Tushars Mountains Runs 70k 2020

What an EPIC adventure! First off: thank you to Aravaipa Running, all the volunteers and anyone responsible for this race going off without a hitch! My race started at 6:15am in wave 4 for the 70k runners. Right away the elevation was nipping at my heels making it hard to breath. Once my lungs warmed up I was feeling pretty good and was able to make my way from aid station to aid station with a smile on my face. The highlight of the race was reaching the top of Delano Peak just over 12,000ft. The views were so beautiful it honestly felt like a simulation! I couldn't believe my eyes looking over the Tushars Mountain Range. After Delano there was a nice, technical downhill of perfect single track. Mudlake Aid station came out of no where and I got to see Chris and Billy there as they were hammering the marathon course. After leaving there the sun rose up the day actually became pretty hot and added a lot to the overall suffering. Once I arrived at Bullion Aid Station and got to see Dave who told me about Sarah and Jesse and how they were both in the pain cave pretty deep. After Bullion there is a 3,500ft decent into Minor's Aid Station where the real suffering began for me. By the time I reached Minor's Aid Station the temperatures we're in the 90's and the 4,000ft climb up to Edna Peak would all be exposed to the hot mountain sun. After topping out over Edna I took a few moments to take it all in and catch my breath. Knowing that at this point all I had to do was make it to Alunite Aid Station one more time and then finish the last 7 miles of this insane course. I was a few miles out from Start/Finish when the sun went down and my headlamp came out. I knew where I was from my shake out run the day before and the elation of being in a familiar place with the sounds of cheering about a mile away lifted my spirits out of the hole I had fallen into. I was slowly making my way up the final climb to the finish when someone yelled out "what's your name?" I yelled out my name and Laura and Mel started yelling and cheering. I handed my camera to Mel and started sprinting. I crossed the line in JUST under 15 hours, fell to my knees and honestly almost started crying. The day had been so long, so high and so steep. Tushars is easily the hardest course I have yet to run on and I assume it will stay that way for quite some time.

[@ybannieto8155]

I just finished this race Saturday it was awesome

[@psillyrunner8650]

Great work, man! She’s a tough one, but the views are incredible 🏔🏃🏼

[@wallysworkin823]

Nice to see races going off again!! Nice work!

[@psillyrunner8650]

Thanks man! yeah having real races back is a real blessing!

[@UltraDad]

Looks awesome. Someday I'll plan to hit this course. I'm hoping for WAM 100 up in Canada next year.

[@psillyrunner8650]

Yeah it was an amazing day running around an other-worldly place! I highly recommend it!! and WAM is on my list of races I'd like to do someday. I get to use my middle name when I go to Canada haha

[@JTrain8]

I ran the 70k as well in prep for mogollon! It was brutal out there. Great race and great footage!! Nice work!

[@psillyrunner8650]

Thanks man and likewise! let's just keep our fingers crossed that Mogollon gets approval!

[@PeakbaggersForCancer1]

Nicely done. That course looked TOUGH! How did your two friends that you mentioned do? Did they make it or DNF?

[@psillyrunner8650]

They made it!! We had 10 people from our run group doing different distances at Tushars and everyone crossed the line!

[@areafifty]

I live less than a half hour from there and im training to do this

[@psillyrunner8650]

I want to go back so bad for the 100k but it never works out with my race schedule. You’ll absolutely love that course no matter the distance 🏔️🏃🏼