Arizona Trail 800 Mile Showdown Light VS McKnight FKT

[sam_hikes]

Aravaipa Running has been streaming this event which could be good for the AZT and it's for charity. Highlights each day till complete Jamil is saying.

Hype began a few days ago with a coin toss with the winner picking the direction of travel and the loser picked the start time. One started today at Mexico and the other at Utah. (8am today)

They are ok with serious folks from the public joining along for a spell and have their tracking info online so JJ lace up those racing shoes.

https://greatwesternadventures.com/

[ youtube video ]

[SpiderLegs]

@ALMAL - One of my buddies who joined me on my R3 trip in May is an avid bike packer and just turned 60. Despite me being a pretty fast uphill hiker, he left me in the dust after we exited Indian Gardens. One of those sports where you need to perfect combination of both strength and endurance.

[ALMAL]

@SpiderLegs
but was he carrying a bicycle?

[SpiderLegs]

@ALMAL - Nope, just did the bulk of his training doing a few long bike packing trips and races up in Idaho.

[CannondaleKid]

I can't imagine the down and up carrying a bike and gear. Looks like the leader just made it to the north rim.

Shortly before noon on Sunday we met and had a very brief chat with Rod-taprider Dagneau as he was descending along Gold Ridge Trail #47.
As I write this it appears he is on the Highline Trail nearing Washington Park and also appears to be the last of the 'Active' bikers still in the race.

Bikepacker on Gold Ridge

[ALMAL]

@CannondaleKid
He's about to go up Colonel Devin I guess?
I always wonder how these athletes make a living. Who can leave their job for 2-3 weeks at a time to do these races multiple times a year, what kind of job is that?
I do know the winner works for a bike shop in CO and is the head mechanic, so I guess I just answered my own question...
Publicity, experience, credibility, probably sells lots of bikes!

[xsproutx]

@ALMAL
I went through a hiker trash period of my life where I was doing all the long trails (AT, PCT, TA, etc). It really doesn't take a ton of money to live the lifestyle if you don't already have debts like a mortgage/car payment and that sort of thing. At the time, about 20 years ago, I needed to budget around 5-600 a month on trail. I was making about 10 bucks an hour and living very minimally so it wasn't difficult. Nowadays the standard is 1,000-1,300 a month. Most of us worked seasonal jobs (lots of ski bums since it was generally the off season for long distance backpacking) with similar minded roommates/month to month rentals.

It's a little different than this but if it's what you enjoy, it's pretty easy to find a way. I have one buddy still living the lifestyle and he basically just quits a retail job every few months on good terms, pisses off for a few weeks or months, then goes back to a different retail job. The more elite like the winner here will work in outdoor/related shops and they're usually pretty chill for the reasons you mention. Also wouldn't be surprised if he has part ownership in the shop as well; I know a few road racers that do but don't advertise it and "just" work as mechanics.

[SpiderLegs]

I always wonder how these athletes make a living.

The team I was crewing a few years ago were all guys my age or older, so fairly mature. They were doing the 350 mile AZT race which only required them to take about 10 days off total between travel & drive time along with days on the trail. Took me about an hour to figure out from learning their background that I was the only guy out of a half dozen in our SUV that wasn't worth seven figures. Couple had retired early due to some wise investments and everyone else were small business owners that owned successful contracting companies like HVAC or electrical. Simply had good office managers that they trusted to run things while they were gone. Did races like the AZT a few times a year along with joining me on my annual Grand Canyon hike when I put my group together.

[ALMAL]

@CannondaleKid
Looks like he veered off left of course this morning on the FUTS shortcut to Flag. Maybe taking a hotel day to avoid some snow? That area sucks if it's muddy.

[ALMAL]

@CannondaleKid
looks like he scratched...

[CannondaleKid]

@ALMAL
As the last "Active" rider along with the inclement weather, I'm sure I'd have bailed as well.

[ALMAL]

@CannondaleKid
me too. I'll bet the Anderson Mesa section got soupy sloppy sticky muddy and that was it. His bike looked like he was running more narrow tires than most riders. I thought his bike setup was cool looking, Canada themed, probably used to the cold, noticed he's 62. Hope I can try this when I'm 62. Better try the 300 first I suppose...

[CannondaleKid]

His bike looked like he was running more narrow tires than most riders

His bike was a Rocky Mountain (Fusion 40??) which comes standard with WTB Ranger Comp 29" x 2.4" tires.

While I didn't pay any attention to the tires when we met, when I noticed his tire tracks later the tread seemed relatively narrow and not aggressive at all. So... if they were actually WTB Rangers I'd guess they were only 29 x 2.25" rather than 29 x 2.4".

[SpiderLegs]

Hope I can try this when I'm 62. Better try the 300 first I suppose...

The team I crewed had mostly guys in their late 50's and early 60's. The guy I do all of my Grand Canyon hikes with was on this team and he celebrated his 60th birthday this year with a R3 in May, two R2R's last month and doing a Leadville 100 bike race over the summer. Guess the secret to successful aging is to keep moving.