Golden Ticket - Sarah Keyes
La Sportiva athlete Sarah Keyes shares her experience racing the Black Canyon 100k during COVID times...
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Mayer, AZ- The morning of Black Canyon 100k was brisk at around 40 degrees with a sherbet sky. I was dropped off at the high school 15 minutes before my wave was scheduled to start at 7 am. Masked runners anxiously checked gear, organized drop bags, ran strides, and headed to the porta-potties. It felt almost like a normal race start except everyone was female.
After a wellness check, we headed to the starting corral where we were instructed to stand on evenly spaced dots six feet apart. We shed our last warm layers and left them in a warm-up bag that would be brought to the finish line. The men’s elite wave had already departed 15 minutes prior. The excitement was palpable as the RD, Jubilee, ushered us around the high school track and on our way. The pace was quick as the first couple of miles transition from pavement to dirt road to single-track trail. All of us keenly aware of where our competitors were located as to not accidentally catch them in the crossfire of a snot rocket.
At the first aid station, Antelope Mesa, we were still in a tight group of eight to nine women. I took this opportunity to enjoy the smooth winding downhill singletrack. The race is known for being deceptively difficult due to the fast first half, coupled with the more difficult and technical second half. Several times during the early stages of the race I thought, “Do I even know how to race anymore?” Something I think we all thought at one time or another during the day. Luckily those thoughts were easily pushed aside and replaced by desert vistas or audible “whoops” of joy.
In the weeks preceding the event, Yavapai County Health Department had placed further restrictions on the event, including no crew allowed for the first fifty miles of the race. I chose to leave a drop bag at Black Canyon City, mile 37, where I changed my shoes and socks. Here I accidentally mixed up the pair of Kaptivas I’d taken off with my fresh pair for a brief moment of hilarity. Note to self: mark the fresh pair with inspirational words in the future. All volunteers wore masks and gloves but were unable to assist runners, adding an interesting element of self-sufficiency, one which I also think made the race faster in some ways. Besides my shoe snafu, I barely stopped at aid stations, had there been an inviting chair with cold drinks I may have lingered longer.
Having arrived in Phoenix a week before race day I was able to preview the more difficult sections; which in my mind were the climb after Black Canyon City and the climb leaving Table Mesa at mile 51. I told myself that if I could jog those climbs in the full afternoon sun I’d be in great shape, success! Both climbs are mainly gradual runnable switchbacks, I’d argue the crux of the course for some.
The wave format also presented a new twist; could someone from a later wave run a fast enough time for a Golden Ticket? I can only push myself at that pace when racing others but that’s me. This turned out not to be an issue but could have potentially shaken things up.
Another unknowing result of a Covid safe event was the excellent media coverage created by Araviapa. I received several messages after the event from family and friends all over the country that we're able to “watch” me race. From drones to on-the-ground live feeds a new precedent has been set for ultra racing media.
To learn more about how safe events are being organized visit the resources below:
Aravaipa Safe Event Plan
International Trail Running Assoc. Operating Guidelines
Photos by ®Howie Stern
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
SARAH KEYES is a member of the La Sportiva Mountain Running® Team.
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