ACROSS THE YEARS IN SIX DAYS

Contributed by Marie Boyd, AURA member

Across the Years is a multi-day, closed loop, timed format footrace held at the Camelback Ranch baseball spring training facility in Glendale, Phoenix (Arizona, USA). There are multiple 24, 48 and 72-hour races starting each day, and a six-day event, which began on December 28, 2017.

The course is a 1.05-mile loop with pavement, gravel and packed dirt surfaces – essentially flat with only slight elevation change, and winding through beautifully landscaped grounds past an artificial lake, desert vegetation, baseball fields, and onto a dirt road to return to the starting area. At night, the entire loop is lit, so no headlamps or flashlights are necessary. Runners change direction every four hours, turning back at the start/finish line, and a conga line of timers dance, encouraging any silliness that runners might contribute – I found a ‘Prancercise’ routine across the mat to be most effective for me.

A kitchen crew provides hot and cold food continuously during the event with vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options available in addition to offerings for the carnivores amongst us.

Across the Years, I believe, is well suited to the international or out-of-town runner, and tents, cots (stretchers), and sleeping bags can be rented. Campers, RVs and trailers also set up along the back hall of the course in the dirt parking lot, right next to the course.

My sixth visit to Across the Years was intended to be my best mileage effort ever. Two years ago, I ran/walked 500kms (311-miles) to set the Australian women’s six day 65-69 records. Naturally, with careful planning and training, it seemed entirely reasonable to expect between 53 and 55 miles a day for an overall total of 315-miles, or better. I planned less mileage than previously on the first days, with more rest time up front, and 50+ miles on the last couple of days.

Non-crewed, my plan called for efficient use of time at my tent, with food and fluids carefully planned to ensure minimum time spent. A six-day spreadsheet had hourly reminders of tasks at hand. No problem, right?

Wrong.

Day 1 produced 57.5-miles, a great start. I ran and walked short distances steadily, taking my planned rest breaks. But for Day 2, a slight niggling pain in my right knee caused some delay, so I iced, elevated and rested for a couple of hours. A few more hours out there demonstrated that my indestructible body had developed a chink in the armour, so more rest, ice, elevation and compression was needed.

Plan A went out the window. Bugger.

Plan B called for adding whatever miles could be done without causing further knee damage. I learned that a lot of runners were coping with their own vulnerabilities, and over the next few days, I spent miles and hours walking with trail legends, enjoying the opportunity to be included in such an amazing field of runners.

As the days passed, four-hour blocks of time compressed and expanded, and always the road lay ahead, mile after mile. The weather was mainly clear and sunny, with one hot afternoon that caught many of us by surprise. Subsequently, I planned a mid-afternoon two-hour rest break each day. Later in the evening I took another break, including an inadvertent six-hour nap on Day 3!

Life continued in the slow lane, but gradually the miles accumulated. By the beginning of Day 6 I was at 190-miles, with 200-miles being the eventual goal. The final day seemed to pass more quickly, perhaps as each four-hour block of time was to be the last. We had all fallen into a routine of walk, eat, drink, rest.

Eventually, all things must end, as did this event, and with 212-miles (341kms), I was happy to call it a day, and accepted my 200-mile buckle gratefully.

Several athletes were running well, including Australia’s Annabel Hepworth, who relentlessly racked up over 600kms. She looked smooth throughout the six days, a force to be reckoned with in the multi-day format.

I enjoyed being part of Team Oz, and we strode a few miles together over the days. Canadian runner Dave Proctor attempted a 600+mile six-day event, which was never seen on this course before. He ran over 100 miles a day for three days, breaking the Canadian 48-hour open and the 72-hour open, which had stood since the 1880s.

Day 4 saw him crash for an 11-hour nap, and then after walking a few painful laps with a torn quadricep, he withdrew, instead focusing on his upcoming attempt at the TransCanadian record attempt this coming June.

Perhaps the most astounding development was the disqualification of 24-hour runner Kelly Agnew for cutting the course. He was seen, and observed, continuously by the head timer, as he crossed the timing mat, and then sat in the porta-john for seven minutes, walked around behind the tents, then crossed the timing mat to claim credit for another mile. Careful scrutiny of the timing sheets revealed he had cut laps 11, 14 and 17.

Confronted by the race director and head timer, he was disqualified, and asked to leave the event. Even more amazing was the discovery that he had cheated in previous ATY and other multi-day events. His name has been removed from all results, and other runners have been given the correct recognition and awards.

I cannot recommend this event more highly.

Race management presents a world class race, professionally timed and catered.

The venue is well suited to this format with excellent runner support.

An Aussie assault on Across the Years would be a worthy challenge!

Pictured: Marie Boyd participating in the 2017-18 Across the Years race in America. Photograph – Supplied.

AURA member Marie Boyd (69), an Australian runner living in the US state of California, holds many Australian road ultra distance records. She has been a competitive road and ultra runner for almost 40 years, and has completed several trail 100-mile events, including th eWestern States 100 Mile Endurance Run. For two decades, Marie was the race director for the Bishop High Sierra Endurance runs. Her next goals, knee permitting, include further attempts at the six day event, or other certified events to challenge the Women’s 70-74 age group records.