WMRC 3.30.11

Can you believe this great weather? Come on out for a group trail run tomorrow morning in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve. Headlamps can be turned off about half way through the run! Yippy! Meet at the very top lot of Squaw Peak Drive north of Glendale / Lincoln. 5:17 AM. Plan on a little over one hour at a slow to moderate pace.

Last week was a bloody morning. Two falls. No broken bones, one broken watch! With that said lets get down to the Runner or Runners of the week (falls of the week):

1st place is Paul Rondeau who wins for his fall during last weeks Wednesday run. You get extra credit for a major event durning a WMRC! 2nd place goes to Jody Chase our Colorado member. Jody ran the Antelope Island 50M on Saturday. Fell early into the race and broke her hand (some bone behind her pinky and middle finger), and still finished 8th female overall! Way to go Jody!

Also, major props to all those that have been out to the Zane Grey 50 (Highline Trail) doing trail work, clearing the way, removing all the rocks!! Okay, maybe not ALL the rocks!

Speaking of the Zane Grey 50, the entrants list has suddenly become very interesting. Can I say "holy cow" interesting!? Some guesses on who is showing up: Obama, Gaddafi, Oprah, Charlie Sheen. Those are all good guesses but if you want to know, come on out Wednesday morning to find out!

Zane Grey 50 Trail Marking is this Sunday. Contact Honey if you can attend. Should be a great day on the trail.

Lastly if you aren't going to run or help out during the Zane Grey 50 mile on April 16th please join "Team Taylor" for Pat's Run in Tempe the same day.

Join " Team Taylor" at Pat's Run

Friends,You are invited to join "Team Taylor" for the 7th Annual Pat's Run on Saturday, April 16th. Our goal is to have the biggest team at Pat's Run to honor and remember Taylor Paige Cosmas who passed away on April 18th, 2010 of SIDS at only five months old. We will also be running to honor and support Taylor's parents Katie and Mark Cosmas. To register for the event log on to www.patsrun.com Select "join a team" and select Team Taylor. The password to join is Cosmas. Time is running out as the race is filling up fast...Register Now!!! If you have already registered we can add you to Team Taylor...Let us know as soon as possible.You can run or walk the race. We ask that you forward on to as many people as possible.In addition, you can purchase a Team Taylor technical running shirt for $15.00. 100% of the proceeds will go to the CJ Foundation www.cjsids.org whose mission is to reduce the risk of future infant deaths, support families who have suffered a loss, and fund medical research so that no new families have to endure the pain of losing an infant. If you are interested in purchasing a race shirt, please respond no later than April 1, 2011 with your shirt size. Shirt's will be available for pick up at Mark and Katie's new run specialty shop, iRun prior to the race. In addition, there will be an after race party at iRun to celebrate Taylor's life; more this to follow.Please pass the word on to others and join Team Taylor.Thanks,

WMRC 3/23

We are on for an moderately paced 1:05 trail run in the Phx Mtn Preserve. Wed 5:16 am, top lot of SQ PK DR.

Since my head has been buried in the iRun store buildout and the NCAA tournament I don't have a clue who did what this weekend to earn Runner of the Week.

Normally this honor would automatically go Bluedog for no other reason than how cool he is. But I am going to give it to the brave peeps that joined Honey on her 25-75 mile run thru the McDowells Sunday am. This may stretch the truth but we will hear the real story tomorrow.

Runner-up goes to Bluedog, honorable mention to The Arizona Wildcats who will continue their march thru the madness this Thurs when they take down #1 seed Puke Blue Devils.

GO CATS! See everyone tomorrow morning.

Zane Grey 50 Trail Marking

Once again, it's time to mark the Zane Grey course kiddies. I am organizing a group Sunday, April 3rd. We will meet at the Safeway in Payson at 7:00am. At the interesection of Hwy. 260 & 89, turn right...towards Showlow, Heber, Holbrook, etc. On your right you will see the Safeway, can't miss my cool ultra red Honda Element in the parking lot. If Saturday the 2nd works better, I can assign a section for you.

We are doing it 2 weeks before the race this year. This is a great way to see parts of the course at your leisure. The distance for each group will be approx. 7-8 miles depending on how many volunteers we get. It's a fun day, bring a friend, family, doggy...

So I can coordinate groups, please let me know if you can join in the fun. You can e-mail me at selectionsstore4@aol.com or call my cell 602-399-0531.

Thank you!

Honey Albrecht

Mesquite Canyon Recovery Run 3.16.11

What's up with this early reminder? I guess everything clicks the week of St. Patrick's Day. Erin Go Braugh!

Reminder: Wednesday group run in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve. 5:17 AM. Plan on a little over one hour at a slow pace. Same location. Send a note if you need directions. Newbies are always welcomed.

What a great weekend for trail running. Phoenix is currently experiencing incredible weather. Sunny in the upper 80's. Saturday was the Mesquite Canyon Trail Runs in the White Tank Mountains just outside of Phoenix. 50K, Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K runs. Lots of WMRC friends in attendance. Check out some random pics Here.

Runner of the week: Laura Encinas ran in the Mesquite 50K. Her first "Ultra Marathon". Finishing 3rd female overall.
Runners up: Paulette finished 1st female overall in a time of 5:16 (here is Paulette's race report). Andrew Heard finished not to far ahead in a time of 5:11 to finish 4th overall. Other WMRC notables to finish the 50K: Jon Roig, Jeremy Dougherty (who ran a crazy unsupported 50 mile run last weekend), John Pearce, Monoj Nagalla and Mark Hellenthal.
In the Marathon division Mark Cosmas ran his first race in some time. It was great to see him out there. It was also great to see James Bonnett out competing in the half Marathon. James won in a time of 1:29. Nathon Coury not to far behind in a time of 1:38. Great Job everyone!!!

WMRC 3/9/11

The OP/Supes/Copper Canyon recovery run. Wed. 5:15 am, Top lot, SP PK DR.

We are on for a 1:05 run in the preserve at an easy pace as a lot of WMRCer's put down some big mileage this past weekend. Sorry, this is gonna be long. That's what she said. (MSDMPC)

Runner of the week goes to Honey Albrecht for finishing her 713th Old Pueblo 50 miler in the mountains s/o Tucson this past weekend. She cruised in at 10:17 to take 3rd female. Picture courtesy of our NM buddy and my 2006 Leadville 100 com padre, Neil Blake.

Boone gets runner up for finishing his 1st 50 miler and placing 4th overall in 8:35. Other finishers that I saw were Jerry Portelli (1st 50!!!) Jon Roig and Laura Nagy. Great job everyone.
WTF! Runner Up for an 8:35 50 miler in the mtns!!!! I should be fired! Sorry Boone. Chicks rule!

The Coury brothers went deep into Mexico's La Sierra Madre for The Copper Canyon Ultra made famous in the book, Born to Run. With 367 starters, after a rugged 51 miles Nick and Jamil crossed the finish line together in 7th place and the first international finishers. Everyone ahead of them was Raramuri tribesman running barefoot in sandals! These kids are primed for a huge year again. WTF! Great Job!

There was also an underground 50 miler going down in the Superstitions Mtns this past weekend. Since we have no pictures or proof that it really happened, we will just say that JJ, PR, and JD ran 50 rugged miles in the supes wilderness with 11,000 ft of elev gain. Oh yeah, all that with no aid station or crowds cheering them on.

Screw it, for the first time ever, I am taking away Honey's runner of the week award and giving an equal tie to everyone above, you all kicked ass and are deserving. I know she wants to share!

Congrats to the AZ Wildcats for their 12th conference championship in the PAC 10! If you can guess which team finished in last place you get a free iRun technical running shirt.

See everyone in the morning, make it a great day! Another iRun shirt to whoever figures out the acronym in parentheses at the top of the page.

Don't forget the The Mesquite Canyon races put on by the Courys in the White Tanks this weekend. I will be making my 2011 Ultra debut in the 50K!

WMRC 3/2/11

We are on for a 1:04 trail run in the Mountain Preserve tomorrow morning at 5:16 am. Don't be late! The weather right now is awesome!!!!

Runner of the week goes to Paulette who did the ultra division of the Ragnar Relay and did double duty logging 55 miles on the nasty black tar asphalt. I saw her running up Dynamite road passing peeps like they were standing still.

Other WMRCers at the RR were Joe G, Randy O, John P, and me. Not sure of anyone else, let us know.

Runner up goes to Honey who went out and ran the Bell Pass/Tom Thumb loop in the snow on Sunday morning. She is one bad ass ultra chick!.

See you all tomorrow morning

i run store coming soon!!! - Store front wrap during construction: