Javelina Jundred

Blake Wood with his daughter Heather who was running her first 100 mile ultra. Don't they look super?

So imagine this. It is close to midnight, there's a full moon and you are running in the Arizona desert in a 100-mile ultra marathon race. You have fresh legs and a clear mind because you are a pacer. Your runner is still running strong after 60 miles and indeed your first lap with him (miles 60-75)is his second fastest of the day. There is barely any conversation, there is just the run and you are free to soak it all in. The moon is so bright you don't even need your lights and in fact many runners are running with theirs off. The stars are so crisp and clear not like they are back home where they are obscured by the fog and the light pollution from the city. At one point you are headed towards Orion's Belt and you are taken back to when you were 9 years old, when someone tells you that if ever one of those three stars is missing you can make a wish and it will come true. Back then you day dreamed lots about the girl next door so you constantly checked the night sky in the hopes that you could get that one wish in. The memory makes you smile and you laugh because after all these years you are still a day dreamer and deep down you still wish for one of those stars to wink out so you can make a wish.

That was the most memorable part about this past weekend that I keep coming back to. Pacing Tony at the Javelina Jundred was another incredible running experience. I paced him from mile 60 onwards, from 8:20PM Saturday evening thru 5:42AM Sunday morning.

This was my third time pacing Tony and we actually met at this event last year. He had a strong run, we pretty much ran the last 40 miles. Even when he finally slowed down, hurting and exhausted, he was still able to lay down a good and consistent pace. We would make up a lot of time, pass a lot of people and he would finish 23:42. A much better performance from his 26:40 last year. Truly his running has really come a long way in just the past year. This was his third under 24-hour finish for a hundred mile ultra this year along with a finish at Badwater 135-mile. I was blown away by his improvement. Physically he is much stronger, faster and mentally more focused and tougher. Congratulations Tony, all your hard work has paid off and it shows.

The event itself was a blast too. The race was on it's 7th edition and was seeing it's biggest field of runners with 270 runners signed up. The previous best, according to Dave Combs, was 150. The course record would be broken, by 1:05 hours! Dave James would run a 14:20, a 14:20! Sadly it may also be the year of the highest number of drops. Of the 250+ runners who started only 124 finished. The start/finish area was bigger and more festive and because the event started on Halloween day they even had activities for the kids. There was pumpkin carving, assorted games and a haunted house tent - pretty nifty. The course is made up of six 15+ mile loops and a 9+ mile loop and the start/finish area is the focal point of the event.

What a great time! I hope to be back again next year, pacing or running. They do a great job out there. Mahalo to Race Director Jamil Coury and all the people who made it possible. Congratulations to all the runners.

2 seconds before the gun goes off. That's Dave James in the white tank top and yellow running shoes.

Buddy Jon Gunderson being sprayed down with sunscreen while another volunteer evens it all out.

Lynne and Tony, they would run the first 60 miles together.

Inside the main aid station tent with the super volunteers.

Donato Cabal in his costume. He ran 30 miles in the heat with this before changing. Donato had a bad bike crash during the summer at an Ironman distance triathlon event. It was good to see him up, about and healthy.

Ultra-running ladies from Southern California in costume. Their runner was dressed in the exact same outfit, you can't see but they have matching gaiters.

The start/ finish area as seen from the top of a hill. Part of the course is in the background.

With the shirt I designed for the event.

Activities for the kids at night, including a haunted house. These was over a dozen kids at the start/finish.

Not a great picture but Tony a minute after his finish.

Many more pictures. Click here for the photoset.