Twenty-five years in the past this week, I accomplished my first 50-mile race on the 1999 Crown King Scramble. This iconic Arizona ultramarathon started in 1987 and has been a fixture on the native working scene longer than simply about every other occasion. Began as a 50-kilometer occasion and expanded to incorporate a 50-mile choice between 1997 and 2004, Crown King’s tagline is “From the Spines to the Pines,” because it begins within the simmering warmth of the cactus-filled Sonoran Desert at about 1,700 ft in elevation on the shores of Lake Nice and finishes in cool forests surrounding the historic mining city of Crown King at 5,900 ft.
The 50-mile model I ran again in 1999 began at 3 a.m. close to Morristown, Arizona, and adopted the Citadel Scorching Springs Highway, working by the historic Citadel Scorching Springs resort earlier than merging with the 50k course for the climb to Crown King. The 50-mile choice was eradicated after the 2004 race, and the 50k even suffered a hiatus between 2009 and 2012 because the Arizona Highway Racers working membership was in transition. In 2013, Jamil Coury and Aravaipa Working resurrected the occasion, which has been held on the finish of March annually since then.
The race maintains a lot of its old-school allure as a traditional point-to-point course beginning on the northern fringe of Phoenix and ending immediately in entrance of the historic Crown King Saloon, the place most of the contributors take pleasure in a post-race beverage and a meal. The race has taken on a homecoming feeling not too long ago as many people return 12 months after 12 months to jump-start their spring coaching and meet up with each other. Fairly a number of even e-book cabins for the evening after the race to benefit from the cool temperatures and laid-back vibe of Crown King and the Bradshaw Mountains late into the evening.
The Crown King Scramble supplies an incredible early season alternative to check the legs and meet up with pals. Photograph: John Maroushek
For the primary time in 25 years, I’m thrilled to return to the Crown King Scramble to run the race this weekend. Final 12 months, whereas I used to be nonetheless getting back from harm, I volunteered on the 15-mile support station, and on the finish of that day, I vowed to attempt to discover a solution to return. Whereas I’ve definitely misplaced a step or three in the previous few years, I’ve not misplaced my need to take pleasure in this particular occasion, and I really feel fortunate to have the ability to toe the road on the shores of Lake Nice all these years later.
After all, I don’t know the way it will go, however I do know I’ll have enjoyable. One of many distinctive issues to me concerning the sport of long-distance working is how sustaining it may be. I had no concept 25 years in the past at that first 50 miler that I’d nonetheless be working all these years later. And, for certain, my journey to the 2024 Crown King Scramble has been a circuitous one, however right here I’m, poised on the sting of one other working journey, and I couldn’t be extra excited to see what it brings.
Bottoms up!
Runners end the Crown King Scramble on the Crown King Saloon. Photograph: Aravaipa Working
AJW’s Beer of the Week
This week’s Beer of the Week comes from Verde Brewing Firm in Camp Verde, Arizona. Verde’s Wildflower IPA is a scrumptious American IPA brewed with native wildflower honey and hopped with a crisp number of hops. Easy consuming with only a contact of sweetness, Wildflower IPA is a recent tackle a traditional selection.
Name for Feedback
- Do you might have a race that you just come again to 12 months after 12 months?
- What’s it about sure races that hold us coming again?
- Have you ever raced the Crown King Scramble over its lengthy historical past?
The Crown King Scramble is understood for its desert allure and old-school really feel. Photograph: Aravaipa Working
