked the projection screen split results at the timing mat. This was a Godsend for anal types like me who want to know times and distances all the time. Really nice!! Thank you.
And best of all I stayed out of the tent!
— Dale Perry
First off, what a terrific event you all put on. All the volunteers, runners and race officials were outstanding. As many of the other notes on the ultrarunning list have already stated (I’ll be posting mine soon), I can’t imagine another race doing more for the runners than you all have. And the website was great for friends to follow — Lynn has done a great job with that!
Despite my terrible performance, I still had a fantastic time and can’t wait to go back next year to avenge myself. I was on pace to reach my expectations and come in the top 3, when my body basically quit on me. After that, I focused on learning what I can to rebound from such a situation and to prevent it from happening again, and stopped looking at miles and position.
Special thanks to Chris and Andy who helped me figure out what wrong for me physically. I’ll continue to communicate with Andy as I learn and improve. As I told Andy at dinner on Sunday after the race, it means a lot to me to know that the medical personnel for the event are also experienced ultrarunners.
— Phil Rosenstein
Clearly you did a fabulous job organizing and putting on the run. Congratulations! As a former RD, I understand what it takes to do this. You deserve the credit that people are now giving.
I looked at one of the pictures of Yiannis and thought that his body doesn’t look much different than mine. Obviously, talent is not measured by simple physical dimensions. What a treat to get to see a living legend.
— Karl King
Thank you for providing such an excellent venue for our running event. I think it is one of the premier events in multiday running.
The medical team of Andy and Chris is phenomenal, especially since they are also in the race. Chris is absolutely the best blister repair person I have met in all my years of running. Andy is so multitalented from his own profession to adjustments made on the runners. I’ll bet that you did get to nap at some point but it seemed to me that you were always available.
— Fred Riemer
Your website is wonderful. I have enjoyed using it to see how our friend, John Geesler, is doing in the race. The site is very user friendly. Thanks for the efforts. The pictures are great.
— Viola Pliszek
ATY is a great race. I didn’t know if I’d like a 24-hour run, but I did. At least this one, they spoil you rotten. I got sick and had to leave early, but even with that I enjoyed it and can’t wait to do the next one.
John Geesler has a wonderfully positive personality. It’s easy to see why he does well at ultras. He is so very upbeat.
Yiannis Kouros was also supportive. We didn’t talk much as I was mostly running and he was mostly walking (hard to believe, I know), but he always called me by name and said something positive when I went by. I didn’t get a kiss (like Gillian), but he was charming and friendly and I still can’t believe I was on the same track as him.
Paul Piplani was an amazing sportsman as well. He always had positive comments, is interesting to talk to, and is a pleasure to be around.
Come to think of it, everybody there was pretty darned jovial. It’s hard not to be in a good mood when the race organization is serving sushi and tending to your every need.
— Cathy Tibbetts
I wanted to thank you and your family again for treating me so special. I didn’t have a good run but had a great time. The clock the race gave me was really quite nice. Please let Paul know I appreciated it a lot. You have a lovely place and I look forward to a return visit.
— John Geesler
Timer and programming goddess Laura Nagy, along with Rodger and Paul, upped the bar significantly on last year’s monitors for checking lap times. This year there was a movie screen like you’d see for home movies or in a business conference room at each end of the start/finish area. A projector hooked to the timing computer showed the last ten runners’ names, laps and distances in miles and kilometers, updated as they crossed the start/finish line, so everybody could check their stats without even slowing down as they ran by. All the runners LOVED it, and there was great grumbling whenever the projector went down for a few minutes. (it was rather finicky from time to time, but RD Paul Bonnett had the magic touch getting it going again every time.)
— Dave Combs
Running in circles for three days? You people are nuts!
— An Anonymous School Bus Driver
Here are the athletes competing:
- Montana Farrah-Seaton
- Stefanie Flippin
- Camille Herron
- Kayla Jeter
- Xiaomeng Jia
- Yoon Young Kang
- Vriko Kwok
- Mirna Valerio
- Devon Yanko
- Leah Yingling
VOLUNTEER
WORK EXCHANGE PROGRAM
Welcome to the Across The Years Work Exchange program. We are excited to bring this program to this long standing multi-day running event. The goal of the program is to provide opportunities for enthusiastic participants to volunteer with us each day of the event in exchange for an entry into the 6 day event. We ideally would like to select individuals that are able to be with us for all 6 days. If you are interested, please read the job requirements and application info below. We will review all applications and make our selections based upon them. Thank you for your interest in Across The Years!
How it works:
Those accepted into the work exchange program will receive a complimentary entry into the ATY 6 day in exchange for working an 8 hour shift in the aid stations each day. When not on their shift, they are welcome to sleep, get in miles or just hang out. They will also receive a race shirt and be eligible for all race awards including belt buckles.
Limited slots:
We will have two open work exchange slots per shift and there are three 8 hours shifts per day.
Ideal candidates:
Ability to be on site for all six days and previous volunteering experience at an ultra marathon.
How to apply:
Interested applicants will need to fill out and submit an application to be reviewed by the race director to see if they are a good fit and dependable.
Duties:
- Cook meals
- Serve food
- Re-fill aid station food
- Clean portable restrooms
- Change out trash bags
- On-site security at South Gate
- Complimentary entry into the 6 Day Race
- No more than 40 scheduled hours
- Race shirt & finishers award including buckle for 100 miles or more
- Tent rental and cot if planning on camping on site
- Aid station food and meals
Questions?
Contact info@aravaiparunning.com
VOLUNTEER AT ATY!
We love our volunteers and can not produce our events without their dedication, time, and support they give to our ATY family (not to mention their amazing dance moves)! If you would like to join our volunteer team, we are looking for help with event setup, aid station, registration, and event breakdown. Volunteer perks include a piece of Aravaipa merchandise or race goody and Aravaipa Race Credits. You can see our current opportunities and signup here: ACROSS THE YEARS VOLUNTEER FORM
PHOTOS
Slides to accompany Lynn’s 72-hour race report From Despair to Ecstaty.
Slides to accompany Lynn’s first 72-hour report Geezer’s Greatest Grind.
Slides to accompany Lynn’s 48-hour race report Geezer Goes Gonzo.
This was the year of the Across the Millenium 6-day run. The slide show put together for that was an online supplement to Lynn Newton’s book Running Through the Millennium, written about training for and running the ATY 24-hour race.