Love Dump: 2023 Arizona Trail Race (800)

Nov 9

From the AZTR, with love and gratitude

I can’t sleep.

This is unsurprising. I never can sleep through the night in the weeks following an ultra. Instead, it happens in sweaty 2-3 hour blocks, several times a day, while my body systems sort themselves out. I’ve learned not to fight it. Yet, this time I know there is something else gnawing at me… a huge effort that didn’t go how I’d hoped.

Yes, I am proud to have completed the AZTR 800. Yet I also feel humbled and unsatisfied. The early heat curb-stomped my competitive ego into the dust. I was effectively out of the “race,” or where I thought I fit within it, by the afternoon of day two. That was a tough pill to swallow for someone whose heart gets filled by throwing down the gauntlet with his badass friends.

Even the idea of finishing was too much to contemplate in those early days. I had to let all that go in the name of simple survival. I spent most of the first six days slinking between shade patches and strategizing how to ride through some of the most beautiful places on the trail under cover of darkness. I missed most of those sunrises and sunsets climbing out of some deep hole or the shadowy side of a mountain. All of this was antithetical to why I toed the start line of this epic adventure. But it was my reality for half the time I was out there.

It’s ok. I'll learn from it, and get over it.

Fortunately, there are other, more important, reasons I do these things. Their names are friendship and community. This community. Your love. That is what kept me going. And I’m very grateful it did.

So, charge up the iPhone and head for the throne because it’s time for an epic love dump…

**John Schilling**
Dude! What an honor to finally meet you. I’m in awe of all the energy you put into this community, as well as your steadfast defense of the integrity of the monster named AZTR. You said it first, but I’m glad for my lost tracker and the opportunity it created for us to spend time together in Gold Canyon. It’s one of my best memories from the trip. Also, I know it was a tough year for the JS dot. Here’s to #JS2024

Photo by (?)

**The Hansons (Jason & Jennifer)**
Y’all are amazing! Thank you so much for taking the time to hunt down my lost tracker and return it to me. It meant so much to me and my family, let alone all my friends, following along. It’s people like you that are humanity’s greatest hope. I regret having missed the chance to meet you at the grand depart. Next time for sure. I owe you guys big time.

**Indiana Schulz (AKA ‘Drive-by Dildo’)**

What to say about our 3+ days together… It was a mischief meant to be. We both struggled with the early heat and endured first half injuries. I believe the race brought us together for a reason… two wounded warriors, who hadn’t managed much fun at that point, suddenly had it all. All the food. All the laughs. All the recovery. Together. And it was sooo fun. I’ll never forget our meal at Jake’s Corner Bar. Especially the moments after I told you I’d changed my name on Trackleaders. You said something like, “No way I’m changing mine!” then sat there in silence for a good five minutes. Suddenly you burst out laughing. I asked you why. You said you’d been thinking through the implications of changing your name. Then you did it. “Drive-by Dildo.” LEGEND. John Schilling sent me a playful text, “This is a serious bike race.” I haven’t felt that young in a long time. Love you brother. I’m excited to follow your next chapter.

**Karin Pocock**

Fun fact: I’ve never done an ultra without my shred sister in the lineup. You are the only person on the planet I can say that about. It makes total sense. As the toughest person I know, there is no one I’d rather take an ass kicking with than you. And boy did we. So proud of you. Barncats forever.

**Brad Davis**

So stoked to have finally connected with you after all these years! Absolutely rad to have a card-carrying AZT 800 brother right down the street. Looking forward to our debrief and conspiring on future mischief. Love ya pal!

Photo by (?)

**Miron Golfman**
Superman! It’s been an honor to spend time with you this year, and what a year you have had! I hope you can see that through the frustration. You operate on a different level, and I can’t wait to see what you throw down once you get things sorted. Thank you so much for being there for my finish with a hug, a chair, a chicken, and an extraction no less! I hope I’ll get to repay the favor one day.

**Singlespeed Family**

Oh my gawd I love you guys! Johnny Price & Alexandera Houchin >>> LEGENDS! I know how special this trail is to you two and how hard you’ve worked for this over so many years. I’m so proud and happy to see you blow the house down despite the brutal conditions. My main regret from this whole thing is that I didn’t ride fast enough to hug you guys at the finish.
I’d also like to point out that the other three original singlespeed Lemmon Puschers (Andrew Strempke, Connor Adkisson, and Zach Freundlich) played a truly sacred role in this year’s race. After enduring early scratches, Zach and Connor could have just gone home. But they didn’t. They went with Andrew (who didn’t race) to the Kaibab Plateau to clear deadfall. Then, for several days, they posted up at Stateline to welcome, revive, and help extract 800 finishers. Talk about selfless human beings. Andrew, Katie Strempke (who finished a few hours ahead of me), and Connor were there for my finish. They were waiting with hugs, quesadillas, and hot chocolate. Love you guys forever.

Photos by John Schilling

**Triple Crown Challengers**
Just wow! I’m so amazed that all seven of you, led by five badass women (including Katie Strempke and her career Triple Crown) made it to Stateline. Congrats to each of you. What a journey. It was an honor to share the trail with such inspiring people. And eye-opening as to what it would take to attempt the triple myself; a decision for another time.

**Family & Friends Afar**

I’ve never done a race where so many people (most I know, some I don’t) were invested in my success. I am very appreciative of your kind messages. You helped pull me out of a dark place more than once. A few of you (those who know these races, their rough places, and the elements we were battling) sent me potentially lifesaving information; bush hotel here; water source there; a reminder to be grateful. You know who you are. It brings tears to my eyes to have friends like that.

**Sparks**

I met so many wonderful folks the first few days, including on the shuttle ride the day before the grand depart, the gathering at MM103, and the first few days of riding. I’m not going to attempt to name everyone but treasured every interaction with my fellow racers as well as the folks following and photographing the race. I view each of those connections as the sparks of new friendships. Thanks for sharing a few moments with me out there in the yonder. Please hit me up if we have not already connected.

**Critters Big and Small**

I freely admit to being concerned about encounters with those venomous amongst you. Thankfully, my fears did not line up with reality. All of my wildlife encounters were unexpected, memorable, and welcome. In total I saw: three ringtails (one of which played in the light of my headlamp for several minutes), two road runners, a number of coyotes, countless raptors, a kit fox, a few skunks (including one on the Four Peaks road whose ass came about five feet from my face as I zoomed around a corner… THAT. COULD. HAVE. SUCKED!), a crazy eight-inch long centipede that attacked my rear tire, several scorpions, six tarantulas, one pissed off rattlesnake (which had to be gently backed down a hillside with a trekking pole because of the lack of other options in the precarious place it was encountered), a train of about 50 javelina wandering up a wash (one of them woofed at me like a dog!), hundreds of elk, dozens of deer (both Mule and Kaibab), a few types of squirrels, and one giant pile of Bison poo. Thank you all for the gift. I was enthralled by every second with you.

**Tiger Mine Road Runner (of the bird variety)**

My first thought when I saw you running (on the road) was, “what an unoriginal bastard!” Then I realized that was the only thing I’d seen in four days of heat exhaustion that made a damn lick of sense. Thank you for bringing a moment of levity to what was otherwise my most dire day. It was a turning point of sorts.

The Elk of Happy Jack

What a moment – passing through your presence at sunrise. As a fellow creature of the North, I heard your bugling as a battle cry – calling me forth to defend our honor. You shifted my gears from recovery to racer. And race I did, for my last 3 days on the trail. That change in mindset was important for me to experience out there – to feel, act, and ride like a warrior again.