2010 Pemberton Trail 50 KM Trail Race

Sitting back at home watching the Vancouver Winter Olympics it's hard to think we ran a 50k this morning. Last night we camped out in the McDowell Mountains Park trying out the new tent. It had a ripped bag and one of the pole had a snapped shock cord. Nice. Anyway, we got it set-up and slept well until 5 a.m. when running people started arriving.

I ran the first 15 mile loop verry fast, averaging about 8 min/miles. I actually ran a few miles in 7 minutes and some in the high 6 minute miles. The second loop (same trail) was about 6 minutes slower due to sore quads and a bit of cramping.

I placed 11th overall, about 40 minutes behind the winners. A good effort and a personal record!

Preview of Pemberton Trail 50 km Run

These are pictures of last years event. Stay tuned for this weekends pics. I'm using this event as a long training run for the Old Pueblo 50 Mile Endurance Run on March 6. It's perfectly positioned as such and along with the 29 mile Tanque Verde Run with my running group in Tucson (Tucson Trail Runners), it provides a perfect run-up for the 50 miler. Long runs such as these prepares the body's endocrine system for this type of stress. There is no other way to do this than spend a long time out in the outdoors, moving. How bad of a deal is that? No so bad in my opinion.

The Pemberton Trail 50K is a wonderful race in the McDowell Mountains just a bit east of Scottsdale. It follows semi-flat trail for two loops around the park. Aid stations are right where you need them and the people staffing them are fantastic.

I finished this race in 5:30 something last year and this will be my second running of it since its beginning 10 years ago. Thanks Brian, for a fun race.